NOTE: If you have not already set up your first node of PCBoard,
use INSTALL to set up your first node. Next, get all of you files
created and make sure the first node is running properly. It will
make a multiple node setup MUCH easier.
Creating the NODE directories Creating the NODE directories
You need to create a SEPARATE subdirectory for each PCBoard node
you plan to run.
For node 1 create a directory off of your C:\PCB directory and call
it NODE1. To do this, just change to the C:\PCB directory and type
"MD NODE1" (do not include the quotes). Do this for each node you
want to add (up to NODE4). From here on, these directories will be
referred to as NODE directories.
Now you should have a directory structure that looks like this:
C:\
|
|-> PCB
|
|-> NODE1
|-> NODE2
|-> NODE3 (if you are going to run 3 nodes)
|-> NODE4 (if you are going to run 4 nodes)
Now, copy the following files to each NODEn directory:
BOARD.BAT
EVENT.SYS
PCBERR.OLD
PCBOARD.DAT
REMOTE.SYS
PCBVIEW.BAT
For example: "COPY C:\PCB\BOARD.BAT C:\PCB\NODE1". Do so for each
file and each node.
Once you have copied the above list of files to each of the NODE
directories, delete the files listed above from the C:\PCB
directory. This will prevent PCBoard from accidently running from
the wrong directory.
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SETTING UP PCBOARD SETTING UP PCBOARD __________________
PCBSETUP.EXE PCBSETUP.EXE
(For this example, we will assume that PCBoard is installed in
C:\PCB.)
There are a few setup items which you may wish to change if you are
running under a multi-tasking environment. In each node's
directory do the following:
1. After installing PCBoard run PCBSetup, select "NODE /
EVENT / SUBSCRIPTION" and modify the following fields on
the screen:
Answer YES to "Running under a Network"
Replace the value in "Node Number" to reflect
the node number you have assigned to this node.
2. Whenever possible, specify a path to a file. This is
inclusive of batch files and your setup of PCBoard in general.
This can enhance the speed of your system, especially if you are
running EXE files from the PATH.
3. In "File Locations 2" make sure PCBPROT.DAT contains the path
to locate the file. For example: C:\PCB\PCBPROT.DAT. Since
you are pointing to one file you will find adding, changing, or
deleting protocols a lot easier.
4. Also in "File Locations 2" make sure that there is a path is
specified for PCBFILER.DEF. For example: C:\PCB\PCBFILER.DEF.
This way, your file directories will be colorized "on-the-fly"
with the colors you defined in PCBFiler.
NOTE: Since you are only going to running PCBoard from one
machine, most of your configuration files will not need to be
changed from your single node setup.
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BOARD.BAT BOARD.BAT
The default BOARD.BAT in each node's directory looks like this:
@echo off
set DSZLOG=C:\PCB\PCBDSZ.LOG
if exist REMOTE.BAT rename REMOTE.BAT REMOTE.SYS
if exist EVENT.BAT rename EVENT.BAT EVENT.SYS
if exist DOOR.BAT del DOOR.BAT
if exist ENDPCB del ENDPCB
PCB145
if exist REMOTE.BAT REMOTE
if exist DOOR.BAT DOOR
if exist EVENT.BAT EVENT
if exist ENDPCB goto end
:end
exit
You will need to modify each node's BOARD.BAT file so that the
batch file changes to the directory where the node resides. For
example node 1's new batch file would look like this:
@echo off
C: C:
cd\PCB\NODE1 (Change to each nodes 'home' directory) cd\PCB\NODE1
C:\DV\DVANSI (Loads an ANSI driver for third party programs) C:\DV\DVANSI
set DSZPORT=bbb,i (bbb = hex com base address and i = IRQ) set DSZPORT=bbb,i
set DSZLOG=C:\PCB\NODE1\PCBDSZ.LOG (Change this for each node) set DSZLOG=C:\PCB\NODE1\PCBDSZ.LOG
if exist REMOTE.BAT rename REMOTE.BAT REMOTE.SYS
if exist EVENT.BAT rename EVENT.BAT EVENT.SYS
if exist DOOR.BAT del DOOR.BAT
if exist ENDPCB del ENDPCB
PCB145
if exist REMOTE.BAT REMOTE
if exist DOOR.BAT DOOR
if exist EVENT.BAT EVENT
if exist ENDPCB goto end
:end
exit
DSZPORT: By placing this in each node's BOARD.BAT file you can use
just one PCBRZ.BAT and one PCBSZ.BAT which can save you a lot of
time when/if you need to change either of those batch files.
DSZLOG: This environment variable points to the log file which
PCBoard uses to determined what files were transferred by DSZ.
