ڿڿڿڿڿڿĿڿ ڿĿ ڿĿڿڿڿĿ ͳĿٳ ٳͻ Volume 5 ſٳ ٳĿĿ Jan-Feb Issue 1 ڿ ٳĿ 1994 ͳٳٳĿ Ŀٳٳͼ Serving WWIV Sysops & Users Across All WWIV Networks Ŀ This Month's Features Ŀ Random Factors.......................................Wayne Bell (1@1) Stac vs Microsoft: David & Goliath redux?............Omega Man (1@5282) Soft Servings........................................Filo (1@2050) TechnOTES............................................WWIVnews Staff What's Hot in the world of WWIV Utilities?...........King Lerxt (1@8863) A Review of The WWIVnet Oracle.......................Necromancer (1@4079) Random Titles: Laziness or Just Plain Stubborn?......King Lerxt (1@8863) Filo's Mods of the Months............................Filo (1@5252) Type 0 Forum.........................................Omega Man (1@5282) PC Pursuit Bytes the Dust!...........................H20 Doc (1@5284) A Cheat Sheet for WWIV...............................Crystal Wizard (1@5295) How to be a Good Co-Sysop.............................Louie (IceNET 6@1) Dateline: @#$*()#!...................................Omega Man (1@5282) Random Factors Creative Commentary by Wayne Bell (1@1) Wow. Been a while, huh? We've got a lot to cover, so let's get going: WWIV 4.23: If you've not bothered to upgrade to 4.23, here's what you're missing: 1) Almost all known bugs fixed. More on this in a minute. 2) PW not showing in INIT startup. 3) Up to 250 chars for E-Mail name (good for gateway routing). 4) //UPLOADFILE reads extended descriptions also. 5) NET31 and earlier bug in //BOARDEDIT not allowing net subs to be added 6) Color changes in [PAUSE] now supported. 7) Moving file optionally resets daten for nscan searches. 8) by/re/internal editor commands (/es, ...) now in BBS.str 9) Multiple languages supported. 10) Multiple fast local logons for sysops (with num). 11) Remote autovalidation (1,2..0 keys act as AltF1-AltF10 would) when in uedit. 12) 255 SL protection from Alt-F keys and remote autovalidation. 13) Better pending display. Shows all network connections rather than just those with bytes waiting. Also shows to minute accuracy rather than hour accuracy. This display is now abortable. 14) Autodialing for network callouts. Can specify number of retries. Abortable with ESC key. Key is '.' at wfc for autodialing, '/' does just one try as usual. 15) Can specify minimum k before network callout. One-day override: if an entire 24 hours goes by and the minimum k is not reached, then the BBS will start calling again as if there were no minimum k defined. NET33 required (so that a re-analysis doesn't erase the | entry). 16) Support for colors 8 and 9 in messages, defaults, etc. 17) Topscreen/F1 color setting changed to white on blue (and uses a #define for easy alteration). editline color also #define'd in CONIO.C for easy customization. 18) F1 editor edits more fields, including banktime, ass_pts, msgs posted, upload k, etc. 60-char notes now handled properly. 19) Local posts and network posts tracked separately. Topscreen shows no. of local posts for the day. 20) Randomized ANSI logon screens (WELCOME.0, .1, etc). Maximum of 1000 random screens, but no hard-coded maximum; code adjusts to the number automatically. 21) Control-Y toggles pause_on_screen on/off. 22) Form letters are now FILENAME.FRM or FORM####.MSG, allowing eight characters for more mnemonically easy form letter names. Also shows all available (*.frm) form letters. 23) LASTON.TXT/USER.LOG enhanced. 24) Funky colors don't look quite so funky. 25) Newuser colors are brown and cyan. No more flashing red. 26) [ and ] move down/up dirs subs (as well as +/- and ). 27) Subname shown at read prompt. 28) Embedded colors in gfile/dir/sub/chain descriptions won't weird out the display in subedit/diredit, etc. 29) Some "express" commands for the longer // Sysop commands (//de for diredit, //be for boardedit, //ce for chainedit, //ge for gfileedit, //ue for uedit, //cu for chuser). The normal longer commands work the same as always. 30) Internal timebank for allowing users to store time for later use. 31) //resetf (reset_files()) now works at wfc with the '=' key. 32) FILE_IDZ.DIZ/DESC.SDI in archives supported for file descriptions. 33) Multiple-sysop feedback, shows sysops/cosysops with user numbers from 1 to 9 at the feedback prompt. If only 1 sysop/cosysop found, the BBS works as normal (no menu selection). 34) User data written to disk for spawns, read back in upon return, for programs that might alter the online user's userrec data. 35) //BOARDEDIT, when editing the description, now allows deleting the sub description. 36) Several different dropfiles now created when CHAIN.TXT created, including DORINFO1.DEF, PCBOARD.SYS, DOOR.SYS, and CALLINFO.BBS. 37) All declared-but-unused vars deleted from the code. 38) International character support (, , , etc). 39) Network dialouts show BBS name and location of board being called. 40) Logon info enhanced a bit. 41) Msg/mail headers split up so that location data is shown on a separate line (prevents screen overrun). 42) Local windows (done with makewindow()) now "shadowized". 43) F10 (chat) key allows selecting name-string to "chat as". Also takes user number. 44) For 80-column people, the sub title-scan shows who posted each message, as well as the title itself of course. 45) editline(), etc. now use "unsigned char", thus allowing upper ASCII chars for user notes, "chat as" strings, etc. 46) Newuser event now allows external ASV/CBV programs to be plugged in, and if these change the SL/ARs, etc. this is automatically accounted for upon return to WWIV. 47) Dirs and subs may now be swapped around. 48) The following optional files may be used. If they do not exist, they will not be printed, else they will. Their locations (when printed) are obvious from the filenames: "CHAINS" "XFER" "DOWNLOAD" "UPLOAD" "DEFAULTS" "GFILES" If these files do not exist a "file not found" message will not be printed. 49) Enhanced extract abilities, but you can still use the old extract code if OPT_OLD_EXTRACT is #define'd. 50) Non-USA callers may use freeform phones, even if that is not defined in INIT (this is necessary since foreign callers do not use US phone no. conventions). 51) Can add net subscribers to subs from mail read prompt. 52) Callers are compensated for time spent posting. 53) Subs and dirs are now conferenced. The conferencing is user-definable in defaults, so it can be "hidden" if the user turns conferencing off. 54) Limited multi-instance chat and messaging ability. 55) A fast binary search for files when someone uploads is available. (This can speed things up on some systems from several minutes to about 1 sec.) 56) Chains are definable as multiline-capable or not. 57) Extra chain ability, for who sponsored a chain. (#define'able) 58) You can get rid of the chat screecher now, with a #define. 59) SSMs on mail-delete say which network now. 60) Sysop-selectable #defines moved to bottom of VARS.H for ease. 61) Mail-list shows originating address >and< title (as much as fits). 62) Backgrave (`) may now be used in menus. 63) Simple auto-sysop validation (#define'able). Uses the Alt-F10 key settings, and gives exemption of 9. Prints optional ASV.ANS/.MSG file. 64) Multiple phone lines/instances are now supported. 65) Files may be tagged for download AUTHORIZED BUG FIXES TO WWIV v4.23: As I hinted at above, there's a few bugs with 4.23 that slipped past even our rather extensive beta testing. The officially recognized bugs and fixes are as follows: To fix hangup in timebank: In misccmd.c, line # 841, change: c=onek("DWQ"); to: c=onek("QDW"); In misccmd.c, line # 881, change: } while (!done); to: } while (!done && !hangup); To fix hangup in //net: In sysopf.c, line # 323, change: while (!done) { to: while (!done && !hangup) { In sysopf.c, line # 386, change: cmd=onek("123456789Q"); to: cmd=onek("Q123456789"); To fix possible post-out-of-order problem on gated subs: In netsup.c, line # 1050, change: sprintf(fn,"%sPGATE%s",net_networks[nn].dir, nete); to: sprintf(fn,"%sP1%s",net_networks[nn].dir, nete); To fix removal from ALLOW.DAT (if using OPT_FAST_SEARCH): In xfertmp.c, line #954, change: modify_database(s,0); to: modify_database(u.filename, 0); In xfertmp.c, line #959, change: modify_database(s,0); to: modify_database(u.filename, 0); MULTI-INSTANCE SKELETON.C? Some people have been asking if SKELETON.C should still be the same for multi- instance. Since it only reads the parameter file passed to it, so as long as you pass it via "skeleton %1", everything is completely compatible. Any chains which correctly read the file should not require any changes. WWIV 4.24: I have now installed a generic shrinking spawn, and have finally consolidated all the numerous run-external-program functions and the like into one single function, extern_prog(char *cmdline, unsigned short flags). As this is still being debugged and expanded upon, I'm not exactly sure how much/what else will finally be in there yet, but there are a number of things in the works. There may or may not be some kind of Fidonet support for this next release. I haven't really decided yet on the matter. However, if you're interested in keeping up with the developments, you should contact Filo (1@2050) at WWIV Software Services for the latest details. SHAKE, RATTLE, & WWIV: For those concerned, the earthquake here in LA didn't affect me very much, as I'm located in the southern portion of the earthquake zone. Los Angeles county (area code 310) is just south of area code 213 (the epicenter) and both area codes were blocked by Pacific Bell from incoming calls during the major period of crisis. So yes, I -was- cut off for a while, and I understand there were quite a few of you wondering what would happen if something -bad- had happened to me. I also understand Filo and H2O Doc were actually working on some sort of contingency plan in the event @1 was "no longer in service." Maybe by next column I'll find out what they came up with. Oh, as for any damage, I had two flashlights fall off a shelf, and a picture was tilted sideways slightly. However, my grandmother and someone I work with, had a lot