MBSE BBS FAQ & Howto

MBSE BBS FAQ and Howto.

Last updated 09-Jun-2002
  Author: P.E. Kimble aka King Kimerud
          kimerud@bayhaus.org
  
Introduction
This FAQ is a work in progress. It is not complete, nor does its author claim that it is complete. This FAQ only answers questions pertaining to using MBSE BBS on your Linux box. It is a compilation of previous questions that Michiel Broek has recieved and answered from us newbies in getting MBSE up & running.

Installation

Why do I have to install MBSE in the /opt directory?

What other operating systems will MBSE run on?

Will MBSE ever be ported to DOS/Windows or OS/2?

What does the quest switch in the bbs user setup mean?

How do I monitor as the things happen?

How do I start mbsebbs from inetd?

I just installed mbse, now I get a Socket send failed error 2

Fidonet Setup

The nodelist compiler crashes, why?

What is the purpose of the "Comment" line in the tic area setup?

How do I poll a node?

I created a filerequest but mbcico doesn't call out.

Does MBSE support fidonet via ftp feeds?

Internet Setup

Posting newsmessages to the newsserver fails.

FTP fidonet feeds how-to.

BBS Setup

How do I to set up MBSE for ISDN?

How do I use GoldED together with MBSE?

Doors Setup

How do I run DOS doors under MBSE BBS?

Dosemu compile tips

Setting up for InterBBS games.

Door Maintenance.

Go Back

1. Installation.

Q 1.1 Why do I have to install MBSE in the /opt directory?

A 1.1 The /opt is for extra applications, when mbse is installed there it is easier to upgrade the OS. If you insist on installing in /usr/local the choose /usr/local/mbse.

Q 1.2 What other operating systems will MBSE run on?

A 1.2 Currently only on most Linux distributions, FreeBSD and NetBSD. The author, Michiel Broek, has made a valiant effort ensuring that MBSE will recognize and install on the major distributions of Linux.

Q 1.3 Will MBSE BBS ever be ported to DOS/Windows or OS/2?

A 1.3 No.

Q 1.4 What does the guest switch in BBS user setup mean?

A 1.4 Nothing yet.

Q 1.5 How do I monitor as the things happen?

A 1.5 tail -f /opt/mbse/log/system.log or start mbmon.

Q 1.6 How to start mbsebbs from inetd?

A 1.6 This is described in the documentation of the mblogin program.
Q 1.7 I just installed mbse, now I get a Socket send failed error 2.
A 1.7
With a normal system boot the mbtask daemon will be started by one of the systems init scripts. If you just installed mbse you need to do this for the first time manually. As user mbse issue the following commands:
mbtask
mbstat open
This will start the daemon, the daemon creates the default databases. Then you can use mbsetup to configure your new system.
2. Fidonet setup.

Q 2.1 The nodelist compiler crashes, why?

A 2.1 Note: From previous experience, it is vital that you follow the docs closely. Also, ensure that you have a copy of a valid nodelist and nodediff file. I have ran into problems where either the noddiffs don't match the nodelist, the crc checks fail, or I have files from two different zones. I have even had to back up several months before finding a valid noddiff that would match the nodelist.
Make sure the domain translations do exist, with mbsetup enter menu 17 and save it even if you didn't change anything.

Q 2.2 What is the purpose of the "Comment" line in the tic area setup?

A 2.2 The downlinks will see this when receiving FileMgr replies. It is meant only as a description for the filearea.

Q 2.3 How do I poll a node?

A 2.3 mbout poll f2802.n280.z2

Q 2.4 I created a filerequest but mbcico doesn't call out.

A 2.4 You need to add a poll for that node to do the call.

Q 2.5 Does MBSE support fidonet via ftp transfers?

A 2.5 No, not directly. It is a matter of using scripts to translate the .*lo (*.flo, *.clo, *.dlo, *.ilo) files for each node, and copying the node's outbound files to their respective directory. Refer to 3.2.

3. Internet setup.

Q 3.1 Posting newsmessages to the newsserver fails.

