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1993-02-21
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269 lines
I have seen a few SysOp's on MSI HEADQUARTERS BBS (FOR WILDCAT! SYSOPS)
sending messages back and fourth in the External Protocol Conference asking
how they could go about setting up the NEW Bi-Directional protocol called
HYDRA. I myself am the SysOp of a WILDCAT! BBS, The It's A Free Country BBS
(708) 752-0174 1200-14.4k . I also am sort of an external protocol nut. I
like to get as many working on my BBS as is humanly possible. So when I was
reading through the messages in the conference and saw that there was a new
bi-directional protocol available I had to jump up and set it up on my board.
HYDRA is a nice protocol that looks similar to Bi-modem on the transfer
screen. It doesn't have a file transfer status bar, but does have a split
screen for chat. It is MUCH easier to set up with ANY program than Bi-modem.
It sets up much the way HS-Link sets up. It operates with WILDCAT! in the
EXACT SAME METHOD as HS-Link. The transfers FLY by, and I have yet to see
an ERROR message while in a transfer. Overall I think HYDRA is a great
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS PROTOCOL.
So enough about my BBS and about HYDRA ITSELF lets get into setting it
up. I am using WILDCAT 3.55s A Single line BBS. If you are running a
multi-node WILDCAT! BBS the setup is different but this document should be
perfectly capable of guiding you in the correct direction. After all if you
can set up, run, maintain a multi-node BBS you are definitely mentally capable
enough to know what parts of this set up need to be changed, and what they
need to be changed to. So I MUST point out this MAY NOT work FOR EVERYONE,
but it WORKS FOR ME!
I started by downloading HYDRA100.ARJ from MSI HQ BBS. Then I un-packed
the .ARJ and found 3 other .ARJ's inside. HCOM_100.ARJ HSRC_100.ARJ and
HYDRA001.ARJ . I then Unpacked the HCOM_100.ARJ and it contained HYDRACFG.HTX
HYDRACOM.DOC HYDRACOM.EXE HYDRACFG.EXE and LICENSE.DOC . I then copied the
two .EXE's into my D:\WC30 {substitute your drive letter of course} Directory.
I then ran the HYDRACFG.EXE in my WC30 directory. It pops up a screen that
looks like this.
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
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░░░░░░░░╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗░░░░░░░
░░░░░░░░║ Confirm creating new cfgfile D:\WC30\HYDRACOM.CFG [Yes/No]? ║░░░░░░░
░░░░░░░░╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝░░░░░░░
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Answer Y to create the configuration file. It will then proceed to spell
out HYDRA on your screen. When it is done with the spelling job hit ENTER.
After you hit enter a MAIN MENU will appear that looks just like this.
░Editing Default Configuration File D:\WC30\HYDRACOM.CFG
░┌───────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░│ General options │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░│ Link options │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░│ Save and exit │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░│ Quit (don't save) │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░└───────────────────┘░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
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We are only concerned with two options on this menu. The first is
General options. The second is Save and exit. I did nothing with the
Link options left them ALL at default. Highlight General options on the menu
and hit ENTER. Then a screen like this will appear. NOTE: The values shown
in the following menu are MY ACTUAL SETTINGS! NOT DEFAULT
Editing Default Configuration File D:\WC30\HYDRACOM.CFG
░┌──────────────────┐░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░│ General options │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
╔General options══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Comport [1..16] (default COM1) ............ 2 ║
║ Com-speed cpu<>modem (0=current) .......... 19200 ║
║ Line speed modem<>modem (0=comspeed) ...... 0 ║
║ Parity 7E1 instead of 8N1 ................. No ║
║ Drop DTR if carrier lost .................. No ║
║ Disable carrier detection ................. No ║
║ Don't initialize FOSSIL ................... No ║
║ Flow control None/Soft/Hard/Both .......... Hard ║
║ Log file (empty=none) ..................... ║
║ Level of logging 0=max, 6=min (default=2) . 2 ║
║ Log xferinfo to DSZ logfile (empty=None) .. D:\WC30\WCWORK\NODE1\DSZ.LOG ║
║ Disable receive bad-transfer recovery ..... No ║
║ Don't retain files original date/time ..... Yes ║
║ Path to store rcvd files (empty=curdir) ... ║
║ Disable bell noise in chat feature ........ Yes ║
╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ [OK] Space = change ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
1. Comport. Set your com port number. See HYDRA DOCS if comport is NOT
1 or 2 for details.