of cleaning up to do afterwards, but no real permanent damage. THE GREAT RENUMBERING: As Filo has announced on most of the Sysop subs, there will be a major node renumbering going on in WWIVnet. Most of the details have been decided upon, but I haven't yet specified a date for it. You will be hearing about it, probably in a mail-to-all-sysops, and Filo has some comments about what's going on later on in this issue of WWIVnews. Check out the new WWIV Software Services column for more details. For those curious about why the renumbering is a far more difficult matter than it sounds, keep in mind that the WWIV/WWIVnet software is based upon having an unsigned short to hold node numbers. Anything other than having a 1-65530 node number would require significant re-writing of a lot of conversion software, and would cut off anyone who hadn't upgraded to the latest versions of WWIV and WWIVnet. Again, Filo will have more on the details, so stay tuned. Stac vs Microsoft: David & Goliath Redux? A Special Late-Breaking Report By Omega Man (WWIVnet 1@5282) As WWIVnews was about to go to press last week, a Los Angeles federal court jury hit Microsoft Corp. with $120 million in compensatory damages Wednesday for infringement of patents for data compression products as held by Stac Electronics. Stac, manufacturer of the on-the-fly compression utility Stacker, filed the infringement in January 1993 over Microsoft's inclusion of the competitive utility Doublespace in DOS 6.0. Microsoft added Doublespace to MS-DOS after Microsoft broke off contract negotiations with Stac over royalty rights in November 1992. For those watching the trial, the verdict came as a welcome surprise in light of the courts' previous sidings with the larger manufacturer in cases such as these. The award was viewed by most industry experts as a stunning potential reversal for Microsoft's dominance of the operating system market. For years, Microsoft's rivals have complained bitterly that the company had used unfair tactics to squeeze out rivals in the fiercely competitive market, but only Stac had been able to make a case out of their claims. The U.S. District Court jury, in the first patent infringement lawsuit against Microsoft to ever reach trial, found Microsoft infringed two of Stac's many patents. However, despite some evidence to the contrary, the jury did not find that Microsoft had willfully infringed the patents, which could have resulted in the awarded damages being quadrupled. The jury made the decision following a four-week trial, which included testimony from both Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Stac CEO Gary Clow. While some important testimony - particularly those elements involving efforts ordered by Gates to Microsoft's attorneys to "hammer" Stac into submitting to Microsoft's terms - by Clow was ruled inadmissable when Clow inadvertantly stumbled into territory that the judge ruled off-limits during that portion of the trial, it was Gates' own testimony that was considered the key to Microsoft's loss. The area of testimony that Clow stumbled into, ironically, was the actual estimated worth of Microsoft. Clow brought this up in passing by accident during a cross-examination by the Microsoft council on his impression of just how important Doublespace was to MS-DOS 6.xx. At the start of the trial, the judge presiding the case admonished both sides to avoid bringing up Bill Gates' estimated value until the closing arguements per a request by the Microsoft councils. Gates, on the other hand, proved to be his own worst enemy on the witness stand. He was repeatedly tripped up and embarassed by the Stac council regarding his claims - and denial of such - of the success of MS-DOS in the industry, as well as his denial of Doublespace as being of importance to the success of MS-DOS. Virtually all of Gates' denials were disproven by tapes of Gates' own admissions during several promotional press conferences following the initial release of both MS-DOS 6.0 and 6.2. In one example, Stac executives said Microsoft has shipped nearly 30 million copies of MS-DOS 6.0. When Gates was questioned about this on the stand, he denied that many copies had been sold, and denied any knowledge of just how many had been sold. The Stac council asked the question again, receieved the same answer, and then played Gates' taped annoucement for DOS 6.2, which stated just how many estimated copies of DOS 6.0 had been sold. The jury, in addition to the award, also found in favor of Stac on Microsoft's counterclaims of patent infringement and breach of contract. Following this, Stac attorneys indicated to the judge that the company would file for a permanent injunction barring Microsoft from shipping and from infringing upon Stac's data compression technology in any other manner. Microsoft, in turn, announced that while it will cease selling copies of DOS 6.0 and 6.2 to retailers and individuals, it will not recall copies sold prior to the verdict. In a conference call partially carried on CNN, Stac CEO Gary Clow stated "This is a landmark decision with respect to software patents...this case is a prototype for small companies, showing that they can effectively compete with Microsoft." In a sort of eye-for-an-eye turnaround, though, the jury found in Microsoft's favor on one of Microsoft's seven counterclaims for misappropriation of trade secrets. The jury awarded Microsoft $13.6 million in damages for Stac's attempts to "reverse-engineer" its products to make them work with the data compression program in MS-DOS 6.0. While the newly-released Stacker 4.0 was announced as "backwards-compatible" with Doublespace, at press time there had been no requests for an injunction by Microsoft, nor were there any announcements from Stac with regards to a voluntary recall of this product. Word from Microsoft insiders claim that while Microsoft founder Bill Gates was "fit to be tied" over the jury's decision, the effects of the decision would probably not affect Microsoft financially. The general concern was more along the lines of how to deal with the demand for DOS without being able to produce new copies of release 6.2 for resale. Estimates are that as many as 2 million copies of MS-DOS 6.2 are currently in warehouses or on the shelves, and it is expected that these will quickly dry up from a panic buying spree by retailers and redistributors as public demand increases. Some action is reportedly being taken to solve this problem. As late as Friday, February 25th, internal memos were reportedly being circulated announcing R&D start on an interim release of MS-DOS 6.0 - referred to as "6.5" by number and "Los Angeles" by code-name - to be released by the end of April. The new version will, of course, lack any Doublespace support. One insider, questioned by WWIVnews briefly on the matter, stated that "this crash program to get a new, legal version out the door is going to take away from getting 'Chicago' and DOS 7 up and running as well. If the beta results on 'Chicago' don't get any better soon, the release date for both could be pushed back a good three months...which would put the release data at around October, November at the earliest!" Soft Servings News from WWIV Software Services By Filo (WWIVnet 1@2050) [Editor's nOTE: Starting with this issue, WWIVnews will feature a column for WWIV Software Services. As WSS has become an integral part of WWIV and WWIVnetting, and has become one of the major motivating forces behind keeping WWIV and WWIVnet in line with the demands of the sysops and users, a regular column became as necessary as the one from Wayne Bell. Filo (WWIVnet 1@2050) will be writing this column, and all questions regarding the material discussed herein should be directed to Filo at that address.] Welcome to the first WWIV Software Services column! Quite a few things to discuss this month, so let's start off with the most important one of all, the "Great Renumbering". THE GREAT RENUMBERING EXPLAINED I realize that to many of you, the idea of our renumbering the network comes as a shock and you have to raise questions regarding "why" and "why now" and "why this way?" Those questions are all understandable. We have known for almost 3 years (from the time that the telephone companies originally made this decision and John Hardeman let us in on it) that this change was coming. The knowledge was confirmed almost one year again when Malbee posted the contents of a letter mailed to an area of New England that notify telephone customers about it, and then more recently the Oregon area has announced that it will use an area code with middle digit of 6 beginning next January. Thus, the why is that the change is being "thrust" upon us from outside and we have no control over that. The "why now" is best answered by Wayne Bell. As I mentioned, the change has been identified for a long time. It has been discussed at length on other subs on at least two occassions. Wayne was adament about retaining unsigned integers as node numbers. He did not (and does not) want to rewrite all of the network software to support a different style of addressing. Thus, the challenge was to develop a node numbering system that would suit our needs for the foreseeable future, that would be relatively easy for everyone to use, and that would permit sufficient growth in the network. There were many good suggestions made during all of this discussion regarding what might be the most appropriate numbering method to use within the framework of unsigned integers and there were hundreds of suggestions that did not fit within that framework. Anyway, the current method of numbering was finally chosen from all of the alternatives. I think the "why now" is that "now" fits best into Wayne's plans for the next year. If it is accomplished immediately before the release of 4.24, then the improvements in that release will reinforce certain changes that we are making. The "method" of changing has been discussed much less than the renumbering scheme itself. After some discussion, however, it was felt that running parallel networks gave us the best opportunity to minimize problems and to avoid losing people in the switchover. I realize that "now" may not be the best time for each of you. I realize that the process will be very inconvenient for all of you and that it will create significant work on each of your parts. I am hopeful that we will all work together to make this transition as "painless" as possible and as easy as possible for everyone involved. GOING FROM APPLES TO ORANGES Since Wayne first announced his renumbering intentions, the WWIVnet GCs began discussing the "how to's" of renumbering the network. The methods decided upon were derived along these lines: Rationale: As mentioned above, beginning in 1995 we will have USA telephone numbers that do NOT have 0 or 1 as middle digit. Two states - Florida and Oregon at last word - have announced new area codes with 6 as the middle digit. Thus, for those area codes to participate some changes were obviously necessary. Because Wayne Bell wanted to keep the integer format that we use now, and because in anticipation of this renumbering, he worked out a method to permit each group to have up to 1000 nodes, the following numbering system was developed: 4-DIGIT numbers Gxxx -- where G = group number. Nodes 001 - 019 will be reserved for server systems. 