Fido/FidoNet Specifications & Prices, June 89

 Fido Software 
 164 Shipley
 San Francisco CA 94107
 voice: (415)-764-1688
 data: (415)-764-1629

Fido/FidoNet is a software package for DOS based Personal
Computers that contains a complete Bulletin Board System plus a
fully automatic Electronic Mail system. 

Fido is the most popular Bulletin Board system in the world
because of its flexibility, reliability, and features; FidoNet is
the software that defined the FidoNet protocol now in use around
the world. The worlds largest privately-owned computer network is
based upon the FidoNet communications protocol.

Fido(r) Bulletin Board System:

	Absolute security
	Complete caller access controls
	200 independent message & file areas
	Complete Email and message commands
	Fully error correcting file transfer protocols
	Supports all major DOS/MSDOS Personal Computers

Callers, commands, message and file areas can all have separate
privilege levels and Locks & Keys applied to them; these let you
limit callers' access to any part of the Fido system to fit your
needs.

FidoNet(r) Electronic Mail Network:

	Completely automatic Electronic Mail
	Full error correction protocol
	Extensive time-of-day event scheduling
	Powerful message routing language
	Automatic message routing

FidoNet is an automatic "store-and-forward" mail system that uses
modems to transfer messages and files between 
FidoNet-equipped computers. Using Fido, you enter messages,
choosing the destination computer(s) from a list; later, FidoNet
automatically transfers those messages to the destination
computers. Fido/FidoNet will inform you when the message has been
successfully sent. There can be any number of messages pending to
any number of destination computers. FidoNet's routing language
and other resources let you control exactly how and when FidoNet
messages are sent. All transfers use error correction for
absolute reliability (Fido supports both the original and
universal FidoNet protocol, as well as the WaZoo protocol,
developed by Wynn Wagner).

FidoNet networks can be organized into "Nets" and "Regions"
(FidoNet also has "Zones", groups of Nets and Regions, that
handle the problems of intercontinental traffic; differences in
time zones, incompatible modems, outgoing "gateways" for lowest
cost, and so on), each of which can contain any number of
computers running the Fido/FidoNet software, or compatibles,
(nodes) one of which is designated Host for the Net. A Host
receives mail for the entire Net, and distributes the mail to its
local nodes. FidoNet is intelligent enough to send all messages
for a given net in one phone call; you can get further efficiency
with the routing language. 

FidoNet networks can be as small as two or three computers, or as
large as 5,000 spread over five continents, the size of the
amateur hobbyist IFNA Network as of January, 1989.

System Description

Ease of use: Fido/FidoNet is extremely easy to use, and is
compatible with just about any users terminal program or
computer. The user interface does not get in the way of
communicating; there are only two levels of menus. Users see only
what they need; novices find an easy to understand selection of
simple commands, and experts can choose a brief prompt. Context
sensitive help is available at all decision points.

Reliability: Fido/FidoNet is designed first and foremost for
reliability, meaning it will run 24 hours a day for months at a
time with no human intervention. (Obviously this doesn't include
responding to callers questions or other such things.) Tools are
provided that handle all routine maintenance tasks automatically.

Performance: Fido/FidoNet makes excellent use of ordinary
computers; "PC class" computers are all that's needed. ("AT
class" or better are recommended at 9600 baud and above.)

More than one modem: While Fido/FidoNet supports only one modem,
you can run more than one copy of Fido/FidoNet per computer using
multitasker programs. Fido/FidoNet prevents file and message
"collisions" when there are other users reading and writing the
same messages and downloading or uploading files, and for some
multitaskers will give unused CPU time to the other Fido/FidoNet.
See "Supported Operating Systems" for the current list of
supported multitaskers.

Low disk space overhead: A 20 Megabyte hard disk means
essentially unlimited space; room for thousands of messages,
files, a 4,000+ node FidoNet network, and plenty of disk space
left over.

