MSGID: 1:229/426 DFEB9E64   
   Incase anyone missed it, its been updated specifically for newcomers:   
      
   SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS   
   -------------------   
      
   D'Bridge is primarily a 16-bit MS-DOS application, with additional support   
   for certain Windows and OS/2 environments. The possibilities may be near   
   endless for computers but the following is a general guideline.   
      
   NOTE: References to Fidonet in these sections also apply to "Other Nets"   
         such as Micronet, FSX, Agoranet, etc.   
      
   CPU / MEMORY / HARD DRIVE:   
      
   The minimum requirement is DOS 3.3 and an "XT-class" PC or PC-compatible   
   such as an XT, AT, PS/2 or Tandy 1000 system. D'Bridge can run in 512k of   
   memory but 640k is recommended. As of this writing there is somewhat of an   
   interest by tech-enthusiasts for older or "retro" computers... judging from   
   the high prices for old hardware on a certain Internet auction site!   
      
   D'Bridge can run in 512k memory but performance may not be desirable. The   
   environment variable DBOVRBUFSIZ=80 should be set when running with only   
   512k otherwise Echomail processing may be disabled.   
      
   Certain Tandy 1000 computers without VGA graphics can be upgraded to support   
   768k of base memory owing to their unique memory-addressing layout. D'Bridge   
   will detect and use this extra Tandy memory if its available.   
      
   IBM XT's and first-model Tandy 1000's, Tandy TX/SX and EX/HX, or any such   
   class of older computer should have a Dallas SmartWatch or appropriate   
   "time chip" and fresh battery. Some add-on boards also install DMA services   
   for slightly better performance.   
      
   NOTE: The ClockSync functionality of D'Bridge is only recommended for these   
         older systems. On modern operating systems, please use Internet-   
         based time services, usually built-in and not necessary to set up.   
      
   If an EMS memory board and appropriate driver or EMM386 is installed, you   
   can obtain slightly better performance by setting the environment   
   variable DBOVREMS=Y. It is not necessary to set EMS settings on Windows   
   or OS/2.   
      
   The requirements for hard drive space is vague because this all depends on   
   the volume of mail being processed. It is impossible for me to guess how   
   much disk space you will need for storing Fidonet nodelists, packets,   
   messages or log files. A minimum installation should have at least 10 to 15   
   megabytes free. Busy Hub systems and large amounts of saved messages can   
   require gigabytes of storage.   
      
   If a BBS or LAN network is to be used on MS-DOS, it is recommended to   
   load the Microsoft SHARE utility to enable proper file/record locking   
   services. Windows and OS/2 already have this capability.   
      
   A disk-cache utility such as Microsoft SmartDrive or Norton DiskCache may   
   help speed up operation when running on MS-DOS operating systems. Care   
   must be taken not to set the cache size too high otherwise there may not be   
   enough memory for D'Bridge to run correctly.   
      
   If D'Bridge is to be handling large volumes of mail or forwarding for a lot   
   of downlinks, a Solid State Drive (SSD) or a "retrofitted" CF-flash adapter   
   board is recommended over traditional hard-drives.   
      
   OPERATING SYSTEMS:   
      
   If the operating system chosen for installation is Windows, D'Bridge runs   
   on and supports Windows 95, 98, ME, Windows 2000, 32-bit Windows XP, Vista,   
   7, 8, 8.1 and 10. D'Bridge can run on Windows 2.x and 3.x however the BinkD   
   subsystem may not function.   
      
   On 32-bit Windows 10, it may be necessary to enable DOS support via Control   
   Panel, Programs and Features, Windows Components, Legacy Components,   
   NTVDM. It also may be necessary afterwards to run a command prompt, click   
   Properties, and under Options click "Enable Legacy Console".   
      
   Windows 11, or any 64-bit Windows, and any Linux system will require an   
   "emulator" since MS-DOS applications do not run at all on those systems. On   
   Linux it may be necessary to acquire, install and/or compile BinkD sources.   
      
   No binaries are included for BinkD on Linux, Solaris or BSD systems but as   
   of this writing they can be easily installed via the appropriate package-   
   manager on those systems. Technical support is NOT provided for obtaining   
   the binaries or "repository" for your operating system.   
      
   D'Bridge also runs on and supports IBM OS/2 Warp 3 and newer, but has not   
   been fully tested on EComStation or ArcaOS. It may be necessary to install   
   the EMX runtime library on certain OS/2 systems. Ray Gwinn's SIO FOSSIL   
   driver is recommended for the best modem performance on OS/2 systems and   
   as of this writing, version 1.60 appears to be the best to use.   
      
   Technical support may not be offered for running D'Bridge on emulated DOS   
   environments, virtual-machines, hypervisors etc since this is not the   
   "real" hardware or environment the software was ever designed to run on.   
      
   (Continued in next message)   
      
   Nick   
      
   --- Renegade vY2Ka2   
    * Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)