000 will be reserved for GC. 5-DIGIT numbers GGxxx -- where GG = group number and same reservations as above apply. As a consequence of this renumbering, you will NOT be able to tell area code by looking at a node number; however, since the BBS software has the ability to search by area code, node number, board name, etc., I do not think this will be a problem. Somewhat contrary to my recommendations, Wayne has asked that each GC (who may if they wish designate some work to the ACs) leave "gaps" for growth when renumbering the group. Thus, there would be an attempt to keep the area codes together. For a group that is as large as group 4 (380 some odd nodes at last count), the matter creates some problems. For example, Wayne's recommendation was for a small area code using say AC01-AC03 that room be left so that it could grow up to AC10. For larger area codes like the Austin or Montreal area, more room would be left in the gap. THE FIRST TEST - RENUMBERING GROUP 4 My problem in renumbering group 4 was that I ran out of numbers before getting through all of the areas. I tried renumbering the larger groups and leaving less room for growth, but that ultimately created some problems as well. I can do this under our current structure, but I feel that it will only be a short time before all of the numbers get "mixed up" anyway. My initial recommendation was to split Group 4 into two groups. The new group - let's call it group 15 - would consist of the following large area codes plus whatever smaller area codes might wish to join it: 512 -- Austin area having approximately 40 boards at present 614 -- Ohio area having approximately 25 boards 904 -- Florida area having approximately 30 boards This would a) reduce Group 4 by a third and still leave it as one of the largest groups in the network, b) create a new group of 95 boards or more which would not be the smallest group in the network, c) facilitate the renumbering of the nodes so that "gaps" for growth could be more easily established and maintained. While this was being formulated, Wayne became concerned that making too many changes at one time would be detrimental to the process. Thus, the initial proposal for the Group 4 split turned out to be what will happen initially: 1) Area Codes 512, 614, and 904 will be allowed to form Group 15 under H2O Doc as GC for that group. 2) The remaining boards in Group 4 will stay in Group 4 until after all renumbering has been accomplished. Then, the matter of a separate Group for the Canadian Boards and for the other Foreign Systems will be addressed. As a consequence of these changes, here is the revised listing for Group 4 as sent to Wayne: Servers & Group Coordinator 4000 2050 4001 1040 4002 1042 4003 1046 4020 - 4070 for Area Code 210 4020 2051 4021 2053 4022 2054 4023 2058 4024 2059 4025 2060 4026 2061 4027 2062 4028 2067 4029 2068 4030 2069 4031 2072 4050 2076 4051 2077 4052 2078 4053 2079 4054 2081 4056 2082 4057 2085 4058 2086 4059 2087 4060 2088 4061 2089 4062 2091 4063 2092 4064 2093 205 is reserved 4110-4129 4110 2501 4111 2502 4112 2503 4113 2509 4114 2533 4115 2534 4116 2535 4117 2536 4118 2545 216 is reserved 4130-4149 4130 2654 4131 2656 4132 2657 4133 2658 4134 2659 4135 2660 4136 2661 4137 2662 4138 2664 4139 2665 218 is reserved 4150-4159 4150 2850 4151 2860 4152 2861 219 is reserved 4160-4169 4160 2950 4161 2951 4162 2952 309 is reserved 4190-4199 4190 3900 4191 3905 502 is reserved 4200-4219 4200 5207 4201 5208 4202 5210 4203 5211 4204 5212 4205 5213 4206 5214 4207 5215 4208 5216 507 is reserved 4220-4229 4220 5702 4221 5703 601 is reserved 4230-4239 4230 6101 4231 6102 602 is reserved 4240-4259 4240 6205 4241 6211 4242 6214 4243 6216 4244 6219 4245 6222 4246 6223 4247 6224 4248 6225 4249 6228 4250 6229 613 is reserved 4260-4269 Canada 4260 6350 4261 6351 605 is reserved 4270-4279 4270 6503 4271 6504 606 is reserved 4280-4289 4280 6600 607 is reserved 4290-4299 4290 6706 4291 6707 4292 6710 4293 6711 403 is reserved 4300-4309 4300 4300 4301 4301 701 is reserved 4310-4329 4310 7101 4311 7102 4312 7103 4313 7107 4314 7109 4315 7111 4316 7112 4317 7116 4318 7117 4319 7122 4320 7123 4321 7124 708 is reserved 4330-4339 4330 7805 4331 7806 4332 7807 4333 7808 812 is reserved 4340-4369 4340 8251 4341 8252 4342 8253 4343 8254 4344 8255 4345 8257 4346 8258 4347 8259 4348 8261 4349 8262 4350 8265 4351 8266 4352 8267 4353 8268 4354 8270 4355 8271 4356 8273 4357 8280 4370 - 4349 Currently reserved for "Foreign Nods" 4370 - 4389 United Kingdom 4370 810 4371 812 4372 813 4373 814 4374 815 4390 - 4409 Spain 4390 871 4391 872 4392 873 4410 - 4429 Okinawa 4410 850 4411 852 4412 853 4413 854 4414 855 4415 856 4416 857 4417 858 4418 860 4419 861 4420 862 4421 863 4422 864 414 is reserved 4450-4479 4452 4452 4453 4453 4454 4454 4455 4455 4457 4457 4459 4459 4460 4460 4461 4461 4463 4463 4468 4468 4470 4470 4471 4471 4475 4475 514 is reserved 4500 - 4599 Montreal Canada 4500 5450 4501 5451 4502 5452 4503 5454 4504 5456 4505 5457 4506 5458 4507 5459 4508 5460 4509 5461 4510 5462 4511 5463 4512 5464 4513 5465 4514 5466 4515 5468 4516 5469 4517 5473 4518 5474 4519 5475 4520 5477 4521 5479 4522 5480 4523 5481 4524 5482 4525 5485 4526 5486 4527 5487 4528 5489 4529 5490 4530 5491 4531 5493 4532 5495 4533 5496 4534 5497 4535 5498 4536 5499 4537 15451 4538 15465 4539 15482 4540 15498 4541 25451 4600 - 4610 Ontario Canada 4600 5950 4601 5958 204 is reserved 4610-4619 Winnipeg Canada 4610 2402 4611 2404 4612 2405 306 is reserved 4620-4639 4620 13600 4621 13602 4622 13604 4623 13605 4624 13606 4625 13609 4626 13611 4640 - 4650 Mexico 4640 831 4641 832 409 is reserved 4900-4920 4900 4900 4901 4901 4902 4902 4903 4903 4904 4904 4905 4905 4906 4906 4907 4907 4908 4908 4910 4910 4911 4911 4912 14903 4913 24903 419 is reserved 4950-4959 4952 4952 4956 4956 4957 4957 4958 4958 4960 - 4999 Special Numbers 4960 509 4961 520 4962 645 4963 645 4964 650 4965 651 4966 652 4967 655 4968 693 As mentioned above, I have also recommended to Wayne that "foreign" nodes be assigned a special group range. The groups would be assigned according to the numbers listed below, but still be maintained under current groups. This means - if the suggestion is accepted - that Montreal, Mexico, and Okinawa - all currently in Group 4 - would be numbered as if they were outside our group, but I would still maintain their node numbers for them until such time as each had grown large enough to function as a separate group. The foreign countries would be renumbered as follows: 40xxx - 49xxx for use by foreign countries further subdivided as: 40001 - 40999 Canada 41001 - 41999 Mexico 42001 - 42999 Central & So. America (no Nodes there now) 43001 - 43999 Asia (including Japan & Okinawa where we do have boards) 44001 - 44999 Europe "WE SHALL ACHIEVE, BEFORE THIS DECADE IS OUT..." So, now that we had an idea of how things needed to be renumbered, it became necessary to conceive a set of procedures on how this would be carried out. In essence, the renumbering is slated to go like this: Step 1 For a short period of time, we will run "dual" networks. This one and a "temporary one" called WW4net. Step 2 Initial traffic on WW4net will be limited to e-mail and updates. The idea is that we will send an update to everyone that will be the "starter" for this network. You will then add the new network in INIT and put your new node number for it. After the network has analyzed that update, you will send an e-mail to your GC stating that you have accomplished adding the new net. The receipt of that e-mail will be confirmed by me. If you do not get my confirmation back in a reasonable time period, you should write again. Step 3 Once all nodes or a high percentage of them have confirmed the establishment of the new network, we will move to the next phase which will involve subscribing to subs on the "new" network. Once you start receiving a sub on the "new" network, you should drop the old one so that it will not have traffic on it. Over a short period, these procedures will "kill" the old network, subs and all, and establish the new one. Once things seem to be functioning fully, Wayne will send a notice to all sysops asking them to delete the old network and rename WW4net to WWIVnet. There will probably be some utilities written to facilitate various aspects of this, but part of our desire is to minimize the amount of DEAD.NET that will occur. FILO'S RENUMBERING SURVIVAL GUIDE Now, since things are still a tad bit nebulous right now, and some people may still be a bit confused about what's going on and what's being planned, I prepared this "Survival Guide" to help answer the most frequent questions about the renumbering. The guide is in two parts - one answering the "why" questions, the other answering the "how" questions. GC's Survival Guide for Node Renumbering Part One -- March 29, 1993 Revised -- January 29, 1994 Q: Why must we renumber WWIVnet nodes? A: The telephone company will soon be using telephone numbers in the USA that do not have 1 or zero as a middle digit in the area code. If the node numbering scheme is not changed, those area codes will not be able to be a part of WWIVnet. Q: Why don't we use an alpha-numeric or long integer approach to node numbering. A: Basically this would require a major re-write of network and BBS software. The following plan should meet our current and foreseeable future needs. Q: What is the general outline of the new plan. A: The plan uses a GNNN or GGNNN node numbering system. Node numbers will initially be assigned as follows: Group 1 GC : 1000 Group 1 Servers : 1001 - 1019 Group 1 Nodes : 1021 - 1999 Group 2 GC : 2000 Group 2 Servers : 2001 - 2019 Group 2 Nodes : 2020 - 2999 ... Group 10 GC : 10000 Group 10 Servers : 10001 - 10019 Group 10 Nodes : 10020 - 10999 Group 11 GC : 11000 Group 11 Servers : 11001 - 11019 Group 11 Nodes : 11020 - 11999 ... Group 65 GC 65000 Group 65 Servers : 65001 - 65019 Group 65 Nodes : 65020 - 65534 Node 65535 reserved In other words, the first node G000 of each group is reserved for the GC of the group. The next 19 nodes are reserved for server systems. The remaining node numbers are for node assignments. This allows us to have 64 groups of 999 nodes each. Nodes with 3 digits are less will be reserved for charter systems and/or very special purposes. Group 65 will be a smaller group due to the limitation of the maximum short integer. Q: How does this new node numbering plan affect network administration? That is, will there still be group and area coordinators? A: Yes, the network will continue to have a 3-tiered administration: Net Coordinator, Group Coordinators, Area Coordinators. Area Coordinators will still be defined by area code, even though their node number does not reflect their area code. Q: How will the new node numbers be assigned? A: The GCs, perhaps with assistance from their ACs, will assign node numbers within their block of numbers. It is recommended that the numbers be assigned sequentially with some unassigned node numbers (UNNs) built into the sequencing in order to facilitate node number assignments by ACs as growth occurs. For example, let us say that Group 1 has the following area codes and nodes within it to begin with: Area Code Number of Nodes 301 30 407 45 519 32 Node numbers should be assigned sequentially with ten or more (round to the next highest 10) UNNs per area code. For example: Area Code Node Numbers Assigned Unassigned for AC use 301 1020-1050 1051-1059 407 1060-1105 1105-1119 519 1120-1152 1152-1169 Once an area coordinator has used up the original 10+ UNNs assigned initially, then the GC should assign that AC an additional 10 UNNs to work with. For example, let us say that area code 407 used up the UNNs assigned to it originally (1105-1119) and needed more numbers; then the GC would assign the next 10 unused numbers (1170-1179) for use. The GC should NOT attempt to develop a structure that would always keep a block of numbers available for an area as eventually that method would break down. Q: When should the GC begin to make new node number assignments? A: The GC may do this at any time; HOWEVER, the new assignments will NOT BE EFFECTIVE until a future (as yet undesignated) date. We plan to develop software which will take all node assignments in files such as SUBS.XTR, DEAD.NET, Sxxx.NET, Zxxxx.NET, Nxxxx.NET, and the headers for messages, and convert that information to the new format. If we are successful in this, then we will have a method to convert all existing data to the new format with a minimum of trouble for the sysops of the network and with a minimum loss of information and messages. It is essential that no one use the new numbers until the designated time for conversion and that everyone try to convert at or near the same time. This conversion will be discussed and coordinated long before it is scheduled to take place. Q: What should be done with "fake nodes" in the 5xx and 6xx series? A: These nodes should be assigned regular node numbers within the normal sequence for each group; however, these will still be handled specially by the coordinators of those respective gateways. This may necessitate closer communication between each of those gateway coordinators and the respective GCs. Q: What should be done with the "charter" nodes (ie those with node numbers between 1 and 25)? A: Those nodes will retain their charter number just as they do currently. Q: How will the renumbering affect subtypes? A: In order to avoid any more confusion than is absolutely necessary, if you host a sub, you should NOT attempt to change sub numbers immediately. And in fact, if you are using subtype by numbers now, you can continue using those. Any new Subs added to the net after the new node numbering goes into effect MUST BE subs-by-name. Part Two -- Creating a New NET The basic procedure here will be to create a new parallel NetWork called WW4NET. This network will be for E-Mail and NET UPDATES ONLY at first so that we can get everyone connected and working at a minimum cost to everyone. Many thanks to H20 Doc of 5284 for the suggestions. Note: People running versions prior to 4.21a will NOT be able to use this approach. Since such older versions of WWIV will become in- increasingly outdated, people are urged to upgrade to newer versions as soon as possible.0 PHASE ONE The purpose of this phase is to get a new network set of data files in place and to insure that everyone is receiving. No one should start any new subs during this process until all phases are completed. Step One GC's and AC's will develop the new node assignments, informing both 1@1 and the individual nodes what the new node numbers are. Step Two Each Sysop is requested to: (a) use INIT option N to create a new network called WW4NET with its own separate network directory. (b) Each Sysop should enter the new node number for WW4NET in INIT with option N Step Three The new BBSLIST.* and CONNECT.* files will be distributed to all network members. The actual method of this distribution will be announced by the GC's. It might be a UUencoded distribution from @1 similar to the distribution of the new DE1.EXE last July, or it might be via uploads/downloads in a cooperative fashion throughout the network. STEP Four The Sysop must then create a CALLOUT.NET file in the WW4NET directory. Run network3 Y on it to insure that it analyzes properly. Step Five Each GC will send out Source Verified Mail to each group member. The group member should respond to this mail so that the GC can tell which nodes are "successfully converted." This will end phase one and it should not take more than 2 weeks at the most. WW4NET traffic during this time should be limited to e-mails from GC's; replies from nodes, and updates if any. PHASE TWO The purpose of this phase is the conversion of Subscriber lists and Host info. People who have been using numeric subtypes may continue to do so; however do NOT change numeric subtypes to another number! Any new subtypes to be added after the network is converted or any subtype changes should all be SUB-BY-NAME. Step One All Hosts should notify their subscribers on the old network of what their new NODE NUMBER will BE. Subscribers can now enter this info into their boardedit such that each sub will show on both networks. The subscriber should send auto-subscription or e-mail on the new network requesting each sub that he wishes. As soon as the subscriber gets confirmation from the host, he may drop that sub off of OLD NET and be receiving it on the new net. The host should promptly ADD nodes to the new network and DROP them from the old network in order to facilitate this process. Step Two Once the host feels that there are no more subscribers in old net, and/or that all conversions that are going to occur have actually occured, the old sub may be killed. Eventually there will be little or no traffic on the Old Net. Step Three At some point and hopefully no longer than one month after we start this process, 1@1 will instruct everyone to delete all the old BBSLIST.*, CONNECT.*, CALLOUT.net, FBACKHDR.net, contact.*, etc., from their old directory (the data directory). Step Four Remove WWIVnet from the INIT. Step Five Rename WW4NET to WWIVnet in INIT but leave the path to the now renamed WW4NET unchanged in INIT. One advantage of this process is that the network oriented files in DATA (if WWIVnet is setup there) will be removed to another directory that is network specific. This will make backing up certain crucial data files in DATA easier. Step Six Shortly after the instructions above have been issued from @1, a "ping" will be sent out by him to generate a new SUBS.LST for the network. So, as you can see, the "Great Renumbering" is not a simple process, but it's not *that* complex. I'll be posting more on the progress of this project on the Sysop subs, and a complete update will be in the next issue of WWIVnews as well. GETTING THE BUGS OUT OF WWIV Some of you have been asking about the debugging procedures that the beta testers for WWIV go through. To give you an idea of how it works, I kept a running list of bugs, and posted it daily on the BETA sub, where all BETA testors have access, and on the WWIV_DEV sub, where just the developers have access. The list for 4.23 looked pretty much like this about two weeks prior to the release of 4.23: Error Person Status Short Title Ref in BETA 1 Tolkien 1 Callout.net parameters 1@3314 2 Random 1 Delay on Connect for error correction 1@13600 3 Random 1 Ansi detect (same as above) 1@13600 4 Random 0 CTRL O Help Files 1@8350 7 Tolkien 1 User Kicked out of Transfer area 1@7400 8 All 0 Games and log files 1@7400 9 Jim 0 ErrorLevels on command line 1@7366 10 Jim 1 FSED 1@1 11 Tolkien 1 //WHO 1@6961 12 Jim 0 File list unref 13 Random 0 Fix.EXE Problem 1@5284 14 Random 0* Message Limit 1@3953 15 Tolkien 0 Qscan pointer sw nodes 1@6961 16 Jim 0** War Dial from WFC 1@7663 17 Wayne 1 Tasm with TC for Window detect unref 18 Filo 1 Onhook/offhook