For a sample "small scale" system, with only two 360K floppies
and 256K of memory, there is room for all of the basic
Fido/FidoNet system utilities plus your text editor and other
tools, over 200 messages, and close to 100K bytes free. The same
system with a 1,600 node FidoNet Network can have approximately
80 messages. 

Modem Handling: Fido/FidoNet achieves extremely high reliability
with ordinary modems. During idle periods, Fido/FidoNet "talks
to" the modem to make sure it is ready and working. (While of
course modems are not supposed to misbehave, in real life they
can get confused by callers' strange and incompatible modems,
improper operation, bad phone lines, and the very cheap modems
frequently have firmware bugs. Fido/FidoNet generally takes care
of all of these things. Almost all problems reported to Fido
Software are modem-related problems!) Incoming callers' baud rate
is determined automatically; callers do not have to hit the
"ENTER" key to get the systems attention. Outgoing calls made by
FidoNet (if so enabled) watch for busy, no-dial-tone, and other
features as supported by each modem.

Caller DataBase: Each caller to the system has a record in a
database that maintains each callers name, password, terminal-
specific settings, privilege levels and controls, and various
statistics. Tools provided manipulate these records both manually
and automatically. The number of callers is limited only by disk
space.

System Messages and Bulletins: Fido/FidoNet uses ordinary text
files for most system messages and bulletins, that are meant to
be customized for your installation. When displaying and entering
text, the Fido takes into account each callers terminal settings,
such as screen width and length, and performs on-screen
formatting for a clean display.

Access Controls: There are six privilege levels that callers can
be assigned. You can specify minimum privilege levels needed to
access commands and message and file areas.

In addition to privilege levels, there are 32 "locks" with
matching "keys". Locks are be applied to things such as commands
and message and file areas; callers may be given any number of
keys. Callers can access only those things for which they have
all of the matching keys, plus meet the privilege level
requirements. For example, if the E)nter-Message command has lock
#20 applied, only callers that have Key #20, plus any necessary
minimum privilege levels, can use, see or get help with that
command.

Limits can be placed on each callers' connect-time on the system
per-call and per-24-hour period, and on file downloads. Time
limits are enforced at all times, including file download and
upload, so that scheduled Events are not preempted by caller file
downloads or uploads. ("Optional" events, described elsewhere,
may be preempted by human callers.)

Context-Sensitive Help System: Help is 
context-sensitive, taking into account what commands the caller
has access to because of privilege levels or locks and keys. Help
is available on every command in the system. The Help files are
text files that can be customized to fit your specific needs.

Message Areas: There can be up to 200 separate message areas,
each with access controls as described above. The number of
messages in each area is limited only by disk space. Callers can
enter new messages, modify existing saved messages, search for
messages by keyword or as addressed to or from them, and perform
many other operations upon messages. Help is available at all
decision points. 

File Areas: There can be up to 200 independent file areas, with
access controls as described earlier. There are a number of ways
in which to make files available (or not) to callers. Commands
and functions have been added to make remote maintenance of file
areas and other parts of the disk easier for the system operator.
Files can be uploaded and downloaded in ASCII, ZMODEM, XMODEM,
Telink, "MODEM BATCH" or Kermit protocols. XMODEM is nearly
universal, and can handle binary files; ZMODEM has performance to
match high-performance modems; Kermit and ASCII are used between
otherwise-incompatible computers.

Fido Software's "FidoTerm" program works well with Fido/FidoNet
(or any other modem based system).

Programmed events: There can be up to 100 "Events", scheduled to
run at any time of the day and any day of the week. Events allow
Fido/FidoNet to run FidoNet network mail, execute external
programs via DOS Batch Files, and other events for various
special purposes. The events system can handle simultaneous
and/or overlapping events, special "optional" events, and
combinations of events and special characteristics. ("Optional"
events can be used, for example, to simulate "background" FidoNet
network activity while no caller is otherwise occupying the
system.)

FidoNet mail at any time: Fido/FidoNet can send or receive mail
to and from other Fido/FidoNet systems at any time a caller is
not occupying the system, as well as during scheduled FidoNet
Network Events. Optionally, Fido/FidoNet can execute external
programs via a DOS Batch File to do special processing of
unscheduled Incoming Mail.

