What's this VBBS thing anyways? Updated: 19-July-92 Stephen Vermeulen Voice: (403) 282-7990 Current Status: VBBS is in the Beta stage of developement, it is likely that this will last until about September 1992. While VBBS is in this state you may obtain a copy for $50.00 (if outside Canada use USA funds) by writing to: Stephen Vermeulen 1206 - 3500 Varsity Dr. N.W. Calgary, Alberta, CANADA, T2L 1Y3 once you have registered you may get upgrades at any time by downloading them from the closed area on my BBS (a VBBS system of course) or for $5.00 per disk (you can pre-order a number of upgrades if you want). New versions appear about once every 4-6 weeks. -------------------------------------------------------------------- What is this VBBS thing anyways? VBBS is a new bulletin board system for the Amiga, it is a commercial product available directly from the author. TERM is the terminal program that is required to make use of the special multi-tasking features of VBBS. TERM is a Copyrighted product, but is freely distributable. A printed manual (about 70 pages) for TERM (along with a copy of the latest version of TERM) is available from the author for US$15.00 (CDN$15.00 within Canada). All registered VBBS Sysops get a license to print copies of the TERM manual for their users or can buy finished copies at a substantial discount. What is so unique about VBBS/TERM? The VBBS/TERM product allows the user to do several things at once while he is on the BBS. This is what is meant by saying VBBS is a multitasking BBS. For example the user might be in the conference talking to other users while he is also uploading a file and downloading new messages. The VBBS/TERM product provides the user with a mouse-driven windowed interface to the BBS. This is in contrast with most other systems which provide a traditional text-based interface. VBBS also supplies a text based login facility so that less fortunate computer users (non-Amiga owners) can use a VBBS based BBS. The VBBS/TERM product also provides a fully error-corrected link. The error correction facility applies to all the tasks the user might perform -- not just the file transfer system. The system is smart enough to recognize when the user has connected with an MNP/HST/V42 modem and will turn its error correcting off leaving it to the modems (resulting in less data transmission overhead and less CPU consumed). What features are included in VBBS/TERM? The current version includes the following features: - private user to sysop chat windows, these are helpful when a new user is on the system and he needs some handholding. The multitasking capability allows the Sysop to provide assistance while the user is actually using the various tools. - a narrator based paging facility (Talk) which allows the user to page a sysop who is not at the machine (or visa versa) - a simple local message base designed for quick feedback between the users and sysop - a complex multi-section messages base that batch downloads new material to the users machine for use with the off-line reader program. The user can read, post and reply off-line and his new contributions will be automatically loaded into the system when he next connects. - a file downloading facility that will allow the user to select the file(s) he wants to download through a normal scrolling Amiga requester. The user can sort the displays by name or date (file sizes and short descriptions are also displayed) and if a file has an extended description it will be sent to him before he confirms commencement of the download. Downloading to a floppy based 500 at 19200 baud is possible. While the user is downloading files he may proceed with any other BBS operations (including starting more downloads and even uploads) without interruption. The download facility supports downloading of entire directory trees (very useful with CDROM disks) and single file and directory downloads are resumable in the event of a line break or session time out. - a file uploading facility is available. Users can select the file to be uploaded with the ARP file requester and enter (and edit) the extended file description with their favourite editor. The user can start multiple uploads, and on a full duplex modem (ie. normal 1200/2400 or V32 modems) the user can upload and download at the same time without loss in throughput in either direction. HST modems will slow to appoximately 350CPS in either direction if this is attempted, but if only uploading or downloading will move an LHARC file at about 1660 CPS. - a system monitor window is provided so that the user can see what other users are online, what they are currently doing and page them for the confernce area. The monitor and be left open while other tasks are performed. There are buttons provided to disable the audible bell and screen flash on the paging function for privacy. - an email system is provided which allows the user to enter/read/reply to messages. These are private between users, and the user can also send or receive FIDONET netmail. Users can also send files to other users on the same BBS. - a doors facility is provided so that additional functions can be added to the BBS and TERM programs. These doors programs are run like other VBBS tasks, allowing the user to use several doors while also making use of other built in functions (like downloading files). - a news facility is