bats for maintenance unref 19 Jim 1 Config.002 under Windows 1@8135 20 Tolkien 0 3rd Instance after Removal 1@5284 21 Jim 0 WWIVnode and OPT_AUTOVAL unref 22 Random 0 Pause randomly going on 1@8350 23 Tolkien 0 New File Search 1@7663 24 Random 0 INIT bleed through at WFC with DV 1@5284 * = Deferred until 4.24 ** = Can anyone replicate this error? The Person column is for the person who is assigned to fix or check out the bug. Status 0 means unfixed so far; status 1 means it has been fixed. The short name is just something I give it for reference. The Reference column refers to who posted the problem on the BETA sub in case the person assigned responsibility for "fixing" it needs more detail. Some, like #4, are not really bugs but serve as reminders that something needs to be done (update help.msg) before the official release to public. Some, like #16, are such that the development team (and others) have been unable to replicate the error...and so we cannot be sure that it is an actual error. I keep a directory also for suggested changes in the docs. Although I have rewritten the docs entirely, as with any set of documentation there are some errors and omissions that manage to creep in, and some points where things are just not clear enough. I really believe that this release is the most thouroughly tested, most completely documented, new release that WWIV has ever experienced. I feel that it reflected a new level of professionalism that is possible through use of a team of programmers and a team of BETA testers. The product, of course, speaks for itself. FUTURE PROJECTS FOR WWIV WWIV Software Services is working with someone on an OS/2 port, and we hope to have a product released around mid summer to early fall. The price for this port is projected to be $100 for pre-compiled versions and $125 for source versions. Unlike the DOS version, WWIV for OS/2 will NOT be available in shareware versions. Persons with v4.xx registrations may "trade up" by paying the difference between what they originally paid ($50 or $80) and the price of the OS/2 version. We also have a "WWIVLite" in the works. No release date has been set, but the intent is to have something that a person could run sort of like a point.node on the network without running a full-scale BBS. That's all for this month! If you have any questions, they should be directed to WWIVnet 1@2050. TechnOTES Compiled by the WWIVnews Staff ...Wow, since our last issue, it seems that everyone decided to sue everyone else. Let's see how the scorecard went, eh? ...In case you skipped over it, go back and read the article on the Stac vs Microsoft trial. The verdict has a lot more impact on the industry than the news media has been letting on. For starters, it's a heralding sign to the major industry leaders that the courts aren't going to let you walk all over the smaller guys any way you please. At the same time, it's a sure sign to everyone that while it's perfectly fine to get rich at what you do, don't go out of your way to sabotage or steal from your competition with abandon, especially if you can't do the job right yourself in the first place! ...The WWIVnews Staff has been raising several toasts to Stac and its CEO, Gary Clow, since the verdict was announced, and in an admitted fit of biasness our congratulations go to the Stac staff. At the same time, the traditional Brooklyn salute & Bronx cheer go to Bill Gates and all the "hammerers" at Microsoft - the only "hammering" that was done was to the nails in the coffin of their case! ...From the "Look deeply into my eye, Bill!" department: As mentioned earlier in this issue, Stac Electronics has announced Stacker 4.0 for Windows and DOS. Stac claims that Stacker 4.0 offers compression ratios of better than 2:1, with the average being improved to 2.8:1 in most cases. The new version also includes a new Stacker Windows Toolbox, which offers a toolbar with the various Stacker commands available at the click of the mouse. The product also offers both audio and visual cues can now alert users to how fragmented the disk has become or how much free space is available. ...While the program requires the same amount of memory space, it now takes up less of the critical memory space below the one megabyte (MB) level, freeing up memory needed by many software applications. By incorporating Novell's DOS Protected Mode Service (DPMS), Stacker now needs 17 kilobytes (KB) below 1MB, while the Stacker device driver is moved to extended memory and executed in protected mode on 386 and 486 computers. According to Stac, protected mode execution has the added benefit of making the Stacker device driver less susceptible to interference from other applications - read: certain graphic-intensive games, and anything from Microsoft. ...The product also offers an Autosave feature, maintaining a duplicate set of both the DOS and Stacker file system information in an uncompressed state. There is some controversy as to how much good this does, because in a crisis the question arises as to which file to use, the original or the duplicate. However, Stacker officials maintain that if anything, the duplicate files offer an added degree of confidence. ...at press time, Stacker 4.0 was reportedly compatible with MS-DOS v3.2 through v6.2, and with Novell's DOS - DR-DOS to the rest of us - through v7.0. This meaning that 4.0 can replace Doublespace or IBM's Superstor/DS compression. While there's no concern where Superstor/DS is concerned - after all, Addstor is now out of business - it remains to be seen whether Microsoft will seek an injunction against Stac over Stacker 4.0's backwards compatibility with Doublespace. ...Stacker 4.0 for Windows & DOS has an MSRP of $149, but previous users may upgrade for $49.95. Street prices have already been seen as low as $99, with the upgrade going for $39.95. ...Speaking of lawsuits, from the "Gee, I wish Intel would lose their ass so I could afford a 486!" department: By now, most of you know that Intel was forced into conceding a $10 million out of court settlement to Cyrix over the rights to produce and market CPU's using Intel's 80x86-based microcode. What many of you may not be aware of is that demand for the Cyrix Cx486DRx2 386 upgrade processors shot through the roof the day after the settlement was reached. ...Cyrix claims these chips will breath new life into 386DX systems by using a pop-and-drop replacement for the original processor. These chips use the same internal clock doubling concept as the DX/2 series - operating at roughly twice the speed of the external clock - but due to limitations in the 16-bit bus structures most older 386's implemented, the average speed increase over the original processor is only about 70% on the average. ...Right now, these chips exist as replacements for the 16, 20 and 25MHz versions of the 386DX. Support for 386SX chips is expected sometime in 3Q '94, although there are no plans to support the 386SL in the forseeable future. Since most 386SL's were surface mounted to their motherboards, pop-and-drop replacement is not a viable option, and what few weren't isn't enough to justify the expense of manufacturing the replacements. ...If you know what you're doing, installation of the DRx2's is relatively simple. Simply pop the top off your computer, remove the 386 processor - most dealers sell the DRx2 with a removal tool - and pop the new chip into place. As these chips do run a little hot, Cyrix has included a small self-stick heat sink to stick on the top. You need to run a software utility to enable the internal 1K cache, but like Cardinal's DMS activator it unloads after it's finished and there is no RAM loss. ...The MSRP for the 16/32MHz version is $299, the 20/40 and 25/50 versions are priced at $349 and $399 respectively. The street price for the 16/32, though, has been seen as low as $189 mail-order, while the 20/40 has leveled off to around $299. The 25/50, however, has remained pretty close to MSRP as demand is high and quantities are low. A 33MHz version is also reportedly in some stage of development, but is not expected to see production anytime in 1994. Industry experts suspect this has to do with the still-high demand for AMD's 386DX-40, and Cyrix would rather milk the "gee, I've got this old, still really good but *slow* motherboard..." market. Based on the production levels for the 16/32 and 20/40 chips, this may well be a very accurate assessment! ...On a side note from the Caveat your Emptor department: Be aware that there are reports left and right that are somewhat negative regarding the DRx2 upgrades and compatibility with OS/2. Reports are that OS/2 1.3 or below won't even boot, and that 2.0 and 2.1 have problems where none existed with the previous processor. No official comment has been made by either Cyrix or IBM regarding these reports, although one late-breaking report to WWIVnews stated that both Windows NT and the beta for "Chicago" won't run properly on the DRx2's either. ...Bottom line on these chips appear to be this: if you've got a 16 or 20MHz board that's still behaving itself, and the price is right, these chips might be the way to do a quick upgrade on a system without doing a complete CPU and motherboard replacement. However, the 25/50 version is nowhere near cost effective. A good VLB motherboard will run you about $139, while an AMD DX-40 will run you about $289 if you shop around. That's only about 50 bucks more than the 25/50 replacement, and you'll be getting VESA Local Bus slots to boot! ...Of course, there's the third-party 286 upgrade modules to consider, but we'll save that for a later techNOTEs, eh? Besides, by that time Intel vs AMD should be a settled issue as well. ...Speaking of Intel, IBM insiders have informed WWIVnews that Big Blue has informed the maker of the Pentium that in no uncertain terms the next major line of IBM-manufactured PCs will all be using the PowerPC 601 and 603 as the CPU. After testing the 60MHz and 66MHz versions of the renamed P5, the chip was found wanting when compared to the PowerPC. Thus, "Thanks, but no thanks" was the final reported decision