====== DOVE-Net ======

DOVE-Net is a message network connecting numerous BBSes and the users on
those BBSes together via QWK and Fido networking technologies((DOVE-Net nodes are networked primarily via QWK networking technology)). DOVE-Net
consists of primarily Synchronet BBSes. This is due to the fact that
the co-founder of DOVE-Net is also the primary developer of Synchronet BBS
software. DOVE-Net is not limited to one specific BBS package and welcomes
any BBS to join as long as their software of
choice does not interfere with the operation of the network in any way.

===== History =====

Two BBSes began DOVE-Net back in 1989. These BBSes were [[person::Digital Man]]'s **//Vertrauen//**((Home
of Synchronet BBS Software)) and [[person::King Drafus]]'s **//The Beast's Domain//**((Home of Domain
Entertainment BBS Add-ons)). The word DOVE came from DOmain VErtrauen,
much like the word MODEM came from MOdulator DEModulator(([[person::King Drafus]]'s idea)). It has nothing
to do with that species of bird or the symbolism of peace, but we have
nothing against those things either. It was a small network that needed
a small name.

===== Focus =====

Connecting BBS sysops and users without a lot of politics and red tape.
DOVE-Net requires no "application processing time" or "node numbers" to
be assigned. While the capabilities of DOVE-Net rival those of more
technically complex networks, it has none of the setup complexities as
reflected by the fact that many of the systems on DOVE-Net are managed by
first-time sysops. DOVE-Net allows (or rather encourages) the use of color
codes in messages (preferably using the Synchronet Ctrl-A standard, but
Wildcat, PCBoard, Celerity, Renegade, and WWIV color codes are also
supported in Synchronet BBS software and may also be used). DOVE-Net allows
the use of aliases, ANSI encoded messages (when necessary for animation)
and use of high-ASCII characters. There are no strict "hubbing" rules;
pretty much anyone that's willing to feed anyone else is encouraged to do
so. DOVE-Net is moderated only by the founders of the network so there
aren't different rules for different message areas that users need to
remember. Private messages are allowed, but when possible, routed NetMail
is preferred. DOVE-Net has very few rules, and the few that do exist are
often bent.

===== Rules =====

DOVE-Net has mostly been a self-moderated network. This means that the sysops
of DOVE-Net have decided when a specific message, user, or thread is deemed
inappropriate. However, today, most of the users of DOVE-Net are also the 
sysops of DOVE-Net. And when there are too many "kings", you can have chaos.
The ultimate "king" of DOVE-Net is me, [[person::digital_man|Digital Man]] (Rob Swindell). I don't
claim this title because I want to, but rather because I have to: someone has
to be "king" or NC (Network Coordinator), or whatever-you-want-to-call-it.

If a sysop has a complaint or suggestion about DOVE-Net, they usually e-mail
me or post on the "DOVE-Net Sysops Only" conference. The "DOVE-Net Sysops
Only" conference is the preferred venue for internal DOVE-Net discussion
(and test messages). However, this conference is not guaranteed to be limited
to "DOVE-Net Sysops Only" (some sysops do slip up and allow access to normal
users). So for the most sensitive matters, it is recommended that sysops send
me e-mail.

DOVE-Net has survived and even at times thrived for over a thirty years
without a specific set of "rules", but recent user activities have convinced me
that I need to "lay down the law". So here we go:

The following actions are not allowed:

  - Excessive personal attacks
  - Excessive use of profanity
  - Excessive off-topic messages
  - Excessive advertisements
  - Excessive use of capital letters
  - Excessive use of non-English text
  - Encoded, encrypted, or otherwise indecipherable messages
  - Fraudulent messages
  - Impersonating someone you are not

How do you know if an action constitutes "excessive" behavior or not? Compare
your actions to those of other long-time DOVE-Net sysops and users. If your
messages seem "out of place" it's probably because they are.

A violation of these rules may result in a warning, a reprimand, or in the
worst cases, temporary or permanent expulsion from DOVE-Net. Or there may be
no consequences at all. There may be no warning at all. I give no guarantee
of consistent, fair, or impartial enforcement of these rules. But generally
speaking, if you use common sense and don't abuse the network or the sysops
or users in the network, you'll do just fine. I certainly gain no pleasure
from enforcing rules and would rather everyone "just get along" and the net
continue to self-rule as it has since [[person::King Drafus]] and [[person::Digital Man|I]] created it so many
years ago.

DOVE-Net is not a democracy. You are not guaranteed "free speech" or
"equal opportunity". DOVE-Net access is a privilege, not a right.

The sysops of DOVE-Net Node BBSes are expected to enforce the "Access
Requirements" of DOVE-Net, as specified later in this document.

