To install an Alex server on your machine get a copy of the file 
"getalex".  Create a new user with the id "alexsrvr".  Then run 
"csh getalex" as root (or "chmod +x getalex; getalex").  This will mount 
alex and use it to fetch the alex.tar.Z as well as unpacking it in the 
right places etc.  This "getalex" script is new and so may have problems,
please let me know of any you find.

If "getalex" does not work, you can do a more manual approach by getting 
the file "alex.tar.Z".  To expand this yourself, "/usr/alexsrvr" should exist 
and while running as "alexsrvr" you should do the following:

    cd /usr
    zcat alex.tar.Z | tar xvf -

This will create a tree of files in "./alexsrvr" that looks just like 
those under the "alexsrvr" directory here.  Then follow the instructions
in the src/README file there.

If you use this source, please let me know.  I would like to keep a mailing
list of people running servers so that I can notify them of new releases,
or major bug fixes.  Even if you do not want to be on the mailing list
(very low volume) please send me mail just so I have some idea of how many
people are using Alex.

If you have any comments on how to make this easier to install please let
me know.  Also, I would like to know of any fixes you make to the code.  

Alex Versions:

alex.alpha.tar.Z   Maybe no known bugs but maybe not well tested.
                   This is is untared to make the alexsrvr tree in 
                   this directory.  Bad luck to take one less than
                   a day old.

alex.beta.tar.Z    Been through some tests and looks ok.

alex.tar.Z         Stayed up a long time and seems stable.


Alex is a one person project.  So the Quality Assurance department is on
the slim side.  The plan is to go for fast fixes of problems (no red 
tape to keep me from putting out a new release 5 minutes after you tell
me of your problem).  If there is no release at the moment then there is 
some bug and you should just try again later.  If you have a problem 
please let me know as soon as possible so that I can correct it so others 
are not troubled with it.  With the "getalex" script you should be able
to just say "make new" to compile the latest version of the code.

   -- Vince
      vac@cs.cmu.edu


For info on how to get a demo look at ../README

Master copy of this file:  /alex/edu/cmu/cs/sp/alex/src/README