A 3.1 Check if you need the "mode reader" command for the newsserver. Set this flag in mbsetup 1.15.5
Q 3.2 How do I configure MBSE for my ftp filenet feeds?
A 3.2
In mbsetup menu 1.4.12:2, remove any reference to a DOS translation path.
In mbsetup menu 1.4.12:3, remove any reference to a DOS translation path.
This will give you a "True" path to your files directory where mbcico tosses the inbound files.
Ftp Script for running a ftp feed with MBSE.
NOTE: Gracefully contributed by Janis Kacht <janis@filegate.net>
This script does not delete or change the .flo file. It reads it in and creates a new script that will be used to move and copy the files to the user's outbound directory you specify on the command line. Just call this script, then call the finalflo.sh script with the directory name where the files should be PUT, like:
parseflo <enter>
finalflo.sh /home/fido/jdoe/out <enter>
You will need a full path to the flo file in the "test" line below and change the name of the flo file (it's not going to be 00000063.flo) Uncomment the "if test" line, and also uncomment the last line (fi)
#!/bin/sh
if test -e /opt/mbse/mail/outbound/00000063.flo ; then
    cat 00000063.flo | sed 's/\/home/cp \/home/' > newflo.txt
    cat newflo.txt | sed 's/\^\cp \/home/mv \/home/'> newflo2.txt
    cat newflo2.txt | sed 's/$/ \$1/' > finalflo.sh
fi
here's what finalflo.sh looks like, $1 is a variable for the directory name you specify on the command line, or in a cron script:
cp /home/ftp/pub/filegate/fg_worf/filegate.zxx $1
mv /opt/mbse/mail/outbound/00000063/dooqi39k.tic $1
cp /home/ftp/pub/filegate/ss_areas/ss_areas.zip $1
mv /opt/mbse/mail/outbound/00000063/dooqi39l.tic $1
cp /home/ftp/pub/filebone/admin/backbone/backbone.z1b $1
mv /opt/mbse/mail/outbound/00000063/dooqi39m.tic $1
Janis Kracht can not and will not be held liable if harm is done to your computer system due to any use of this script, either directly or indirectly. This script works perfectly when instructions are followed, and the correct directories are substitiuted. How it will affect your system, is the responsiblity of the system administrator!
Do not forget to test this setup. It has work fine on my system, but nothing works the way it should the first time out of the box! Pay close attention to the ftp script and directories you enter. It seems as if 75% of the problems experinced with this sed script is due to improper outbound directories
4. BBS setup.

Q 4.1 How to set up MBSE for ISDN.

