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.TOPIC:
Running VBBS under DesqView
VBBS 6.12 Documentation --11-B-1
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ CHAPTER 11 ANNEX B RUNNING VBBS UNDER DESQVIEW ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
GENERAL OVERVIEW
════════════════
This portion of the documentation is a general guide for
running VirtualBBS under DESQview (DV.)
The following setups are representative of a high end computer
and a low end computer.
486/33, with 8 megs of RAM. It also, has a 2 meg disk cache, and
a 2 meg RAM-Drive configured.
386/16, with 1.5 megs of RAM. It has no disk caching and RAM-drive.
Finally, this setup is using DV 2.40, and QEMM 6.03.
-->IMPORTANT NOTE: Any multi-tasker will slow down a system, it is
important that you (the SysOp) make your system
run as fast as is conceivably possible.
A RAM Drive (Virtual Drive, Virtual Disk, Memory Disk) is one
of the most valuable things that you can have configured. Any
information stored on one can be accessed IMMEDIATELY, making it
the FASTEST and BEST way to speed up your system. Your "Scripts"
and "System Text" directories can be kept there, as well as your
"CONTROL.DAT." Remember though, anything on the RAM Drive will
be lost when the computer is shut off (or rebooted). You should
have your AUTOEXEC.BAT (or another batch file that loads when
you boot-up) copy the needed files from your hard-drive to the RAM
Drive before the BBS loads. You would have it make the direc-
tories for these also.
-->IMPORTANT NOTE: If you do use a disk cache, remember to NOT allow
it to do "Delayed Writes" (also known as "Staged
Writes"). If you do this, there is a strong poss-
possibility of file corruption, and loss of data.
In your CONFIG.SYS, you should have the following lines as the
FIRST lines (unless something else MUST be loaded first). These
represent the upper/extended/expanded memory manager install
instructions. For these purposes the memory manager shown is the
"Quarterdeck Expanded Memory Manager" or better known as "QEMM".
Any GOOD memory manager will work but QEMM works best with DV.
"DEVICE=C:\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS"
"DOS=HIGH"
The DV documentation says that this second line needs to be
"tweaked" for your personal configuration. It can be either as
shown or "DOS=LOW". It is the consensus of the SysOp's
running DV that DOS=HIGH works a bit better as it frees up more
conventional memory.
VBBS 6.12 Documentation --11-B-2
You are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to run the "OPTIMIZE" program that
came with QEMM to configure your systems memory. It is possible
to get more free conventional memory with some additional adjust-
ing. If you decide to change any of the settings be very careful
and take good notes of any changes you may make.
A PIF will have to be created for each NODE that you wish to
run. An example is included in the VBBS61-2.ZIP file. For best
results, extract this and copy it into your DV directory. Please
follow the instructions in your DV manual for adding a program to
your menu.
The following is an example of the "Change Program Screen". It
shows some suggested settings for the DV window. These have been
tested and are actually in use by VBBS SysOp's. It is very likely
that these will not be the "Perfect" settings for your configura-
tion. These settings are only offered as a starting point.
THE SETUP SCREEN
════════════════
To setup the proper PIF for DV you will need to go into the
"Change Program" command line from the DV opening menu. Select
Change Program and [Enter]. This will give you your list of pro-
grams that DV has available as a PIF. Select "Node 1" (or what-
ever yours is named) and [Enter].
The following "represents" what we want to be displayed by DV:
(Adjust yours to match this.)
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Change a Program
Program Name..........: Virtual BBS Port 1
Keys to Use on Open Menu: V1 Memory Size (in K): 520
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Program...: C:\VBBS\VBBS.BAT
Parameters: 1
Directory.: C:\VBBS
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Options:
Writes text directly to screen.......: [Y]
Displays graphics information........: [Y]
Virtualize text/graphics (Y,N,T).....: [Y]
Uses serial ports (Y,N,1,2)..........: [Y]
Requires floppy diskette.............: [N]
Press F1 for advanced options Press ┘ when you are DONE
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
VBBS 6.12 Documentation --11-B-3
This is the screen for the basic setup. You will notice that
"520" in the "Memory Size" field is used in this setup. This very
well could range from a low of 435 to a high of 520. Below 435 it
is possible that a number of the door programs that VBBS shells
out for won't run. You might get more than 520 but if you run any
of the various "ANSI" drivers then this is about your limit.