Other Features & Enhancements: You can sign in to the system from
the local keyboard, as if you had called in remotely with a
modem, without "taking down" the system. Upcoming events can be
listed, and previously-run events can be reenabled from the local
keyboard.

Fido works with external "shell" programs to allow programmers
and "aftermarket" add-on programs to work with Fido/FidoNet.
Technical information is available in the manual. (External
"shell" support programs are not supplied by Fido Software.)

Customization

Fido/FidoNet parameters, lists of events, command names, and
message and file area definitions are contained in ordinary text
files you can display and change with your own text editor
program.  Message and file areas are defined in one text file;
the Fido/FidoNet system takes care of all the work of creating
and verifying the actual DOS subdirectories used. Commands are in
their own text file, along with any privilege levels and locks.
You can change command names to any single word you choose.

Programs Supplied with Fido/FidoNet

The following are some of the programs supplied as part of the
standard Fido/FidoNet system package. In addition, there are many
"aftermarket" programs from other authors that make using and
maintaining Fido/FidoNet easier and more powerful. 

You can schedule Events in Fido/FidoNet to execute these or other
programs at any time, using an MSDOS Batch File you create to
make your system completely or partially automatic.

MSGMGR.EXE: (the Message Manager) performs routine maintenance on
messages within Fido/FidoNet Message Areas, such as purging
messages by age, and renumbering messages so they are sequential.
MSGMGR has it's own text file of commands that tells it what to
do. 

SYSOP.EXE: is a database-like tool for managing the caller
database that contains the names, passwords and statistics and
other information on each caller. You can enter new callers,
delete existing callers one by one or by time since last logged
in; set caller privilege level and assign Keys; force callers
into specific message and file areas; and many more functions.
There is also an "undo" feature and context sensitive help.

FIDOMAIL.EXE: lets you create FidoNet network messages with your
own text editor or word processor. For example, during the day
you can create text files destined for other FidoNet network
nodes, and via an Event, have AutoMail put them into the FidoNet
message system.

TWIX.EXE: prints FidoNet network mail newly received on your
printer or in a disk file you specify.

Requirements and Specifications

Computers: Fido/FidoNet works on all IBM(r) Personal Computers;
PC, XT, AT, all PS/2 models, and all compatible "clones", whether
8088, 8086, 80286, 80386. (A "FOSSIL" version is available for
other non-compatible MSDOS computers.)

Your computer must have at least the following:

	192K available memory
	At least 700K of disk storage
	One Serial Port (or internal modem)
	Modem as described below

The following are strongly recommended:

	Hard disk
	Internal Clock

Modems: The following are explicitly supported by Fido/FidoNet;
other "Hayes compatible" (The phrase "Hayes compatible" is just
about meaningless, "AT" command compatibility is not enough;
there are other more important and subtle variables.) modems
usually work, but models not listed below are not guaranteed by
Fido Software to work. (Fido/FidoNet does allow you to customize
modem installations.)

	Hayes SmartModem 1200
	Everex Internal & External models
	U.S. Robotics Courier 2400
	U.S. Robotics Courier HST
	Hayes SmartModem V-series
	Telebit TrailBlazer and Plus
	Multi-Tech 2400
	Prentice POPCOM 1200 or 2400
	Most other "Hayes compatible" modems
	"Dumb" modems (FidoNet cannot be used)
	Direct connect to PBX or special serial device

Operating Systems Supported: MSDOS/PCDOS versions 2.00 and up,
with most Local Area Networks (ViaNet, Novell Netware, etc) most
multitasker programs (DoubleDOS, DESQView, Multilink, etc) and
multiprocessor hardware products (Alloy Computer Products' Slave
Cards); please contact the manufacturers of those products for
details.

Fido/FidoNet is specifically DoubleDOS and DESQView aware. 


