





                                                     SDN INTERNATIONAL(sm)
                                            Shareware Distribution Network




                                                  Sysop Kit - Revision #12
                          Simple Guidelines For Receiving SDN Distribution




                           Published by The SDN Project, January 23rd 1996
                         (c)Copyright 1996 Ray L. Kaliss - The SDN Project












       This document is Copyright The SDN Project 1996 and the property of
       Ray L.  Kaliss as The SDN Project.

       This  document  in  not  public  domain.   It  is  intended  as  an
       informational  document  for  Bulleting  Board  Sysops  considering
       distribution via  SDN International.  This  document may  be copied
       whole and unmodified for that intent only.

       Official Policy is formulated by SDN International and published at
       The   SDN  Project   Bulletin   Board   in  Meriden,   CT,   U.S.A.
       203-634-0370.  Policy posted  online at The SDN  Project supersedes
       policy in circulation or of earlier date.




                            -= Copyright Notice =-

       SDN, The SDN Project, and the service mark of SDN International are
       Copyright 1989-1996 by Ray L.  Kaliss and  can not be used with out
       express written permission.  Files distributed by SDN are copyright
       by  their respective  authors.   The  packaging format  and  SDN.ID
       format are copyrighted by Ray L.  Kaliss.




1. THE SDN PROJECT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       The SDN Project is the head  quarters of SDN International(sm), the
       Shareware Distribution Network for DOS,  Windows and OS/2 shareware
       programs.   SDN  embodies  a  concept of  author,  sysop  and  user
       cooperation  through  the  shareware  concept  in  service  to  the
       amateur,   commercial  amd   Internet  communication   communities.
       Beginning operations  in January 1989, in  Fidonet SDN is  a public
       service, gratis, with it's origin  and organizational center at The
       SDN Project  BBS 1:141/840.  It  was the  first and is  the largest
       author-direct distribution network of it's kind.  SDN is a founding
       member of  the International  File Distribution  Cooperative (IFDC)
       and the FileGate.

       Shareware programs  distributed via  SDN are  copyrighted works  of
       respective  authors  and  can  not   be  changed  in  anyway.   The
       copyrights of the individual authors are to be respected.





2. REASONS FOR SDN DISTRIBUTION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       As a bulletin board sysop, how many  times in the past have you run
       across these problems and wished there was a better way?

        -  Users upload programs with files missing.
        -  Uploaded programs have already been configured by someone.
        -  A new upload is really a five year old program.
        -  Users report a download from your board trashed his hard drive.
        -  Kids downloaded pornography you didn't even know was there.
        -  Foreign callers are downloading encryption that the US Government
           says is illegal for you to make available to them.
        -  Someone posted a copy of dBase(tm) retail software as HOT-ONE.ARC
        -  Your posted version is an author's beta that he posted on his own
           board for limited downloading and testing only.
        -  Users pad their u/d ratio by uploading false files.
        -  Program quality is that of a seven year old.
        -  Program is so buggy you have roaches crawling from the floppy slot.
        -  Your lawyer told you that you had to read every copyright
           license in every archive posted on your board.

       There is a better way..  and it is free for the cooperation.

       SDN  distributions are  shareware programs,  sent  directly to  SDN
       International(sm)  by the  authors for  worldwide distribution  and
       posting.

       SDN distributions requires authors not to send pornography or items
       either  restricted in  distribution by  US  Government agencies  or
       copyright  limitations.

       SDN distributions are  required to be share-able  with others under
       the terms of the author's copyright license.

       SDN distributions are secured with  two tamper-proof and verifiable
       seals for the peace of mind of the author, the sysop and the user.

       SDN's  FidoNet  distributions  are  available  in  TIC  format  for
       automatic receiving, tossing and FILES listing updating.

       The SDN Project  is in periodic contact authors and associations
       to assure the best possible cooperation.

       SDN's distribution in Fidonet charges no  fee  to  anyone.





3. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       SDN  activity is  automated  file  distribution among  amateur  and
       professional netmail  capable bulletin board systems  using FidoNet
       Technical  Standards of  communications.   Distribution is  divided
       into many categories.  You may choose to  carry one, some or all of
       the SDN areas.  Requirements for SDN  activity to be enjoyed by you
       and others are few and simple.

        -  Receive  your SDN  files in form  a reliable source.
           FileGate, FileBone, Files-Coordinator, satellite, etc.

        -  Do not change the compression or contents in any way.

        -  Permanently post the  SDN kit (SDN_KIT) and  update versions
           when  revised  by  The  SDN Project.   It  is  the  soul  of
           the continuation of the network.

        -  Carry  the SDN  echo  message area  (SDN_CONF) echo.

        -  Let other sysops in your area know you carry SDN and make it
           freely available to  them.



4. ORIGIN OF SDN FILES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       Origination (Hatching) of SDN files is  from the SDN Project BBS in
       Connecticut,  USA -  only.   The packaging  format  use  by SDN  is
       copyrighted.  The  packaging format of  SDN netmailing  packets can
       not be duplicated, changed or modified in  any way when en route or
       posted for downloading.

       No one  is  allowed to  hatch any  files whatsoever into SDN
       "TIC" areas.


5. SDN FILES FORMAT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       SDN distributions  are in a  ready downloadable  archive compressed
       with ZIP  2.4g or  later, with  an .zip  extension.  These  are the
       compressed program files, just as  they were received directly from
       the author for public distribution.  Following BBS conventions they
       are  given a  name to  reflect the  program they  contain and  it's
       version.   These  files  can  be  decompressed  into  the  separate
       original program files.

       Each  file  is  secured  for   authentication  with  two  forms  of
       proprietary seals.   Secured first with  Zip -AV  security specific
       for SDN's use,  they are secured secondly with  SDNSeal(c) that can
       be tested using SDNTest(c).  SDNSeal has never been hacked.

       Any  recompression, conversion,  tampering or  hacking  in any  way
       voids  these  security  seals, verification  will  not  be  passed,
       rendering them  no longer SDN files,  they should not be  posted or
       passed on.

       Inside  each distributed  archive is  an SDN.ID  file.  The  SDN.ID
       format is also copyrighted.  It is a full ASCII text description of
       the program written by the author or compiled by SDN.

Example of Zip Archive Listing for watts20.zip

 Length  Method   Size  Ratio  Date     Time    CRC-32  Attr  Name
 ------  ------   ----- -----  ----     ----   -------- ----  ----
    400 DeflatX     267  34%  11-01-95  00:00  ad6791e8 --w-  FILES_ID.DIZ
   1416 DeflatX     330  77%  11-01-95  00:00  f4a8a1b1 --w-  REGISTER.FRM
    806 DeflatX     502  38%  11-01-95  05:15  cc1eb5db --w-  SDN.ID
   9386 DeflatX    4019  58%  11-01-95  00:00  8fb3305f --w-  WATTS.DOC
  54983 DeflatX   39699  28%  11-01-95  00:00  b2a494bb --w-  WATTS.EXE
 ------          ------  ---                                  -------
  66991           44817  34%                                        5




6. FILE ECHO AREAS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       In  Fidonet,  SDN  files are  distributed  with  accompanying  .TIC
       processing files.  With  the proper utilities each SDN  file can be
       fully processed and automatically integrated online.

       Here  is the  usual  step  of events  in  receiving  SDN files  via
       Fidonet.

               -   .ZIP and .TIC files arrive from your SDN feed.

               -   SDN.ID is extracted and posted to message base.

               -   File is tossed to the proper download directory.

               -   FILES.BBS listing updated with online description.

               -   Further mail processing for any downlinks.


