BBS Toolkit/BBS Toolkit.iso/qbbs/multisb.zip/HOWTODO.IT

Text File | 1992-02-16 | 17KB | 315 lines

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                         Running a multi-node SuperBBS
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        I  will attempt  to give  you  some  simple steps  in setting  up a
    multi-line SuperBBS system using Frontdoor to interface with Fidonet on
    both nodes. Included  with this document you should  recieve some batch
    files  that  will  run  both  nodes,  along  with  a  autoexec.bat  and
    config.sys that I use. I currently use DESQview 2.42 with QEMM386 6.02.
    I you are not using these products the config files may not be of use.

    Programs that I use...

        Dseqview 2.42 with QEMM 6.02
        SuperBBS 1.15
        X00 v1.24 fossil driver ( BNU works well also )
        Frontdoor 2.02 ( Used on both nodes )
        Imail 1.21 ( for echomail processing )
        Tick 2.07 ( file distribution )
        Mbutil 1.10 ( message base maintanace )

        You  must first  create directories  for each  node to  contain the
    configuration  files.  Each  node  will  also  need  temporary and work
    directorys. I also  use a RAM drive for the  common path which also has
    directories on it ( will explain later ).

    My directory structure goes like this..

                                -- Frontdoor --

    C:\FD                 <=- Main Frontdoor directory, just exe's
    C:\FD\FD1             <=- Node 1 Frontdoor
    C:\FD\FD2             <=- Node 2 Frontdoor
    C:\FD\INBOUND         <=- Common inbound directory
    C:\FD\NETMAIL         <=- Common Netmail directory
    C:\FD\NODELIST        <=- Nodelist directory
    C:\FD\OUTBOUND        <=- Outbound mail path

                                -- SuperBBS --

    C:\SBBS               <=- Main directory, place all program files here
    C:\SBBS\ATTACH        <=- File attaches for users
    C:\SBBS\N1            <=- Node 1 directory, just config files here
    C:\SBBS\N1\TMP        <=- Temp directory for node 1
    C:\SBBS\N1\WORK       <=- Work directory for node 1 (QWK)
    C:\SBBS\N1\XRS        <=- Needed if you run XRS on your system.
    C:\SBBS\N2            <=- Node 2 directory, just config files here
    C:\SBBS\N2\TMP        <=- Temp directory for node 2
    C:\SBBS\N2\WORK       <=- Work directory for node 2 (QWK)
    C:\SBBS\N2\XRS        <=- Needed if you run XRS on your system.

                               -- Other stuff --

    C:\BAT                <=- All batch files here
    C:\EXT                <=- Miscellaneous utils
    C:\UTIL               <=- Imail, Mbutil, Tick, and ??
    C:\UTIL\<door_dir>    <=- All door directories spawn off of UTIL

                             -- SuperBBS Setup --

        First  place all  exe's and   overlay files  in the  main (C:\SBBS)
    directory.  Then create  all the  node directories,  just name each one
    similar to the other except for node  number. You could use NODE1 or N1
    or whatever  but make sure the  node number is in  the name ( explained
    further in  doc ). After you  make all your directories  change to your
    main directory  (CD \SBBS) and  run CONFIG. In  the main directory  you
    will edit everything, make a LIMITS.BBS, FLSEARCH.BBS and a DOORCFG.BBS
    using the CONFIG program. What I  mean is setup everything now, message
    areas, file areas,  and any doors you want to  run. Find the Multi-node
    configuration and  put in the number  of lines you have  and the common
    path to use ( small RAM drive  works best ) Under the paths setup heres
    what I have.

    Text Path    : C:\SBBS\TEXT\
    Menu Path    : C:\SBBS\MENU\
    Net  Path    : C:\FD\NETMAIL\
    MsgBase Path : C:\SBBS\
    Temp Path    : C:\SBBS\N1\TMP\
    System Path  : C:\SBBS\N1\
    Work path    : C:\SBBS\N1\WORK\
    Ext. editor  : C:\EXT\TOPED.EXE *N
    Virus scanner:
    Nodelist path: C:\FD\NODELIST\
    LA path      : C:\SBBS\ATTACH\

        Once  you  have  everything  you  want  setup,  copy CONFIG.BBS and
    SCONFIG.BBS and SPROTO.BBS to each nodes directory. Then change to each
    nodes  directory and  run config  again, DO  NOT edit  the file  areas.
    limits or  door information in  the node directories.  This information
    will  come from  the main  SuperBBS directory.  All you  should have to
    change is what comm port to use  and the paths to the files. Change all
    the N1's to N<node> ( whichever node number directory your in ) If SBBS
    answering  the phone  you will  need to  edit the  init string for each
    node. Other than  that all the info should  be the same. i use  a batch
    file to run  config and in it I  make sure that there are  no left over
    files  from  running  config  by  deleting  DOORCFG.BBS, LIMITS.BBS and
    FLSEARCH.BBS in  EACH nodes directory, DO  NOT delete the files  in the
    main directory. Confused yet? Just take  your time and it will all fall
    together ( or apart ).

