Huzzah! Finally, I got into BBSing. It's been only like 25 years or so...

I also talked to a Fido Hub and got a new Node assigned after I configured my Synchronet instance and networking accordingly.

Now what...?

(1) Configuring Fido Points
When using OpenXP to call my own Node, I assume I need to configure a Point (like .1) for myself as currently the one and only (yeaaaah... nobody I'd rather be.. lol) point. But: How do I do this?

(2) Configuring Areas (polling, providing)
Also:
My hub notified me that he already subscribed me to pretty much every area there is... however, how do I receive them?

(3) Using an Area Manager
Last but not least:
When trying to drop a notifier to Areafix (from OpenXP when calling "As Node"), in Synchronet I receive a mail telling me about this request but being unable to serve it as it is not configured for Areafix commands. How can I fix this?

Please bear with me, although I was calling into BBSes in the 90's and using Fidonet, this is the first time, I dig into really making sense of it and maybe even provide services to others. So I want to learn first. ;-)

Your help is greatly appreciated!

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■ Synchronet ■ Blue Sky BBS - Home of Innovation

Re: How to configure a Fido Point?
By: Mephisztoe to All on Sat Aug 14 2021 04:34 pm

Huzzah! Finally, I got into BBSing. It's been only like 25 years or so...

I also talked to a Fido Hub and got a new Node assigned after I configured my Synchronet instance and networking accordingly.

Now what...?

(1) Configuring Fido Points
When using OpenXP to call my own Node, I assume I need to configure a Point (like .1) for myself as currently the one and only (yeaaaah... nobody I'd rather be.. lol) point. But: How do I do this?

Run EchoCfg, then Linked Nodes, add your .1 point with the appropriate info.

(2) Configuring Areas (polling, providing)
Also:
My hub notified me that he already subscribed me to pretty much every area there is... however, how do I receive them?

You run BinkIt (normally via the "BINKPOLL" timed event, as already set up in SCFG->External Programs->Timed Events), which in turn will trigger the FIDOIN timed event that executes SBBSecho. All of this is setup for you automatically when you use the setup scripts referred to here:
https://wiki.synchro.net/howto:fidonet

(3) Using an Area Manager
Last but not least:
When trying to drop a notifier to Areafix (from OpenXP when calling "As Node"), in Synchronet I receive a mail telling me about this request but being unable to serve it as it is not configured for Areafix commands. How can I fix this?

EchoCfg->Linked Nodes.
--
digital man

Rush quote #19:
Rebel without a conscience, martyr without a cause
Norco, CA WX: 92.7°F, 29.0% humidity, 2 mph W wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

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■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: How to configure a Fido Point?
By: Digital Man to Mephisztoe on Sat Aug 14 2021 13:10:24

(2) Configuring Areas (polling, providing)
Also:
My hub notified me that he already subscribed me to pretty much every area there is... however, how do I receive them?

You run BinkIt (normally via the "BINKPOLL" timed event, as already set up in SCFG->External Programs->Timed Events), which in turn will trigger the FIDOIN timed event that executes SBBSecho. All of this is setup for you automatically when you use the setup scripts referred to here: https://wiki.synchro.net/howto:fidonet

When I use OpenXP on my Client and create a message for my own Area Manager sitting on my Synchronet instance to send me a list of available areas, then SBBSEcho successfully processes this message and wants to send me this list by extracting it from the areas.bbs file - which doesn't exist (yet).

So how do I get my node setup (i.e. synchronet) to request this file from my hub in turn?

(3) Using an Area Manager
Last but not least:
When trying to drop a notifier to Areafix (from OpenXP when calling "As Node"), in Synchronet I receive a mail telling me about this request but being unable to serve it as it is not configured for Areafix commands. How can I fix this?

EchoCfg->Linked Nodes.

Areafix itself is working now as stated above. However, I need it to exchange information with my hub as well. Right now it only seems to talk to my .1

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■ Synchronet ■ Blue Sky BBS - Home of Innovation

Re: How to configure a Fido Point?
By: Mephisztoe to Digital Man on Sun Aug 15 2021 11:04 pm

Re: How to configure a Fido Point?
By: Digital Man to Mephisztoe on Sat Aug 14 2021 13:10:24

(2) Configuring Areas (polling, providing)
Also:
My hub notified me that he already subscribed me to pretty much every area there is... however, how do I receive them?

You run BinkIt (normally via the "BINKPOLL" timed event, as already set up in SCFG->External Programs->Timed Events), which in turn will trigger the FIDOIN timed event that executes SBBSecho. All of this is setup for you automatically when you use the setup scripts referred to here: https://wiki.synchro.net/howto:fidonet

When I use OpenXP on my Client and create a message for my own Area Manager sitting on my Synchronet instance to send me a list of available areas, then SBBSEcho successfully processes this message and wants to send me this list by extracting it from the areas.bbs file - which doesn't exist (yet).

No, that's not really how it works. The list of areas (and nodes linked to those areas) is stored in memory when SBBSecho is running and not "extracted" from any file.

In fact, if you use the "AutoAddSubs" feature, the list of areas comes from your Message Area configuration (in SCFG) and not from the area file (e.g. areas.bbs):
http://wiki.synchro.net/util:sbbsecho#area_file

But in order to have downlinks (e.g. a point node that is linked to one or more areas), then you will need an area file as that's where downlinks are tracked. So you might as well create the area file (e.g. export it from your configuration in SCFG).

So how do I get my node setup (i.e. synchronet) to request this file from my hub in turn?

areas.bbs files aren't really a FidoNet standard and aren't normally "requested" or shared between nodes.
--
digital man

Rush quote #12:
Hiding beneath the sheets, got to try and fill the void...
Norco, CA WX: 70.0°F, 82.0% humidity, 1 mph NW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

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■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net