SysOp's Arsenal/SysOp's Arsenal 1 (Arsenal Computer).ISO/synchron/revsbbs.txt

Text File | 1994-11-27 | 22KB | 429 lines

REVIEW: Synchronet BBS

A Price-per-Feature Powerhouse

by Bill Rayl

The BBS industry is feature-driven. There's no getting around it. The more
features a package offers, the more popular it becomes. Sysops are a
demanding bunch, and I'm no exception. I want piles of features and
flexibility at an affordable price.

Synchronet BBS from Digital Dynamics is one of the most feature-rich BBS
packages available. Starting at $99 for a 2-node license, Synchronet is
also one of the best bargains in the BBS industry from a price-to-features
standpoint.

Version 2.0 of Synchronet, in wide-Beta testing at this writing, promises a
number of additional features -- such as programmable command shells, and
an improved message base format. This review deals specifically with the
current public release version 1c, revision 2 of Synchronet. For specific
enhancements offered in Synchronet 2.0, see the sidebar accompanying this
review.

Requirements

Synchronet BBS can run on practically any IBM PC running DOS 3.0 or
greater. The software itself takes up about 5MB of hard drive space,
without any file downloads, Doors or other additions. At least 450K of free
memory is required.

If you wish to accept multiple simultaneous callers, Synchronet supports up
to 250 nodes via LAN and/or multitasker configurations. The minimum
hardware necessary for LAN configurations for each node would be the same
as for a single-CPU setup, with the addition of a network interface card
and networking software. (Monitors and keyboards on additional LAN nodes
are optional, as Synchronet can manage each node from one CPU.)

A multitasking system -- such as DESQview, Windows or OS/2 -- requires at
least a 386 with roughly 500K of expanded memory available per node.  If
running under Windows or OS/2, a 33 mHz or faster 486 with at least 8MB of
memory is recommended. An OS/2-specific, 32-bit version of Synchronet has
been promised and is expected to be available within three months from when
Synchronet 2.0 for DOS ships.

Synchronet has a number of enhancements to improve performance under
multitaskers, including "intelligent variable timeslicing." This allows the
BBS to use more CPU time for nodes performing complex tasks, stealing time
from less busy nodes. This, coupled with Synchronet's optimized,
interrupt-driven output, allows a sysop to run up to ten 14.4Kbps nodes on
a single 486 PC without purchasing intelligent serial cards. (You may be
able to run more than 10 high-speed nodes, but I haven't personally tried.)

System Setup

Installation of a new BBS is about as popular an undertaking as configuring
a front-end mailer for Fidonet network participation. With Synchronet,
however, a new sysop can actually have the system up and taking callers in
a matter of minutes.

The installation process, which takes less than five minutes, installs a
ready-to-go system complete with multiple message bases and file libraries;
ASCII, ANSI and RIP menus; and even a few external freeware and shareware
Door programs.

The Install program automatically fires up the Synchronet Configuration
utility once its job is done. A "Getting Started" section in the Synchronet
manual takes you through the steps of naming your BBS, setting a few
important options (like whether or not to allow user aliases), and creating
your Sysop account. Again, this process takes less than five minutes to
complete.

After editing a few text files -- logon and logoff screens, system info
text, and new-user message -- the system is ready for prime time. Of course,
most sysops will want to customize their systems, creating their own message
and file areas, text/bulletin databases, chat rooms and more. And that's
when the true power of Synchronet becomes apparent.

Message Boards

To give an idea of how many options are available to the Synchronet sysop,
let's take a look at how the software implements message areas. Synchronet
organizes message "sub-boards" into groups, allowing logical groupings of
message topics. For instance, a Computers group could contain sub-boards
devoted to IBM, Macintosh, Commodore, Atari and other systems. For systems
connected to multiple message networks, each network can have its own
message group, making it easy for callers to select the networks of
interest to them.

Internally, Synchronet stores a long and short name for each message base,
along with a "QWK name" and an "internal code name" which must be unique
throughout the message areas. The user typically only sees the long or
short names, depending on the display or prompt. The QWK name is used for
packets transferred via QWK Mail, while the internal code name is used by
Synchronet itself for most internal operations.

Each message sub-board can be set to allow private and anonymous posts, and
to force real names to be used rather than aliases (a crucial feature for
participation in many message networks). Users can be allowed to delete
their own posts and quote from messages when replying. Whether or not a
message sub-board is included by default in a New Message Scan is also
configurable, and users can even be forced to include selected sub-boards
in such a scan.

