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1993-08-17
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█████ Running this disc on a BBS
No, this is not a longwinded and wordy licensing agreement. I've already
written that... <smile!>
This is a basic "how to" tutorial for those that are either new to using
a CD-ROM on a BBS, or the more experienced SysOps that would like to see
how other people do it.
Using CD-ROM storage on your BBS can be a godsend: You can put Hundreds
of megabytes online your BBS for pennies a Megabyte with very little work
involved, and when your callers get tired of what is there, Shazam, you
change it, and everyone is enthralled again! <smile!> What more could
anyone ask for?
However, there are some things to consider when putting optical storage
online: Optical storage has to be treated a bit differently than magnetic,
or else you will soon be tearing out your hair.
You need software, either BBS or doorware, that will support CD-ROM discs
in the manner most efficient. Here is a checklist of what to look for:
[1] Store the file listings on magnetic. This makes for much faster
searches and less drive contention on multi-node BBS's.
[2] Only actually access the CD-ROM when the user is ready to download.
[3] Buffer the downloading files to your hard drive. This means that
when the files are ready to download, the software puts them on your hard
drive, and downloads them from there. After it's done, it deletes them.
The benefit to this is that you get to free up the CD-ROM drive for
other callers.
[4] Put a "busy flag" up while copying the files. This allows other
users to know that their request will be serviced shortly, and to
prevent drive contention and "disc thrashing" on the very popular
Pioneer Multichanger CD-ROM units.
Some BBS software has these features built in. Some Doorware programs
have these features built in. One program that I know for certain does
have these features is the EZRom program written by Mike Robinson. I'm
using the shareware version of his program as the user interface on this
disc. This program will operate on any BBS software capable of generating
a DOOR.SYS drop file. So, if you are running BBS software anywhere near
normal, I would suggest that you give this program a try, unless you already
have a "favorite solution" to the problem. Mike's program is very competent
and will handle your BBS with aplomb. Please remember to support his
programming efforts by registering his software if you like it and use it.
If you would like to obtain more information regarding CD-ROM usage on a BBS,
then I suggest that you contact our support board. This board runs over 22
CD-ROM discs online with six phone lines accessing them, so they are very
familiar with the problems and headaches that can come from using optical
storage on a BBS, and know how to make your life much easier.
Here is the contact data:
Arsenal Computer
P. O. Box 5723
Topeka, KS 66605
BBS Phone Numbers
913-234-8126
913-234-9395
913-234-9443
913-234-9453
913-234-9516
913-234-9602
The 913-234-9395 number is a "rollover number" that will access the four phone
lines under it as well as itself, so you might want to use that one in most
cases.