A 4.1 Contributed by: J. Beekhuizen, 2:280/1018
Of course, you have to configure and build your kernel for ISDN support and the correct drivers for your card. It is beyond the scope of this document to explain how to do that.
To your /etc/inittab file add the following lines for your ISDN devices ttyI0 and ttyI1.
# ISDN lines I1:23:respawn:/usr/local/sbin/mgetty -x 4 -i /opt/mbse/etc/issue ttyI0 I2:23:respawn:/usr/local/sbin/mgetty -x 4 -i /opt/mbse/etc/issue ttyI1
To your mgetty.config file [/usr/local/etc/mgetty_sendfax/mgetty.config on my system] set up the ttyI0 and ttyI1 ports. With AT&E you set the MSN/EAZ the device should listen to. This should for an MSN be your telephone number with the area code but without the leading 0. For an EAZ the last digit of your EAZ.
The ISDN ports
port ttyI0 modem-type data init-chat "" ATZ OK AT&E714015437&W0 OK AT&B512 OK port ttyI1 modem-type data init-chat "" ATZ OK AT&E714017198&W0 OK AT&B512 OK
From the mbsetup menu #5 "Edit Modem types" configure the ISDN modem type.
Modem type ISDN Linux Init string ATZ\r Init string Init string OK string OK Hangup \d\p\p\p+++\d\p\p\pATH0\r Info command ATI2\r Dial command ATD\T\r Connect CONNECT 64000 Connect CONNECT [...] Reset cmd ATZ\r Error string BUSY Error string NO CARRIER Error string NO DIALTONE Error string NO ANSWER Error string RING\r Error string ERROR Error string Error string Error string Error string Cost offset 0 EMSI speed 28800 ! not relevant for ISDN Strip dashes No Available Yes
And from #6 "Edit TTY lines info" the ISDN lines
TTY name ISDN Line 1 Device name ttyI0 Phone or DNS 31-71-4015437 Line speed 64 kbits Fido flags CM,XA,MO,X75 Equipment ISDN Available Yes Auth. log No Honor ZMH Yes Callout Yes Modem type ISDN Linux Locked speed 0 ! not relevant for ISDN EMSI name The Wizard's ISDN line 1 TTY name ISDN Line 2 Device name ttyI1 Phone or DNS 31-71-4017198 Line speed 64 kbits Fido flags CM,XA,MO,X75 Equipment ISDN Available Yes Auth. log No Honor ZMH Yes Callout Yes Modem type ISDN Linux Locked speed 0 EMSI name The Wizard's ISDN line 2
T-t-that's all folks :))
Q 4.2 How do I use GoldED together with MBSE?
A 4.2
Since MBSE BBS version 0.33.12 GoldED and MBSE BBS can be used together without problems as long as you use it to read the sysop mail. The mbsetup program can export a file called /opt/mbse/etc/golded.inc which will contain your main Aka's, Aka matching, sysop name and all your mail areas. This file is only (re)created if you change the global settings or one of the mail areas. The first time you must force this by making a change somewhere.
Now create /opt/mbse/etc/golded.cfg, here is what I wrote:
; GoldED.cfg
;
; Internet Addressing
;
INTERNETADDRESS Michiel_Broek@f2802.n280.z2.fidonet.org
INTERNETGATE UUCP 2:292/875
;
;
OUTBOUNDPATH /opt/mbse/var/bso/outbound
REPLYLINK chain
STYLECODES yes
;
;
; MESSAGE READER
;
DISPMSGSIZE KBYTES
DISPATTACHSIZE KBYTES
DISPLOCALHIGH YES
DISPPAGEBAR YES
VIEWHIDDEN YES
VIEWKLUDGE NO
VIEWQUOTE YES
;
INCLUDE /opt/mbse/etc/golded.inc
;
; The end.
Put in /opt/mbse/.profile the following line: export GOLDED=$HOME/etc
When you now start GoldED you use it as the sysop. Make sure that the sysop's userrecord is the first user in the MBSE BBS userbase. If not, the lastread pointers are not right. The GoldED nodelist compiler can be added to the setup in menu 18.
5. Doors setup.

Q 5.1 How do I run DOS doors under MBSE BBS?

A 5.1
Written by: Redy Rodriguez, sysop of Parolas BBS 2:348/609 Fidonet: Redy rodriguez 2:348/609 Email: redy@users.sourceforge.net Redy_Rodriguez@f609.n348.z2.fidospain.org