        If you create  some questionaires put these in  the main directory.
    Also put all  language files in the main directory  and don't forget to
    run LCONFIG  and set the  paths to  menus  and text files  there too. I
    suggest putting the  message base in your main directory,  a lot of the
    RA utilities expect to find LASTREAD.BBS and USERS.BBS with the message
    base files. This will keep them all together.

                             -- Frontdoor Setup --

        Basically its pretty  much the same as Sbbs, put  all exe's in main
    directory, use the SET FD= statement to point to the node directory and
    run FDSETUP. You  will have to issue another SET  FD= statement to edit
    the other  nodes. Frontdoor uses  the FD variable  to find it's  config
    files NOT  the Exe's. As long  as Frontdoor exe's are  in the path then
    all  will work  fine. I  will not  go to  much further  into Frontdoors
    setup, you should allready have knowledge  off this and besides I think
    FD is pretty easy to setup. Other than directory changes the FDSETUP is
    the SAME, different  modems require different settings and  you can use
    your ROUTE.FD to tell FD which node is to do what.

                               -- Config.Sys --

        Nothing  to special,  I have  found that  with DOS  5.0 it's  a lot
    easier to NOT  load DOS high, I can  still get 592k DOS memory  with DV
    window sizes being  576k. Plenty for most programs.  Load you RAM drive
    here and  a Fossil driver (X00  or BNU). SHARE.EXE MUST  be loaded when
    you  are running  multi-line, otherwise  forget having  a user  file or
    message base  when both nodes are  up. I would suggest  a minimum of 50
    files. Your setup will differ but this should give you a start.

                              -- Autoexec.Bat --

        If  you  haven't  done  so  allready  you  need  to  look  over  my
    autoexec.bat.  You will  notice that  I have  a TON  of SET statements.
    There is a reason? Most programs  can use the environement variables to
    find their CFG files without you  doing a lot of changeing directories.
    This makes things nice if you move file around or whatever. Also I name
    directories to short names so that I can have most of them in the PATH=
    statement. Also nice  for running files. Mainly at  least you will have
    to have Frontdoor  and SBBS directories in the  PATH= statement. Create
    some directories on your RAM drive,  if you remember the ROOT directory
    of a  drive is limited to  how many files it  can hold, sub-directories
    are not limited. A brief on what SET ??? 's are..

    set FOS=XU CAPTURE              <=- command to recapture INT 14h in DV
    REM set FOS=BNU /C              <=- Ditto, if I change fossil un-REM
    set TZ=CST0CDT                  <=- TimeZone, for BC++
    set DSZLOG=C:\EXT\DSZ.LOG       <=- Set DSZ log, changes in N?.BAT's
    set FD=C:\FD\FD1                <=- Frontdoor node 1 CFG's
    set TIC=C:\UTIL\TIC.CFG         <=- Tick CFG
    set FDOPT=NOEMS,INTL            <=- Options for FD, USE THESE
    set IMAIL=C:\UTIL               <=- Imail CFG's
    set MBU=C:\UTIL\MBUTIL.CTL      <=- Mbutil CFG's
    set SBBS=C:\SBBS                <=- Got to have this one
    set GSZWINDOW=23                <=- GSZ window size
    set LIB=C:\EXT                  <=- DoorPch door library path
    set DOORPCH=PCB                 <=- PcBored door's
    set COM1=38400                  <=- COM1 locked at 38400
    set COM2=9600                   <=- COM2 locked at 9600
    set TOPED=C:\EXT                <=- Toped CFG's
    set CHATMAN=C:\EXT              <=- Chat manager CFG's
    set COMMO=C:\COMMO              <=- COMMO
    set LIST=I:\                    <=- Work path for LIST
    set SHEZEX=E:\WRK               <=- SHEZ extract path
    set SHEZWORK=I:\XXX             <=- Shez Work path
    set XYZ=This_is_a_temporary_string_to_increase_the_environment_space
    set XYZ=

        The reason to  set these before starting DV is  to let QEMM enlarge
    the environment space.  Otherwise you will end up  with a error message
    from DOS "Not enough environment space"
        The rest of the batch is to bring up DV, although I use Norton's BE
    to wait for 2 seconds before doing so. This gives me some time to abort
    and drop to DOS.

                            -- N1.Bat and N2.Bat --

        All throughout the batch files you will see a lot of "if exist" and
    "rem > file", I use regular DOS to create and check for semaphore files
    and make  decisions on what to  do. Read thu the  batch files, they are
    heavily commented so  you can read them better.  Pay close attention to
    how they work together. The programs that are called in the batches are
    available  from me  or you  could probably  find them  somewhere local.
    Another note is that NODE 1 does all mail processing and events. It can
    be handled many  ways but this is how  I do it, the next  change I make
    will be to  have Imail come up in  a window by itself, freeing  up time
    used to process  mail. Imail can do it's thing  while someone is online
    so no problem there ( REMEMBER to load SHARE.EXE ).

                             -- Desqview Setup --

        A clip of how I have the nodes setup..