Software Policy

This is the new (June 1989) software policy for the Fido/FidoNet
package. Please read it carefully. 

First, some definitions:

Hobbyists run BBSs for their own personal reasons. Their BBS is
not associated with their employer or any business. How they run
their BBS is none of my business, ie. private, public,
subscription or chattel slavery.

Commercial users are companies, corporations, proprietorships or
any other business entities that run a BBS, either publicly or
privately, associated with their business. "Non-profit" and "not
for profit" organizations are included in this category. 

And here's the deal:

Hobbiests and Individuals: Fido/FidoNet is shareware; you can
download the software itself, minus documentation, from the Fido
Software BBS. There is no downloadable documentation. (If you
thought the version 11 docs were unwieldy...) I will provide no
direct support. Hobbyists can receive the complete package
(diskettes and documentation) for a reduced price, as listed on
the price sheet.

Commercial Users: Fido/FidoNet is an ordinary licensable product,
the license fee is as it has been for two years. You will receive
the complete package of diskettes, complete documentation, and
support via the Fido Software BBS and voice telephone. (This has
proved to be more than adequate for over two years.)

It is common practice that commercial users "try out"
Fido/FidoNet as "shareware" first. There is nothing wrong with
this as long as if the software has been or will be useful to
you, the product is licensed immediately.

Special arrangements can be made on a case by case basis. In all
cases, bugs are fixed promptly, as they have been for five years.
This is basically the policy that was in force 1985 through 1987,
and worked very well; people appreciate being trusted, and
Fido/FidoNet is an extremely high quality system.

"Shareware" Distributors: I do not wish Fido/FidoNet to be
distributed by "shareware distributors", "libraries" or other
similar organizations. The problems are too numerous to count:
shipping ancient, incomplete versions; missing critical files;
giving out incorrect information regarding support; giving bad
operating advice, etc. Never mind the fact that they are using
the software for profit, regardless of claims to the otherwise
and suggesting that their customers pay instead.

Ordering


Fido/FidoNet Version 12 Commercial price:		$175
Hobbiest price: 					$50.00

Complete Fido/FidoNet system license, including support programs,
diskette, manuals, telephone support and extended access to the
Fido Software customer support bulletin board.

Fido/FidoNet Version 12 program update			$25

When enhancements to Fido/FidoNet version 12 are made (bugs
fixed, features added) customers may upgrade their current
licensed Version 12 software to the latest revision; the original
diskette must be returned to in order to qualify. Errata sheets
are provided as necessary.

Fido/FidoNet upgrade from previous versions		$50

Fido Software customers who licensed any previous version number
of Fido/FidoNet directly from Fido Software can upgrade to
version 12 for this price; the original diskette must be
returned. NOTE: This is not a normal "program update", as
described above, because of the new materials that must be
provided.

FidoTerm Terminal Program				$12

The FidoTerm program is a simple, powerful and easy to use
terminal program. You can view the last few hundred lines that
scrolled off the top of your screen; supports powerful file
transfer protocols (ASCII, Xmodem, Zmodem), and has a true script
language with true programming language constructs: a switch()
statement, local variables, subroutining and recursion. Comes
complete with printed manual.

FidoTerm is well integrated into Fido/FidoNet; it may be invoked
from Fido's local console, and will "know" about the installed
modem type and port, and recently-added commands let you dial
from a FidoNet nodelist.

All orders: The software is available directly from Fido Software
or authorized distributors only. Terms: Prepaid with order, or
invoices accepted from rated companies, payment Net 30 days. No
credit cards accepted.

US/Canada: All orders are shipped U.S. Postal Service First Class
(Priority Mail). Prices listed include shipping and taxes, where
applicable. For Federal Express next-
day service add $25. 

Outside US/Canada: For checks written outside U.S., add $20.00
per order; please, only checks "drawn upon a US bank". All orders
shipped Air Mail.

Fido, FidoNet, and the dog-with-diskette are registered
trademarks of Tom Jennings. Fido/FidoNet and all support programs
are copyright by Tom Jennings 1989