wcNNTP is a UseNet news server for Wildcat 5/Interactive Net Server. The main purpose of wcNNTP is to allow users to connect to the news server by using any NNTP compatible newsreader. Users who connect to your system via wcNAV, or wcPPP can access any newsgroup your Wildcat system is currently hosting, by reading with the reader of their choice. Access is also possible via the Internet, or for other Wildcat 5/Interactive Net Server administrators to receive news via wcNEWS from your server.

wcNNTP was designed with security and control in mind. It has been designed to work with existing Wildcat 5/Interactive Net Sever security and user accounts. This allows wcNNTP to track users activities on the server so the administrator can charge for access, or spot abuse easily.

wcNNTP is NOT a replacement for wcNEWS, or for a UUCP feed, it simply offers what those connections do not. News can be brought to your Wildcat 5/Internactive Net Server system by means of wcNEWS, Satellite (Planet Connect), UUCP or QWK. Once the news has been downloaded to your system, wcNNTP will allow users to read the news, as well as post messages to the UseNet.

If there is a feature not available in the latest release version that is necessary for your system, feel free to send a detailed message explaining your suggestion. All suggestions will be read, but we cannot guarantee the implementation. Feel free to E-Mail: support@mlinks.com, or mail to:

Missing Links Network - wcNNTP
P.O. Box 80011
Bakersfield, CA 93380-0011

The unregistered version of wcNNTP has many crippled features. All restrictions and nags are removed once the program is registered.

• Sends a message to the administrator or user every time a message is posted
• Only one connection at a time
• X-header added to all messages showing unregistered status
• Only two security profiles can be set at one time
• Reminder every 10 minutes while the server is running
• Can only publish one non-Usenet conference

To register the program, please fill out the registration form (register.txt) that is included with the install and at the end of this document.

Registration costs for wcNNTP are as follows:

* Disclaimer: Free only if purchased with the wcNNTP registration. wcNNTP registration does not entitle you, the user to any updates or program additions or bug fixes. Bug fixes will be provided free of charge as long as development continues on the wcNNTP project. Missing Links Network reserves the right to discontinue the wcNNTP project without notice of any kind. wcNNTP will continue to be developed as long as the project proves profitable. Prices and availability subject to change without notice.

Send a check or money-order along with copy of the registration form (register.txt) to:

Missing Links Network - wcNNTP
P.O. Box 80011
Bakersfield, CA 93380-0011

Make checks payable to: Missing Links Network

wcNNTP is distributed in the popular Install Shield format to provide quick and easy installation. If you plan to run wcNNTP on more than one machine*, it will be necessary to install wcNNTP on the other computers. Simply select the option "wcNNTP Core Files" to install wcNNTP on a network machine. This will allow busy news server sites to distribute the load. It may also be necessary to configure your DNS server to be aware of the new server address. Popular configurations are to add a CNAME (canonical name) in the DNS server to NEWS1.DOMAIN.COM and NEWS2.DOMAIN.COM all to be resolved to NEWS.DOMAIN.COM. In most DNS servers it will serve a different IP address each time a client requests the IP address of NEWS.DOMAIN.COM. This will help distribute your load among the servers on your network. For more information on CNAMES or DNS configuration, consult the documentation for your DNS server.

To uninstall wcNNTP, go to your Windows control panel, select Add/Remove Programs, and select wcNNTP. Click on Add/Remove.

* If you plan to run wcNNTP on more than one Wildcat server a separate registration number is required for each wcSERVER. It is a violation of the license agreement to run wcNNTP on more than one Wildcat server using the same registration number. wcNNTP can be run on as many machines on your network as you desire, as long as they are connected to one wcSERVER.

wcNNTP was designed to follow the RFC numbers 977 and the Common NNTP Extensions by S. Barber, April 1997. wcNNTP does not support all documented commands of the NNTP protocol, however all commands for reading and posting articles are supported. The following is a list of supported commands.

For more information on commands, refer to RFC #977 and Common NNTP Extensions April 1997 by S. Barber

Operation of wcNNTP is very simple. First, check that you have the following already setup.

• Newsgroups configured in wcCONFIG/Conference areas
• Newsgroups configured in wcCONFIG/Hosts
• wcNEWS, Planet Connect (Satellite connection), QWK or UUCP account setup to download news

Once you have the above setup, run wcNNTP Setup and configure the options you see fit. For basic operation, run wcNNTP Setup, select the user profiles (Sysop for example) to test with, and close wcNNTP Setup. Now, start wcNNTP.exe. Start your favorite newsreader, (Outlook Express, WinVN ect.) configure a new connection in the newsreader. Select the option to login to the news server using a name and password. Use your Wildcat 5/Interactive Net Server user name. Do not replace the spaces in your user name with .'s. wcNNTP will take the user name as "FIRSTNAME LASTNAME" , it will NOT honor "FIRSTNAME.LASTNAME". Supply your Wildcat 5/Interactive Net Server password and click CONNECT.

At this point, you should be connected and ready to read newsgroups. If you are not able to connect, check your user name and password. If you continue to have trouble, send e-mail to support@mlinks.com for assistance.

Why use NewsSweep?

NewsSweep is provided along with wcNNTP in an effort to promote "clean" news servers. NewsSweep can be used to censor any messages configured by the system administrator to provide the desired environment for the news clients. NewsSweep can be used to clean "spam" or off-topic messages from the group. It can also be used to clean adult advertisements from groups where they do not belong.

NewsSweep is simple to configure and operate, the system administrator simple compiles a list of text that they want removed from the system, and NewsSweep will do its best to remove all of it. Sample killfiles are provided with wcNNTP, however the material provided in the killfiles is for demonstration purposes only, and in no way where meant to target specific material on the Internet. It is the belief of Missing Links Network, that all information contained on a Wildcat 5/Interactive Net Server system is sole responsibility of the system administrator, and right of refusal is also at the sole discretion of the system administrator. Missing Links Network highly recommends that the system administrator review all information contained in the killfile and it be modified to fit the needs of the system NewsSweep is running on.

Along with the ability to kill messages based on content, NewsSweep also provies a means to remove unnecessary messages that have been cross posted to more than one group. This allows system administrators the ability to cut down on the amount of disk space used to store duplicate messages, and help streamline the end users reading ability. For more information on NewsSweep, consult the wcNNTP Admin Guide.

The following is a list of user profiles used by wcNNTP. The profiles are used to track activity only.

NNTPCNTS	Used to track connections
NNTPBRED	Used to track bytes read
NNTPBPST	Used to track bytes posted
NNTPREAD	Used to track articles read
NNTPPOST	Used to track articles posted

All profiles can be modified by wcCODE, wcReports and displayed to the user using the Wildcat "@" code specification. (@USER.NNTPCNTS@ will display to the user, the number of connections the user has made.)

Future plans for wcNNTP include but are not guaranteed implementation:

• Ability to allow and deny IP address access
• ODBC for full newsfeed support, in and out
• Message size limits
• Message attachment grabber
• Ability to "Auto carry" any newsgroup requested by the user

Missing Links Network does not guarantee that any of the above features will ever be implemented in wcNNTP. This is considered a "wish-list", which items will be added and removed at Missing Links Network's discretion.

Support is provided at no cost on any wcNNTP product. Support will only be provided via E-mail to support@mlinks.com. Please include the subject key of wcNNTP in the subject of your message for fastest response. Support is also provided in the wcNNTP mailing list. Send a message to lists@mlinks.com and include the text:

Subscribe wcnntp

in the body of the message. This is an unmoderated forum, and proper Netiquette is appreciated. Missing Links Network reserves the right to remove anyone from the mailing list with out notice.