Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!portal!atari!neil
From: neil@atari.UUCP (Neil Harris)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Multiuser BBS
Message-ID: <918@atari.UUCP>
Date: 28 Dec 87 18:21:16 GMT
References: <8712221448.AA21644@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> <39@lzaz.ATT.COM> <1479@saturn.ucsc.edu>
Organization: Atari Corp/Mktg
Lines: 83

In article <1479@saturn.ucsc.edu>, koreth@ssyx.ucsc.edu (Steven Grimm) writes:

> The ST's BIOS is re-entrant.  GEMDOS is not.  (I have a multiuser BBS
> system to prove it...)

OK, Steven, where's my copy of the multiuser version?  And whatever hardware
it takes to make it work.  Atari Base is waiting...

Maybe I'd better backtrack a moment.  Here in Atari, we run a free BBS for
users.  It's known as Atari Base, and can be reached at 408-745-5308.

Here's the rub -- we run 5 lines into 5 separate systems.  The line you get
through to is simply the first available line.  But, if you leave a question
on that line, you'd better make darn sure you get back to that line.

We're looking for a solution.  We need a way for the lines to talk to each
other.  Solutions that have been discussed, in order of preference, are:

1. Multi-port RS232 box that lets several modems talk to one ST.  The
advantage is that we'd need one computer instead of 5.  The disadvantage is
that if the one system goes down, everything dies.  We're willing to live
with this, because system crashes have been extremely rare in the 2 years
since Atari Base opened in its current configuration.

2. Network that lets each line share messages.  At one time there was talk
of trying a MIDI-based network, but work on this was shelved by QMI due to
the inability to resolve conflicting RS232 and MIDI interrupts.  Maybe
"PromiseLAN" will solve this one.

3. Using a system like Fnet or Fidonet and having lines call each other to
pass messages.  Not too elegant in my book, and lines are only updated at
intervals (probably daily), but we could do this today if we wanted to.

The other burning issue is, which software to use?  We're currently using
the Michtron BBS.  Michtron has abandoned its plan to sell a hardware
multiport gizmo because the engineers in the UK who were working on one
couldn't get it to work.

FoReM 2.0 supports Fnet, so if we wanted to go to approach #3 we could do
it.  But with the number of novice callers we get, I'm a bit leery of using
FoReM.  Any comments to the contrary, netlanders?

NiteLite Systems now has a hardware device to let 4 or 8 modems share an ST.
Their BBS program supports this.  But... well, I used NiteLite on the 8-bit
before we went to the ST on our board.  I like NiteLite's message facility,
but the program needs improving in the user log (not sorted at all) and the
download area.  Paul Swanson, NiteLite's author, is working at making
improvements, and is very willing to take criticism and act upon it.

BB/ST is very powerful, and Steven Grimm is working on the multi-line
facility.  But we're still waiting on some hardware.  QMI is a great little
company, but I know they're (almost) as overworked as we are at Atari.  So,
timetables for this are in doubt.  Also, BB/ST's tree-structured message
base is not my cup of tea.

And then there's BBS Express ST.  Keith Ledbetter is doing a nice job on
this one.  The message base and file areas work well.  But there's been no
hint from ICD about the prospects for a multi-line function.  I'd like to
hear of one, because I like the program, which has a nice extra for us --
the script language for it would make development of an online order entry
system fairly simple.  It would be a boon to users to allow them to order
spare parts online.

One last thing -- we're committed to running the whole thing on Atari
equipment.  Partly because of budget (total cost for system hardware
out-of-pocket to date has been $0), and mainly because it's a good excuse to
push the envelope of what can be done on the system.  The makers of BBS
programs would love to see us use their program, because it's a great
promotion for them.  So, I tell them to give me what I need!  Maybe some day
it will work.

Just to not irritate anyone, I'm aware of the PD program STadel, but this
one gave new users fits when I tried it at home.  And there's CBBS from
Oasis, which just came in and hasn't been tried yet.  No word on multi-line
functions here either.

Any helpful advice from netland?

-- 
--->Neil Harris, Director of Marketing Communications, Atari Corporation
UUCP: ...{hoptoad, lll-lcc, pyramid, imagen, sun}!atari!neil
GEnie: NHARRIS/ WELL: neil / BIX: neilharris / Delphi: NEILHARRIS
CIS: 70007,1135 / Atari BBS 408-745-5308 / Usually the OFFICIAL Atari opinion