NovaLink Professional 2.0 is a very flexible information server. It contains all the functions of a bulletin board or BBS software, but adds flexibility with a complete graphic interface for Macintosh‚Ñ¢ users and specialized functions designed specifically for businesses. This chapter explains some important features of NovaLink and how to get more information.
NovaLink's Role
NovaLink is the server software that makes an on-line system available. It supports several different kinds of connections as depicted:
 
Connections are supported through Macintosh serial ports (or a NuBus card with serial ports) and any Appletalk network, including EtherTalk‚Ñ¢. We also support high speed modems that use hardware handshaking. NovaLink Professional can handle up to 20 modem and 24 Appletalk connections at one time!*
NovaTerm 2.0 is our special Macintosh‚Ñ¢ based terminal software for connecting to NovaLink Professional Servers using our complete graphic interface. NovaTerm 1.0 displays system graphics, but allows access to mail and message areas with a command-line based VT-100 emulation. NovaTerm is featured in the second chapter of this document.
NovaLink comes with support of VT-100 users including the ANSI commands and color. You can design each menu of the section to behave exactly as you dictate. Criteria can be based on the user's terminal type, their access level or the last time they called. The flexibility of NovaLink Professional is remarkable.
We will now list the most important features of NovaLink Professional, but the best way to see it in action is to call NovaCentral as discussed in the previous chapter and download some Config files for other operating servers.
NovaLink Professional 2.0 Feature List
A Multi-user, Multitasking Server
NovaLink can handle up to 20 serial and and 24 AppleTalk connections at one time.* You can have as many user accounts on your server as your disk size allows. We use our own multitasking system and do not depend on other software to do that for us. This translates into faster overall performance with many users.
Great Flexibility
NovaLink is designed to be completely configurable by the System Operator. Menus reside on a "Tree" structure whose growth is limited only by your disk space. Your system could contain of 5 or 500 menus – the choice is yours! In addition, each menu can have a completely separate VT-100 and graphic version, giving you exact control of what it looks like to each user. This, combined with our Embedded command system discussed below, translates into power never before available in software of this kind.
Special Business Features
NovaLink Professional contains the ability to assign a transmitted "Preview" graphic for any file in a file library. This is intended for Fonts or Clip Art so that users can get a look at what they may want to download. In addition an auditing feature is present so that you can sell these items and bill the customer later. We have several servers in place around the country that are using NovaLink Professional in this manner right now.
Security
NovaLink Professional comes with a powerful security system that allows you to make menu composition decisions based on users access levels, or govern where users can go on the system. We use a 4- number system, each number being from one to one thousand. You can restrict access to an area down to a single user, or group as well. You can also password protect specific areas of your system, or modify the person's access level through the embedded command system.
Embedded Commands
This is one of the most powerful aspects of NovaLink Professional. When the System Operator designs menus they can select from a list of 100 available commands to insert in the design. These commands could make a decision based on input, display a graphic, play a sound, or adjust the users access level – just to name a few! It is almost impossible to communicate all the possible variations, but you will begin to see the result by calling a few NovaLink Professional servers on your own.
Powerful E-Mail
NovaLink Professional's mail system contains all the expected features like return receipts, file attachment and group creation and management.
Graphic Control
You can design your graphics in your favorite drawing or painting program and import them directly into your NovaLink Professional information server. The graphics which make up your server are stored in a file on the NovaTerm end, known as a Config file. This is automatically updated upon connection when you add or change existing graphics. This also makes the display of graphics very fast.
FidoNet Support
NovaLink Professional support the Fidonet international communications network through the popular mailer program Tabby‚Ñ¢.
Remote Control
One of the most appealing capabilities of NovaLink Professional is that servers can be maintained from a remote location. This includes user management, hard disk management and all other System Operator functions. The Sysop does not need to be present at the host machine to perform their duties.
Protocol Support
NovaLink provides all the expected protocols including Zmodem, Xmodem and MacBinary versions. We also support Zmodem batch downloading.
Complete VT-100 and ANSI Support
NovaLink supports VT-100 and ANSI graphic connections.
Modem and Network Support
NovaLink Professional and NovaTerm 2.0 support any Macintosh compatible modem. This includes high speed Modems and hardware handshaking. We also have an AppleTalk version of NovaTerm, "NovaTerm AT", that allows users to connect over an appletalk network.
Purchasing Libraries
NovaLink Professional also has the ability to maintain a list of products that are for sale so users can order them on-line.
External Applications
If you can can program in C or Pascal, you can write your own programs, called external applications, that extends the power of NovaLink Professional. For example, externals can add online entertainment, or a specially designed questionnaire section. The possibilities are endless.
Extreme Reliability
Virtually every mailbox, message base, file library and other important components of a NovaLink Professional server reside in separate disk files. This technique ensures reliability in the event of an unforeseen accident like a disk crash or power outage. It also guarantees that if something does go wrong, chances are you can get back up and running and only lose a small part of your server. NovaLink Professional has been tested extensively to ensure smooth operations under almost any condition.
Compatibility and Requirements
NovaLink Professional can run on any Macintosh with at least four megabytes of RAM and a hard drive. We recommend at least a Macintosh II for multinode servers due to expendability and performance issues. An ideal system has at least five megabytess of RAM and is running System 7. NovaTerm and NovaTerm at require a minimum one megabyte of RAM and are system 7 compatible as well.
For More Information
NovaLink Professional comes with a 160 page manual full of details on all of the features and capabilities. The best way to find out if NovaLink can satisfy your needs is to ask other System Operators on NovaCentral or call Res Nova now at 714/840-6082.
NovaCentral contains many more specific examples of what is being discussed here. Call now to find out more about NovaLink Professional!
(Instructions for calling NovaCentral are contained in the previous chapter.)
We thank you for your interest and look forward to assisting you with your telecommunications needs.
* The number of serial nodes is limited by the number of serial ports and CPU processor speed. The actual number of AppleTalk nodes will vary depending on Macintosh model, network configuration and available memory.