Networking

There are also a number of networking options available, both globally and
within each message sub-board. Via the Networks configuration option, which
affects the entire system, you configure your generic settings for QWK,
Fidonet and PostLink/RIME networking.

Unlike many BBS packages, Synchronet has full support for QWK networking
built right into the system. While a number of other packages support
QWK-Mail transfers for users, and so does Synchronet, most require a
front-end mailer for QWK networking. Synchronet, however, allows your BBS
to participate in QWK networking as a Node or Hub, and even supports file
requests (FREQs).

QWK networking configuration options include Hub System ID, the default
"tagline" for networked messages coming from your system, which node to use
for calling out to your hub, what day(s) and time to make that call, and
what sub-boards are being networked.

For both PostLink and Fidonet networking, additional third-party utilities
are needed. The most complicated setup is in Fidonetworking, which requires
a front-end mailer (such as FrontDoor, Binkley, D'bridge or InterMail) and
a mail tosser (such as GEcho or InterEcho), as well as a Nodelist compiler
and other optional tools if you want to get into file sending/requesting.
Synchronet comes with utilities for importing Fido and PostLink messages
directly into your Synchronet message sub-boards.

If that paragraph sounded like Greek to you, the Synchronet manual does a
fair job of explaining what all this is about. It even gives step-by-step
instructions for configuring FrontDoor/Intermail and GEcho to work with
Synchronet, as well as for hooking up to Digital Dynamic's own DOVE-Net QWK
network.

File Transfers

Like the message boards, Synchronet groups file "directories" into file
"libraries." Library configuration options include maximum uploads and max
downloads allowed in one batch transfer, the ability to define which file
types can be tested, extracted or viewed online, and definition of
alternate file paths.

At the individual directory level, you can define which file extensions are
allowed for upload and whether file listings are sorted in ascending or
descending order by filename or date. Support for copying files from "slow"
CD-ROMs to hard disk prior to download is built-in, as is the ability to
disable checking for file existence.

All file transfer protocols are handled externally by Synchronet, and the
BBS comes configured to use the popular DSZ shareware program from OMEN
Technology, as well as HS/Link for bi-directional transfers. Sysops can
add other external protocols, such as SuperKermit, BiModem, Puma and Hydra
with ease.

During the upload process, files can be automatically tested for integrity
and viruses, using third-party shareware, freeware or commercial utilities.
Synchronet also offers a Multiple File Numbering option which allows a
caller to batch upload a related set of files, and a Force Content Rating
option which prompts the uploader to indicate if the file(s) are G-, R- or
X-Rated.

Extended file descriptions are supported, and these descriptions can be
entered automatically via import of FILE_ID.DIZ and DESC.SDI files.  All
files from specific directories can be designated as "free" downloads (for
which no "credits" are charged), or this can be offered on a file-by-file
basis. Credits can be given to an uploader at completion of a file upload,
as well as each time another user downloads the uploaded file.

Credit System

Synchronet's credit system is perfect for the subscription-based,
for-profit BBS sysop. First-time callers can be given a set number of
credits, which they use by accessing chat channels and Doors, downloading
files, et cetera. Free credits can also be granted to users each day,
configurable by security level. (Synchronet supports 100 different security
levels which determine such things as the amount of time users can spend
online per call and per day and how many times they can call in a day.)

Users can also gain credits by uploading files or they can purchase
credits. Synchronet has built-in support for 900/976 billing nodes, and
the software automatically converts dollars charged into credits.

Doors

When it comes to offering valuable online features to callers, especially
if they're paying for their online time, the ability to support as many
Door programs as possible is a necessity. These external programs can
supply such value-added features as online databases, multi-player games
and magazines. The more Door types a BBS package supports, the more options
a sysop has.

Synchronet allows up to 500 Doors to be placed online, and the system
supports DOOR.SYS, CHAIN.TXT, PCBOARD.SYS, USERS.SYS, DORINFO#.DEF,
EXITINFO.BBS, CALLINFO.BBS, SFDOORS.DAT, UTIDOOR.TXT, and DOORFILE.SR "drop
file" formats, as well as the Synchronet XTRN.DAT format. That covers Doors
created specifically for just about every popular BBS package, including
GAP, WWIV, PCBoard, RBBS, QuickBBS, Wildcat!, and Spitfire.

One of the nicest things about Synchronet's Door support is that most Doors
can be configured without resorting to use of batch files. Synchronet
handles placement of the drop file, parameter passing, pathing to the
start-up directory, and more. Programs that use standard DOS I/O routines
can also be configured as Doors due to Synchronet's "Intercept I/O
Interrupts" option.

