roland@dna.lth.se (Roland Mansson) (07/05/90)
[NOTE: follow-up is to comp.sys.mac.comm
reply-to is to our mailing list]
MacPost 1.0b1 README (July 4, 1990)
===================================
MacPost is an electronic mail system for the Apple Macintosh. It
is developed by Lund University Computing Center as a Lund-Apple
Joint Project (European University Consortium). MacPost is
available via anonymous ftp at no cost.
MacPost gives Mac users access to internet mail directly from the
desktop. The client is very easy to use, and the server should be
relatively easy to setup for anyone somewhat experienced with
Macs, AppleTalk, tcp/ip, and e-mail.
The Client
----------
The client is an ordinary Macintosh application. It is used to
send and receive electronic mail. The user is automatically
notified when a new mail arrives, regardless of what application
(s)he is using. Domain addresses are used. There is a simple
Address Book that allows the user to pick a name from a list, and
send the mail to the associated address. Translation between Mac-
ascii and seven bit ascii works automatically in both directions.
The Server
----------
The server runs on a dedicated Macintosh. One server can handle an
entire AppleTalk internet. The client's mail is sent to the
server, and it forwards the mail to a well-connected SMTP-server.
Incoming mail is stored on the server until the user reads it.
Communication
-------------
The protocol between client and server is AppleTalk. Thus, the
clients and the server must be in one AppleTalk internet, but it
can consist of any combination of LocalTalk, EtherTalk, TokenTalk,
etc. Dial-in access is possible, if AppleTalk is used (eg.
Liaison, Shiva TeleBridge).
The protocol between the server and the well-connected SMTP-server
is tcp/ip. With "well-connected" we refer to that it must be able
to interpret addresses, and send the mail in the right direction.
The server uses Apple's MacTCP (available through APDA).
Required Equipment
------------------
Server: dedicated Mac, 2MB RAM, hard disk, ethernet card, MacTCP
Client: any Mac, System 6.0, AppleTalk 48
Client - Server Communication: an AppleTalk internet network
Server - well-connected SMTP-server Communication: tcp/ip network
Network Services: a well-connected SMTP server
Status
------
This release is reasonably stable. We are not aware of any major
bugs in it.
The user documentation is not yet available, but it should be easy
for anyone to use MacPost without the docs.
This is the first English release. We would very much appreciate
your comments about our use and misuse of the English language.
Copyright
---------
MacPost is Copyright 1988-90 Lund University Computing Center. All
rights reserved.
MacPost may not be sold or offered for sale, or bundled with
another product offered for sale, except with the express written
permission of Lund University Computing Center.
You are allowed to copy, distribute, and use this release free of
charge as long as it is not in violation of the paragraph above.
Disclaimer
----------
Lund University Computing Center gives no warranty, expressed or
implied, for the software and/or documentation provided,
including, without limitation, warranty of merchantability and
warranty of fitness for a particular purpose.
Distribution
------------
MacPost is available via anonymous ftp from pollux.lu.se
(130.235.132.89) in pub/mac/comm/macpost. StuffIt is required to
unpack it. Documentation is in text-only and MacWrite 4.5.
The server applications and the server documentation are in
English. The client and the client documentation are available in
both English and Swedish.
The distribution consists of several StuffIt archives. See the
file FILES for more info.
Mailing List
------------
We have set up a mailing list to discuss problems, bugs, new
releases etc. about MacPost. To join it, send a request to
macpost-request@ldc.lu.se (internet) OR macpostr@selund (bitnet)
To send a mail to the list, address it to
macpost@ldc.lu.se (internet) OR macpost@selund (bitnet)
To send a mail only to the MacPost Development Team, address it to
macpost-admin@ldc.lu.se (internet) OR macposta@selund (bitnet)
You are strongly encouraged to send all questions etc. to the
mailing list (ie. don't use macpost-admin). We also encourage you
to reply to questions submitted to the mailing list (send your
reply to the list; others than the original author may find it
useful). We may not have enough time to answer questions, and the
time we have at our disposal may be better spent on bug fixes and
new features.
Support, bug reports
--------------------
Send bug reports and suggestions to the mailing list. If you have
problems, please check your AppleTalk, the well-connected SMTP
server, etc., etc. before you ask us!
Roland Mansson
The MacPost Development Team
Lund University Computing Center
Box 783, S-220 07 Lund, Sweden
Fax: +46-46138225
roland.mansson@ldc.lu.se
--
Roland Mansson, Lund University Computing Center, Box 783, S220 07 Lund, Sweden
Phone: +46-46107436 Fax: +46-46138225 Bitnet: roland_m@seldc52
Internet: roland.mansson@ldc.lu.se or roland.mansson%ldc.lu.se@uunet.uu.net
UUCP: {uunet,mcvax}!sunic!ldc.lu.se!roland.mansson AppleLink: SW0022