on the Pentium. ...This is another blow for Intel, as per the contract agreement between the two companies over chip development, IBM had the option of either using the Pentium for a really *low* royalty, or having Intel *purchase* IBM's low royalty rights for a seriouly high sum! WWIVnews' advice: buy Motorola stock. A *lot* of it. ...From the "Berkeley Brethed is *still* a stupid name Department: A lawsuit filed by Berkeley Systems in a San Francisco Federal Court claimed that a new screen saver from Delrina Corp. violates Berkeley' "Flying Toasters" screen saver software copyright. That lawsuit was recently awarded in favor of Berkeley Systems, and has forced Delrina to rework the screen saver to eliminate the copyright offense. ...The screen that caused all the ruckus was the one that shows Opus, the penguin created by Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist Berkeley Breathed for the gone-but-better-return-SOON-whether-he-wants-to-do-it-or-not comic strip "Bloom County", shooting down a flock of flying toasters, which then return fire with burnt toast. The changes to this screen involved changing the shape of the toasters, and replacing their wings with a helicopter rotor. ...From the Legal Eagles Statue Droppings department: Speaking of Lotus, remember when Lotus won their "look and feel" lawsuit against Borland over Quattro Pro's compatibility macro for 1-2-3? Well, in an additional slap in the face of the retail industry, a federal judge recently ruled that resellers must immediately stop selling copies Quattro Pro which infringes on Lotus development's copyright. ...For those taking notes of such things, the list of affected products include practically the entire line of Quattro versions! Quattro, Quattro Pro 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 4.01, and SE are all on the list of things you can't sell. Borland is producing a new version which does not infringe on Lotus copyrights, and version 5.0, will ship by the time you read this. ...Of course, what makes this matter far more idiotic is that the judge's ruling effectively infringes upon free trade. When Apple won their suit against Digital Research over the Gem desktop environment, Apple asked that the judge in that case also issue rulings to force retailers to quit selling that product. The judge told Apple to basically get stuffed, as that would be punishing retailers for transgressions the product manufacturer was found guilty of, and it would be like punishing the child for the sins of the father! ...Keep an eye on this one, folks. There's grounds for a serious restitution suit by the major retailers here, whether it be against Borland or Lotus, or both! ...From the "My School Box" department: Before enrolling in college, TechnOTES advises you to check and see whether or not you're going to need to buy some sort of laptop. With computer prices dropping for x386-based systems - read: Windows-capable - more and more colleges have started including lightweight notebooks on the "required" school supply list. Courses are also becoming more tailored towards computer assistance, with professors being urged to make their lecture notes available on disk for ease of access and data enhancement. ...Some colleges and universities have gone one step further in making portable computers mandantory. Depending on the degree, students attending Hartwick College, University of Minnesota, Bentley and Nichols Colleges, and Drew University must own or rent an IBM-compatible laptop with at least a 386 processor or better. Other universities, such as Texas University, Notre Dame and Miami(Fla) have begun investigating such requirements, although the word is that these three major institutions are leaning towards Apple's Powerbooks, with the possibility of requiring Newtons when the new PDA becomes more readily available. ...From the "Why Johnny Can't Hack" department: Looking to dump that old PC that'll cost more to upgrade than to buy a new one? Call Computers-4-Kids at (203) 754-5560, They'll take your old PC for use in schools where the local taxpayers are too cheap to maintain the quality of technical education to acceptable levels. If you're a bit queasy about giving away something you probably paid a couple grand for, keep in mind that donations such as these are tax-deductable! ...From the "Internet Meets Pete Townsend's 'Tommy'" Department: CMP Publications, publishers of Network Computing and Communications Week, has launched a newsletter for corporate strategists interested in using the Internet as a channel for information products and services and/or as a means of extending support for current operations. In light of the success of Clarinet - and despite their horrendously overpriced surcharges - it's expected that perhaps 30% of Internet will be accessable through commercial services by the end of 1995, and that by the end of the decade the 'net and/or its "electronic highway" successor will be nothing *but* one big commercial service battleground. ...first salvo in this war for your Internet dollars is the Internet Business Review. The IBR is published monthly in an 8-page hardcopy format, and a complimentary sample issue can be had simply by sending Internet E-Mail to ibr@cmp.com. Be sure to put "free copy" in the subject line, eh? ...Thinking about buying a Floptical? Well, hold on to your horses for a bit, because things are about to shake up on that market. Eight of the major movers and shakers in the still-looking-for-acceptance Floptical market, including #1-seller IOmega, are meeting in March to define a new Floptical standard. The preliminary work has already been done, and the promise is a new breed of Floptical that can store up to 100MB on a single disk, with the initial cost not to exceed the current costs for a complete Floptical setup! ...Floptical drives are nice. They're fast, backwards-compatible with regular 1.44MB floppies, and can actually be used as a small, slow hard drive in a tight situation. However, despite the fact that the 20MB disks are perfect for those of us still stuck in floppy mode for backups or sneakernets, the cost per disk still seems restrictive, not to mention the cost per drive. Hence the Flopticals have only sold about 75,000 units among all the companies that are producing them, and less than 200,000 Floptical disks total. ...So, while it's still a niche product that needs a bigger niche, the new standards will give the initial setup costs a bigger bang for the buck in the long run. After all, for $20-$25 for 100MB of storage - removable at that - the $400 per drive will be a bit more acceptable by the masses. If drive prices also drop as result of the new standards, all the better. ...Remember a few issues back where TechnOTES discussed Bill Gates' plans for the "Windows Kitchen"? Well, Intel Corp. has decided they can take the heat as well. Intel's own recipie calls for a low-cost embedded version of a 386-SX to act as the "brains" for various kitchen appliances. Home entertainment and phone services are also expected to benefit from the specialized chips, and Intel has already begun soliciting designs in hopes of attracting interest from the telecommunications and cable-TV industries. ...Plans also call for the chips to appear in the workplace, as controllers for smart office equipment, such as air conditioners, printers, copiers, fax machines and cellular phones. The first of these implementations is expected to be marketed near the end of 4Q '94. ...Intel hasn't forgotten the 586..er..P5...er..Pentium. Plans are underway to build Pentium Overdrive processors for release in the third quarter '94. The Overdrive Processor concept, introduced for Intel's 486 chip line last year, are - in most cases - customer-upgradeable processors with which, users can either replace the existing CPU, or insert into a socket originally reserved for the 80487 math coprocessor. ...For those still confused about all these overdriving upgrades, these particular chips are different from the DX2 CPUs which are designed for OEMs to install into existing system motherboards. Both the Overdrive and DX2 chips have the same objective, which is faster performance by doubling the clock speed of the CPU they replace. The end result allows users and OEMs alike to get a boost in performance without expensive system redesign or motherboard replacements. ...Of course, these chips will not be available until supplies of the Pentium itself can be supplied to meet the demand. Pentiums will be limited in availability until Intel's planned production ramp-up occurs in 2ndQ '94. Pentium Overdrive chips will see production once supplies of the base Pentium meet the demand. ...From the "Hey, sumbody stole yo' bat'try!" Department: Honda is now offering an in-dash cellular phone kit. When a call is received, the phone mutes the car's stereo system and the phone can be answered automatically. Other options include an answering machine feature and programmable speed dialing, and Honda is reportedly doing R&D into a cellular modem function for this unit as well. ...Most importantly, if the car is stolen, the phone automatically calls home! If the CelModem becomes an option, you can have it send you MCIMail as well! ...From the "If you can't sell it, give it away! department: Last July, Novell acquired Unix Systems Laboratories from AT&T. In what some people see as either a bold move or a sign of defeat, Novell has announced it will give the Unix trademark away, free and clear to the public domain. ...Claiming that it wants to unify the Unix community, Novell will render the Unix trademark - and possibly the command structure itself - unto public domain, where all the various flavors of Unix can finally combine into one cross-portable taste. Until this announcement, most of the differences between the various versions of Unix were forced upon the respective companies due to AT&T's rather stringent royalty requirements. ...While many Unix enthusiasts see this as the first positive step in years towards unification, which will help bringing Unix into the forefront of the