***************************************************************************
This information was prepared by Tom Butz, he makes tests over XT machine
              and explains the usage of some utilities.
***************************************************************************

>From: Tom Butz <100372.1036@compuserve.com>
>To: "Claudio Tantignone" <ctantignone@hotmail.com>
>Subject: >Latest write-up
>Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 19:28:31 -0500
>
>Hi Claudio,
>
>following is my latest write-up. Have fun,
>Tom.
>***
>  [MAIL_MX.HLP] - 31 Mar 2000
>
>  How to receive and send email using Minix on an XT with 640 kB memory
>  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>  The following is based on *my* system/Internet Service Provider.
>
>  1) You need this hardware
>     ----------------------
>     XT with 640 kB of memory
>     1 floppy-drive
>      OR
>     a null-modem cable to connect to another PC through the RS232-ports
>
>  2) You need this software
>     ----------------------
>     If you don't want to use floppies to copy between XT and the other PC,
>     you need:
>      MS-DOS INTERSVR.EXE on the XT (to connect to another PC)
>      MS-DOS INTERLNK.EXE on the other PC (DEVICE=INTERLNK.EXE in CONFIG.SYS)
>
>     In either case you need:
>      DOSMIN16.MNX, a 4 MB MS-DOS file
>      BOOT.EXE (an MS-DOS program to do: BOOT DOSMIN16.MNX)
>
>      plus the minimised version of:
>       DOS-Minix operating system for XT
>       PPP-driver (for connection between XT and Internet Service Provider)
>       SMR (to send mail)
>       POPCLIENT (to receive mail)
>
>      The above can be downloaded from minix1.hampshire.edu. Make sure
>      you get the minimised versions, XTs have no surplus of memory.
>
>      In the following I use <Enter> and <Ctrl> meaning the keys labelled
>      Enter and Ctrl. Don't type the <>, just push the keys.
>
>
>  3) This is how you start your Minix-system
>     ---------------------------------------
>     From MS-DOS command-level, say, C:\>,
>     type BOOT DOSMIN16.MNX<Enter>,
>     then follow instructions on screen.
>
>     You are user 'root' (no password required).
>     Once the '#'-prompt appears,
>     type cd /usr<Enter>
>
>
>  4) This is how you connect to your Internet Service Provider
>     ---------------------------------------------------------
>     Type cd /usr,
>     then type paradise.sh<Enter>
>     once you can see the modem's CONNECT-message, push <Enter>
>     then type thomasb1<Enter>
>     then type password<Enter>
>     then push and hold down <Ctrl> and push ]
>     then let go of ], then <Ctrl>
>     then type ppp_min.sh<Enter>
>     once you can see the second 'ready'-message, push <Enter>
>
>     Now you should see the '#'-prompt.
>
>     If you're a pessimist, type ping_std.sh<Enter>
>     to check if your Internet Service Provider is 'alive' (if the connection
>     between your XT and your Internet Service Provider is okay).
>     Wait for the '#'-prompt to reappear.
>
>
>  5) This is how you receive mail
>     ----------------------------
>     You need a working connection as explained in 4) before you rip into
>     the following:
>
>     type chkmail_min.sh<Enter>
>     once the '#'-prompt reappears, type shutdown<Enter>
>
>     Re-boot your system and look at file /usr/mail.in: New mail would
>     automatically have got appended to the end of file 'mail.in'.
>
>     IMPORTANT NOTE:
>     chkmail_min.sh keeps mail on the Internet Service Provider, for example
>                    if you want to pick it up again. Mail automatically gets
>                    copied to your system (to file 'mail.in').
>
>     getmail_min.sh deletes mail from the Internet Service Provider, *after*
>                    it automatically got copied to your system
>                    (to file 'mail.in').
>
>
>  6) This is how you send mail
>     -------------------------
>     You need a working connection as explained in 4) before you rip into
>     the following:
>
>     type sndmail.sh<Enter>
>     once the '#'-prompt reappears, type shutdown<Enter>
>
>     IMPORTANT NOTES:
>
>     A) Directory /usr/MAIL_OUT/ contains text-files (mail you want to send).
>
>        You write your own mail using 'mined', the Minix text-editor, like so:
>         type cd /usr/MAIL_OUT<Enter>
>         type mined hello.txt<Enter>
>         type The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog's back<Enter>
>         type Regards,<Enter>
>         type Joe<Enter>
>         then push and hold down <Ctrl> and push X
>         then follow instructions on screen.
>
>     B) Change /usr/sndmail.sh using 'mined', so it will send what you want it
>        to send. It should look like this:
>
>         #
>         /usr/smr thomas.butz@paradise.net.nz < ./MAIL_OUT/hello.txt
>
>         where the mail you want to send is in file 'hello.txt', that's the
>         one you've done in A). And you want to send it to
>         thomas.butz@paradise.net.nz
>
>         If you want to send the same mail to someone else, add a line like so:
>
>         /usr/smr 100372.1036@compuserve.com < ./MAIL_OUT/hello.txt
>
>         If you want to send another mail to the same person, that's how:
>
>         /usr/smr 100372.1036@compuserve.com < ./MAIL_OUT/hello1.txt
>
>
>         Now /usr/sndmail.sh would look like this:
>         #
>         /usr/smr thomas.butz@paradise.net.nz < ./MAIL_OUT/hello.txt
>         /usr/smr 100372.1036@compuserve.com  < ./MAIL_OUT/hello.txt
>         /usr/smr 100372.1036@compuserve.com  < ./MAIL_OUT/hello1.txt
>
>         Easy, isn't it? Keeping track of what you've sent/received shouldn't
>         be too hard. Just put the files in special directories,
>         say ./SENT, ./RECEIVED and ./PENDING.
>
>     C)  Binary files must be converted before sending them; and the person
>         receiving them must uncompress them.
>
>         *Convert* a binary file to a text-file before emailing it, like so:
>         uue infile.bin; this creates file 'infile.uue', a text-file that
>         can be emailed.
>
>         If you receive, say, 'infile.uue', *uncompress* it like so:
>         uud infile.uue; this re-creates file 'infile.bin', the original
>         binary file.
>
>         Note for Linux: uuencode in.org    in.wk > in.uue
>                         (copies  in.org to in.wk and compresses that one
>                         to in.uue)
>
>                         uudecode in.uue
>                         (re-creates file in.wk from file in.uue)
>

