Hi there! So, I assume that you are reading this because you are interested
in setting up a Macintosh-based BBS. Well, That's just great! There are now
so few BBSes running on Macintosh computers, that every new one that is
started up certainly helps our cause by helping to keep Macintosh BBSing
alive. Why should Windows users have all the fun? Right? :)

To help get you started, allow me to share a few things with you.

First of all, if you wish to run a true Macintosh-based BBS that runs on Macintosh BBS software -- and I don't mean using Windows BBS software on a Macintosh computer using a Windows emulator -- then sadly, there is really
only one choice available when it comes to free Macintosh BBS programs, and that is the Hermes BBS software, which is what I currently use here on the Armageddon BBS. In fact, the Armageddon BBS runs on a ten-year-old 400 MHz
G4 mini-tower running Tiger 10.4.11.

Well, to be honest, there is also the Public Address BBS software, but I personally don't recommend it for several reasons, even though I have used
it successfully in the past:

1. Public Address is considerably more complicated to set up being as it
is module-based, and is not one self-contained package.

2. Public Address hasn't been in development in many years.

3. There is absolutely no developer support for Public Address. Even trying
to locate the developer is very difficult.

So, assuming that you are going to use Hermes, there are a few things you
need to know about it. First, besides the fact that it is really the only
free Macintosh BBS software that is still receiving any level of development and support -- and that support and development is very slow -- the second point is that Hermes only runs in the Classic environment. That, of course, means that you must be running Tiger or lower, and you must be using a Macintosh computer that is old enough to still run in Classic mode. That
leaves out Leopard, Snow Leopard, and any system that will come after Snow Leopard.

If you meet the above basic requirements, and have an always-on Internet connection, then with a little bit of thought and work, you should have your BBS up and running in a relatively short period of time.

To help get you started, if you gave me your email address when you joined
the Armageddon BBS, then I can email you the documentation for the Hermes
BBS software in PDF format. While the docs are a bit outdated, they are the latest version of the docs that are available, and they actually contain everything that you need to know in order to get your BBS up and running,
and quite a bit more. If you didn't provide me with an email address, you
can either send it to me here on the BBS -- type an "E" at the Main Menu --
or else you can download the Hermes documentation from our File Transfer
Menu by typing a "T" at the Main Menu. That will take you to the files menu. The file name to use after typing a "D" at the File Transfer Menu is the following:

Hermes II 3.5.2 Docs PDF.sit

Important: Please make sure that you carefully follow the download
instructions that appear on the download screen after you type the letter
"D", or else you may encounter problems with the file transfer.

Now, while you can download an older version of the Hermes software here
from the Armageddon BBS, I strongly encourage you to contact the developer
-- Michael Alyn Miller -- and ask him to email you the latest version of the software, as it has some important improvements in it. I would gladly offer
the latest version of Hermes here on the Armageddon BBS in our files area,
but Michael seems to prefer that all new Hermes SysOps obtain the software directly from him, so that he can keep track of who is still using his software. You can contact Michael at the following email address:

"Michael Alyn Miller" <malyn@strangeGizmo.com>

As I said, be advised that Michael can take a very long time to reply at
times. He likes to joke that he works on Hermes time, and not on regular
time. :)

In addition, once you have your BBS set up, if you want to carry the FidoNet backbone on your BBS, then you are going to have to set that up with Michael
as well, as he has created a very unique, non-standard way of getting Hermes
to import and export FidoNet message packets. If you don't intend to carry FidoNet, and only want to set up a board for local users with local message bases, then you don't need to worry about this.

The documentation for Hermes is rather straight forward, but if you
encounter any problems and need help, your first source -- after the Hermes documentation -- should be the HERMES_SYSOPS FidoNet echo, which I carry on
the Armageddon BBS. It is forum number 18 here. Just type "18" at the Main Menu, then the letter "R" to read messages, and then the number of the
message where you want to start listing messages. I will be glad to help you
in any way that I can if you address your messages to me there. Or, you can address your messages to "all", and perhaps a few other Hermes SysOps will respond as well -- but very few. ;)

BTW, to learn how to use the Armageddon BBS, please also have a look at
forum number 4. I have posted a number of BBS usage tips there which will assist you.

Thanks again for your interest in setting up a Macintosh-based BBS. I hope
that the above information has been a help to you.



Jeff Snyder, SysOp - Armageddon BBS Visit us at endtimeprophecy.org port 23 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your Download Center 4 Mac BBS Software & Christian Files. We Use Hermes II


--- Hermes Web Tosser 1.1
* Origin: Armageddon BBS -- Guam, Mariana Islands (1:345/3777.0)