available to make certain text files readily viewable (like documentation). - an AmigaDOS shell is available for remote sysops to do work on the BBS. Several shells can be opened at once, and shells may be used at the same time as other BBS functions. - a flexible access control and time limit system is implemented which enables you to control exactly what each user is allowed to do and see and for how long. What protocol is used? The VBBS/TERM combination uses a custom sliding windows protocol which is bi-directional and multiplexed. It is very DNet-like internally. Throughput on the protocol is as good as Zmodem, between non-MNP modems the throughput is slightly below Zmodem and between MNP or V42 modems it tends to be a bit faster. On the ASCII interface side (for non-TERM callers) the only protocol is Xmodem, others will be added. What data rates will it run at? Both VBBS and TERM are capable of running at 19200 baud on the internal serial port of an unaccelerated Amiga. If you have an additional serial board (like the ASDG dual serial board) the software can run much faster. Multiple lines on an unaccelerated BBS machine work fine. Limits to performance? As far as performance is concerned, VBBS is capable of running 6-8 lines on a stock 2000HD at 2400 baud on each line. With an '030 accelerator card in an Amiga you should be able to run 8 lines at 9600 baud, as I have run 4 lines at 19.2K and 2 lines at 38.4K in a direct wired test. The actual maximum transfer capability depends a bit on what the users are doing since VBBS will allow users to upload and download files at the same time, and when doing so they can nearly double the load on the system. What are the system requirements? CPU any Amiga, if you want to run more than about 4 - 2400 baud lines an accelerated machine is recommended, RAM 1Meg to 3Meg recommended, this largely depends on the number of lines you run and the amount of multitasking you do as a Sysop. With 3 lines on my machine the BBS uses about 800K. DISKS Of course a hard disk, unless you are planning to use the system just as a mailbox between a few people. The system supports any number of hard drives. The next version will support CDROM drives (the current version will but access control is awkward). SERIAL DEVICES Any serial device that provides a standard AmigaExec xxxx.device type driver is supported, you can even use several different devices. MODEMS Should work with just about anything, it has been tested with SupraModem 2400 SupraModem 2400 MNP SupraModem 2400 Plus (V42) SupraModem v32bis GVC SuperModem 2400 MNP Packard Bell 2400 US Robotics Dual Standards (V32bis/HST) UDS V32 Zyxel v32bis modems OS VERSION VBBS and TERM run under AmigaDOS 1.3 and 2.0. Future development will include more 2.0 feature support. When will it be available? Available now. What will the upgrade policy be? While the Beta test program is in effect there will be free-to-download upgrades to the BBS and support utilities for beta testers from my BBS. For those who don't want to pull massive files down there will be an upgrade disk mailout program at $5.00 per upgrade requested, send me a check for $20 or so and then you can request an update at any time by phone, BBS or mail and I'll send you out an update disk. Updated manuals will be available for about $10-20 depending on what the printing and postage costs turn out to be. What networking will be supported? Currently FidoNet is supported (through TrapDoor) and Usenet is read only at the moment (this will be fixed). What about doors? A doors interface is now included in VBBS and TERM. Currently two doors are available, and IFF picture file previewer (so users can have a peak at what they are about to download) and a file maintenance tool for remote sysops, so you don't have to give all the remote sysops shell privilages. A game is in the works. A developer's kit for doors is also available that includes a sample door client and server in C-source format along with a test driver program that simulates the action of VBBS and TERM so that doors can be developed and tested on a system which does not have VBBS running on it. What Sysop utilities? The only Sysop utilities are local, CLI-based ones. They can be used through the remote DOS shell built into TERM. Multiline support? Yes, from day one, as many lines as you can squeeze in. I have run up to 8 lines on one machine so far (a stock A2000 with 6Megs to be exact). What serial boards has it been tested with? The ASDG dual serial board and the Commodore 2232 multi-serial card. What about customization? By its very nature VBBS will appear to be less customizable than other BBS systems. As time goes on additional areas of customizability will be added. Currently the doors and the custom login stats screen represent the most significant areas of customization. What is the current version? The current version of VBBS is 47, the current TERM is 88. Call the support board for more up to date information. -------- End of the Extract ------- If you want to know more about VBBS, give it a call at the above numbers or give me (Stephen Vermeulen -- Ragnarok Software) a voice call at (403) 282-7990. If you have usenet access you can mail me directly at "svermeulen@ragnarok.uucp" or "ragnarok!svermeulen@uunet.uu.net" as well I am on FidoNet at 1:134/92 (the VBBS machine) and 1:134/27 the 5 line AMUC Express.