******************************************************************************
* Locke's   __ -based on merc v2.2-____        NIM Server Software           *
* ___ ___  (__)__    __ __   __ ___| G| v4.0   Version 4.0 GOLD EDITION      *
* |  /   \  __|  \__/  |  | |  |     O|        documentation release         *
* |       ||  |        |  \_|  | ()  L|        Hallow's Eve 1999             *
* |    |  ||  |  |__|  |       |     D|                                      *
* |____|__|___|__|  |__|\___/__|______|        http://www.nimud.org/nimud    *
*   n a m e l e s s i n c a r n a t e          dedicated to chris cool       *
******************************************************************************

Administrating NiMUD 2000
-------------------------

To properly administrate a NiMUD, or any other mud for that matter, you need
to have a rudimentary understanding of the code, the file structure that
the code uses, as well as a good basis in C.

Now here's a secret, that may not be that secret:  when I started programming
The Isles (the predecessor to NiMUD) back in 1992, I didn't know squat about
C or MUDs.  I learned everything I needed to by programming the MUD and by
talking with other administrators, looking at code, reading r.g.m.d and
other mudding forums.

But to be successful in any mud endeavor, you need patience and resolve:
muds crash, its a fact of life.  The code is far too large to "prove" its
reliability, so a mudmin must take the chance and let OTHER PEOPLE onto
his mud to test it out.  This act of testing provides valuable information
to the mudmin, because it is instant user testing, on unbiased users!


Security Issues
---------------

You should be aware that embedded in the NiMUD code are some calls to the
external shell, which could, theoretically, be a security breach.  You may
want to reconsider the do_shell() command, as it is a direct way for users
to fuck with your system in bad ways.

Also, be forewarned that a piece of MUD software does not have airtight
security code!  The original MUD I worked on, CthulhuMUD, was taken over
by builders who hacked the code and the account --- don't let this happen
to you!  Protect your code and be careful who you give immortal status to.




Locke
theisles@nimud.org