by VU BBS Distribution Inventory for Linux, Beta-1 release, April 2, 1995
Or contact Marvin BBS 1 703 492 9301 / 9101
This outlines the planned ftp distribution of our BBS environment and
related
tools for Linux. VU BBS is currently in early Beta and is being provided
as-is for free evaluation and use by interested sites. When completed, VU
BBS will be made available collectively as a single shareware package
under a
variety of UNIX platforms with full source included. I hope this
preliminary
outline will help in understanding what VU BBS is and what it is currently
composed of.
Many of the components can be used completely stand-alone, and, as a
result,
we have some concern that ftp sites may choose to scatter the components
separately. A current inventory will be submitted with each module to
assist
in locating other modules on the site if this occurs.
The only requirement for using VU BBS (or components) under Linux is that
you
are running 1.1.3x or later kernels. This is due to some changes made in
the
console driver related to escape sequences for switching 7/8 character
sets.
If someone wants to take the time to modify the VU terminal database to
support earlier consoles correctly, then there should be no reason why you
cannot use VU BBS with earlier kernels.
In addition, many of the utilities will make use of shadow password
support
if you have it, or conventional /etc/passwd if you don't. Finally, the
mail
utilities currently REQUIRE that you use MMDF formatted mail spool files.
The following components are slated for ftp distribution during the next
several months. Any assistance offered in writing preliminary doc files
to
speed this process up would be greatly appreciated. Expect to see VU BBS
components at an FTP site near you starting in about two weeks...
CURRENT COMPONENTS:
users.tgz
A complete visual system account manager. You may never have to edit
/etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, or /etc/group by hand ever again! This will
probably get posted first. The users.tgz will also include a visual user
'setup' utility for supporting the ~/.setup file, selection of file
transfer
protocols, user preferences, address and phone numbers, questionnaire,
etc,
along with a common menu structure.
menus.tgz
A visual menu shell and 'feedback' support module.
logins.tgz
A visual front-end login program, visual 'logout' program, and new
user
account processing.
doorway.tgz
A getty replacement that supports modems in 'manual-answer' mode,
extracts connection information, maintains uucp lock integrity, and polls
for
different terminals/service protocols during connections. Used to
multiplex
dial-in terminal sessions, pppd and slip connections, and various mailers,
as
well as dial-out utilities.
dscan.tgz
A visual front-end for managing file transfer areas. Supports both
public and private areas, can manage anon-ftp and uucppublic areas.
lgm.tgz
A visual mail client and setup utility. Allows users to customize
appearance and sorting of incoming mail in browse lists. Supports yellow
and
white pages pop-up 'directories' for easy addressing from pick lists.
Supports some automatic naming translations and automatic conversion of
fido-net addresses to RFC style. Works in conjunction with your existing
sendmail program. Does require MMDF style mail spools. A quickly patched
version of 'delivery' to support MMDF is included.
misc.tgz
Miscellaneous support utilities; terminal database editor and color
scheme editor.
bbsapi.tgz
API service libraries and header files.
sources.tgz
Selected sources.
ORIGINAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
This is just a short message announcing the fact that a brand new Linux
based BBS system, 'Marvin', using a brand new (and still under
development)
BBS/on-line package for UNIX, is now on-line and operational at 703 492
9301/9101.
Where this system differs from many others is in the use of a scalable and
consistent event driven windowing interface which supports all classes of
dialup terminal users. We have also developed very easy to use visually
oriented system administration tools.
The system is new and still in early 'flight' testing. We would be happy
to make the software available to other interested beta testers free of
charge, and perhaps on a public ftp site as well.
---
Marvin BBS; 703 492 9301/9101 - infinitely improbable