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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 <hopefully> 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
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