2. Com speed cpu<>modem. If you use a high speed modem and have your
comport locked this should be set to the same value as your LOCKED
comport rate in MAKEWILD. If you are using a slower 2400 baud modem
that has no error correction you PROBABLY could set this to 0. I am
not sure though because I have it set for high speed.
3. Line speed modem<>modem. This should be set at 0 since we will get
the line speed connect rate from the BATCH files and the %4 variable.
4. Parity. If you want 7E1 set this to Yes. If you want 8N1 set to No.
5. Drop DTR. I have this set to No because WILDCAT! is VERY reliable
at recycling when users drop carrier and HYDRACOM.EXE exits if carrier
is dropped, provided the next question is set to No.
6. Disable carrier detect. If this is set to Yes HYDRA may hang and
leave your board locked up if a user drops carrier during a transfer.
I suggest setting this to NO.
7. Don't initialize FOSSIL. I use a single line WILDCAT! BBS so for
me this is not necessary, so Mine is set to No. HOWEVER if you
are a multiline BBS you may need FOSSIL initialized. I am not sure
Multi node users should see the HYDRA DOCS about this switch.
8. Flow control. If you use a high speed modem with a 16550 UART you
should set this to HARD. If you use a slower 2400 baud modem without
error correction you should set this to NONE.
9. Log file. If you want a log file put it's name here. Otherwise leave
it blank. NOTE: DO NOT USE DSZ.LOG AS YOUR LOG NAME IN THIS QUESTION
10. Logging level. This applies ONLY if the log file space has a file
name in it. It is a level from 0 to 6. 0 being maximum logging and 6
being minimum logging.
11. Log xferinfo to DSZ logfile. IMPORTANT!! This MUST be set to your
node directory. Mine is D:\WC30\WCWORK\NODE1\DSZ.LOG Substitute
drive letters for yours. ALSO you MUST ADD the FOLLOWING LINE to
either your AUTOEXEC.BAT file OR your CAT.BAT file.
SET DSZLOG=D:\WC30\WCWORK\NODE1\DSZ.LOG
substitute your drive letters of course.
12. Disable receive bad-transfer recovery. I have this set to NO so that
there WILL be a CRASH RECOVERY ATTEMPT MADE. If you want to disable
crash recovery answer YES to this question.
13. Don't retain files original date/time. I set this to YES so that the
CURRENT time at the transfer is put on the file. If you want to
retain the original DATE/TIME STAMP set this to NO.
14. Path to store recvd files. Leave this blank we will specify a place
for received files in the batch files.
15. Disable bell noise in chat feature. I set this to YES so if someone
in a transfer at 3 A.M decides they want to chat with me the bell
will not wake me up.
When you finish answering the questions highlight OK in the bottom left
corner of the screen and hit enter. You will then return to the MAIN MENU.
At the main menu highlight the Save and exit option and hit enter. Your
HYDRACOM.CFG file will then be written, and HYDRACFG.EXE will exit.
Next is batch files. I have enclosed MY batch files in with the
SETHYDRA.ZIP I have uploaded to MSI. I also have included them into this doc
in case the ones are missing from the .ZIP My batch files are as follows.
My HYDRA UPLOAD batch file is called HYDRUP.BAT and looks like this.
---------------------------------------
HYDRACOM LINE %4 GET
---------------------------------------
EXPLANATION!
HYDRACOM LINE %4 GET
|______| |_____| |_|
| | |
| | |______ Specifies RECEIVE ONLY MODE
| |
| |___________ Specifies modem connect rate
|
|____________________ Calls HYDRACOM.EXE protocol driver
My HYDRA DOWNLOAD batch file is called HYDRDOWN.BAT and is more complicated,
it looks like this.