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OPTIMIZING DESQVIEW OPTIMIZING DESQVIEW
Next you will need to alter DESQview's setup slightly. Go into you
DESQview directory and run SETUP.
Next, select "Performance".
Your screen should look something like this:
*1--Advanced-Setup:-Performance----------*
| |
| Task Processing Time (in Clock Ticks) |
| Foreground: 2 |
| Background: 2 |
| |
| Memory Usage (in K) |
| Common Memory: 17 |
| DOS Buffer for EMS: 4 |
| |
| Optimize communications? (Y/N): N |
| Allow swapping of programs? (Y/N): Y |
| Manage printer contention? (Y/N): N |
| |
| Next field Tab |
| Backup menu Esc |
| DONE < |
| |
*----------------------------------------*
Foreground and Background Processing Time: It is very important Foreground and Background Processing Time:
that you set the foreground and background ticks to an equal value.
Otherwise, your system will likely suffer a performance degradation
which callers may perceive as an intermittent, jerking display.
The exact value for these two values varies, depending on how many
nodes you are running and the processing speed of your computer.
Avoid setting these values to 1:1, which may result in sluggish
system performance. You can experiment with this value to see
which works best on your machine, though 2:2 or 3:3 usually seems
to be a good choice.
Two of the most important settings you will change are "Optimize
Communications" and "Manage printer contention". Set both of these
to N to help avoid possible system lockups. N
Node PIF configurations Node PIF configurations
Now you must define PIF files for each node. To do this, select
"Open Window" from the DESQview manu menu. Then select "Add
Program" and "Other (Add program not found in list)". You will
then be asked to specify a path to the program. Supply a node
directory for each program you add. For example, enter
How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 8 How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 8
C:\PCB\NODE1, C:\PCB\NODE2, etc. Next, you are presented with the
standard PIF editing screen.
Add a Program Screen: Add a Program Screen:
Now you need to set up PIF files for each node. You can specify
anything you choose in the "Program Name" and "Keys to Open"
fields. The recommended values for the remaining fields follow:
Memory Size: 450K 450K
Program: C:\PCB\NODE1\BOARD.BAT (Change this value for each C:\PCB\NODE1\BOARD.BAT
node)
Directory: C:\PCB\NODE1 (Change this value for each node) C:\PCB\NODE1
Writes directly to screen: N N
Displays graphics info: N N
Virtualize text: T T
Uses serial ports: Y Y
Requires floppy disk: N N
When you are finished editing that screen, select F1 for advanced
options. You will be presented with another screen.
Change the values in the "Change a Program - Advanced Options" to
resemble the following:
System Memory (in K): 0 0
Maximum Program Memory Size (in K): BLANK
Script Buffer: 0 0
Max EMS Memory: BLANK
Close on Exit: N N
Uses own colors: Y Y
Allow Close: N N
Runs in background: Y Y
Uses Math Coprocessor: N N
Keyboard Conflict: 0 0
Share CPU foreground: Y Y
Share EGA foreground: N N
Can be swapped: N N
Protection Level: 0 0
System Memory: This should remain 0 unless you are running a 0
program written expressly for DESQview.
Script Buffer: You will not be using scripts inside of PCBoard so
set this to 0. 0
Close on Exit: Set this to N. The last line of the new BOARD.BAT N
(exit) will take care of closing the window.
How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 9 How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 9
Uses own colors: Unless you have no objections to DESQview's odd
color assignment set this to Y so you can see PCBoard in all its Y
glory.
Allow Close: By setting this to N you do not allow a 'Close N
Window' command to be executed from the DESQview menu. Remember,
it is always best to properly exit a program whenever possible.
Runs in background: Set this to Y on all dial-in nodes and set this Y
to N on any local maintenance nodes you may have. By setting any N
local nodes to not be active in the background you can save
precious processor time should you accidently leave your
maintenance node running in the background.
Uses Math Coprocessor: This field should be set to N. You will N
save precious memory and may even slightly improve performance.
Can be swapped: This should be set to N on any communications N
program you run. If you set this field to Y you will cause a hard
system lock.
Starting Up PCBoard Nodes Using a DESQview Script Starting Up PCBoard Nodes Using a DESQview Script
In order to have all of your nodes load up every time you start
DESQview you will need to use a script. The following key sequence
will create a script for starting up to 4 nodes on one machine.
Initiate DESQview's script learning mode by hitting SHIFT-DESQview
(usually ALT).
Select "Start Script", and when prompted for a key to define, hold
down ALT while pressing 255 on the numeric keypad. By assigning it
to an obscure key you lower the chances of accidently activating
the script.
Now you must give your script a name. Make sure it starts with an
! (exclamation point) or it will not be executed when you start up
DESQview. Now just open up all of your nodes manually. When you
are finished, hit ALT-Shift to tell DESQview to "Finish script".