NO WARANTEE
The information gathered here, works for the indicated intention. It is proven and working in PAROLAS BBS, however, I do not guarantee that it works correctly in all the cases. The author is not responsible for the damage this can cause. If you follow the instructions, and you get not the expected result, or as a result of it you get undesired results, you loose data or destroy your system, you you will be the only person in charge.
INTRODUCTION
This document describes how I have been able to execute MS/DOS doors in MBSEBBS. Probably it is not the best way to do it, but this is the one that works for me. If somebody finds one more more effective, or simpler or safer a solution, the I like to hear this solution.
WHAT IS NEEDED?
MBSEBBS is correctly compiled and working, in my case I have the version 0.33.19, that is at the moment the most recent and stable, I suppose that this method can be valid for newer versions. DOSEMU 1.0.2 I have tried previous versions, but these do not work correctly with virtual ports. You can download dosemu.1.02.tgz from www.dosemu.org, you may also need to download the freedos archive dosemu-freedos-bin-1.02.tgz. A partition with MS/DOS, I have on my disc a partition with installed MS/DOS, and that is the one that I use, but I'm sure that many doors could work correctly with the freedos. You also need sudo. Sudo is a utility that let's ordinary users execute certain programs as superuser, this is available with almost all Linux distributions.
COMPILING DOSEMU
Unpack dosemu in some directory, for example /usr/src, then changed into that directory and execute 'make'. When this is ready we have dosemu compiled. If we already had a previous version of dosemu it is advisable to uninstall it before continuing. Copy dosemu-freedos-bin-1.02.tgz to the toplevel directory of the dosemu source and execute:
./install_systemwide -fd dosemu-freedos-bin-1.02.tgz
In the directory etc, within the directory where we have decompressed the source code of dosemu we have configuration examples. Create the directory /var/lib/dosemu if it does not exist the directory, and copy global.conf to that directory. Also copy dosemu.conf to directory /etc and copy dosemu.users.secure as dosemu.users to /etc.
CONFIGURE THE DOS PARTITION
Now we must configure the dos partition, in my case this exists as a mounted dos partition in /dos/c. If this is not the case then you could work with an image of freedos. I have created in my dos partition a directory c:\doors where I install all doors that I want to use, and a file called c:\doors.bat with the following contents:
@echo off c: cd \doors if exist %1.bat call %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9 c:\dosemu\exitemu
Change to the directory /var/lib/dosemu and create directory called for example 'c':
mkdir c.
A link to the mounted partition could be made but I prefer to create a new directory and in that directory make links to dos program which are only of interest for us. Many programs and directories of the dos partition are not needed in dosemu and to run doors. Change to the created directory and make links to everything what we have in our dos partition (we will erase soon what we do not need). Autoexec.bat and config.sys must copied instead of making links so we can modify them, because surely we will want that they are different in dosemu, then in real dos.
cd c ln -s /dos/c/* . rm autoexec.bat rm config.sys cp /dos/c/autoexec.bat config.sys .
Create a directory dosemu and copy the typical utilities of dosemu.
mkdir dosemu cp /usr/src/dosemu-1.02/1.0.2.0/commands/* dosemu
Now we modify the copy of config.sys and autoexec.bat to erase everything what is not necessary to execute our games as doors, like drivers for cdrom, mouse etc... We will clear the keyboard driver 'KEYB XX' and make sure that in the path in autoexec.bat to include the directory c:\dosemu. Also load the fossil emulator, for example add these two lines:
path %PATH%:c:\dosemu c:\dosemu\fossil
If there is another fossil, such as bnu or x00 in config.sys or autoexec.bat we clear all references to these, we will load them if that is necessary in the file that it executes the door when needed, this can be necessary for some doors and for other not. Now we can erase all the links to the directories who are not necessary, and that we do not want that they are visible.
Then edit the file /etc/dosemu.conf and look for the line that begins with "$_hdimage =" and change that to:
$_hdimage = "c"
Now login as root and you should be able to execute our dos emulator by executing '/usr/bin/dosemu.bin'
(to leave dosemu type in exitemu)
CONFIGURING SUDO
Normally the dos partition is not accessible to the users of the BBS, except from within dosemu, and to be able to have access without activating the setuid bit of dosemu, we use sudo so that any user of the BBS can execute dosemu.bin as root. As root execute visudo to edit the configuration file of sudo add the lines:
%bbs ALL=NOPASSWD:/opt/mbse/bin/bbsdoor.sh %bbs ALL=NOPASSWD:/opt/dosemu/bin/dosemu.bin
The first command is a script that takes care of copying the file door.sys to the dos partition, the second line is to allow to execute dosemu.bin. Any user of group BBS can execute these commandos like root without password is asked.
In order to test that this works login as user mbse and execute:
sudo dosemu.bin

