roland@pollux.lu.se (Roland Mansson) (11/11/90)
[MacPost 1.0b2] 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. See the Release Notes files for info about bug fixes and new features in this release. 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