Upon doing this, the windows will close; you will need to reopen
the script learning window, select "Save scripts", and then save
the script you created. It is recommended that you save this
script under the name DESQVIEW.DVS.
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EXAMPLE DOOR BATCH FILES AND ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES EXAMPLE DOOR BATCH FILES AND ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES __________________________________________________
Setting up DOOR programs in a multitasking environment may prove
tricky at first, but with a little help your batch files will be
easy to create.
You can set up your doors to each have their own individual
DOORS.LST and have each node call a separate batch file. However,
you will assuredly find maintenance a time-laboring chore.
Instead, we recommend that you create one batch file using
environment variables.
First of all, it is suggested that you do not have a copy of the
door for each node. Instead you should only have one copy of the
door for the multitasking machine. Therefore, we have to
compensate for a situation where two nodes try to run the same door
at the same time. Below you will find various generic examples.
NOTE: Since there are so many DOOR programs available
specific configurations for specific DOOR programs will
not be covered. Instead generic examples will be given
for the most popular types of configuration.
Doors that allow configuration files on the command line: Doors that allow configuration files on the command line:
ECHO OFF
cd\DOORS\GAME
GAME GAME%PCBNODE%.CNF
%PCBDRIVE%
cd %PCBDIR%
BOARD
This example will replace PCBNODE with the value PCBoard V14.5a
sets it to in your environment.
ECHO OFF: Turns echo off so command lines are not echoed to
the screen
CD\DOORS\GAME: Changes to the directory which contains the DOOR
GAME GAME%PCBNODE%.CNF: Executes the DOOR using configuration file
GAMEn.CNF (n is replaced by the value of the
PCBNODE environment variable).
%PCBDRIVE%: Changes to the drive where you run PCBoard node
from. (For example: C: ).
CD %PCBDIR%: This changes to the directory where you run the
PCBoard node from. (For example: \PCB\NODE3).
How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 11 How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 11
If you have PCBoard set to swap you should not rely on the
environment variables being in place. Therefore, you should place
the following statements beginning at the second line of each
node's BOARD.BAT file. For example, node 1's
C:\PCB\NODE1\BOARD.BAT file would have these line added:
set PCBDRIVE=C:
set PCBDIR=\PCB\NODE1
set PCBNODE=1
As an additional example, on node 2 you would add the following
lines to the C:\PCB\NODE2\BOARD.BAT.
set PCBDRIVE=C:
set PCBDIR=\PCB\NODE2
set PCBNODE=2
Make these modifications to each node's batch file.
By setting the environment variables within each node's BOARD.BAT
file, you eliminate the difficulty of managing 4 separate batch
files which all run the same DOOR.
It is absolutely critical that you do not rely on 14.5a's new
environment variables being in the environment space if you have
set PCBOARD to swap on shells to DOS.
DOORs Which Do Not Accept Configuration Files on the Command Line: DOORs Which Do Not Accept Configuration Files on the Command Line:
Unfortunately, in a situation such as this you will need to create
separate copies of the DOOR for each NODE or scrap the DOOR and
replace it with one that will work in a multitasking environment.
How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 12 How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 12
THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE SETUP RECOMMENDATIONS THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE SETUP RECOMMENDATIONS __________________________________________
DSZ (ZModem transfer protocol) DSZ (ZModem transfer protocol)
Your PCBRZ & PCBSZ batch files should resemble the following
examples:
PCBRZ.BAT
echo off
if exist PCBERR.FIL del PCBERR.FIL
if exist PCBDSZ.LOG del PCBDSZ.LOG
DSZ F pY129 handshake both estimate 0 %5 pB4096 pd0 z pr1 rz
-p %3
PCBSZ.BAT
echo off
if exist PCBERR.FIL del PCBERR.FIL
if exist PCBDSZ.LOG del PCBDSZ.LOG
DSZ F pY129 handshake both pB4096 estimate 0 %5 z sz %3
The F and pY129 parameters are new to the 'normal' DSZ command
line. These parameters will help improve performance and will
cause DSZ to use less CPU cycles during DSZ transfers which will
speed up the other PCBoard nodes.
NOTE: All DSZ commands are case sensitive and should NOTE: All DSZ commands are case sensitive and should
be entered just as you find them in this example. be entered just as you find them in this example.
NOTE: The F and pY129 parameters should only be used NOTE: The F and pY129 parameters should only be used
in conjunction with a NS16550AFN UART. in conjunction with a NS16550AFN UART.