operating system wars, the majority of industry experts agree that this is nothing more than Novell saying "hey, we can't sell it, might as well give it away!", and is in effect simply the first real nail in Unix' coffin. Lord knows all the DOS/Windows and OS/2 users are saying the same thing! ...From the "Stick a Joystick in his mouth!" Department: Nintendo Inc. is conducting a major study on epilepsy in relation to television game activities. The study comes on the heels of recent reports on the problems of epileptic children who played Nintendo's "Super Famicom" and the "Family Computer" - what's known as the NES System outside Japan. At least four dozen cases have been reported of children suffering epileptic seizures while playing TV games, with the cause believed to be what's called "optic induced epilepsy." This particular form of epilepsy is said to be caused by rapidly flashing lights, usuallt in the red or orange range of the spectrum. In the case of the NES, the flickering lights associated with certain game effects have been measured to flash at rates normally associated with those that trigger seizures. ...Nintendo, as well as other major Japanese game makers have already performed research the possible epileptic problem. Other game firms such as Sega and NEC Home Electronics may join Nintendo in the research, although some independent medical researchers in Japan have shown some skepticism about the relationship between TV games and epilepsy. These researchers claim that statistics already show that no such link exists. ...According to the National Rehabilitation Hospital of Japan, there are about one million epileptic patients in Japan alone. Among these people, only 30,000 people have been diagnosed as optic induced epileptic patients, and none of them can be specifically linked to a TV-induced attack. The problem can be prevented with oral medicine, but patients are still encouraged to avoid staring into rapidly flashing lights. ...From the "Govorit Po-IBMiski?" Department: Apple and IBM moved closer towards closing the interoperability gap between their platforms with Apple's introduction of an application that allows its Macintoshes to work on IBM-based networks. Apple's SNA.ps 5250 emulation software package enables the Macintosh to behave like IBM terminals and access thousands of applications available on IBM's AS/400 systems. ...While most Mac enthusiasts question the logic behind emulating what most industry experts consider IBM's biggest boondoggle since the PCjr, quite a few inquiries from AS/400 MIS' have been reported by Apple reps since the package went on sale in June '93. The $345 MSPR package is the first joint sales venture for both Apple and IBM. ...From the Dick Tracy Department: Motorola has announced plans to introduce a card-size version of its NewsStream Advanced Information Reciever. The NewsCard is aimed at use in PCs, palmtops and PDAs, and is due out later this year. In a related move, AT&T connected its EasyLink Services E-Mail to Motorola's Embarc wireless delivery service. This allows AT&T Mail users to send E-Mail to recipients using portable computers in more that 200 cities. Both moves are expected to benefit the wireless information gathering features of the next generation of PDAs. ...From the Arteest department: Corel has acquired the entire Ventura line of products. This includes Ventura Publisher, Ventura Database Publisher, and related all technologies. Plans are reported to be along the lines of combining all products with Corel Draw and release a major desktop publishing office suite sometime in 4Q '94. ...Corel is now shipping Corel Ventura 4.2 for Windows. This includes two CD-ROMs with over 600 fonts, 10,000 EPS clip-art images, and 100 Kodak PhotoCD photos. MSRP is $249, although some softwarehouses have reportedly been selling it for $199. ...For those who've had to use Ventura Publisher in lieu of Pagemaker, the general hope is that Corel will simply work all the quirks out of VP and make it a viable Windows product for once! ...From the "Why *should* I upgrade?" department: Did you know that Novell has not still upgraded to release 4.01 of NetWare internally? Did you also know that they have no absolutely *no* immediate plans to do so? Hey guys, at least Microsoft had the guts to upgrade to Windows for Workgroups with the first release, so what does that tell you about Novell 4.01? ...From the "TANSTAAFL" department: Word from that great Mormon state is that WordPerfect is abandoning the 1-800 technical support line. Citing the various runaround reasons every other company has given for switching to 1-900 support lines, the bottom line through all the hype appears to be this: If Microsoft can get away with charging an average of $12 a call, then WordPerfect 6.0 should average about twice that based on how buggy the code is! ...Speaking of WordPerfect, did anyone happen to catch the significance of the 6.0 release for DOS? That's right, it won't work on an XT no matter how much XMS that RAMpage has on it! You have to have a 286 or better to even *boot* the mess! ...In short, folks, WordPerfect has driven the final nail in the XT's coffin. Let's have a moment of silence for the 8088, shall we? It served us well all those years, and now it's time to put it to rest. That is, of course, unless you're still enamored with using Wordstar 4.0! ...From the Hard Copy department: Hewlett-Packard and Time Warner are reportedly working together to develop technologies that would allow a cable customer to plug a color printer into the cable converter box, and print out sales coupons, ads, magazine articles and color stills of TV shows. The first testing ground will be Time Warner's planned interactive TV experiment in Orlando, Fla., where 4,000 cable customers will be equipped with H-P color ink-jet printers. ...While the QVC support stuff might be effective, one has to wonder how Hollywood is going to react to such an innovation. After all, if you can simply plug in a Deskjet and grab a shot of anything on the screen, there's going to be agents running amok trying to figure out how to secure royalties for each printed image! And you thought the $1 surcharge on blank tapes was simply greed in action! ...On a side note, no word yet whether the B&W Deskjets or any of the HP Laserjet series will be supported by this new cable system. ...From the Greener Pastures & their products department: In an effort to get in on the "Green PC" bandwagon, several suppliers have started offering a new series of mousepads. Get this, folks - Rainforest pads. These mousepads are decorated with color photos of actual, still-alive rainforests and the various fauna and flora that live there. ...Of course, this isn't just art for art's sake. Included with each mousepad is a free educational booklet which is supposed to help heighten awareness of rainforest conservation. Based on current consumer apathy towards the "Save the Forests by wiping your ass with your hands!" crowd, rest assured that anyone buying these pads will no doubt file this manual with the rest of those hardware manuals we're forever losing! ...While we're greening our PC's here, Technology Marketing Partners has something called the MonitorMiser. This litte $79.95 doo-da hooks in between your monitor and the power cord, and powers the monitor down after a specified amount of idle time. Since most energy savings occur at the monitor level, if you're *really* into this "Green PC" fad but don't want to spend a lot on a new, "Energy Star" compliant machine, then this might be the way to split the difference. ...To carry this one step further, has anyone caught AST Research's ad for their "Green PC"? The one that's got the monitor and pizza box painted a fluorecent forest green? Well, word from an AST rep who *demanded* to remain anonymous says that a certain government agency that's responsible for pushing the "Energy Star" program has inquired with AST about buying some *two thousand* of these gaudy little baubles. And you thought the Clinton Administration was going to cut waste and frivolty, didn't you? ...Of course, the most logical next step in the "Green PC" movement would be for someone to start developing solar powered portables. After all, at least 80% of the hand-held calculators manufactured in the past 2 years have been small models with solar cells running them. Granted, it took almost 15 years for that to become the standard for calculator power, but in the end the chipsets are more efficient in both power and speed. If TI could go from a desktop model with a 20lb external power supply to a 5.5oz handheld with twice as many functions within that time, imaging how quickly we could bring PCs down to near that level seeing as how we sort of already know how to do it? ...Well, Zenith Data Systems is reportedly working on such a beast now. While their yet-unnamed prototype is still a good two years away from an actual production run, the unit uses solar power to extend the life of current battery packs from 3 hours to at least 15 hours depending on use. Don't expect this one to be cheap, folks: prices for the solar cell banks alone totals up to just under $1000 at current market prices, and those aren't expected to change anytime this decade based on current market speculation! ...From the Full Metal Jacket department: Anyone here tried OS/2 For Windows yet? Reports from everyone who's used this product and done side-by-side comparisons with regular OS/2 2.1 say that "Ferengi" not only is a far more stable combination than the normal OS/2 package, but that it actually runs about 10% faster, especially when you migrate apps to the OS/2 desktop! ...Of course, releasing a streamlined version of OS/2 had more initiative from Microsoft than anything else. Seems that Big Blue was having to pay the Gates boys $30 a copy in royalties for each copy of normal OS/2 sold, per the agreement that allowed the use of Win31 source for the Win-OS/2 shell & migrator. In what has to be the best marketing strategy IBM's done to date - if not the best for 1993 *period* - IBM in one fell