VUBBS(tm) Beta-3 Copyright (c) 1995 by Tycho Softworks.  All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION
------------

VU is the premier Tycho Softworks BBS application environment for use with 
Linux.  VU BBS provides a very easy to use window-driven environment
for your remote or telnet callers.  This package is divided into several
components which may be individually installed.

VU BBS is more than a BBS package.  It also provides a standardized 
visually-oriented system administration environment.  As a system 
management tool, VU allows you to manage user accounts, log files, ppp 
network connections and monitor modem activity, as well as providing a 
visually-oriented solution for software installation and updating.

VU BBS is also less than a BBS package in that many components and utilities 
found in this package may be used stand-alone and separately, or even 
with other BBS packages, as needed.

VU BBS prototype is provided freely for use by the Linux community and has 
been made available on a number of major ftp sites.  This is the third 
beta release of VU BBS, and the first featuring our visual application
installer.  If you are new to VU BBS, please read the remainder of this
document in its entirety before closing this window.

INSTALLATION
------------

When this window is closed, you will be presented with the installation
window.  You will be able to choose which components of VU BBS you wish
to install on your system.  Many of these components are provided in
both aout and elf binary format.  By default, the VU BBS AOUT BASE BINARY
package and VU BBS CONFIG FILE SET are initially selected for installation.  
If you wish to install ELF binaries, you must disable the AOUT binary 
selection.

* VU BBS BETA-3 BASE BINARY PACKAGE (AOUT or ELF)

This is the core set of applications that form a typical VU BBS system.
This includes the VU BBS system admin shell and supporting tools, the
VU electronic mail and news clients, the VU menu shell, the VU new
user account/visual user login, the VU doorway for inbound modem
connections, ppp-link 'ipdemand' services, dosdoor support, multi-user
party, the VU news system, and various supporting daemons.

* VU BBS BETA-3 CONFIG PACKAGE

VU BBS requires several .conf files to be properly configured once you
have installed the base package of choice.  These conf files are shared
between the elf and aout package.  The config file package will copy
default VU BBS .conf files and ask you a few basic system config questions.
The beta-3 config package will also install VU BBS news services if you
do not already have a c-news or inn system installed.

WARNING:  This package should only be used when installing a NEW VU BBS 
system for the first time since it may overwrite old VU BBS .conf files.

* VU BBS BETA-3 SUPPORT PACKAGE (AOUT or ELF)

This includes public utilities which can be used with VU BBS to fill
a few functional voids. So far this only includes 'uqwk' for packetizing 
news for offline readers.

* VU BBS BETA-3 ELF LINK KIT

This installs the VU BBS header files.  If you are using the ELF binary
package, this kit will allow you to link the with VU BBS elf shared
libraries and enable you to create your own VU applications.  Several
VU BBS development utilities will also be installed.

* VU BBS BETA-3 AOUT LINK KIT

This kit is used if you are using AOUT instead of ELF binaries.  This kit 
installs both header files and the various .a and .sa lib files needed to 
link AOUT binary VU applications.

When installing the base package (either elf or aout) you will be
asked a few questions.  These include Do you wish to have your system
'telnet' accessible, default host and domain name of your system,
etc.  This information is used to generate an initial set of system
configuration files.

Once installation is complete, you will be shown the list of currently
installed packages.  Simply highlight the VU BBS CONFIG PACKAGE
you have installed and press 'SETUP'.  This will take you into the menu 
shell with a choice of various VU BBS .conf files that you may wish to 
modify.  You can do this from the 'root' account by typing 'menu config'.

One you are done with system configuration, you may exit the package
installer.  You should now type 'admin' at the shell prompt and go
through the various system administration options to familiarize yourself
with VU BBS.

REGISTRATION
------------

There has been some discussion of our registration policy and plans for
the future.  Beta-3 will be a freely available public release of VU BBS, 
and future public releases may also occasionally be made available through 
various ftp sites. 

Currently, we are offering an annually renewable registration program.
This program would allow a VU BBS sysop to subscribe for one year, at
$45.00, and receive unlimited direct ftp access to updates and 
application source changes for that year.  A similar program for non-
internet connected systems through the use of quarterly disk mailings is
offered at $55.00/year. 
 
Our approach is that the committed VU BBS sysop will want to register for 
the purpose of getting updates and enhancements.  One can get a 
functional system and try VU BBS before 'buying' on any public ftp site, 
and one can terminate future subscriptions without a large financial 
investment if so desired.  Where else can you purchase a commercial UNIX 
BBS package, use it for one year, and then return it for a refund of the 
'unused' portion of the purchase price?  Furthermore, all VU BBS
registrations are on a flat per-machine basis and no deliberate node or
'simultaneous user' access limits are to be found in the software.

Fully commercial releases of VU BBS will differ primarily in packaging, 
pre-printed manuals and in bundling of additional services targeted at
commercial users, such as VU BBS telephony.  The commercial version will
also be available on a wide variety of UNIX platforms.  Pricing and
availability to be announced.
 
All VU BBS registrations are handled via:

Tycho Softworks
Attn: David Sugar
25 Cedar St.
Garfield, NJ 07026
mycroft@mnsinc.com

Make checks payable to David Sugar.  Please include a valid e-mail 
address as well as a valid mailing address so we may easily contact you to 
setup ftp access.
       
FUTURE PLANS
------------

This beta release is intended to provide a stable VU BBS platform from 
which we can expand.  VU BBS has gone through a very rapid initial 
development phase and three full beta releases over the last several months.
Beta-3 is, however, represents only the very initial stage of VU BBS 
development.  Active development for future releases is now underway in the 
following areas:

* LGM support of MIME e-mail and file attachments.
* News integration with uqwk.
* Sysop defined forms in the menu shell and mail system.
* Threading in news client.
* Drop-in libvu.so replacment for RIP display services.
* Multi-lingual resources and multi-national support.
* dscan support for cd-rom changers.
* zmodem-ftp file transfers for dial-up users through the internet!
* irc chat and World-VU web clients.
* VU BBS Telephony integration services.
* Hyper-text links in the text browser.
* HC resource files for use with VU context-sensitive pop-up help.
* 'mbase' conferencing system with text search and retrieval.
* Ports to other systems (UnixWare and SCO, initially).
* VU based BBS-lists and 'classified' advertising database modules.
* True 'tape librarian' services in VU BBS system admin.
* VU desktop integration of talkd notification, wall, and write services.
* Multi-machine 'who' and flash message integration.
* Distributed network version of 'party'.
* FAX support in 'modem' and lgm.
* Single real-time system monitoring screen.
* Ttysnoop integration.
* System admin 'report' modules.
* VU BBS multi-line voice services (under Linux yet!).
* Network/internet based software package update installation.
* Visual mailing list and news admin services.

If you are interested in contributing to VU development or multi-national 
language translations, leave e-mail for dyfett@aol.com.

OTHER TYCHO PRODUCTS
--------------------

* VU For Embedded systems development

VU was originally designed as a compact user interface for real-time and
embedded systems developers.  The VU interface has been ported and used on a 
variety of traditional and specialized environments including QNX (both 2
and 4), Linux, SCO Unix, as well as with embedded MS-DOS based systems and
micro-controllers.  VU is provided in source for these applications.  Please 
contact mycroft@mnsinc.com for current pricing and availability.

  
