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Text File | 1990-11-05 | 30.6 KB | 540 lines

November - 1990 *************************************************************************** * * * * * A N N O U N C E M E N T * * * * * Gilmore Systems is proud to annouce version 3.01Cx of our OS/2 BBS package: Magnum BBS (tm) for OS/2 - the first of it's kind. --------------------------------------------- Available in two versions: 4-node version: - 3 comports + console on PS/2's - 2 comports + console on non PS/2's 9-node version: - 8 comports + console - Requires IBM Artic communications add-on card and Quadron System's OS/2 communications driver. - Alternately, you can use a Digiboard communications add-on card + driver software. Requirements: ------------ IBM PS/2 computer with a minimum of: Intel 80286 (or 80386 or 80486) CPU IBM OS/2 version 1.1 or above 4 Mb RAM for 1 node (allowing other uses for your computer, this assumes 2.5 Mb RAM for the OS) 500 Kb RAM for each additional node. NOTE: The preferred system should have at least 6 Mb RAM. This will allow up to 4 nodes with room left over for other application(s). -or- Any 80286, 80386 or 80486 based computer capable of running OS/2 version 1.1 or above. A minimum of 4 Mb RAM on your computer (which includes approximately 2.5 Mb RAM for the operating system without the print spooler running) will successfully run Magnum BBS with 1 node. Up to 500 Kb RAM is needed for each additional node up to a maximum of 3 nodes (comports) on PS/2 machines, or 2 nodes (comports) on all other machines with the 4-node version. The number of nodes is currently limited by the number of communications ports supported by the OS/2 communications device driver (COM01.SYS for non PS/2's, COM02.SYS for PS/2's). These memory requirements will vary depending on what the BBS will be used for. If running many Child (door) processes and/or RJE programs, the memory requirements will increase. The 9-node version requires special communications drivers and communications add-on card. There may be other device drivers available which will support additional comports on your system without the need for specialized add-on cards, however, we do not provide these drivers or the support for them. Modem requirements are: CTS/RTS signals must be supported by your modem and modem cable. Your modem must report Carrier-Detect signal in a realtime fashion (not forced on), and be able to respond to the DTR signal. MAGNUM BBS can communicate with your modem at speeds of up to 19.2 KiloBaud. Your modem should have the ability to either ignore or pass the Xon/Xoff signals through to the computer. Background: ---------- MAGNUM BBS for OS/2 was designed and developed by Gilmore Systems. It has been in the works since 1988. MAGNUM BBS was running in beta test mode since July of 1989, and has been released for commercial resale in January 1990. You can log on to MAGNUM BBS at the "Gilmore Systems BBS of Southern California" at (805) 582-9306. Just by logging on, you are actually demoing MAGNUM BBS. If this number is busy, your call will automatically be routed to node 2. Both nodes 1 and 2 are running a US Robotics "Dual Standard" modem (other "dual standard" modems can connect at 14,400 baud). Any 9600 baud modem following V.32 standards can connect at 9600 baud. All other modems can connect at any lower speed as expected. MAGNUM BBS was designed with specific purposes in mind, the most notable being able to run the BBS without dedicating the machine for that purpose. Now you can have more than one user online, plus a virtual comport (the console) logon while your machine is working on other things such as Word Processing, Accouting, Payroll, Compiling, Games or whatever. You can even be running a DOS program in the DOS Compatibility Box (not recommended). To take things a step further, Magnum BBS offers an RJE section (RJE is a term used on IBM mainframe systems, meaning "Remote Job Entry"). With RJE, users can start jobs (ie: a job is a "task" or "program") which run as background tasks. The user needn't stay online to wait for the job to finish. Once a remote user starts a job, the user is free to use the BBS for other things (ie: file xfer, e-mail, doors, etc) or log off. Overview/Features: ----------------- MAGNUM BBS has many features! Features that just cannot exist on DOS-based BBS systems. For Starters: I) SECURITY i) Up to 9,999 different user security levels ii) Allow/Disallow Private Messages iii) Different Configuration File for Each node can configure the BBS as a multiple-line single BBS, or actually a different BBS for each node. iv) Users are not "locked" to their security level - the SYSOP can tailor *any* user's priveleges at *any* security level without necessarily changing their user level. v) Up to 26 Message Conferences offering Read/Write/List capabilities on an individual basis or according to security level. For example, a subscription BBS might let users Read messages in a certain message area but disallow them from responding - message areas (conferences) are all