INSTALLING A DOOR
First we need a pair of scripts. These scripts are installed when you did install MBSE. These scripts are needed to execute the doors and are installed in /opt/mbse/bin:
--- rundoor.sh --- #!/bin/bash # # rundoor.sh - Never call this script directly, create a symlink # to this file with the name of the door. For example # tu run the door ilord do: # cd /opt/mbse/bin # ln -s rundoor.sh ilord # # by Redy Rodriguez and Michiel Broek. # DOOR=`basename $0` COMMANDO="\" door $DOOR $*\r\"" /usr/bin/sudo /opt/mbse/bin/bbsdoor.sh $DOOR $1 /usr/bin/sudo /opt/dosemu/bin/dosemu.bin \ -F /var/lib/dosemu/global.conf \ -I "`echo -e serial { com 1 virtual }"\n" keystroke $COMMANDO`" reset tput reset stty sane --- bbsdoor.sh --- # # Initialize DOS environment before starting a bbs door. # Parameters: $1 = name of the door # $2 = the nodenumber for this session # # by Redy Rodriguez, 22-Oct-2001 if [ "$1" != "" ]; then if [ "$2" != "" ]; then mkdir -p /dos/c/doors/node$2 >/dev/null 2>&1 # Copy door.sys to dos partition cat ~/door.sys >/dos/c/doors/node$2/door.sys # Create .dosemu/disclaimer in user home to avoid warning if [ ! -d $HOME/.dosemu ]; then mkdir $HOME/.dosemu fi if [ ! -f $HOME/.dosemu/disclaimer ]; then touch $HOME/.dosemu/disclaimer fi fi fi
The script rundoor.sh is never called directly, simply create a link with the name of the door to this file, this name must be the same as the one of the .bat file that starts the door in the doors directory of the dos partition. Let me explain this with an example:
I have chosen the door Virtual Sysop, but it could be any other door. My experience says to me that not all doors work correctly with a serial port in virtual mode. This one is working at Parolas BBS.
Unpack Virtual Sysop in the dos partition, in the directory c:\doors\vsysop. Execute as user mbse 'sudo dosemu.bin' and make sure that the door works in local mode (these commands are for this door):
cd doors cd vsysop vsysop -local
If everything is correct then create the file c:\doors\vsysop.bat with the following contents:
--- vsysop.bat --- @echo off C:\COMUNIC\X00\X00 E B,0,57600 cd vsysop vsysop -D c:\doors\node%1\door.sys -BBSNAME PAROLAS deltree /y c:\doors\node%1 C:\COMUNIC\X00\X00 cd ..
Before passing the control to dosemu, the file door.sys will be copied to c:\doors\node???? where the ???? is the node number from which the door is invoked (to allow that several users can execute the door at the same time). This nodenumber also is passed as the first parameters to the .bat file, this is to indicate to which directory to copy the door.sys file.
The Virtual Sysop door supports door.sys and that is the only dropfile that is generated by mbsebbs and that is supported by most of the doors. If you need another format you must use a converter to change the format of the dropfile.
I use the fossil X00, I have it installed in C:\COMUNIC\X00 and this door works for me correctly with these parameters, it is alos possible that it works without X00 or that you can load another fossil.
Now create a link to rundoor.sh in /opt/mbse/bin called vsysop. The name must be the same one that the name of the .bat file created in the dos partition, but without the extension bat.
ln -s /opt/mbse/bin/rundoor.sh /opt/mbse/bin/vsysop
Now we execute mbsetup and enter the menu setup to add an entrance like this (It puts option 16 to Yes):
8.3. EDIT MENU ITEM 1. Sel. key V 2. Type nr. 7 Run external program in shell 3. Opt. data /opt/mbse/bin/vsysop /N 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234 4. Display 5. Security 0 -------------------------------- 6. Min. age 0 7. Max. lvl 0 8. Password <null> 13. No door.sys No 9. Credit 0 13. Y2K style No 10. Lo-colors Normal display color 14. Use Comport Yes 11. Hi-colors Bright display color 15. Run nosuid Yes 12. Autoexec No 16. No Prompt Yes
And that is everything...
Q 5.2 Dosemu compile tips
A 5.2
Dosemu still exhibits some file locking behaviour and this needs to be overcome, especially if you are running multinode door games. The following information was written by Bob Newell of Chung Kuo BBS (telnet chungkuo.org) and I reiterate it here.
There is an issue in that Linux file locking does not map precisely to DOS file locking. You need to patch DOSEMU and build a special version to deal with this problem. Find the file "dosext/mfs/mfs.c" in your DOSEMU source tree. Locate the following lines:
case DENY_ANY:
    fl.l_type = F_RDLCK;

