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1991-01-14
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Check Nodes Version 1.0
For PCBoard V14.x
Copyright (C) 1991 by Backland Computer Consulting
All Rights Reserved
Backland Computer Consulting
79 Elizabeth St.
Barrie, Ontario
CANADA
L4N 6P4
Written by Brian Backland
Support BBS:
Twilgiht Zone CIS
Barrie, Ontario
(705) 728-5815 via modem
The author can be reached at the support BBS via modem or by sending
net mail. NANet, InterNet, etc.
PCBoard V14.x is a copyright of Clarke Development Company, Inc.
LICENSE
Check Nodes V1.0 is not public domain software, nor is it free
software. Check Nodes Version 1.0 is released as Shareware. This
means try it before you buy it. Check Nodes is copyright (C) 1991 by
Backland Computer Consulting. Non-registered users are granted a
limited license to use Check Nodes V1.0 on a trial basis not to exceed
30 days, for the purpose of determining whether Check Nodes is
suitable for their needs.
Use of Check Nodes, except for this limited purpose, requires
registration. Registration permits a user the license to use
Check Nodes only on a single computer; a registered user may use the
program on a different computer, but may not use the program on more
than one computer at the same time.
No user may modify Check Nodes in any way, including but not
limited to decompiling, disassembling or otherwise reverse engineering
the program. All users are granted a limited license to copy
Check Nodes only for the trial use of others subject to the above
limitations, and also the following:
Check Nodes must be copied in unmodified form,
complete with the file containing this license
information.
The full Check Nodes documentation must be included
with the copy.
No fee, charge or other compensation may be accepted
or requested by any licensee.
Check Nodes may not be distributed in conjunction with
any other product.
Operators of electronic bulletin board systems (Sysops) may
post Check Nodes for downloading by their users only as long as the
above conditions are met.
Distributors of public domain or user supported software may
distribute copies of Check Nodes subject to the above conditions only
after obtaining written permission from Backland Computer Consulting.
Such permission usually is granted; please write for details.
WARRANTY
Backland Computer Consulting makes no warranty of any kind,
express or implied, including without limitation, any warranties of
merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. Backland
Computer Consulting shall not be liable for any damages, whether
direct, indirect, special or consequential arising from a failure of
this program to operate in the manner desired by the user. Backland
Computer Consulting shall not be liable for any damage to data or
property which may be caused directly or indirectly by use of the
program.
IN NO EVENT WILL Backland Computer Consulting BE LIABLE TO YOU
FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OR
INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Check Nodes is a concept of Robin Wells, the Chief Sysop of
the Twilight Zone CIS.
OVERVIEW
Check Nodes is a third party product for PCBoard Version 14.x
intended for use in a multi-node configuration. Check Nodes was
developed to enable the Sysop of a PCBoard V14.x BBS to check the
status of the nodes during an event. Some third party software
packages have been known to crash (lock-up) the computer when one or
more nodes is still up. Check Nodes will, as the name implies, check
the PCBoard nodes and report in DOS ERRORLEVEL two conditions:
1) one or more of the nodes are still up, or
2) all nodes are down.
No configuration of Check Nodes is required, as it obtains its
information about your PCBoard BBS from the PCBoard system files.
OPERATION
To use Check Nodes, copy the CHKNODES.EXE file to any
sub-directory in your DOS path. When running Check Nodes ensure your
default sub-directory is set to the sub-directory that contains the
PCBoard system file PCBOARD.DAT, otherwise it won't be able to read
your PCBoard BBS configuration, and will return an error. Check Nodes
will not search the PATH or other environment variables for
PCBOARD.DAT. In your event batch file, insert a line to call the
Check Nodes executable file with the desired switch, if applicable.
Then simply check the DOS ERRORLEVEL value returned by Check Nodes to
discover the status of the nodes.
SWITCHES
Although no switches are required to run Check Nodes, there
are three available to you. You may not specify more than one switch
at the a time, if you do Check Nodes will report an error. If you run
Check Nodes without a switch it will check the status of the nodes and
return that information to you immediately. The switches are not case
dependant, therefore you may enter them in uppercase or lowercase.
