DOS EMAIL: The Bare Bones Solution

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DOS Email:

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The Bare Bones Solution.

WATTCP.CFG

bootp

  Bootp is a method in which internet software can find out basic server settings, such as IP addresses, without the user's intervention.

  It is only required if your IP address is allocated dynamically every time you logon to your service provider. If you have a static IP address then you should place it here, instead of the text "bootp". The address will take the form of 4 numbers separated by three dots, eg 123.123.123.123

  If your server does not support bootp, and your IP address is changed every time you login, then you must have an alternative method of loading the IP address into this position in the WATTCP.CFG file, such as with WATIP.EXE which reads your current IP address from the login screen.

  See the "Notes and problems" for more information on this.

  If you are not sure whether your service provider supports BOOTP, then you could ask them if they do.

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nameserver

  A namesever is a machine which converts URLs and domain names into IP addresses.

  You must supply one or more nameserver IP addresses here, since without the help of the nameserver, all your email addresses will be meaningless.

  This information can be obtained from your ISP.

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gateway

Your gateway is the IP address of the machine at your internet service provider which you are actually connected to.

You can obtain this information for this setting from your service provider.

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domainlist

Simply enter the domain name of your service provider here, eg "bigfoot.com" or, "globalnet.co.uk" etc. etc.

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EMAIL.BAT

Your COM port

  You must supply the COM port number, 1-4, which your modem is attached to. If you are using an internal modem, you must find out which COM port it has been set to.

  Your service provider will have no idea what COM port you are using, so if you do not know, or it is not obvious, then you are going to have to find the information out for yourself.

  Firstly, look at any other internet software you may have up and running on your system. Windows may be set up for the correct COM port, or you could look in the ini file of your WINSOCK program. Failing that you should run a few diagnostic programs to find out. You can try, MSD, or INFOPLUS, or more specific ones like FINDPORT or Fmodem, etc etc.

  The programs will give you conflicting information. For example, MSD lists COM ports in the order that it reads them in the BIOS, this can give the impression that Base Address 2E8 and IRQ 3 are equal to COM 3, whereas this combination is generally referred to as COM 4.

  If you are stuck and have no idea what COM port to use, then I suggest you try to guess it. Firstly try COM ports 1-4 in the /c option of PPP in EMAIL.BAT, and if that fails you will have to try the more fraught method of guessing the correct combination of BASE ADDRESS and IRQ for your system. This can lead to system crashes, so you should make sure there is no important data in memory, and that you are aware of your CMOS settings.

  If you are using a non standard COM port setting, replace the "/c" in the PPP line of EMAIL.BAT with /b [base address] and /i [IRQ number].

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Your modem speed

Just enter the speed which you will be attempting to connect at. eg, 2400, 9600, 14400, 1152500 etc.

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Your user ID and POP server

This field needs your user identity and POP mail server address, for the server where you will be collecting mail. (you hope).

bill@mail.suchandsuch.com

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Your password

This field needs your password, for the POP server where you collect mail.

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Your user ID and SMTP server

This field needs your user identity and server address, for the server where you send mail, it may or may not be the same as the address for collecting mail.

bill@smtpmail.suchandsuch.com

If you collect and send using the same address, (your internet service provider will tell you), then you may omit this line entirely from your EMAIL.BAT file.

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Your SMTP server password

This field needs your password, for the server where you send mail.

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DIAL.PPP

Your modem initialisation string

  Enter your modem's initialisation string. See your modem handbook for details. Your service provider might help you with this one, if they are feeling particularly charitable.

  If you are stuck, take a look at any working internet software you may have on your computer, and try to find the correct string of characters.

  If you are still in trouble, the string, AT&F&C1&D2, is something of a standard for PC computers. The &F resets the modem to it's factory defaults, and the &C1 and &D2 commands, set the modem into a state which many comms programs expect.



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Your ISP's telephone number

Enter your Internet service provider's telephone number, and make sure you get it right. Being telephoned by a modem in the middle of the night is not much fun.

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Your login ID

When you first login to your ISP you will be asked to provide your user ID.

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Your login password

Your login password.

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A page from James David Chapman's website. Located at: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jchap/ Site mirrored here at: http://www.j.chap.btinternet.co.uk
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