Change the second line to 
    fl.l_type = !writing ? F_RDLCK : F_WRLCK;
and build a new version of DOSEMU.
To solve a problem of slow screen painting, locate "base/async/int.c" in your source tree. Locate
case 0x2C:

and just below, comment out or delete the line

usleep(INT2F_IDLE_USECS);
and rebuild your DOSEMU.
Q 5.3 Setting up for InterBBS games.
A 5.3
With most BBS games you will need 2 directories in your dos filesystem area. One for the inbound packets and one for netmail messages door games produce to send outbound packets.
The easiest way to solve this is by creating symlinks from your MBSE directories into the directory where your dos doors live (c:\doors). The 2 directories you wish to link are /opt/mbse/var/inbound and /opt/mbse/var/msgs - link them into your dos directories doors directory with the same names ie: "inbound" and "msgs". Now according to dosemu you will have a c:\doors\inbound and a c:\doors\msgs
For my example I will use the InterBBS dos door game called Barren Realms Elite (BRE for short).
3a. I install Bre in c:\doors\bre and setup the necessary files for its execution as a dos door from MBSE as per the dos doors faq.
3b. I tell Bre (in its BBS.CFG) that the path for inbound packets is c:\doors\inbound and the netmail path is c:\doors\msgs Bre will now automatically process all inbound packets it finds in the inbound directory for itself. It needs no assistance as it merely searches for the correct filename in the directory.
3c. We need a script to process the Bre outbound packets and add them to MBSE's outbound path so they are sent. A perl script on how to do this follows (with comments ).
This script should be owned by user "mbse" and have the permissions (chmod 755) -rwxr-xr-x. It is best kept in /opt/mbse/bin with your dos game executing scripts. I call this script "dos_poll"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
#!/usr/bin/perl -U
use File::Basename;


# Define the variable for the outbound file that this script
# must create. See Note 1.
$bre48_file = "/opt/mbse/var/bso/outbound/028003ba.flo";
# Define the linux path to Bre's outbound directory
$bre48_path = "/opt/mbse/dos/doors/bre48/OUTBOUND";
# Define the linux path to the "msgs" directory
$msg_path = "/opt/mbse/var/msgs";

  opendir(DIR, "$bre48_path") || die;
  @dirlist = readdir(DIR);
  closedir(DIR);

  foreach $filename (@dirlist){
        ($filenameOnly, $pathname, $fileExtension) = fileparse($filename, '\..*');

# Below '048b0201' is the packet name Bre creates. You can find out what
# your packet name is by running BRE PLANETARY and then checking inside
# the Bre OUTBOUND directory - note no ext on name.

    if($filenameOnly eq "048b0201") {
                $bre48 = "^$bre48_path/$filename";
                open(FILE, ">>$bre48_file");
                print FILE "$bre48\n";
                close(FILE);
   }
                chmod 0664, "$bre48_file";
  }

  opendir(DIR, "$msg_path") || die;
  @dirlist1 = readdir(DIR);
  closedir(DIR);

  foreach $filename (@dirlist1){
        ($filenameOnly, $pathname, $fileExtension) = fileparse($filename, '\..*');
    if($fileExtension eq ".msg") {
        unlink "$msg_path/$filename";
   }
  }
system "touch /opt/mbse/sema/scanout";