       Upon arrival  into your INBOUND  mail area, the  SDN.ID description
       file can be extracted from inside  the archive by PKunzip.  You are
       extracting them  out of  the archive for  separate posting  and not
       deleting them from inside.

       These  should be  the first  batch  processing your  mail calls  to
       process  inbound  mail.   This example  uses  the  MAKEMSG  Fidonet
       text->msg utility.

     --- ONE.BAT ---
     :START
     FOR %%a IN (*.ARJ) DO CALL TWO.BAT %%a
     :END
     -------------------


     --- TWO.BAT ---
     :START
     PKUNZIP e %1 sdn.id
     MAKEMSG -$ -F"Sysop" -S1:141/840 -Csdn.id -Dd:\echo\public
     DEL sdn.id
     :END
     ------------------

       Next you can run whatever other processing you do to inbound mail.





7. EXAMPLE TIC.CFG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       The following  is one  way to  set up  your SDN  areas using  Barry
       Geller's popular program  TICK.  The example entries  are SDN areas
       in a TIC.CFG file.

      -- TIC.CFG --
      AREA D:\DOSTEXT  1-TEXT
           1:141/840 PASS *C
           1:141/865 TERRA H

      AREA D:\DOSBUSI  1-BUIS
           1:141/840 PASS *C          ( <- the node you receive SDN from)
           1:141/865 TERRA H          ( <- the node you forward SDN to)
      etc..

     -------------





8. ECHO CONFERENCE AND REGISTRATION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       There is only one SDN echo mail  conference.  The tag for your mail
       processor is SDN_CONF.   Obtain this area from  wherever you obtain
       your SDN file  echo feed.  If you  are getting your SDN  areas from
       Planet Connect satellite, set up this conference on your system and
       send replies  on your return  call to  Planet Connect.  If  you are
       getting SDN files via Pagesat  satellite or Internet linkage..  ask
       your net's  Files_Coordinator or Files_Distribution node  or around
       your neck of the  woods to see it you can  link into the conference
       somewhere locally.  You  should know how to  set this up so  I will
       not bore you.  Configure the area for REAL NAMES only.

       SDN_CONF  is  used  for  many  purposes.   Chat  regarding  SDN  or
       Shareware  programs in  general.  Important  notices  from the  SDN
       Project on files and SDN activity.

       When you  initially set  up your SDN  areas and  join the  SDN File
       Echos, take  a bit of time  to let us  know your BBS is  linked in.
       Many author's and users often ask me 'where are SDN files posted?'.
       Just pop me off  a message in SDN_CONF telling me  you have joined.
       (TO: Ray Kaliss)

       In this  echo I will also  pre-announce all software I  process for
       distribution by placing  a short description in the  echo.  In this
       way you can tell what programs to expect to receive during the next
       seven days and know that you might  have missed one if you have not
       received it from your feed by  two weeks.  You can then FileRequest
       it to complete your load.




9. LINKING INTO SDN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       There are  a number of means  available for sysops to  network into
       SDN distribution channels.

       The first place any sysop should look  to link into SDN activity is
       with their  own local nets Files_Coordinator  or Files_Distribution
       node.  Most nets  should have one by now.  These  nodes are usually
       linked to either the FileBone or FileGate file flow.

       You can browse  the nodelist in Zone  1 for the USDN  flag some SDN
       sites use.  Be aware that many regions  and some zones do not allow
       user flags.

       A  satellite  link  in  Fido form,  can  be  obtained  through  the
       commercial service of Planet Systems Inc.  or Pagesat.

       We are also available via Internet for them that knows how :)





10. NETMAIL TO 1:141/840
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       If you contact  me by netmail at  Fidonet 1:141/840 ..  be  aware I
       could go broke answering  all my netmail..  but I try.   So use the
       SDN_CONF echo  area to contact  me.  If  you must use  netmail then
       wait three or four days, and then poll me for a reply on hold.


                                 Have fun!

                                                     *ray
                                                     SDN Project Manager

/eof

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