separate. vi) Up to 26 File Xfer areas offering Upload/Download/List capabilities on an individual basis or according to security level. For example, a subscription BBS might let users list certain or all file sections in an effort to entice the user to "join", while only allowing downloads from certain areas. vii) Automatic security checks on File Uploads and Message Entry scans for any harmful ANSI escape sequences capable of redefining keyboard keys for destructive purposes. Any user who enters a message or uploads a file containing keyboard key redefinition in the form of ANSI escape sequences will be locked out of the system (and the file or message deleted). viii) User's time allotments are highly configurable. There are 4 period types: Daily, weekly, monthly, annually. Any individual user can have a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual time allowance. If the time is used up before the period (day, week, month or year) ends, the user cannot gain access to the system again until the next period begins. There is also a pro-rate option which prorates users who log on in the middle of a period: For example, a weekly user who is granted 7 hours/week of connect time can use the time all up in one day or a couple of days. As an option, if a weekly period is from Sunday to Saturday, then a user logging on for the first time within the period on Wednesday will be pro-rated to 4 hours since they did not use Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday's time. ix) Maximum time limit per call disallows weekly, monthly or annual users to use up their entire time allotment in one call - they can, however call back immediately. x) Upload/Download Ratios are optionally enforced and optionally configured on a security-level or individual user basis. In addition, Download Kbytes/period can be enforced. xi) Any file area(s) can be designated as "free", meaning files downloaded from those areas will not apply to the user's upload/download count. xii) Message section offers optional "Carbon Copy", "Receipt", and message "Forwarding" capabilities. xiii) Messages can contain imbedded commands to interact with those reading the messages (sysop option). xiv) Communications ports can be configured to be opened as Exclusive or Shared. xv) Any node(s) can be an "announce-only" or regular BBS. II) FEATURES A) MESSAGE SECTION i) Both a line-editor and an ANSI editor are built into the system. Both offer automatic wordwrap. The ANSI editor allows for re-reading of a message being replied to during message entry. The ANSI editor has editing capabilities similar to that of most text editors. Both editors allow message entry of up to 150 text lines. ii) Any message can have an "Expiration Date" - no more tying up of disk space with old, cluttered messages announcing things such as meetings which already took place! iii) "Carbon Copy", "Receipt" and "Forwarding" capabilities. iv) Thread capabilities allows following a thread forward or backwards, finding the origin (beginning) of a thread, and non-stop scrolling of threads or other messages. v) Private Messages and Deletion of messages are configurable by the Sysop to allow/disallow private messages, and to allow/disallow users ability to kill messages. All messages entered via "Comment to Sysop" menu selection are always private regardless of private message settings. vi) Can search for messages in any conference by date, subject, or user. vii) User's can edit (modify) their message(s) at a later date even though they've already been saved. This capability is only available if the addressee of the message has NOT received the message yet. If the message is addressed to ALL, this capability only exists if the message has not yet been read by anyone. viii)Each message header shows subject nature, whether it was received (if not to ALL) along with date and time of receipt, date and time of message, how many times it was read, expiration date (if any), whether there has been a reply, and if it's part of a thread. ix) MAGNUM OS/2 BBS can be configured by the Sysop to compensate users with "time" for entering public messages. Compensation can range anywhere from 0 to 255 seconds per word. x) Messages can contain special, embedded MAGNUM "MILC" commands. MILC is "MAGNUM Interpreted Language Commands". There are hundreds of commands, such as commands for color which will emit the proper ANSI escape sequence for color when a user with their color settings set to ON is reading a message. If a user who is reading a message has their color settings set to OFF, no escape sequences are emitted - the command is simply removed and ignored when sent to the reader. This eliminates the "garbage" display for users reading messages containing ANSI escape sequences entered by the sender of the message. There are many other commands in MILC which can make a general message appear "personalized" to the reader. MILC also has the capability of asking the reader questions and logging their answers to a file. Among some of MILC's advanced features are the ability to perform arithmetic