Multi-Node Chatting

Out of the box, Synchronet offers the kind of multi-user chat system you
often have to pay extra for with other systems. Up to 500 different chat
channels can be created, each with their own credit charge structure and
access requirements. Channels may also be set up to use password
protection, allowing in only those callers who know the correct password.

Up to 500 customizable "chat actions" can be configured which allow
participants to kiss, slap, applaud, beat up, and pinch one another, among
other things.

The most interesting and unique feature of Synchronet's chat area, though,
is Guru chat. The Guru is an artificial intelligence engine which can be
customized to offer help to callers. A GURU.DAT file contains logic
expressions, followed by up to 100 multiple-line responses for each
expression.

For instance, for the Guru to respond sensibly to the questions "What are
ZIP files?" or "How do I uncompress GAME.ZIP?", you might use the following
entry in GURU.DAT:

   ((HOW|WHAT)&ZIP~)
   `a, Search our file libraries using the search string UNZIP.
   For detailed info on using ZIP files, read ZIP.INF in our Text library.

Certain "special responses" are supported, such as the `a in the above
example. That code would be replaced with the alias or name of the human
participant in chat. Codes for the user's birthday, computer type, upload
or download byte count, security level, phone number, credits, real name or
age are also available. There is also a code to force the BBS to hang up on
the user. Three additional special response codes which apply only to
one-on-one chats with the Guru allow the Guru to exit the chat, pause
during responses and make random typing mistakes.

The more entries you put into the GURU.DAT file to anticipate user needs,
the better the Guru can function as a source of online help or amusement.
The Guru can also be given a name, to make it more personable. On our
system, Crow T. Robot is the Guru, and we've "programmed" him to respond to
Mystery Science Theater 3000 questions and comments.

The Guru, unfortunately, only responds to the current input from a user,
and the user must type in a question or make a comment before the Guru will
respond. The Guru also will not participate in a multi-node conference if
there are two or more "real" people in the chat channel.

ARS Security

When it comes to BBS security, Synchronet offers a comprehensive array of
options. The most important and wide-ranging of these is the ARS(tm)
Security system. ARS, or Access Requirement Strings, is a powerful yet
easy-to-use way of controlling access to just about every feature of
Synchronet. Users can be given access to or restricted from areas or
commands by age, baud rate, security level, node, post/call ratio, gender,
time left online or time used, or even by user number or time of day.

ARS strings can be quite complicated. For instance, a chat area can be
restricted to users between the ages of 12 and 17 who are female.
Such a string could be designated using the full, English keywords,
or abbreviated all the way down to a rather cryptic-looking string, as
shown below:

     (AGE 12 AND AGE NOT 18) AND SEX F

     (AGE 12 & AGE ! 18) & SEX F

     ($A12&$A!18)&$SF

The good news here is that you may never need to create one of these
strings by hand. Synchronet's configuration program allows you to build ARS
strings by choosing options from a menu, stringing security features
together on-the-fly. For those times when you need to abbreviate a complex
string to get it to fit within the allowed 40 characters, the Synchronet
manual has an entire chapter devoted to ARS Security.

Other Security Measures

Synchronet contains a number of other security-related features, like the
ability to force users to accept a randomly-generated alphanumeric password
or to change their passwords periodically. The entire system can be closed
to callers who do not have the "New User Password" or new users can be
disallowed altogether.

To protect the system from would-be penetrators, Synchronet can be
configured to not allow sysop access from remote (or even local) logins. If
remote sysop access is allowed, anyone with sysop powers must type in the
"system password" to log on to the system and to perform special functions
like shelling to DOS.

The BBS also supports Caller ID checking, and "trashcan" files to disallow
access to users by name and phone number.

Synchronet 2.0

Synchronet BBS version 2.0 has the same general "look and feel" of the
previous version of Synchronet. There have been some major changes to the
software, but they're almost all transparent to the end user.

Synchronet 2.0 now has built-in support for FOSSIL and Int 14h drivers,
allowing the system to be used with practically all intelligent and
non-intelligent serial cards on the market. This includes shared IRQ cards
other than those produced by Digiboard, and non-UART serial devices like
X.25 networking cards.

The BBS also can handle DTE connection rates up to 115.2K and supports the
new 28.8K-bps modems hitting the market.