===== Conferences =====

^ Name                                    ^  Security Requirements (ARS)              ^^  QWK Conf #^
^:::                                      ^  Access              ^  Posting           ^   :::  ^
|General                                  |                      |                    |  2001  |
|Advertisements                           |                      |                    |  2002  |
|Entertainment                            |                      |                    |  2003  |
|Debate                                   |                      |                    |  2004  |
|Hardware/Software Help                   |                      |                    |  2005  |
|Programming                              |                      |                    |  2006  |
|Unix Discussion                          |                      |                    |  2009  |
|HAM Radio Operators                      |                      |                    |  2015  |
|Internet Discussion                      |                      |                    |  2016  |
|Pro-Audio Discussion                     |                      |                    |  2017  |
|Firearms Discussion                      |                      |                    |  2018  |
|Sports Discussion                        |                      |                    |  2019  |
|Religious Discussion/Debate/Evangelism   |                      |                    |  2020  |
|Hobby Corner (RC/modeling/etc)           |                      |                    |  2021  |
|Tech Talk                                |                      |                    |  2022  |
|Synchronet Announcements                 |                      |  USER NOT 0        |  2030  |
|Synchronet Discussion                    |                      |                    |  2007  |
|Synchronet Sysops Only                   |  SYSOP OR REST Q     |                    |  2008  |
|Synchronet Programming (Baja)            |                      |                    |  2011  |
|Synchronet Programming (JavaScript)      |                      |                    |  2012  |
|Synchronet Programming (C/C++ and Git)   |                      |                    |  2014  |
|Synchronet Data                          |  REST Q              |                    |  2013  |
|DOVE-Net Sysops Only                     |  SYSOP OR REST Q     |                    |  2010  |

  * Conferences are also sometimes referred to as sub-boards, message areas, echoes, SIGs, etc.
  * QWK conference numbers shown are from [[bbs:Vertrauen]], not (necessarily) **your** BBS.
  * Normally, you should have //your// sub-boards configured for "Dynamic" QWK conference numbering.

==== Security Requirements ====

If you have a Guest/Anonymous user account on your BBS, it **MUST NOT** have
posting privileges to **any** of the DOVE-Net conferences. This can most
easily be achieved in Synchronet by giving the "Guest" account the 'P'
(posting) or 'N' (networked sub-board) restrictions. When the "Guest"
account is created using the stock Synchronet ''makeguest.js'' script, it will
already have the 'P' restriction applied.

The //Access// and //Posting// Security Requirements shown in the list of DOVE-Net Conferences are expressed in Synchronet ARS syntax.

If a DOVE-Net QWKnet node (BBS) does not follow these Access Requirements,
it can, without warning or notice, lose some or all of its DOVE-Net access.

These security requirements are explained in more detail here:

=== Synchronet Announcements ===

The "Synchronet Announcements" conference is a publicly accessible
**read-only** conference for announcements from authorized Synchronet
developers (currently only [[person:digital man]] and [[person:deuce]]). No-one on your BBS may be allowed
to post messages in this message area. This can be accomplished in 
Synchronet by setting the "Posting Requirements" to "USER NOT 0".

The messages posted in this conference are also distributed as
an Internet mailing-list. You can subscribe to this mailing-list by
sending an Internet e-mail to listserv@synchro.net with
"subscribe announce" in the message body.

=== Synchronet Sysops Only ===
The "Synchronet Sysops Only" conference should not be publicly accessible,
except for users that claim to be Synchronet Sysops.

=== Synchronet Data ===
The "Synchronet Data" conference contains messages not intended for human
consumption (the messages are used to synchronize the global BBS List and
Match Maker databases), so this message area should not be publicly
accessible.

=== DOVE-Net Sysops Only ===
The "DOVE-Net Sysops Only" conference MUST NOT be publicly accessible. This
message area is for discussion among DOVE-Net Sysops **ONLY**. This is the
correct message area to use for "test messages".

This is **not** the correct conference for Synchronet sysops to post technical [[howto:support]] questions.

==== Gateways ====

The following DOVE-Net conferences are already gated to other networks:

  * Synchronet Discussion  <=> alt.bbs.synchronet [[USENET]] newsgroup
  * Synchronet Discussion  <=> SYNCHRONET echo on the [[FidoNet]] Zone 1 Backbone
  * Synchronet Sysops Only <=> SYNC_SYSOPS echo on the [[FidoNet]] Zone 1 Backbone
  * Synchronet Programming <=> SYNC_PROGRAMMING echo on the [[FidoNet]] Zone 1 Backbone
  * Synchronet Data        <=> SYNCDATA echo on the [[FidoNet]] Zone 1 Backbone

===== Joining =====

Please see the detailed [[howto:dove-net|instructions]].

===== See Also =====
  * [[module:QNET-FTP]]
  * [[bbs:Vertrauen]]
  * [[person:digital man]]
  * [[person:King Drafus]]
  * [[howto:dove-net|Join DOVE-Net]]
  * [[usenet|Networks]]

{{tag>qwk network qnet dovenet}}