and logical expressions, string logic, IF logic, conditional/unconditional branching, etc. MILC's command set is configurable by the sysop as to which of MILC's commands users (or a particular user) can have access to, or it can be disabled for any particular user. Among the most powerful of MILC commands is the ability to start an external program or RJE program. xi) If new mail arrives for a logged-on user at anytime during their online session, Magnum will notify them that "New mail has arrived". B) FILE SECTION i) Any file can have an "Expiration Date" - no more tying up of disk space with old, cluttered files. Once the expiration date is reached, the file is no longer available. ii) Any file can have a description of up to 150 lines of text in the form of a message which is permanently associated with that file. A 1-line description is required, the message description is optional. iii) Configurable by the Sysop, users can modify fields of any file(s) they uploaded themselves. For example, they can delete or rename the file, change or assign an expiration date, move it to a different file area, change the 1-line description or add/change the message description (up to 150 lines of text). They can also password protect the file (make it private), or un-password protect it (make it public). iv) Password protected (private) files are optionally configurable by the Sysop. Also, whether or not private files are "list-able" are also at the Sysop's descretion. v) ARC and ZIP compressed file formats are both supported. Not only can users view the contents of compressed files, but they can also read any ASCII (readable) members, and download any member(s) of the compressed file without having to download the entire compressed file. vi) XMODEM, XMODEM-CRC, XMODEM-1K are the standard single-file protocols supported. YMODEM, YMODEM-G and ZMODEM are the standard batch (multiple-file) download protocols supported. vii) During the Files Listing, the following are displayed (2 text lines per file): Whether an additional message (up to 150 text lines) describing the file exists, the filename, the filesize, date & time of upload, number of times downloaded, expiration date (if any) and 1-line description. Additional, extended Information on the file including upload method, date of last access and message description are available through the file menu selection. viii)MAGNUM OS/2 BBS can be configured by the Sysop to compensate users with "time" spent during uploads. Compensation can range anywhere from 0 to 255 times the time spent uploading. ix) MAGNUM OS/2 BBS can be tailored to a group of users or to individual users to list, download, and/or upload to/from any file area(s). x) MAGNUM OS/2 BBS eliminates the need for creating a compressed file or series of files containing the list of available files on the board. MAGNUM OS/2 BBS users simply choose a file menu option, choose which areas they want, and MAGNUM OS/2 BBS creates an .ARC or .ZIP file containing the listing the users want. It's available for immediate download, and expires the following day. The file will be deleted immediately upon successful completion of download. xii) Any file section(s) can be designated as "free". This means that if the Sysop is using an upload/download ratio, files downloaded from "free" sections will not count toward their ratio. C) BULLETIN SECTION, QUESTIONAIRRES, NEWSLETTER via INTERPRETED LANGUAGE i) Unique "file-display" routine incorporates an all-new interpreted language (MILC or MAGNUM Interpreted Language Commands)which can optionally be imbedded within any ASCII text file. Literally hundreds of commands are available within any file. ANSI escape sequences are no longer needed for color - the interpreted language processes color or ignores it depending on whether the remote user has their color settings on or off. ii) The interpreted language is capable of creating multi-layered menus, and can "include" files within files for display. 50 numeric and 50 string variables provide String and Mathematics logic. All basic math and logical operations are supported including IF processing, conditional and unconditional branching, labels, etc. Many options for "Included" files such as privacy of variables (inherited or not) from parent file. iii) The interpreted language is capable of I/O to/from comport, screen and disk. Powerful and colorful questionairres can be created with just a regular text editor. Answers to questionairres are logged to a disk file, complete with User Information including date and time of questionairre completion. iv) At logon, the user is notified if any Bulletins or Newsletters have been changed since the time of last logon. v) Any Bulletin, Newsletter, or Questionairre can be layered to make sophisticated menuing systems. vi) All display files including Help files can contain imbedded commands. vii) With the power of MILC, the BBS can even be made to appear differently to different users. You could even make a public announcement to all users except say, a handfull of users you wish to exclude