The /T:<minutes> switch allows you to specify the number of
minutes you want Check Nodes to continually check the nodes, if it
finds that one or more nodes is still up. To use this switch replace
the <minutes> with a numeric value representing the number of minutes
you want to monitor the nodes. Don't forget the colon between the T
and the number.
For example: CHKNODES /T:5
Check Nodes will continually monitor the nodes during the delay and
will display a timer showing the elapsed time. After the specified
number of minutes expires (5 in this case) or after all nodes are
down, whichever comes first, Check Nodes will return the status of the
nodes in the DOS ERRORLEVEL. To abort before the timer expires press
the ESC (escape) key and Check Nodes will pass control back to your
event batch file, the DOS ERRORLEVEL will contain the appropriate code
to the status of the nodes. The valid range of this switch is from 1
to 1440. It will not accept 0 or a number greater than 1440. This
allows you to specify a delay ranging from 1 minute to 24 hours.
The /W switch allows you to specify an indefinite delay.
Check Nodes will continually monitor the nodes, and will return the
status of the nodes in the DOS ERRORLEVEL once all nodes are down.
The timer will NOT be displayed. You can abort this indefinite delay
by pressing the ESC (escape) key, Check Nodes will pass control back
to your event batch file with the appropriate status code in the DOS
ERRORLEVEL.
Another switch ? or /? may be used to display the quick help
screen. The nodes will not be checked for their status. Note that
the value returned in DOS ERRORLEVEL will reflect an error when this
switch is used.
RETURN CODES
Check Nodes returns the status of the nodes in the DOS
ERRORLEVEL. If all nodes are down ERRORLEVEL will be set to 0. If it
finds one or more nodes still up ERRORLEVEL will be set to 1. If an
error occurs while running Check Nodes ERRORLEVEL will be set to 2.
Consult your DOS manual for information on how to check the
ERRORLEVEL.
ERRORLEVEL Description
---------- ---------------------------------
0 All nodes are down.
1 One or more nodes are still up.
2 An error has occurred.
Errors that cause an ERRORLEVEL 2 are:
- more than one switch was specified, only specify one switch.
- couldn't locate PCBOARD.DAT in current sub-directory, ensure
PCBOARD.DAT is in current sub-directory.
- number of mintues in switch /T: was 0 or greater than 1440,
specify a number of minutes in the range 1 to 1440.
- you asked for the quick help screen with switch /? or ?
not a true error, but it doesn't check the nodes when you
specify this switch.
QUICK REFERENCE
CHKNODES [/T:<minutes>] [/W] [? or /?]
where: /T:<minutes> - number of minutes to keep checking,
may range from 1 to 1440.
/W - keep checking indefinitely.
? or /? - displays the quick help screen.
returns in DOS's ERRORLEVEL():
0 = all nodes are down
1 = one or more nodes are not down
2 = an error has occurred
NOTE: - You may only specify one or no switch.
- Use ESC to abort a delay caused by a switch.
REGISTRATION
A registration fee of $15.00 Cdn or US is requested by all users of
Check Nodes V1.0. To register your copy of Check Nodes simply fill
out the form below and mail it to the address on the form along with
your cheque or money order. All cheques or money orders must be
payable to Backland Computer Consulting.
---------------- Check Nodes Registration Form -------------------
Please support shareware with your registration.
Name
_____________________________________________________________________
Address
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
[ ] Cheque or Money Order payable to Backland Computer Consulting
____ Check Nodes V1.0 Registration(s) $15.00 ________
____ Ontario Provicial Sales Tax 8% $1.20 ________
(Ontario residents only)
____ Goods and Services Tax 7% $1.05 ________
(Canada residents only)
Total ________
Thank you for your support.
-------------------- INSTANT MAILER ----------------------
Fold at the page break below with the printing facing out. Then fold
letter style, exposing the mailing address and hiding your
information. If necessary, staple check to the mailer, then staple or
tape sides and top.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________________________ Place
_________________________________ Stamp
_________________________________ Here
Backland Computer Consulting
79 Elizabeth St.
Barrie, Ontario
CANADA
L4N 6P4
Check Nodes V1.0