How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 13 How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 13
HOOKING UP A MULTITASKING MACHINE ON A NETWORK HOOKING UP A MULTITASKING MACHINE ON A NETWORK ______________________________________________
Items to keep in mind when hooking a multitasking machine as a node
onto an existing local area network:
* Do not configure a multitasking machine as a server even if
the networking software allows it. You should have no
problem placing a multitasking computer as a workstation.
* Check your file location and conference setup. Change the
path for those files you wish to share with the network;
for instance, the user file.
* Set "run_burst=1" in your call to your AILANBIOS line.
This will give more processing time back to the CPU and
will help speed up your task switching. This parameter
only works with Lantastic. If you are using a different
network, consult your manual.
* Increase your tasks in QEMM. To do this add "tasks=nn"
(where nn is the number of tasks to allocate) to your
QEMM.SYS line in CONFIG.SYS. Set this value to 16 times
the number of nodes you plan to run.
* If you want to slightly increase network speed and if you
have some conventional memory to spare, load REDIR in low
memory.
SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS ____________________________
When I make a change to one of the conferences (including the Main When I make a change to one of the conferences (including the Main
Board) the change shows up on all of the nodes. Why? Board) the change shows up on all of the nodes. Why?
This is because all of your nodes point to the same CNAMES file
(located in PCBSetup, File Locations #1). The CNAMES file contains
all conference information and since you are using one CNAMES file
you see the changes reflected on all nodes.
The obvious solution would be to specify different CNAMES files on
each node. This is not recommended though because any time you
made a change to any conference you would have to make that same
change on each node. Instead use relative addressing.
Relative addressing depends on where you are. For example relative
addressing looks like this:
DOORS.LST
How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 14 How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 14
Absolute addressing, on the other hand, looks like this:
C:\PCB\GEN\DOORS.LST
Notice that the relative addressing example is missing the drive
letter and the complete path from the root. Relative addressing
then depends on the current directory to find the DOORS.LST file
within it.
Whenever I open up a node's window it loads the wrong node and Whenever I open up a node's window it loads the wrong node and
sometimes gives a modem reset error? sometimes gives a modem reset error?
This is most commonly caused by changing to the wrong node
directory in your BOARD.BAT. Make sure you change to the correct
node directory before you execute PCBoard so that the correct
PCBOARD.DAT (setup) file is read.
I have often noticed that some programs that wish to run in the I have often noticed that some programs that wish to run in the
event require that all nodes be down while one node runs the event. event require that all nodes be down while one node runs the event.
How can I make sure that all of the nodes are down? How can I make sure that all of the nodes are down?
The most common solution to this dilemma is to have the other nodes
run a program which will wait x minutes while the other node does
its processing. There is a utility available on Salt Air under the
filename of WAIT4.ZIP. Your EVENT.SYS files may look like this:
Node 1's EVENT.SYS Node 1's EVENT.SYS
@ECHO OFF
PCBPACK /AREA:00
PCBPACK /USERS
BOARD
Node 2's EVENT.SYS Node 2's EVENT.SYS
@ECHO OFF
WAIT4 360
BOARD
Node 3's EVENT.SYS Node 3's EVENT.SYS
@ECHO OFF
WAIT4 360
BOARD
Using these example EVENT.SYS files, node 1 will pack both the
message base and the users file and then return upon completion.
In the meantime, nodes 2 and 3 will be on hold for 360 seconds (6
minutes). After the 6 minutes are completed, the EVENT.SYS file
reloads the BBS by executing the BOARD batch file.
How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 15 How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 15
Sometimes when loading PCBoard it just hangs. What is causing it? Sometimes when loading PCBoard it just hangs. What is causing it?
Try disabling your cache. Some shareware caches have been known to
cause problems. Also, if this appears to be happening with a
particular door make a note of it and leave a message on Salt Air
detailing what you are seeing.
How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 16 How to Run Up to Four Nodes With PCBoard and DESQview Page: 16
CONCLUSION CONCLUSION __________
There are countless ways to set up a multitasking system
(especially when placing it on a network). This article covers
just a few.
As you can see, setting up a multitasking system can be
complicated, but the cost advantages for running this type of
system can be an advantage for some. However, if you plan on
expanding to a system with more than 4 nodes, you should consider
what a true Local Area Network has to offer.
DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER __________
The information provided in this document is provided 'as-is'
without any warranty of any type or guarantee of fitness of use.
The configurations detailed in this document have been used by some
systems however results may vary from system to system and you
assume full responsibility for trying any of the above suggestions
on your system. It is suggested that before you attempt any of the
suggestions listed that you completely back-up your system.
PCBoard is a registered trademark of Clark Development Company.
QEMM and DESQview are trademarks of Quarterdeck Office Systems.
Lantastic is a trademark of Artisoft.
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