HAM Radio 1/HamRadio.cdr/misc/bbservm/read.me

Text File | 1991-03-24 | 8KB | 139 lines

BBSERV.EXE (c) 1990-1991 Freeman M. Crosby W1NPR  (SRQLAN)
==============================================================================
I just keep adding to the bottom of this so some of the early items do
not apply as the docs may be updated but this will give a little history
as to development to new users.

******** Look over QUICK.DOC if you are in a hurry ********************
NOTE ! several changes have been made in the program using ideas from
the present beta testers. Documentation may not be up to date so if
you have a problem read a bit more and check the latest dated files.

1.BBSERV.EXE is a remote file server for use with the AA4RE BBS programs
  from Version 2.11 (c) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 by  H. Roy Engenhausen.
2.It may be used with version 2.10 if the GL command is issued as soon as
   BBSERV has been run by wakeup.bb or manually if called that way.
3.BBSERV.EXE is a DOS program run in wakeup.bb at whatever times you wish
   using the following command EL BBSERV.EXE and in V2.10 with the next
   command line GL
4.BBSERVE.EXE may be run manually for testing or occasional use by the
   sysop.  EL BBSERV.EXE will run it from AA4RE's command line
5.Run SETSERVE.EXE first for all the documentation needed.
6.All the files supplied may be in the directory used by BB.EXE or in
  the path specified with bbserv_dir = path in parms.bb . In any case
  they must all be in the same directory & you must be in this directory
  while running SETSERVE.EXE
7.BBSERV will make the files it need to operate. You should edit required
  reply and trailer files to suit your needs.
8.Basic setup is to decide what directories you want to use, the alternate
  name the server will respond to and enter these as comment lines exactly
  as described in the parms.bb help docs.
9.Run it manually a few times , you can enter (P) messages to BBSERV or the
  alias, run it and see if it works. It should find the messages, reply with
  the files or text requested & reroute the messages from your station to the
  sender.
10. The first time it runs it checks all the files you have. After that it
  only checks to the last one it did. To reset it run it as BBSERV.EXE /R
  and it will do them all & reset itself to the last one again .
11. Send comments, suggestions, complaints to:
    BBSERV@W1NPR
    Subject? INPUT
    Msg? Regular message text.
11. Beta test users have their own DATABASE at W1NPR for comments &
    evaluation. One text file for each callsign is available using the

(A) Subject? U BETA
    Msg? Regular message text     ^z
    These are recorded in the BETA database for all to read.
(B) Subject? U BETA Filename.ext
    Msg? Your file or message text      ^z
    These will be filed in a holding directory for the sysop to review &
    index before placement in the database if OK


ADDENDUM    Several partialy documented features are in some versions like
the (DU) and (DU) Callsign commands. These would provide a nice service for
stations searching an area for a friend. He can request the Calls of the
users of the BBS. If he sees one he wants he can then request the user data.
Also the shadow features are being implimented slowly which will provide
automated updates to all the databases by the "OWNERS" when one entry is
made at the "OWNING" BBS. Each new version will require the setserve.exe
program for that version. Updates will be announced as they are tested.


****************************************************************************
UNDOCUMENTED TO DATE !
Version V2.11FM and above will duplicate the KJ6FY server DD command and
answer to REQFIL !
All you have to do is have a BBSERV directory named MODS & have all
the mods in it. That's all ,
*************
Version V2.11G
Corrected poor cursor location upon exit from server. Should look better
and be on your REBBS command line when done.
*************
Version V2.11H
Added bb_addr to the server, we had previously used only the bb_sign  and
found stations using suffixes had to make some changes to get the server
to operate. BBSERV will serve files to requests addressed to any of the
following on the left of the @ sign BBSERV, REQ??? or server_name
with the bb_sign, bb_addr or NONE on the right ( Action file BBScall = NONE )
Also added some .DOC files to the .ZIP , I admit documentation is weak and
there are probably some functions you do not understand, if so please ask
specific questions.

USERS OF BBINDEX.EXE
I recommend you run BBINDEX.EXE off line at the DOS prompt until I can
find out why it doesn't relinquish it's memory allocations when returning
to REBBS after operation using the EX DOS Command. I thought I had it
and it's much better but not good enough. You will note after using it
you will not be able to run other DOS related programs using EX DOS.
*****************************************************************************
Server Update
Any stations sending messages to the server Subject? INPUT  will get the
reply you have stored in INPUT.REP  and the message will be filed in your
BBSERV directory as INPUT.TXT in a IMPORT format addressed to your call
which may be sent to the BBS at specified times in wakeup.bb

Your BBSERV.LOG & UPDATE.LOG are also in the IMPORT format any will be
sent to you at any specified interval. See REBBS's IMPORT.DOC for details

We have added trailers for each database, these are kept in your
bbserv_dir and are named D1.TRL through D50.TRL and may be created or
edited at will. The server will create a blank file for each database
if there is none & a request is made for that database.
There is now a separate trailer called LIST.TRL & WHAT.TRL which were
previously the same file.

Vesion 2.11L UPDATE **********************************************

I have been working on memory conservation in two versions over several
weeks. In recent versions I had made a change from a DOS shell Dir & sort
routine for the "W" Dir & LIST DIR commands. These had dropped total memory
required by about 20K but were hard to handle if out of memory or stack
errors occurred. I devised a dynamic stack reallocation method & an INDEX
substituition  similar to the TOO BIG Dir listing. This worked well but I
felt after much testing I could eliminate a lot of code & potential problem
with a simple memory check when BBserv is called up. If there isn't enough
memory to complete the largest task it will just abort & log the error and
not reset it's last msg. checked. A simple re-boot of REBBS & it will
function again. Many minor changes and a memory available message has been
included. If this number drops below 7000 BBserv will abort safely & not
crash REBBS. This still leaves a safety factor of about 2k.

VERSION BBserv 2.11M     This was released prematurly to correct a problem
in messages > 32767. It incorporates several features partially tested that
I had started before the problem arose. It will NOT recognize DBSERV anymore
but you may program this in as an alias if you have users that are using it.
As I have been saying it's the SHADOW update command & BBshadow will use it.
I recommend you keep a old version on hand in case of trouble with this one.
This version makes an attempt to clone the REQ??? commands in general use at
this time as things shake out we will find what is needed & until then you
are free to choose whatever you like.


The best method for testing is to use the information in Quick.doc and
after getting it going adding whatever databases you wish and experiment
with the commands locally. EDIT all those TRAILERS to your liking.
73, & Have fun, Free, W1NPR >>