The "PARAMETER" line tells it which NODE to bring up. This is
a function that is set here and in your batch file. To enter the
BBS using the "Fast Login" your parameter line would read like
this: "0 /FL". This instruction is passed with the batch file
call and would take you into the BBS as yourself <The SysOp> the
same as if you were doing an "F" from the Waiting For Call Screen.
The "1" listed above calls Node #1. In the PIF file for Node #2
this would be a "2", Node #3 would be "3", etc.
The 'Uses Serial Ports' field helps eliminate conflicts.
By putting a 'Y' here means that you are telling DV that the program
accesses both COM1 and COM2. By putting a '1' here means that you are
telling DV to force to look at COM1 only. By putting a '2' here means
that you are telling DV to force to look at COM2 only. If you are
running a multi-line node, it would be better if you specified which
communication ports your modems were on. For example, you had your
channel one modem on COM1, you would tell channel one window '1' and
you had your channel two modem on COM2, you would tell channel two
window '2'.
THE ADVANCED SETUP SCREEN
═════════════════════════
When you have finished with the basic setup you will need to go
to the Advanced Options Screen. This is done by pressing the "F1"
key. The following "represents" the Advanced Options from the DV
Change Program Screen.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Change a Program Advanced Options
System Memory (in K).......: 0 Maximum Program Memory Size (in K).: 999
Script Buffer Size.......: 0 Maximum Expanded Memory Size (in K):
Text Pages: 4 Graphics Pages: 2 Initial Mode: Interrupts: 00 to FF
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Window Position:
Maximum Height: 25 Starting Height: 25 Starting Row...: 1
Maximum Width.: 80 Starting Width.: 80 Starting Column: 1
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Shared Program
Pathname..:
Data......:
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Close on exit (Y,N,blank)......:[Y] Uses its own colors..............:[Y]
Allow Close Window command.....:[Y] Runs in background (Y,N,blank)...:[Y]
Uses math coprocessor..........:[Y] Keyboard conflict (0-F)..........:[0]
Share CPU when foreground......:[Y] Share EGA when foreground/zoomed.:[Y]
Can be swapped out (Y,N,blank).:[Y] Protection level (0-3)...........:[0]
Press F1 for standard options Press ┘ when you are DONE
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
VBBS 6.12 Documentation --11-B-4
BATCH FILES
═══════════
A batch file is used to call the individual nodes of VBBS. You
can use them to load the BBS and install any peripheral device
drivers that might be required. Routinely you would install an
"ANSI" device driver for each node that is brought up. This batch
file should be in your path but it would probably be best if you
had it in the DV directory. VBBS comes with a batch file for DV,
called, VBBS-DV.BAT.
By selecting the proper call in the "PARAMETERS" line in the DV
Change Program screen you can call all of your nodes with ONE
batch file!
An example of a batch file follows:
Program...: C:\VBBS\VBBS.BAT
Parameters: 1
Directory.: C:\VBBS
The bat file would need to read as follows...
@ECHO OFF <--Personal preference
C: <--To insure your in the right drive
CD\DV <--Changes you to the DV directory
DVANSI <--Loads the DV ANSI driver (others available)
CD\VBBS <--Changes to the VBBS directory
BBS %1 <--Passes parameters to VBBS (read from Para-
meter Line in the DV Change Program Screen)
-->IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure the path statements reflect YOUR
program directories.
╔═╗ In DV itself, there is one more thing that can help your system
╚═╝ perform better. In the main DV window, select "Rearrange"
[Enter] then select "Tune Performance" [Enter], delete the
Foreground, and Background tick numbers. This will assign "H0"
to them. I have found that this helps the performance. This
is an alternative to "3" for each entry.
Any entry other than H0 will remain in the program. H0 only
remains as long as DV is active.. This means, that you need to
set up the startup script to change the ticks to H0 and H0.
Please check your DV documentation on how to create a script.
For additional help, please consult the VirtualNet DV sub
(area 572381, hosted by 1205030.) You can send E-Mail to "Myrage"
directly at 1@1904069 VirtualNet, Myrage @ 1:3653/1997 FidoNet, or
"Einstein" at 1@1806052 VirtualNet, or you can call the QuarterDeck
BBS at 1-310-314-3227. There is a wealth of information available
there.