OS/2 Shareware BBS: 2 BBS/02-BBS.zip/v611docs.zip/VMAIN611.ZIP/V-E

Text File | 1993-10-08 | 12KB | 223 lines

                                             VBBS 6.11 Documentation -- E-1


         ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
         ║ APPENDIX E -- RUNNING VBBS ON A LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)       ║
         ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

         General
         ═══════

              With a LAN (Local Area Network), you don't need multitasking
         software.  However, use of a LAN does not preclude the use of
         multitasking software.

              When using a LAN, workstations (and the server, if non-dedicated)
         can be used to run one copy of VBBS each.  Each copy, of course,
         must run on its own unique channel number.

              One of the advantages of a LAN setup is that hardware-wise, the
         maximum COM port limitation disappears. Thus, there are versions
         of VBBS up to 64 users, intended for LAN installations. Versions
         supporting more than 64 users are available by special request.

              Another advantage is that you can run the many inexpensive games,
         doors, transfer protocols, etc. already available because no
         special COM handling is needed.

              Often, the cost of networking software and hardware is easily
         offset when one considers that most of the PCs on the network
         will not require a hard drive - only the file server, whose hard
         drive is shared with all of its clients.  Additionally, data
         security becomes easier, because now all PC's can share one com-
         mon database, and one can be managed easier (backed up, etc.)
         than several.

              Businesses considering VBBS may consider a LAN as well, as VBBS
         and many other applications can co-reside on the server, running
         simultaneously.  Users only have access to that which the net-
         work administration allows them access to, so confidential book-
         keeping or word-processing files are invisible to say, VBBS
         users, engineering sorts or whomever is not supposed to have
         access.  LANs combined with multitasking software make VBBS a
         valuable and cost-efficient business tool for customer support
         as well as any other day-to-day business computing needs.

              Multiuser Bulletin Board Systems run on LAN set-ups offer the
         highest performance available; this is very important when many
         high-speed modem lines are to be used.

              With the cost of 286/386 motherboards and LAN hardware dropping
         constantly, a multi-user LAN-based VBBS is more affordable than
         one might think.

                                             VBBS 6.11 Documentation -- E-2


         VBBS 6.11 has been tested and known to be compatible with:

         Novell Netware / Ethernet
         Novell Lite / Ethernet
         LANtastic NOS  / 2 MB
         LANtastic NOS  / Ethernet

              This is not an exhaustive list.  VBBS should be compatible with
         most any DOS LAN environment.


         LAN Pointers
         ════════════

              All LANs are not created equal.  This discussion is intended to
         provide an overview of more common LAN options to help the VBBS
         sysop gain a basic understanding of LANs.  There are two basic
         types of LANs, with many different LAN software vendors and
         several types of network cards used for each type.

              The first type of LAN, called "peer-to-peer" networking, allows
         one PC to share resources (hard drives, floppies, printers, etc.)
         with another PC and vice versa.  The second type employs a "dedi-
         cated file server" and all PC's access network programs and data-
         bases from the LAN's dedicated fileserver(s).  Both of these sys-
         tems have their strong and weak points, and sometimes features
         can be intermixed.

              Both LAN types can use ARCnet (2.25 MBPS data transfer rates),
         Ethernet (10 MBPS), Super ARCnet (12.5 MBPS) or Token Ring (4 or
         16 MBPS).  Currently, Ethernet is regarded as providing the most
         bang for the buck, with its 10 MBPS throughput and the price of
         Ethernet cards falling below $100.00 each in the mail order
         market.  With most types of networking, one LAN card per PC would
         be required.  It is not recommended to use networks employing the
         use of the PC's parallel or serial ports, as those types of LANs
         are too slow to provide a fast enough interface for a VBBS user.
         Use the fastest LAN cards you can afford.

              VBBS was designed and tested on a LANtastic 2 MB/sec LAN.
         It does very well on this relatively slow hardware platform;
         speed is excellent, given the limitations of the hardware.
         However, faster LANs (ie..10 MB/sec) run noticeably faster.
         (Note: The disk I/O optimizations made in VBBS will result
         in speed increases over all platforms, LAN, or non-LAN. Even
         XTs should run considerably faster.)

              All path specifications under VCONFIG "System Paths" must be
         set to a drive which is shared among the entire network.  This is
         easily accomplished with most networks.  With Novell Lite, for
         example, clients only need to load CLIENT.EXE after loading the
         network drivers, then map the net drive.  The server, however,
         must load BOTH SERVER.EXE and CLIENT.EXE, and map the net drive
         the SAME WAY the clients do.  This may result in replicating the
         "C" drive as logical drive "F" or whatever.  Though in reality

                                             VBBS 6.11 Documentation -- E-3


         the "F" drive is really just another label for the "C" drive,
         this will be necessary for proper network operation.  All VBBS
         nodes must look to the same path.

