How to setup a bbs using EleBBS
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Forward
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In this text, Ill explain step by step how to install and configure EleBBS.
I'm using EleBBS for DOS v0.05.g1 .. You can get EleBBS from www.elebbs.com
I'm installing from scratch, and only using one dialup line.

My setup:
  Operating System: Windows 95
  Modem:            33.6 modem on COM2
  Fossil Driver:    X00

Note: Since this version of EleBBS doesnt come with complete docs, I could
be wrong on some of these settings. Keep in mind, however, that I did these
step by step on my own system, and they ran the way theyre supposed to.
Soon as I can, Ill have Maarten Beckers (author of EleBBS) check over this.

Initial installation
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1) After youve gotten the EleBBS archive (in this example, its eb_005gd.zip),
   youll want to unzip it into a temporary directory. Unzip it into
   c:\eletemp .. 

2) Now, youll want to run the install.bat.. Run its like so:

       install.bat c: c:\dos\pkunzip.exe

   where "c:" is the drive you want to install it to, and
   "c:\dos\pkunzip.exe"is the full path and filename to your unzipper.

3) It'll unzip everything, make a few directories, and move things to where
   they should be.  When it's finished, you'll have a _very_ basic setup of
   EleBBS that can be ran locally. There's still a bit more to do before you
   can get it online..

Getting it online
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Quite a few utilities come with EleBBS. For now, I'm just going to step
through the needed things to get your system online, and accepting callers.

1) Fire up elconfig.exe .. Lets go to the "system" menu. Now, highlight
   "paths" and press enter.. Heres a listing of what Ive used..

   System      .. c:\ele\
   menus       .. c:\ele\menus\
   textfiles   .. c:\ele\txtfiles\
   msg base    .. c:\ele\msgbase\
   file base   .. c:\ele\files\
   file attach .. c:\ele\files\attach\
   nodelist    .. c:\ele\nodelist\
   cd-rom temp .. c:\ele\temp\cdrom\
   semaphore   .. c:\ele\temp\
   rearchive   .. c:\ele\temp\rearc\
   system log  .. c:\ele\elebbs.log
   RIP Icons      c:\ele\rip\
   telnet base .. c:\ele\
   node paths  .. c:\ele\node*N\
   utility log .. c:\ele\elebbs.log

   Of course, most of these directories dont exist yet, so when it says
   "so and so directory doesnt exist. create it?" say yes. When it creates
   the "file base" directory, itll also want to create a few dir's under
   it. Thats fine..  

2) After filling all that info in, hit ESC once. Youll be back on the
   "system" menu. Go down one to "site info".. Fill out that info.

   Name: (your bbs name)
   Sysop: (your sysop name.. in most cases, youre real name)
   Location: (your town.. Or you could put in "Some wierd place".. )

3) Now move over to the "modem" menu.. Highlight "options" and hit enter.
   Make sure that "comport" and "speed" are right, and make sure "answer"
   is set to yes.

4) Now move over to the "manager" menu. Highlight "message areas" and hit
   enter.. "[Unused] Local 1" will be highlighted. Hit enter. The things
   to edit and what they should be set to..

   Name: Comments to Sysop
   Read security: 100
   Sysop Security: 100
   Status: Private

   After making the changes, hit ESC.. "save changes?" "yes" of course..

5) Now move down to "events" and hit enter. Highlight event #1 and hit
   enter.. Fill in this info:

   Start      : 00:01
   status     : enabled
   errorlevel : 10
   forced     : yes
   days       : all days (make em all X's)

   Hit ESC to exit, save changes = yes..

6) Now hit ESC enough times to exit the program. Of course, youll want to
   save all changes.

Almost there
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You'll need a fossil to run EleBBS.. Not to mention, using a fossil is
*highly* advised. Personally, I use X00, but I'd suggest using X00 or BNU.
You'll want to get one and install it correctly. I'd suggest installing it
into your EleBBS directory.. It doesnt really matter where you put it,
but I say put it in c:\ele just to keep things somewhat organized.

For now, I'm going to assume youre using X00, and are going to use comport 2
to run the bbs on.

The next step is important. You need a batch file to run the bbs for you.
It'll help "automate" everything.. So, hop into DOS's edit.com and copy
this...


@echo off
c:
cd\ele
set ELE=c:\ele
x00 e 2

:start
elebbs
if errorlevel 10 goto maint

choice /c:yn /tn,5 Exit to DOS? (5 seconds)
if errorlevel 1 goto quit
goto start

:maint
REM put any nightly maintenance stuff in this section
eleuser -p -d90
goto start

:quit



Now save this to a file called "bbs.bat".. and exit edit.com .. Note about
this batch file. EleBBS exits with an errorlevel of 0 after a caller,
AND when you hit ESC to quit the "waiting for caller" screen (WFC). Not
sure why Maarten made it this way. So, in this batch file, I've added
a timed choice. After EleBBS exits after a caller, or after you hit ESC,
it'll ask "Exit to dos?", and wait for 5 seconds for an answer. If you
don't hit Y during those 5 seconds, it'll restart EleBBS.

** You can now run bbs.bat and start accepting callers! **
Oh happy day. ;>