Synchronet can swap itself almost entirely out of memory for any
executable, including file transfer modules and compression utilities. The
BBS supports swapping to XMS, EMS or Extended memory, as well as to disk.
Amazingly, though, sysops may have less reason to swap to disk, as
Synchronet 2.0 uses even less memory than the previous version! In testing,
I've found that otherwise identical nodes use approximately 30K less memory
under version 2.0 than they did under v1.1c.r2.

A very welcome improvement isn't in the software at all -- it's in the
documentation. The Sysop Manual has been entirely overhauled and now
includes many more screen shots and examples/explanations. A full index is
also now included. Sections of the manual are much more logically
organized, as well. The old Synchronet manual forced you to jump from one
place to the next, often without telling you where to go, in fact. The new
version is a vast improvement.

The new SMB message base format offers a great improvement in message
storage and retrieval speed. This is of particular interest to sysops
participating in Fidonet, Usenet or QWK message networks. Import and export
of Synchronet messages has been greatly speeded up.

In conjunction with the new message format, Digital Dynamics released the
SMB technical specifications to encourage third-party development of
networking and messaging tools for Synchronet. One of the first such
options to be announced is SyncUUCP from Merlin Systems, a complete UUCP
package allowing Synchronet BBSes to merge Usenet newsgroups directly into
their message bases.

Other message base enhancements include the ability to define moderated
sub-boards, purge messages by age, move messages between sub-boards, and
store messages on any drive on a per-sub basis.

For networking systems, the new configurable duplicate message checking
feature will help catch and remove duplicate messages and e-mail coming in
over the wire. A number of CRC values can be kept, and incoming messages
are checked against these values.

On the networking front, Synchronet 2.0 now supports up to 500 Fidonet
AKAs, allowing sysops to join many Fidonet-compatible networks. QWK
networking enhancements include automatic handling of file attachments; the
ability to include un-read, all, or no e-mail in QWK packets; and sending
of mail using the "user@addr" format. A new duplicate message checking
feature generates CRC values for existing messages and checks these against
incoming messages.

Chat and Security Additions

Proving the adage that you can never get enough of a good thing, Synchronet
2.0 adds support for multiple chat Gurus and multiple Chat Action sets. The
ability to send private messages to others in multi-node chat via the
Whisper command is also a welcome addition.

Private inter-node messages can now be sent by user number, user name or
chat handle, as well as by node number. Entering part of a user's name
sends Synchronet scurrying off to look up possible matches for you.

Synchronet 2.0 adds even more features to its already superb security
options. New ARS keywords allow security setting based on the user's
current message group/sub-board, current file library/directory, and
restriction or exemption flags. ARS strings can even be configured to allow
access to certain areas only on specified days of the week.

ARS security can also determine access depending on if the user has ANSI or
RIP terminal capabilities. This option is extremely useful in conjunction
with Doors requiring these graphic terminal emulations.

User security levels can be configured to limit the number of message posts
and e-mails allowed per day.

During log-in, Synchronet now does a smarter job of dealing with first-time
callers who enter spurious information. The BBS no longer allows invalid
birth dates, incomplete phone numbers or locations, and single-word real
names.

Programmability

Apart from the SMB enhancement, the most talked about and anticipated new
feature in Synchronet 2.0 is the Programmable Command and Menu Structure
(PCMS) capability. Using Baja, a BASIC-like programming language, sysops
can create their own Synchronet add-ons and compile them into "command
shells." These compiled command shells can then be loaded at login
depending on user selections or security settings. While this feature
can't currently be used to program games and other "heavy-duty" modules,
it does offer complete customization of the user interface.

Conclusions

Synchronet BBS from Digital Dynamics is one of the best bargains in the BBS
industry. The software is particularly well-suited for chat-oriented or
multi-user gaming systems, and is an excellent choice for sysops wishing to
participate in message networks using QWK, Fidonet and PostLink (RIME)
technology.

For the security-conscious sysop, Synchronet provides some of the most
advanced and flexible options to be found. The package is well suited for
use as a hobbyist or for-profit system.

Since its initial release in late 1991, Synchronet has continued to impress
sysops looking for a powerful but affordable BBS package. With Synchronet 2
now released and a native OS/2 version in the works, Digital Dynamics is
poised to become a major player in the industry.

   Digital Dynamics
   PO Box 501
   Yorba Linda, CA 92686
   714-529-6328 voice
   714-529-9721 fax
   714-529-9525 BBS (14.4Kbps)
   714-529-9547 BBS (28.8Kbps)



Transmitted:  94-10-31 17:36:08 EST