from seeing it. viii)MILC commands even include the ability to start an external program or RJE task (including the passing of parameters and the setting of priority of execution). D) RJE SECTION i) Remote Job Entry (RJE) allows users to start jobs (programs) which run concurrently to their session which will continue to run after the user has logged off. These jobs run until their completion. The next time the user logs on, the user can check the status of thier job and download any resultant files. If the user is still online when the job finishes, Magnum will notify the user of job completion. Job status can be checked at any time by the user. ii) Magnum is supplied with an RJE program which "ZIPs" (or "ARCs") all messages on the system (with options) for later download. D) SYSOP SECTION i) Sysop section allows the Sysop to modify any field of any record in the user, message, and file databases. ii) Can view the activity log, print the user database, pack the databases, and generate mailing labels by security level. iii) Can gain control of the entire system via remotely (or locally) executing CMD.EXE (equivalent in DOS is COMMAND.COM). iv) "Remote Snoop" and the ability to remotely perform any sysop task as though sitting at the console. E) CHILD SECTION i) Known as DOORS on DOS-based BBS's. Games and other programs which run under OS/2 using STDIN, STDOUT, and STDERR can all be run as a Child Process. An example is the original adventure game which has been converted to OS/2. ii) Door (child) programs do not have to worry about communications ports, Carrier Detect, Baud Rates or any other communications considerations. MAGNUM BBS constantly monitors this while the door (child) program is in progress. The door (child) process merely reads and writes to/from the console (very simple for any programmer to write) while MAGNUM BBS handles all redirection both to and from the console and communications ports, as well as to/from files and the child. F) SYSOP CONSOLE i) The Sysop can monitor any node in realtime status from the console, or can "snoop" on any of the 3 nodes in a fullscreen or windowed session, seeing everything the remote user sees and types. ii) The Sysop can invoke a CHAT session with a user on any node, or send a message to a user on any or all nodes. iii) The Sysop can FORCE a user off, LOCK them out of the system, change their security level up or down, change a user's time remaining up or down, etc. iv) The Sysop can specify a Shutdown Time of any or all nodes in HH:MM format. Within 30 minutes of shutdown, MAGNUM BBS will send the remote user(s) messages in the format of "System Going Down In xx Minutes". These messages will be sent to the remote user(s) at 30, 20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 minutes from shutdown time. v) The Sysop can shut down a node immediately (even with a caller on that node), or have MAGNUM BBS shut down a node after the current caller logs off. vi) The Sysop can control the printer, pager and beeps by activating or deactivating them. vii) The Sysop can log on to the "sysop node" from the console without using a modem or telephone lines. viii)Any CHAT between Sysop and Remote User (or group chat) is logged to a file including Time and Date of chat. During Chat, if the remote user has their color settings on, both Sysop and remote user type in different colors to help distiguish who typed what. F) GROUP CHAT i) Group Chat is available on all nodes, whether it's the local Sysop (modemless) node, or an active comport node. Any user on a node with their color settings ON, will see all typed material from other nodes in different colors depending on which node is doing the typing. ii) Any User on any node can "page" a user on any other node. iii) Any User on any node can set their "privacy" switch ON in order to refuse any "paging" requests from other nodes. iv) Although Group Chat is public to all nodes, a user on any node can send private lines of text to a user on any other node. v) Automatic word wrap is active during group chat, as it is in the message entry and Sysop Chat sections. * NOTE: Chat functions are not available across a LAN at this time. G) MENUS and HELP SCREENS i) Menus are defined by the Sysop in the Configuration file for each node. Menus are then built dynamically by MAGNUM BBS, eliminating selections not available to lower security level users. ii) Menus can also be external files (for color and other fancy things). Since external files (created with your text editor) can contain imbedded interpreted commands, the sysop can prepare the menus such that certain menu selections are visible only to certain security levels. iii) Help Screens can also be spiffed up by taking advantage of the imbedded interpreted commands. For Instance, the help file for the File Section might contain a Menu of choices which help narrow down exactly what part of the File Section they need help on. "Other" BBS's make users read through an entire "Help" Screen - MAGNUM BBS can offer you a choice - right down to a Menu offering Help for each