Managing UUCP and Usenet ^{6th Ed.}

For all its widespread use, UUCP is one of the most difficult UNIX utilities to master. Poor documentation, cryptic messages, and differences between various implementations make setting up UUCP links a nightmare for many a system administrator.

This handbook is meant for system administrators who want to install and manage the UUCP and Usenet software. It covers HoneyDanBer UUCPas well as standard Version 2 UUCP, with special notes on Xenix. As one reader noted over the net, "Don't even TRY to install UUCP without it!"

Selected by Usenix's UUNET Communication Services for distribution to new customers.

1. How UUCP Works
• Behind the Scenes
• A Word About Modems
• Setting Up a Link
• Files and Directories
• UUCP Login IDs
2. The Physical Connection
• Building Serial Cables
• Configuring Serial Ports
• Communications Settings
3. Setting Up a UUCP Link
• Summary of Procedure
• Giving Your System a Name
• Who DO You Gonna Call?
• Dialing Prefixes
• Aliases
• Selecting the Device to Use
• Modem Dialing Instructions
4. Making Sure The Link Works
• Testing with cu
• Testing with uucico -x
• Checking the Log File
• System Status Files
• Testing With Uutry
• Correcting the Chat
• More Chat
5. Access and Security Considerations
• Creating /etc/passwd Entries
• Security in Version 2 UUCP
• Security in BNU
• Modes of Ownership of UUCP Files
6. UUCP Administration
• Contents of the Spool Directory
• Keeping Track of UUCP Activity
• Automatic Maintenance
• Automatic Maintenance in Xenix
• Polling Passive Systems
• Troubleshooting
7. Introduction to Usenet
• Newsgroup Categories
• Administering netnews
• Structure of the netnews Software
8. Installing Netnews
• Finding a News Feed
• Localizing the Software
• The Actual Install
• Modifications to L.cms
• testing the News Link
• Installing Documentation On-Line
• Registering Your Site
9. Administering Netnews
• Expiring Articles
• Trimming History and Log Files
• Maintaining the List of Active Groups
• UUCP Congestion
• Creating Recordings
• Creating Newsgroups
• Obtaining Additional Software
• Keeping Up to Date

1. Working Files
• Work Files
• Data Files
• Execute Files
• Temporary Receive Files
• Lock Files
• System Status Files
• Log Files
• Statistics Files
• Sequence File
• Audit File
2. Talking to Modems
• Know Your Modem
• modemcap
• acucap
• Dialers
3. More in RS-232
• 9 Pin Connectors
• Distance Limits for RS-232 Cables
4. A Program to Set the Node Name

This predates the widespread use of Internet. Obsolete today, but saved my hide a number of times. It doesn't even have an ISBN number!