Using the TeleFinder BBS Gateway
This section will describe how to install the TeleFinder BBS Gateway for use with TFNet, a network of BBS's run by Spider Island Software. These steps can also be used for other networks besides TFNet. The end of this section will tell you how to become a TFNet Member System.
If you have not done so, see the section, "Setting the Server Identity" for information on how to configure your domain name that will be used with the TeleFinder BBS gateway.
Creating the Settings File
In this step you will create a settings file that is necessary to participate in TFNet. The settings file is needed for your BBS to be able to connect with Spider Island BBS. The settings file is created by TeleFinder/User and used by TeleFinder Server to make the connection.
• Open the TeleFinder/User application.
• Select the "New Settings File" command from the File menu. This opens the "Save" window. Enter "spiderisland" into the text box, then click in the Save button to create the file.
• Enter the name and password that you were given into the Connection window. For example, if instructions are given to connect to Spider Island BBS using the name "johnsbbs" and password "test", enter the name "johnsbbs" and password "test" into the Connection window.
• Configure TeleFinder/User to connect to the BBS using the Connection Method you prefer.
Test your settings file with TeleFinder/User to make sure it is setup properly. When connecting to the Spider Island BBS, you should see a mailbox and an "Upload Here" icon in the BBS Desktop window.
• Use the Finder to move the settings file into the same folder as TeleFinder Server.
Create the User Manager Account
In this step you will create an account for Spider Island BBS in User Manager. This is necessary so that Mail Server can spool mail for the gateway.
• Open the User Manager application, or bring it to the front if it is already running
• Select the "New Gateway" command from User Manager's Edit menu. This opens the "New Gateway" window.
• In the New Gateway window enter the "spiderisland" into the name field.
• Enter a password for this account. The specific password is not important, it is only for your knowledge.
Installing the TeleFinder BBS Gateway
In this step you will use the Mail Server program to define the gateway record for Spider Island BBS. This is used for mail routing and linking with TeleFinder Server to perform mail transfers.
• Open the Mail Server program or bring it to the front if it is already running.
• Select the "Gateways" command from Mail Server's Server menu. This opens the "Gateways" window.
• Click in the "Add" button to add a gateway to the list. This opens the "Gateway Type" window.
• Select "TeleFinder BBS" from the Type pop-up menu. Then click in the "OK" button. This opens the "Gateway Edit" window.
• Enter "spiderisland" into the name field, and turn ON the checkbox "Default gateway."
• Select your domain from the "Outgoing Domain" pop-up menu.
• Click in the "Add" button to enter the Gateway's full domain name to the list. This opens the "Domain Edit" window. Enter "spiderisland.tfnet.org" into the name text box.
• Click in the "Save" button to add this domain to the list.
• Click in the "Add" button to enter the top-level domain name to the list. This opens the "Domain Edit" window. Enter "tfnet.org" into the name text box.
• Click in the "Save" button to add this domain to the list. Your window should look like the window below:
• If Mail Server is running on the same computer as TeleFinder Server, close the "Gateway Edit" window, and then close the "Gateways" window. Otherwise, move on to the next step.
Configuring the TeleFinder BBS Gateway
This step is necessary if you need to run Mail Server on a separate computer from the TeleFinder Server, or if you wish to direct gateway connections to occur on a specific node. This step will allow you to specify which TeleFinder Server will be used to make the TFNet connection, and what node name should be used.
• Click in the "Options" button. This opens the "TeleFinder BBS Options" window.
• Click in the "Select TeleFinder Server" button. This opens the Program Chooser window.
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• Select the computer that TeleFinder Server is running on from the list on the left.
• Select the TeleFinder Server program from the list on the right.
• Then click in the "OK" button to close this window.
• You may enter a name into the "Node Name" field if you wish to specify exactly which node TeleFinder Server uses to make TFNet connections on. The "Node Name" will match a file name of one of the "Nodes" that TeleFinder Server has open. If you leave this field blank, TeleFinder Server will automatically choose the first node that was opened.
• Click in the "Save" button. This closes the TeleFinder BBS Options window.
• Close the Gateway Edit window to save the settings for the gateway. Then close the Gateways window.
Schedule the Connection
In this step you will create a schedule entry so that your BBS will periodically call Spider Island BBS to exchange messages.
• Select the "Schedule" command from the Server menu. This opens the "Schedule" window.
• Click in the "Add" button to create a scheduled event. This opens the "Event Edit" window.
• Enter the start and stop times that you would like your BBS to call Spider Island BBS. Start and Stop times are in 24 hour format. The 24 hour format begins at midnight (00:00) and ends with eleven fifty-nine PM (23:59). Twelve noon is 12:00. AM hours are 01:00 through 11:00. PM hours are 13:00 through 23:00.
• Select the days you want to your system to call Spider Island BBS. Click in the "Everyday" checkbox if you want mail delivered daily.
• Select "Call a TeleFinder BBS" from the "Task" pop-up menu.
• Select "spiderisland" from the "BBS" pop-up menu.
• Turn OFF the "Call only if outbound mail is waiting" checkbox. This way your system will call Spider Island BBS to pick up mail even if there is not outbound mail to be delivered.
• Turn OFF the "Call continuously" checkbox. Turning this on will cause Mail Server to call Spider Island BBS repeatedly during the time that this event is active.
• Turn ON the "Disconnect user" checkbox . This will cause Mail Server to disconnect any user that is connected to TeleFinder's Gateway Node when Mail Server wants to call another system.
• Enter 10 in the "minutes" text box. This gives a user connected to the Gateway Node 10 minutes warning before Mail Server disconnects them.
• Close the "Event Edit" window to save the Event Schedule.
• Close the "Schedule" window.
You are now finished setting up your BBS to be part of TFNet. Your BBS is now ready to exchange messages as scheduled.
