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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.
-
-