---------------------------------------
ECHO >TRANSFER.BAD
HYDRACOM LINE %4 RECEIVE D:\WC30\WCWORK\NODE1\EP SEND %5
---------------------------------------
EXPLANATION!
LINE 1----> ECHO >TRANSFER.BAD
|________________|
|
|______Creates a TRANSFER.BAD file so WILDCAT! can tell if HYDRA
exited without transferring ANY files. If you do not
include this line THE CALLER WILL BE CHARGED WITH THE FILE
DOWNLOAD OR CREDITED WITH THE UPLOAD EVEN IF THE TRANSFER
FAILS. It is deleted by WILDCAT! when done.
LINE 2----> HYDRACOM LINE %4 RECEIVE D:\WC30\WCWORK\NODE1\EP SEND %5
|______| |_____| |_____________________________| |_____|
| | | |
| | | |___Transmit file
| | | OR @FILES.LST
| | |
| | |_____ Specifies RECEIVE files IF ANY and place
| | them in the EXTERNAL PROTOCOL DIRECTORY
| | SUBSTITUTE YOUR DRIVE LETTER
| |
| |__________ Specifies the modem connect rate
|
|___________________ Calls HYDRACOM.EXE protocol driver
WILDCAT! comes with a utility called TIMEOUT.EXE that drops users offline
during external protocols if they EXCEED their time. If you want to use
TIMEOUT with your HYDRACOM BATCH files add TIMEOUT -M%3 and TIMEOUT -U
BEFORE AND AFTER the HYDRACOM command line respectively.
Next is MAKEWILD SETUP. Run MAKEWILD and go into external protocol setup
by highlighting it from the menu. Add a letter to access HYDRA. I used D.
Then in the name category put in HYDRA. Then specify the names of your upload
and download batch files. Mine are HYDRUP.BAT and HYDRDOWN.BAT . Specify
Y in the batch category. Mine looks like this.
Ltr Name Up .BAT Down .BAT Batch
- ---------- --------------- --------------- -
D HYDRA HYDRUP.BAT HYDRDOWN.BAT Y
Save your changes in MAKEWILD and exit.
LASTLY. DOUBLE CHECK YOUR WORK!!
1. Make sure the following files exist in your WC30 directory
HYDRACOM.EXE
HYDRACOM.CFG
HYDRUP.BAT
HYDRDOWN.BAT
2. Check your CAT.BAT AND AUTOEXEC.BAT files and make SURE that
SET DSZLOG=D:\WC30\WCWORK\NODE1\DSZ.LOG
is specified in ONE of them. SUBSTITUTE DRIVE LETTERS OF COURSE.
3. IF all looks OK reboot your system and have someone call in and
test it out. The HYDRA DOCS explain how to set it up with MANY
different comm programs. And I know for a fact that the setup
included for QMODEM in their docs works great.
If you are a multi node system you should only use this document as a
guide toward a good setup. The only differences I could think of have been
outlined in this doc, but I AM NOT A MULTI LINE SYSOP so I may have missed
something.
Anyone needing assistance with this document can reach me on the
MSI HQ BBS or can call My BBS, The It's A Free Country BBS, at (708) 752-0174
also if you just want to leave me a note telling me if this document helped
you set up HYDRA or just confused you, I would be happy to hear from you no
matter WHAT you have to say about it. I hope I helped you fellow external
protocol nuts out.
SPECIAL THANKS: I would like to thank my CoSysOp Mark Seidler (VIPER)
for his MANY hours of external protocol testing even though
HE HATES IT! It takes a REAL friend do do things they don't
like to do just to make the BBS more versatile. THANKS MARK!
I would also like to thank Mike Wilson the SysOp Of another
WILDCAT! 3.55s BBS called The Great Northern BBS at
(708) 632-0884 for offering to help me test external
protocols when My CoSysOp doesn't feel up to it.
Sincerely,
Nick Piel (COBRA)
SysOp: The It's A Free Country BBS
(708) 752-0174 14.4k
PO BOX 21
Winfield, Il. 60190
P.S. TTFN (Ta Ta For Now)