Explain autoconf before ./configure

INSTALL

@@ -14,43 +14,75 @@
    Config script. The Makefile has also been updated to include CFLAGS
    defines for popular modern OSes.
 
-   1. 
+   1.
 
        Read the NEWS file to find out about the exciting new features in
        this version. Other good reads are BUGS, doc/example.conf, and
        README.FIRST.
 
-   2. 
+   2.
+
+       In broad outline, this project uses autoconf, so the "normal"
+       instalation procedure applies, which you can go ahead and use
+       if you're already familiar with it:
+
+ $ autoconf
+ $ ./configure
+ $ make
+ $ sudo make install
+
+       If not, you'll want to read the rest of this document.
+
+   3.
+
+       Firstly, check that there is a file "configure" in this directory, and
+       if not, run
+
+ $ autoconf
+
+       If you don't have autoconf, install it from your distribution's package
+       manager, or get the latest version from
+       https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/autoconf/ and follow the instructions in its own
+       INSTALL file.
+
+       (Autoconf is also at https://github.com/autotools-mirror/autoconf but
+       there it lacks its own pre-built configure script; it needs to be
+       generated by autoconf, which induces a hole-in-my-bucket kind of
+       problem.)
+
+       Don't forget to come back here and start again!
+
+   4.
 
        Run the configure script. It will create include/setup.h and the
        Makefiles to match your system. In ircd-ratbox, the paths are now handled
        with the --prefix option to configure, not in config.h.
        /usr/local/ircd is the default if no prefix is specified.
 
-       ./configure --prefix="/usr/local/ircd"
+ $ ./configure --prefix="/usr/local/ircd"
 
          Note: There are some special optional parameters to the configure
          script that some admins may wish to use.
 
-          * 
+          *
 
             --enable-kqueue - Use the superior kqueue(2) system call as
             opposed to the default poll(2). This is currently only available
             on FreeBSD 4.1 or higher.
 
-          * 
+          *
 
             --enable-devpoll - Enable the superior /dev/poll support on
             Solaris. Linux /dev/poll is broken and will not work with this
             option.
 
-          * 
+          *
 
             --enable-epoll - Enable the superior Linux Edge-Triggered Polling
             system. This is currently only available on 2.5 Linux kernel
             versions or later.
 
-          * 
+          *
 
             --enable-openssl - Enable the openssl dependent crypto functions.
             This will allow CHALLENGE to work and encrypted links. On systems
@@ -59,37 +91,47 @@
             must specify a path with this option
             (--enable-openssl=/path/to/openssl)
 
-          * 
+          *
 
             --enable-ipv6 - Enable IPv6 support.
 
-          * 
+          *
 
             --disable-assert - Disable some of the debugging code. This
             should be used on all production servers for maximum speed and to
             prevent cores from things that shouldn't normally happen.
 
-          * 
+          *
 
             --enable-small-net - Tunes the server for smaller networks by
             reducing the startup memory footprint. This should really only be
             used for *small* networks, as this tends to be a performance hit
             on larger networks.
 
-          * 
+          *
 
             --with-nicklen=LENGTH - Sets the maximum NICK length. Note that
             this must be consistent across your entire network.
-   3. 
+   5.
 
        make should build ircd.
 
-   4. 
+ $ make
+
+   6.
 
        make install will install the server, modules, and tools in the
-       the prefix specified when configure was run.
+       the prefix specified when configure was run. Unless you've set the
+       prefix to your own home directory, you'll need to be root for this step:
+
+ $ sudo make
 
-   5. 
+       or
+
+ $ su -
+ # make
+
+   7.
 
        If you wish to enable the user log, oper log, and failed oper log,
        issue these commands at the shell prompt (in the prefix directory)
@@ -99,9 +141,9 @@
  $ touch logs/foperlog
 
          Note: If you use different names in ircd.conf, you must 'touch' the
-         specific names.
+         names you've specified.
 
-   6. 
+   8.
 
        If you are upgrading from Hybrid 5 or Hybrid 6, the config file has
        changed drastically...
@@ -118,7 +160,7 @@
        EDIT IT! There are still things that need changing in the config,
        including the fact that classes MUST be above auth/connect blocks!
 
-   7. 
+   9.
 
        If you are upgrading from Hybrid 5 or Hybrid 6, the kline file has
        also changed...
@@ -146,36 +188,36 @@
    DISCUSSION: There is a mailing list for discussion of ratbox issues,
     To subscribe, visit:
        http://lists.ratbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ircd-ratbox
-       
+
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                      NOTES
 
    The best way to get a backtrace of the core is to follow this sequence of
    instructions:
 
-   1. 
+   1.
 
        Change to the directory containing the core file
 
-   2. 
+   2.
 
        Run gdb on the binary and the core file. With an unmodified ircd-ratbox
        installation, an example command line is below (in the /usr/local/ircd
        directory)
 
  $ gdb bin/ircd ircd.core
 
-   3. 
+   3.
 
        At the "(gdb)" prompt, enter the command "bt"
 
-   4. 
+   4.
 
        Save the output of the backtrace command and send it to
        [email protected]
 
-   5. 
+   5.
 
        Be sure to save the ircd binary, the modules, and the core file in a
        safe place in case the developers need to look deeper than a backtrace