actual menu selection - not just whole menus. H) MAINTENACNE AND "EVENTS" i) Although MAGNUM BBS virtually runs itself, deleting expired files, etc, scheduled "events" are handled by MAGNUM BBS's ACE (Automatic Command Execution) event handler. This event handler can execute any MAGNUM BBS "internal command", or execute any external command (such as any OS/2 program, or OS/2 .CMD file). Up to 100 events can be queued for execution at days/times predetermined by the Sysop. External OS/2 programs or .CMD files can be run as a WAIT, NOWAIT or DETACHed process. ii) MAGNUM's EXECUTIVE maintenance utility (included) allows the Sysop to perform ANY kind of maintenance s/he can dream of. This utility is actually an interpreted C-like language processor which makes maintenance a snap! For example, to delete all users who've not called within the past 90 days, the following statements would perform the task: IF(LASTCALL < TODAY - 90) DELETED = TRUE While the above would be performed for every user in the database, you might have need to perform statements on only a single user. For example, If you're running a subscription BBS, you might have some of the following statements to increase a user's security level and set a subscription expiration date: LEVEL = 50 MEMODATE1 = TODAY + 365 The above would change a user's security level to 50 and set an expiration date to 365 days from today. To check expiration dates and lower the level, the following might be used: IF(MEMODATE1 < TODAY) LEVEL = 25 Of course, in actuality, you would want to specify the different file and message areas you would allow/disallow the user to access in the above examples. How about deleting all files which have had less than 10 downloads in the past 100 days? Simply: IF(DOWNLOADS >= 10) GOTO(SKIP) IF(TODAY > FILEDATE + 100) DELETED = TRUE SKIP: The above examples are a minute fraction of the capabilities of the executive maintenance program. The last example demonstrates the use of GOTO and a label. IF statements, if true, can process a group of statements enclosed in { and } braces (as with C). You can access and manipulate any field in the USER, FILE and/or MESSAGE databases: 64 different USER fields, 15 different FILE fields, and 20 different MESSAGE fields. Because one of the fields is "User Interests", you can even create a list of all users with an interest in Music, for example. Simple Mathematics, IF processing, conditional branching, string assignment, etc are supported. iii) The EXECUTIVE maintenance utility provides powerful capabilities such as generating form letters and providing statistics. I) MAGNUM BBS IS "LAN-ready" for ADDITIONAL INCOMING DIAL-IN LINES VIA A NETWORK i) Magnum BBS will run on a LAN (local area network) by purchasing additional copies of Magnum's parent program for each workstation. ii) Each workstation on the LAN can have 0 to 3 (or 8) modems attached. iii) Each workstation on the LAN can be used to log onto the BBS locally (ie: no modem required). iv) Each node (1-4 or 1-9 depending on version) can optionally use different databases or all use the same databases. In other words, each node can be a unique, separate BBS if so desired. J) MAGNUM BBS IS "LAN-ready" for LOCAL (modemless) LOGON VIA LAN WORKSTATION(s) i) Optional local-logon modules are available on a per-workstation basis which enable your OS/2 workstations to log onto the BBS through your LAN network. No modems or phone lines are necessary. ii) Users of local-logon modules can perform anything a dial-in remote user can perform except for "chat" functions. iii) As long as each workstation has a copy of its own, unique local logon module, there is no limit as to how many workstations can be logged on at any given time. *************************************************************************** This has been a condensed listing of features for the Gilmore System's MAGNUM BBS software for OS/2. For those who are interested or curious about the system, please log on and see for yourself - all it costs is a phone call. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- As for what our "Gilmore Systems BBS of Southern California" really deals with, besides our MAGNUM OS/2 BBS, are the following file and message sections: Our OS/2 File collection is large and growing faster and faster every month. Call up and join in on the latest in software technology for BBS systems. Our BBS number is (805) 582-9306. Our Voice number is (805) 582-1360. This number also doubles as our FAX number and is intelligent enough to distinguish if you're a voice or FAX caller. If you're a voice caller, your call will be routed to a 'human'. Pricing and ordering information is available via our system [N]ewsletter. For further information, call, FAX, or write to us at: Gilmore Systems 5447 Indian Hills Drive Simi Valley, CAlif. 93063 USA Thank you for taking the time to read through this document, and we'll look forward to having you log onto the BBS! - Chuck Gilmore President, Gilmore Systems --------------------------------------------------------------------------- End.