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       MAIL NETWORKING
       ------------------------------------------------------------

       What  is a mail network?  Basically it is a set of  bulletin
       board  systems  that are capable of exchanging messages  and
       files   with   each  other  without  the  need   for   human
       intervention.  All  the discussion which follows relates  to
       FidoNet,  the world's largest amateur mail network.  FidoNet
       consists of approximately 10000 bulletin board systems, each
       of  which is assigned a unique "address".  A file  called  a
       nodelist   stores  all  these  addresses  along  with  other
       information  about  each  system.   Think  of  it  like   an
       international "telephone book".

       Being  part of a network has two basic attractions;  NetMail
       and EchoMail.  NetMail allows you to send a private  message
       to  any  user  of  any one of the bulletins  boards  in  the
       network at little or no cost to you. EchoMail is a method of
       creating  a huge message area that many hundreds of  systems
       can potentially participate in.  Usually all EchoMail  areas
       will  contain only public messages,  and are organised  into
       either  general  discussion areas,  or areas that deal  with
       specific issues and or topics.

       The net is organised into several levels,  which are usually
       based on geographical proximity.  At the highest level there
       are five "zones";  zone 1 is the USA, zone 2 is Europe, zone
       3  is the Pacific Rim,   zone 4 is  South America, zone 5 is
       Africa and zone 6 is Asia.  Within each zone are a number of
       "regions"  that span  large geographical  areas.   Typically
       there will be between 5 and 18 regions per zone. Each region
       is further divided into "nets".   Each  net  has  a   unique
       net   number,   and   the distribution of these nets is also
       based  on  geographical   and  technical     considerations.
       Finally,  within   the net are  a number   of nodes.  A node
       refers to a single bulletin  board system.

       To find out about obtaining a node number,  or an "address",
       contact  the nearest FidoNet bulletin board.  The sysop will
       usually be more than happy to help you out.

       Before  going  any  further,  let's  talk  about  the  extra
       software you will need to set up as a node. Firstly you will
       need  an  echomail  processor.  This is  the  program  which
       unpacks the mail you will receive,  and imports it into your
       RemoteAccess  message-base,  as well as packing up  outbound
       mail  that  needs  to be sent  out.  RemoteAccess  does  NOT
       include  such  a beast.  There are several other  processors
       around that will do the job:

            ZMailH, by Jason Steck,
            TosScan, by Joaquim Homrighausen,
            Gecho, by Gerard van der Land,
            IMAIL, by Fabiano Fabris.


       The  other  piece  of  software you'll  need  is  a  mailer.
       RemoteAccess  will  not  directly  communicate  with   other
       network  bulletin  boards,  so a separate program fills  the
       gap. The  two most  widely used  different types of  mailers
       are:

            FrontDoor, by Joaquim Homrighausen,
            BinkleyTerm, by Bit Bucket Software.

       Both of these products  are available on a  shareware basis,
       and  like  the  echomail processors,    will    usually   be
       available   on  most  FidoNet bulletin boards if you ask the
       sysop nicely enough.

       The  node  number  you are assigned will be  of  the  format
       Zone:Net/Node.Point.  This initial node number should be put
       into  your  configuration file using the ADDRESS  option  of
       RACONFIG. Don't worry about the AKA addresses at this stage.

       The next step is to set up your EchoMail message areas.  You
       will  usually be given a list of areas that are available to
       you.  Each  area is identified by an uppercase  alphanumeric
       name. As far as RemoteAccess is concerned, all you need is a
       description  of each area you plan to "plug into".  Fire  up
       RACONFIG,  and  go to the MESSAGE AREAS  window.  Select  an
       unused  message area,  and enter the area's name in the NAME
       field.  Next,  set the TYPE OF MAIL field to  ECHOMAIL,  and
       MESSAGE  STATUS to PUBLIC.  Most EchoMail areas don't  allow
       the  use of aliases,  so set the area  to "real names only".
       The AKA   ADDRESS line shows  your assigned node number.  If
       it   doesn't,   hit  RETURN on  this option  and  select the
       correct address.

       Each  EchoMail message  that is posted on your system  could
       potentially be read by hundred of other sysops and users, so
       you can put a "one-liner" at the end of each message. In the
       ORIGIN LINE field enter a short message. This should contain
       at least the name of your system,  and possibly where it  is
       or the phone-number, so that other users know where to call.
       Your node number is also appended to the end of the message,
       so a typical origin line might read:

            * Origin : RemoteAccess Central (2:270/18)

       Don't  put  the "* Origin" part in - this is added  by   the
       software).  If  you  don't  specify an  origin  line  for  a
       particular  area,  RemoteAccess will use the DEFAULT  ORIGIN
       LINE.

       If running  a multi-node  system, the  line number  that the
       message was posted on may be inserted in the origin line  by
       using the '@' macro character in any origin line definition.
       The  next  step  is to configure RemoteAccess  for  NetMail.
       Select another unused message area,  and call it  "NetMail",
       or something similar. Next, set the TYPE OF MAIL to NETMAIL,
       and  MESSAGE STATUS to PRIVATE.  NetMail messages don't have
       origin lines appended to them so leave the origin line entry
       blank.  RemoteAccess  incorporates  a  comprehensive  online
       nodelist browsing facility, which allows users to search for
       nodes  in particular zones,  regions or  nets.  The  section
       INSTALLING  NODELIST  FILES  explains  how  to  enable  this
       feature.

       That's it!  RemoteAccess is now fully configured for network
       mail.  Assuming that you have a suitable mailer and echomail
       processor,  all that is required is to set them up correctly
       and you're in business.  An explanation of setting these  up
       is beyond the scope of this document,  full instructions are
       available with each respective package.