From: lesherjt@vuse.vanderbilt.edu (Tilghman Lesher) Newsgroups: alt.bbs.metal Subject: FAQ: alt.bbs.metal Date: 15 Dec 1996 02:05:07 GMT Organization: Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, Nashville, TN, USA Message-ID: <58vmcj$ea3@news.vanderbilt.edu> Metal/Futurevision/Futurenet Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) $$:Rev 1.1 12/14/96 This faq will be posted monthly on alt.bbs.metal. It is available via: WWW http://galadriel.ecaetc.ohio-state.edu/mfv/mfv.faq The official Metal/FV web page is: http://galadriel.ecaetc.ohio-state.edu/mfv/ The official Metal/FV BBS is The Space Bar (619)433-4653 This version of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is by lesherjt@vuse.vanderbilt.edu Index ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I. Introduction II. Metal III. Futurevision IV. Futurenet V. Internet Gateway VI. Future Expansion A. Common abbreviations used I. Introduction ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This FAQ is intended to answer frequently answered questions about Metal, Futurevision and the Futurenet network. No warranties apply - this document can't possibly answer every question, so don't expect it to. This is the second version of this document. If you have suggestions/comments et all, post on a.b.m. All suggestions to improve the document are welcomed. Flames will be redirected to /dev/null. And yes, I know this document is "rough" as all hell - forgive me. Upon a more advanced document, the FAQ will be posted to additional more appropriate newsgroups. II. Metal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q1. What is Metal? A1. It is an acronym which stands for Mega Extensive Telecommunications Applications Language. Metal is a programming language designed specifically for using your modem *easily*. Metal programs (called ieb's) are compiled. Then, when Metal is running, it interprets the ieb. Q2. What is the current RELEASED version of METAL? A2. 1.09.08 Q3. Metal and my modem aren't working correctly for reason _____. A3. Always check: 1. Modem Status (is the actual modem ok?) 2. The cable from cpu <-> computer. Do you need a HWHS cable? 3. Your metal.config file; Is it setup correctly for your modem? Examples can be had in the mfv/configs directory on the ftp site. Try to match your modem type w/ your cpu/cable type as best you can. 4. Worst case scenario is that you post it to e/o a.b.m or fnet.admin and someone will help you. Be sure to include ALL of the above information. Q4. Users are having trouble transferring files w/ Metal's xfer protocols. A4. Try a different version. Also note that users may have some trouble getting Zmodem to work properly, as it (technically) is still in beta. Q5. Can I write code for Metal? A5. Yes, certainly. Writing code for Metal is a snap. You should have some previous programming experience, however, as Metal has many commands, and deciding which ones to use for your task is fairly complex. Do not be worried, however, as the language is logical and straightforward. Q6. I have an IBM PC. Can I run METAL? A6. Currently, METAL is only implemented on the Apple 2 series of computers. There are no known plans, currently, to port METAL to other types of computers. III. Futurevision ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q1. What is FV? A1. Read http://galadriel.ecaetc.ohio-state.edu/mfv/fvinfo.htm Q2. What is the current RELEASED version of FV? A2. FV4. Q3. What is the status of FV4.1? A3. The last beta before a release (xmas '95) was released 10/22/95 - Beta #6. Q4. How is FV released? A4. In shrinkit archives. Each is seperated as follows: fv.VERSION.iebs All of the REQUIRED must-have iebs .utils Util iebs that a sysop could use .xtras Extra IEBS that aren't needed .net IEBS REQUIRED for NETWORKING. .UPDT Contains all iebs changed since last release. Includes network iebs. Q5. Where is FV distributed? A5. Many places, going in this specific order: ftp: ftp://galadriel.ecaetc.ohio-state.edu/pub/mfv/ bbs: The Space Bar BBS The larger fnet sites normally have them available. Some files are availabe via email request - for more info send mail to server@tap.fnet.org with the first line containing the "HELP:" command (no quotes). Q6. How long has FV4.1.xx been in beta? A6. Forever. Its taken too long, but its been a semi/dead project for intermediate amounts of time. FV now has the networking functionality that gives futurnet the opportunity to expand via the internet - which is why its near release. Q7. How do I obtain the latest network-data files needed to become a site on fnet? A7. They are available in any of the following: ftp://galadriel.ecaetc.ohio-state.edu/pub/mfv/fv/fnet.public email: server@tap.fnet.org (refer to III.A5) IV. Futurenet ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q1. What is futurenet? A1. Refer to mfv/fnetinfo.htm Q2. I'd like to have a site id for my bbs. Who do I contact? A2. Contact : root@space-bar.admin.fnet.org Requirements: The bbs's telephone # Your voice ph# (this stays unreleased, of course) The id# of the site which you have obtained aggreement on with your networking schedule. Q3. Futurenet has filemail between sites - does this work over internet? A3. Yes. The file is uuencoded. Q4. Is futurenet mail mime compatible? A4. No, although some mac/win current mailers might recognize the file and automatically uudecode it for you. V. Internet Gateway ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q1. How does fnet interact w/ internet? A1. Through a uucp-ish program. In summary, it is actually two programs, a mailer & a shell. The fnet system dials into the unix box, logs into the shell, transfers files via zmodem & then hangs up. Its fairly efficient, and really rather simple - and FREE. Q2. Where is the fnet/unix gateway software. A2. ftp://galadriel.ecaetc.ohio-state.edu/pub/mfv/ fv/gateway/fv.unix.tar.Z VI. Future Expansion Q1. I want METAL to take full capacity of my //gs. Can I do that? A1. Currently, the 8-bit version of METAL has various modules to help take advantage of the power of your machine. Consult with the help files to find out just which ones are proper for your specific configuration. Also, in development is METAL GS, a 16 bit version of METAL. This is still currently pre-alpha as of this writing (Dec 96). Details of a beta release will be made as soon as they are available on a.b.m. Q2. Can I beta test METAL GS? A2. There is currently nothing to beta test. When the time comes, we will ask for volunteers to help beta test METAL GS. A. Some Common Abbreviations ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a.b.m alt.bbs.metal e/o either/or fnet FutureNet FV Futurevision iebs A compiled Metal program metal Mega Extensive Telecommunications Applications Language segs refer to iebs uucp Unix to Unix Copy Protocol -- __ __|_) | | | | | _` | \ ` \ _` | \ _| _|_|\__, |_| _|_|_|_|\__,_|_| _| ____/