AmiExpress version 2.0 written by Joseph Hodge ----------------------- AmiExpress is a Bulletin Board System designed specifically for speed and ease of use. Most features of this version are ideas and suggestions made by registered users of AmiExpress. This product is what we like to think, designed to the needs of the Sysops by the Sysops. AmiExpress 2.0 would not be possible without the help of you all. I would like to say thankyou to all the Sysops out there that has watched AmiExpress grow from the very begining. Now for the long awaited instructions for implementing AmiExpress on your Amiga 2.0 Operating system. Joseph Hodge Minimum requirements: Memory: 1 meg Drive Capacity: We recommend at least a 20meg Hard Drive Libraries: Currently AmiExpress requires that you have an ARP library. Features: AmiExpress has been very much enhanced in the last couple of months, added features include: 1. Door interface: a Door interface allows the use of external program modules. Which means the BBS can more or less taylored to just about anyones needs. The BBS supports 2 types of doors a. AmiExpress Doors. b. Arexx Doors. 2. Zmodem protocol: Zmodem is a file transfer protocol and is the only currently supported protocol. 3. Conferences: The BBS supports 9 conferences, a conference is more or less a BBS within a BBS, A conference supports it's own Mail Base and File Transfer area. Conferences are usually grouped by subject. a. MailBase: Each conference has a MailBase where users can leave messages to each other. b. FileBase: Each conference can support files in an infinite number of catagories, taylorable by yourself. NOTE: Information on the setup of conferences of course is mentioned under Conference Setup. 4. Nodes: AmiExpress version 2.0 supports upto 10 nodes, 0 - 9, each node represents a complete BBS for each line you have. So if you have 3 phone lines you wish to dedicate to the BBS then you would taylor your BBS with 3 nodes, one for each line. THE ABOVE MENTIONED FEATURES MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT,,, BUT THEY ARE SIMPLISTIC AND THE BASICS TO RUNNING A Bulletin Board System. THE COMBINATION OF THESE FEATURES MAKES A VERY POWERFUL SYSTEM AND AT THE SAME TIME REMAINS SIMPLISTIC TO THE USER AND THE SYSOP. Quick SetUp: We do not provide a Quick Setup, The main reason for this is because a Bulletin Board System by nature does a lot of file management, and if your system is not setup correctly you could have problems in the long run,,, so we recommend that you read the complete documentation while references the BBS Disk. Installation: There is 4 programs required to run AmiExpress: 1. Express - This is the actual BBS program. 2. ACP.ctrl - This program is the server , the server manages all the nodes. The server is for you the sysop to control the normal everyday running of the BBS. 3. Config - This is a utility to create your BBS definition files for each node you plan on running. 4. AXVal - This is a utility to scan your BBS setup for any errors in the way you set it up. Setting up the BBS: NOTE: We ask that you setup your BBS exactly as we describe,, then back it up,, Then we recommend that you taylor it to your needs. This backup will make an excellent reference when times of trouble arise. a. The first thing you need to decided is where you wish the BBS to be setup. Most Sysops will put there BBS in a BBS: area of the hard drive. A simple assignment instruction in your User-Startup should suffice. NOTE: We are going to be installing AmiExpress. The installation process will create a 2 node BBS, Node0 & Node1. Node0 will be your private Node. 1. Open a Shell 2. Insert the AmiExpress Install Disk in any drive. 3. Now run the Install20 program from the Shell. a. You will be asked which drive is the source. Put the drive name where the AmiExpress Disk is located. b. You will then be asked the location or drive you wish AmiExpress to be installed. Put the drive name or directory location where you wish AmiExpress to be installed, Please note that the install program will automatically create a BBS directory. 4. The installation should be complete, You should have been asked to reboot your system. If everything was successful then and you have rebooted then continue with step 5. Otherwise please notify us As soon as possible so we may assist you with the installation process. 5. Now that you have rebooted you should notice an Iconified window called AmiExpress Server 2.0a. Please click on the ZOOM gadget, which is a second gadget from the left. 6. Select Gadget Accounts 7. Select Gadget Node0. This should take you into account editing. Now do the following: a. Press n. This will tell AmiExpress you wish to edit new account. b. Press A. Now enter the name you wish to use on the BBS. c. Press B. Enter the location. The location can be anything from your address to any group you may be affiliated. d. Press C. Now enter your password. e. Press F. Now Enter the conferences you will be allowed access. Note, we have only setup a 3 conference BBS so please limit the access to the 1st 3 conferences. An X indicates Access and a _ indicates NO ACCESS. ie: XXX______ <--- This should be what is entered. f. Press R. Now Enter the amount of time in seconds you wish to be allowed on the system. g. Press SHIFT~ to save your changes then press RETURN twice. h. Select the Close Gadget on the BBS window. NOW YOUR BBS SHOULD BE SETUP, SO PLEASE PREFORM A BACKUP BEFORE ANYMORE CHANGES ARE MADE... THIS BACKUP WILL BE INTENDED AS A REFERENCE POINT FROM NOW ON WHEN PROBLEMS OCCUR. Documentation: We will begin discussing the different programs which makeup the complete BBS Package: 1. Config - This utility is used to define a particular node. The syntax for this Utility is as follows: Config ie: config BBS:Config1 The config program lets you setup 4 main areas of your BBS. a. Security Levels - This area lets you specify the security level for the commands which are available to the user. b. Serial Info - This area lets you define which serial port you are going to use and at which baud rate. c. Conference Info - This area lets you specify the name and location of all conferences. currently there is a Maximum of 9 conferences. d. Account & Init Info - This are allows you to setup the location of your BBS, the name of your BBS, some presets for default account validation and also the Init Strings for your Modem. NOTE: Each node on your BBS must have a Config(x) file. 2. AXVal - This utility is used to verify that all the AmiExpress directories are available and that any reference from the BBS to other directories exist. This utility is very important. I highly recommend running this utility at least once a week or when you believe there may be a problem with your system. Please note that if you ever incounter a problem with the BBS, we recommend you run this utility prior to relating any problems to us. Usually this util will identify any problem that we would be able to assist. Usage: AXVal ie: AXVal BBS: 3 3. ACP.Ctrl - This is the central Server to AmiExpress, It is not required for your BBS to run,, but is highly recommended. This server receives signals from all active nodes to inform you as the sysop, what is happening on your system. It can be very very informative. 4. Express - Express is AmiExpress's main program, This is the program that your users will be interacting with. It is very specialized in giving you the fastest possible interaction between the users and all the nodes you may be running. NOTE: Each of the above mentioned files will have there own documentation. We greatly appreciate you purchasing AmiExpress and hope to hear from you on one of our support BBS's in the near future, Keep in mind that will be constant updates to this program, so establishing an account on a Support BBS is highly recommended.