              If necessary, FLAG all VBBS files as SHARABLE, READ/WRITE.

              Synchronize all of the clocks on your work stations.
         (Most networks let you set your workstation clock from the net-
         work server's clock; this is done automatically with Novell Net-
         ware).


         LANtastic  (Artisoft)
         ═════════════════════

              LANtastic was designed to be a peer-to-peer type network, but a
         dedicated fileserver can be set as well.  LANtastic is among the
         most stable of peer-to-peer type Network Operating Systems, but
         its performance as a dedicated file server falls below that of
         dedicated Netware.  Net cards for LANtastic are proprietary, making
         them more expensive.  Novell NE-1000 and NE-2000 compatible
         Ethernet cards may also be used, but adaptors must be used in
         conjunction with these cards to make them work with LANtastic,
         raising the price significantly.

              Costs for a two-node Ethernet LANtastic setup for software,
     cabling and netcards run between $475.00 to $550.00.  Additional
     workstations are added by purchasing additional netcards for each
     new workstation at about $175 each.  The practical limit of this
     type of network would be about 10 nodes, though the software will
     allow many more.

              These prices reflect current market prices only, and may vary
         with different vendors and market conditions.


         Novell Lite  (Novell)
         ═════════════════════

              At this writing, Novell Lite is at revision 1.1.  It is a peer-
     to-peer networking system not as stable as LANtastic, but is in
         use with Multinode VBBS successfully.  Novell Lite can also be
     used to set up a dedicated file server.  One advantage of Novell
     Lite is that it can use many of the generic low-cost netcards
     available on the market today without any special adaptors.

              Costs for a two-node Ethernet Novell Lite setup for software,
     cabling and netcards run between $400.00 to $475.00.  Additional
     nodes are added by purchasing a copy of Novell Lite and a net-
     card for each workstation to be added, up to 25, but the prac-
     tical limit would be about ten nodes.  Again, these prices re-
     flect current market prices only, and may vary with different
     vendors and market conditions.

                                             VBBS 6.11 Documentation -- E-4


         Novell Netware 2.2 and 3.1x  (Novell)
         ═════════════════════════════════════

              Novell Netware has captured the lion's share of the LAN market,
     for good reason.  Novell is revered as the best network opera-
     ting system available, period.  Out of the box, Netware 3.11 can
     not only interface DOS machines, but PC's using Windows, OS/2,
     and Macintosh machines.  PCs and workstations running UNIX and
     main and mini-mainframes can also be interfaced to Netware 3.11
     with the purchase of additional software modules through Novell.

              Both 3.1x and 2.2 DEDICATED Netware load DOS initially, then load
         their own operating system, then totally remove DOS from the ser-
     ver's NOS environment.  Netware utilizes its own file system,
     making its own hard drive partitions, which support extended at-
     tributes, increased security over DOS based NOSes and much im-
     proved disk performance.  Additionally, Netware partitions are
     not prone to disk fragmenting and data corruption to the extent
     that DOS NOSes are.

              Although 2.2 will not allow true "peer-to-peer" style networking,
         it will allow the file server to log onto the network as a work-
         station, though this will decrease performance of the server
         significantly as it runs DOS tasks as well as its tasks as file
         server.  Netware is seldom used in this manner; in fact, Netware
         3.x does not allow the server to be used as anything other than
         a dedicated server.

              However, Artisoft LANtastic for Netware and Novell Lite can both
         be used in conjunction with dedicated Netware to incorporate the
         best of both worlds -- the rock-solid performance and security
         of dedicated Netware along with the utility of peer-to-peer net-
         working.

              Netware 2.2 and 3.11 will serve those interested in dedicated
         Netware for DOS, Windows and OS/2 PC's equally.  2.2 will run on
         a 286, 3.11 requires a 386SX.  Because its own operating system
         is optimized for file serving and its disk management is far
         superior to DOS, it provides superior connectivity.  Novell's
         Netware is the system of choice for those planning large LANs.
         For those who can go a few extra bucks, it is still a great
         choice for small LANs.

              The price for Netware 2.2 starts around $500.00 for a 5-user
         version, with Ethernet cards available for under $100.00 each.
         One card is necessary for each node and one for the fileserver.
         Again, these prices reflect current market prices only, and may
         vary with different vendors and market conditions.