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1. To find out what the outbound file is simply send a netmail attach via MBSE to your uplink system for the Bre game. MBSE will create a file in your outbound directory as a series of numbers with the extension .flo (or hlo). Inside this file will merely be the path to the file attached, but it is the name of the flo file that we require. No matter what file you attach or when you attach it, the outbound flo file will always have the same name as it represents the node number it is being sent to. Thus if you were file attaching to 3:640/954 your flo file would be "028003ba.flo" as in the example. Once you find out the filename substitute it in the script above.
What the above script does:
The perl script merely reads the Bre outbound directory and looks for files with the name of the that you tell it (sample one is 048b0201). The script removes the extension from the filenames to get a match. If it finds a match it creates a file, the "$bre48_file", which is the .flo you specified in the correct outbound directory. Inside this file it merely gives the path to the Bre outbound attach file and adds a ^ before it (so MBSE deletes it after sending).
Then it goes into your "msgs" directory and deletes everything in there. It does not use the netmails written by the games at all, it just deletes them to stop them filling up your hard drive.
Then it tells MBSE to scan the outbound. If it created a flo file and that system is a direct or crash link MBSE will poll and send the file straight away.
If you have more InterBBS games the procedure is the same, just copy and edit the first part (relating to BRE) and add new variables for other games. The script only needs to clear the msgs directory once and to scan the outbound once. You only need one script to service a multitude of games.
Q 5.4 Door Maintenance.
A 5.4
Ok, so you can setup doors, run inbound and outbound for interbbs games. So how do you do maintenance?
Again by scripts. Again I will use BRE as an example. First I create a maintenance batch file in my C: root directory. I have called it maint.bat and for the bre game it looks like this:
cd \doors\bre
BRE INBOUND
BRE SCORES
BRE REQUEST
BRE PLANETARY
exitemu
if you are familiar with Bre you will know this to be a standard sort of maintenance except for the "exitemu" at the end. That is there because we are going to use a script to start dosemu and call the maint.bat - so afterwards we need it to exit dosemu.
Now a maintenance script to be called from your cron or whatever else you are using to execute events on your system. I call this script "dos_maint" and it also lives in /opt/mbse/bin
#!/bin/sh
#
COMMANDO="\" maint \r\""

/usr/bin/sudo dosemu -dumb -E dir > /opt/mbse/log/dos.log -quiet -I "`echo keystroke $COMMANDO`"


/opt/mbse/bin/dos_poll
You will notice this script starts dosemu and calls maint.bat, and then when its finished there it calls the dos_poll script discussed earlier. Please note the second line is all ONE line, it has most probably wrapped here.
You will notice that the script calls dosemu and not dosemu.bin, this is because we need to tell dosemu to open a dumb terminal and not display to a console or screen. By use of the redirection we redirect the normal console output to a file, here I have used /opt/mbse/log/dos/log as that is where all of MBSE's other logs reside.
Once "dos_maint" is run via the cron it will run maintenance on your dos doors, process inbound/outbound interBBS game packets and get MBSE to poll to send packets. Thats about all ther is to do :)
Have fun!
Rick Van Ruth 3:640/954 (ricta@ricta.net)

Q 1.1	Why do I have to install MBSE in the /opt directory?
A 1.1	The /opt is for extra applications, when mbse is installed there it is easier to upgrade the OS. If you insist on installing in /usr/local the choose /usr/local/mbse.

Q 1.2	What other operating systems will MBSE run on?
A 1.2	Currently only on most Linux distributions, FreeBSD and NetBSD. The author, Michiel Broek, has made a valiant effort ensuring that MBSE will recognize and install on the major distributions of Linux.

Q 1.3	Will MBSE BBS ever be ported to DOS/Windows or OS/2?
A 1.3	No.

Q 1.4	What does the guest switch in BBS user setup mean?
A 1.4	Nothing yet.

Q 1.5	How do I monitor as the things happen?
A 1.5	tail -f /opt/mbse/log/system.log or start mbmon.

Q 1.6	How to start mbsebbs from inetd?
A 1.6	This is described in the documentation of the mblogin program.

Q 1.7	I just installed mbse, now I get a Socket send failed error 2.
A 1.7	With a normal system boot the mbtask daemon will be started by one of the systems init scripts. If you just installed mbse you need to do this for the first time manually. As user mbse issue the following commands: mbtask mbstat open This will start the daemon, the daemon creates the default databases. Then you can use mbsetup to configure your new system.

Q 2.2	What is the purpose of the "Comment" line in the tic area setup?
A 2.2	The downlinks will see this when receiving FileMgr replies. It is meant only as a description for the filearea.

Q 2.4	I created a filerequest but mbcico doesn't call out.
A 2.4	You need to add a poll for that node to do the call.

Q 2.5	Does MBSE support fidonet via ftp transfers?
A 2.5	No, not directly. It is a matter of using scripts to translate the .lo (.flo, .clo, .dlo, *.ilo) files for each node, and copying the node's outbound files to their respective directory. Refer to 3.2.

Q 3.1	Posting newsmessages to the newsserver fails.
A 3.1	Check if you need the "mode reader" command for the newsserver. Set this flag in mbsetup 1.15.5