====== Getting started ======

This section takes you from a finished install to your first caller. It assumes you have done [[v4:install:fresh_install|Installing ProBoard v4]], or upgraded a 16-bit board with [[v4:install:upgrade_16bit|Upgrading from 16-bit ProBoard]].

There are four steps. Do them in order the first time.

^ Step ^ What you do ^ Page ^
| 1 | Give the board its name, check its folders and decide who may join. | [[v4:start:first_configuration|Your first configuration]] |
| 2 | Start PBDispatch, the program that answers callers. | [[v4:start:start_dispatch|Starting PBDispatch]] |
| 3 | Log in yourself, then create your sysop account. | [[v4:start:first_caller|Your first caller]] |
| 4 | Open the board to the outside world. | [[v4:start:go_online|Going online]] |

===== How a call works =====

You only ever run two programs by hand: **PBConfig** to change settings and **PBDispatch** to run the board. PBDispatch listens on the ports for your services. When a caller connects it starts one ''ProBoard.exe'' for that caller, which gives them the logon screens, menus and areas, and ends when they hang up. The picture on the [[v4:introduction|Introduction]] page shows this in full.

Because every caller gets their own ''ProBoard.exe'', several callers can be on at once. Each one is a **node**, and the number of nodes is a setting you choose (see Your first configuration). Each node keeps its own scratch files in ''NODEDIR\NODE<n>'', so callers cannot overwrite one another's work.

===== Before you begin =====

  * Know the folder you installed to. It is ''C:\ProBoard'' unless you chose another.
  * Close any other program that listens on port 23 (Windows' own Telnet Server, or another BBS). Only one program can use a port.
  * Keep the Windows account that ran PBInstall; PBConfig finds your data folder through it.