                                   Change a Program

     Program Name............: SuperBBS Node 1

     Keys to Use on Open Menu: N1 Memory Size (in K): 500
    ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     Program...: n1

     Parameters:

     Directory.: \
    ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     Options:
                      Writes text directly to screen.......: [N]
                      Displays graphics information........: [N]
                      Virtualize text/graphics (Y,N,T).....: [T]
                      Uses serial ports (Y,N,1,2)..........: [1]
                      Requires floppy diskette.............: [N]

                         Change a Program Advanced Options

    System Memory  (in K)...: 0  Maximum Program Memory  Size (in K).: 750

    Script Buffer Size..:   256  Maximum Expanded Memory Size (in K):

    Text Pages: 2 Graphics Pages: 0 Initial Mode: Interrupts: 00 to FF
    ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
    Window Position:
       Maximum Height: 25 Starting Height: 25 Starting Row...:   0
       Maximum Width.: 80 Starting Width.: 80 Starting Column:   0
    ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
                                   Shared Program
    Pathname..:
    Data......:
    ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
    Close on exit (Y,N,blank).....:[ ] Uses its own colors.............:[Y]
    Allow Close Window command....:[N] Runs in background (Y,N,blank)..:[Y]
    Uses math coprocessor.........:[N] Keyboard conflict (0-F).........:[0]
    Share CPU when foreground.....:[Y] Share EGA when foreground/zoomed:[Y]
    Can be swapped out (Y,N,blank):[N] Protection level (0-3)..........:[0]

        Both setups are  the same for each node, You  should have a minimum
    of 4 megs of RAM with 2 megs free.  Thats if you want to run like I do,
    if you don't  have that much you can put  0 for Maximum expanded memory
    and save a little.

        Create a script  with DV's learn feature to start  up the nodes, to
    do this close all windows in Desqview, sitting at the DV menu hold down
    a shift  key and  press the  ALT, this  will bring  up LEARN. Select to
    start a script. It will ask you for a key to use, hold down the ALT and
    press 255 on the numeric pad, let up on the ALT, DV should respond with
    {Key 255}. Now name the script, begin the  name with a ! and it will be
    a auto start script, like !startup or  whatever. Now open all the nodes
    you  plan to  run, when  your  done  press SHIFT-ALT  again and  finish
    script, and save it. To test close  all windows and exit DV, then start
    DV  back  up,  you  should  see  all  your  programs starting up. I use
    DvCommand to remove the desqview borders and as such can display a full
    50 lines on the screen ( 2 nodes ).. Check the Batches..

                                 -- DOORS --

        Door programs  can be a major hassle, the batch file included  runs
    all of my doors,  the %1-%8 parameters are explained a little and  each
    door is called the same way except for the %1 name tag. For those doors
    that are not multi-line aware you will have to use the  semaphore files
    to keep users from playing the same door at the same time.  The Program
    dor.exe is something I wrote to manipulate the  dorinfo1.def  file.  In
    anycase, you can Freq DOORMENU to get my doors menu and text files  and
    also DOR.EXE and have about  25+  doors ready to run.  No door programs
    are included so the file but there are many text files, one menu.  This
    menu uses all of the abilities for door templates in Sbbs, look it over
    carefully. Size is approx 70k..

                              -- Little Tricks --

        Use X00  Fossil if it will  work on your system,  use the DV switch
    with it and you will see some dramatic speed increases in other process
    will people  are downloading files. Until  I got 2 external  modems X00
    would not  work on my  computer so it  might not work  on yours. I have
    found no benefit from using large  recieve or transmit buffers with the
    fossil, Sbbs does not buffer the port,  It will only send when modem is
    ready  so the  buffers go  unused most   of the  time and  just use  up
    precious memory.

        Load the fossil before DV, that way all processes can use it.

        Try to  use your RAM drive  for most temp work,  like file list for
    external protocols and  chat utils and whatever, Nifty  James Ram drive
    it by far the fastest and smallest memory hog.

        Most doors  are very sensitive  to BAUD rates,  some want the  true
    connect rate  and others want the  locked rate. See DOORS.BAT  for some
    info on this.

        Set Sbbs  to NOT do direct  screen writes, if you  are using DNANSI
    you will not see any difference in speed.

        Test  your  knowledge  of  DOS  by  using  the  semaphore  files to
    determine  what processes  are doing  what, can  save you big headaches
    when to things are working on the same files and are not aware of it.

        If you have the memory use a  Disk Cache, I use Hyperdisk 4.31 with
    staged writes.  It seems to be  the only one that  truely know Desqview
    and does not crash when using staged writes. Norton's NCACHE works well
    without the staged writes.

        Be wary of some doors that  claim to be multi-line compatible. They
    may be when used together but may not follow Sbbs's locking scheme.

        Frontdoor uses semaphore files to control itself, I use FDEXIT.?? a
    lot to control.

                                -- Thats it! --

        I write programs,  not documents.. But hey I'm  trying. If you have
    questions on  this setup you can  reach me in the  SuperBBS echo or you
    can send  Net mail to 1:3812/10,  oh BTW my name  is Bob Henderson. And
    last but not least, HAVE FUN!

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