swoop clipped the need to pay Bill Gates one red cent out of any OS/2 profits, and managed to do so without raising the cost of the product! Word from inside Microsoft is that Gates was broken the news about Ferengi on his *honeymoon*, which probably didn't help matters too much with the nuptuals :-) ...On a side note, the running jokes around Microsoft - one real, the other we're not sure of - regarding Gates' departure from batchelorhood, go something like this: "Bill Gates got married to one of his employees on a friday. The following monday, Mrs. Gates called in to tell her supervisor that she'd be late for work for a while..." "Mrs. Gates had two words to describe her honeymoon with husband Bill. Those words were 'Micro' and 'Soft'..." ...From the "Sounds like Blaster Spirit" department: Word from inside printer giant Hewlett-Packard is that the company is about to make a major plunge into the sound card market. Two cards are reportedly under development for a late '94 release. A 16-bit sound card which will sell for about $150 should hit the stores in time for the holidays, while a 32-bit professional MIDI card will follow shortly after with an MSRP of around $349. ...From the "Rotten to the Core" department: Apple's in-house BBS is reportedly offering an online course called "Life After Layoffs". There's a catch to getting access, though: you have to be unemployed to take it! ...From the Unsung Heroes department: One of the unmentioned innovations from Comdex Fall '94 was a product called "DIP to SIMM". This a little circuit board with DIP sockets for nine DIPs, and plugs into a SIMM socket. As most oldtimers know, a *lot* of older motherboards used DIPs - many of them in the acceptable 80ns range - and would still be good if you had a way to use them when you upgraded to a new motherboard that uses SIMMs. This here's a way to keep those memory chips and save some money. ...The cards are produced by a company called Autotime, and retail for $8.50. If you don't trust sockets, you can send your chips to the company and they'll solder them for you for an additional $13.50. Like the ZSIMMs that came out of Austin back in '92, the reborn SIMM is significantly taller than a regular SIMM module, so you'll need to check whether the increased height will interfere with any cards, the power supply, or whatever. ...Caveat Emptor: Don't try this with DIPs that are below 80ns unless your motherboard can handle slower SIMM speeds. Quite a few motherboards refuse to run SIMMS at speeds below 80ns, and some - particularly those produced by CAF and CMOS - refuse to run anything below *70ns*! ...From the "Mazda's gonna *sue*!!!!" department: Intel is preparing to ship their first software product, code-named Miata, in the first half of 1994. Miata is reportedly an interactive file-sharing Windows application that lets two users view the same file over a modem connection, and contains tools that let users annotate a document or spreadsheet being discussed. A "chalkboard" mode lets users jot notes that can be seen by both viewers. A utility known as Jump Start will reportedly let Miata users show files to users who lack the full version of the software. ...Beta testers have already been sent the first version of the product, and have been told to expect to see support for voice and data communications via the same connection provided both users are using an Intel digital modem. Predicted MSRP for this product is $249, although reports are that the product may be bundled in a "lite" version with a new Intel digital modem slated for a 3Q '94 release. ...Finally, from the "Service with a Smile" department: Anyone bought a Boca 14.4 Bocamodem lately? WWIVnews suggests that you check out the BIOS revision to make sure that it's not v1.21. Boca shipped out a large shipment of that particular modem with a buggy BIOS that wouldn't connect to anything above 2400bd! While Boca will replace the modem if you ship it in, according to several technicians it took calls to the Vice President of the company to finally get someone to admit that a bad batch *did* exist! What's Hot in the world of WWIV Utilities? by King Lerxt (WWIVnet 1@8863) WWIV SysOps are constantly looking for external programs to add to their BBS to make them more useful, colorful, or more enjoyable for their users. This is not an easy task. It can also be get quite expensive when the program you want and need is a LD call away. With so many programs out there it's hard to know what's good and what's junk. Luckily for you, I have found a group of programmers who are dedicated to creating new and exciting programs for WWIV SysOps and users. The group is Datagen Software Designs, and is headed by it's President and chief programmer, John Dailey. This group has been around for a while but hasn't gotten the exposure they deserve. Datagen offers a very complete line of programs for today's WWIV SysOp. Their line of products are very versatile, very GRAPHICALLY pleasing to look at, and they are enjoyable for users & SysOps to use. The support is also GREAT. John is always receptive to comments & suggestions and will go out of his way to put in features the SysOp's or users want or think should be added. In this day and age, that is something you hardly ever see any more (and that's sad indeed.) Here's a brief overview on some of the programs Datagen Software has to offer: 1) Melody Maker v3.0 - This is by far the BEST ANSI Music creating and playing utility ever made. This newest version adds Soundblaster and mouse support. You can easily create ANSI Music to be posted on your BBS or on any one of the ANSI Music message subs in the nets (in particular : KLCC Radio 211.2 FM [ANSI Music], TerraNET subtype 10002 hosted by 8851) This program can be used by users and SysOps alike... anyone who loves music will enjoy this great program. Its completely graphical and its a joy to use. 2) Vote-O-Rama v1.0 - Are you tired of that boring built-in voting booth that WWIV comes with? If so, this is the program for you and your users. This program is totally Sysop configurable. Your users can even add their OWN questions for other users to vote on! Unlike WWIV's voting booth, users can ADD additional responses to voting questions (a great feature since SysOps never seem to be able to come up with a good set of possible answers.) The graphics are incredible (as is the case with all of Datagen's products). If you and your users HATE voting, this program will change you attitudes in a hurry! 3) Starship Galactica v1.0 - One of Datagen's online door games. This game is very similar to the classic games of "Battleship" or "Salvo" where you try to destroy your opponents ships before they destroy yours. In this version, the battle takes place in space. The twist is that sometimes you can find out where your opponent (the computer) is hiding by disrupting their cloaking shields. This game is very addictive and you can expect some fierce competition between you and your users as you try to destroy the enemy in the least amount. of moves or try to keep the majority of your ships from being destroyed. 4) Dig Droid v2.0 - Another online door game. In this one, you navigate your robot down into a planets core trying to collect as many treasures as you can before your energy runs low, forcing you to return to the ship to replenish your power packs. A very tough game to master, but lots of fun. 5) The Graffiti Wall v5.2 - Sure there are a bunch of Graffiti Walls out there but THIS one is the best. It's totally Sysop configurable. Allow or disallow certain users. Restrict dirty words (if you want to). As always the graphics are great. Let your users have fun adding comments or sayings to the wall when they log on. 6) Data Voice Switch v1.6 - Are you a Sysop who "tries" to run your BBS on your voice line? Isn't it a HASSLE? Don't you wish you could afford one of those switch boxes that would automatically take care of it all? Now you don't have to... this program is all you need to end your Voice Line/Data Line blues! 7) Message To Next Caller v2.1 - Let your users leave a message for whoever logs onthe BBS after them. And this is only a SMALL SAMPLE of the many programs Datagen has to offer (almost 30 in all!). If you would like more info. on Datagen Software Designs, feel free to send E-mail to user 28 @ 8851 (TerraNET), or 28 @ 8863 (WWIVnet) and you will be able to talk to the President, John Dailey himself! There is also a >WWIVnet< sub for Datagen Support. It's Subtype 24701 hosted by 4701. There are currently 4 Datagen Support Boards, which you may get access to the Datagen Software Designs directory by logging on as "DATAGEN", with a password of "DATAGEN", and the last 4 digits of the phone as 0000. 1) K.L.C.C. - TerraNET @8851 / WWIVnet @8863 818-240-9915 (7pm-7am ONLY!) 1200-14400 2) Blue Thunder - TerraNET @1 / WWIVnet @8861 818-848-4101 300-16800 3) The Lair of The Wolverine - WWIVnet @4701 407-294-9446 300-14400 4) Ten Forward! - WWIVnet @7112 701-775-9057 1200-16.8 If you've been looking for some new programs to spruce up your BBS, then I HIGHLY suggest you check out Datagen Software Designs and their line of products. You won't be sorry, and your users will LOVE you for it. Divine Sources for Mortal Curiosity A Review of The WWIVnet Oracle By Necromancer (WWIVnet 1@4079) A few months ago, in late April I believe, I downloaded a file from a local BBS called "Random Access Humor" (Editor: Dave Bealer) which is a monthly publication for computer related humor. One article in particular caught my attention, one concerning something called "The Usenet Oracle". The article featured a few examples of the messages from the Oracle, and detailed how to access it through Internet. Intrigued, I quickly logged on to the network at school, and wrote to it. Literally within seconds I received the instruction file, and was immediately captivated by what I found. The Usenet Oracle is a program running at the University of Indiana, written and hosted by Steve Kinzler. The way it works is this: Someone e-mails the Oracle a question, and then in payment must answer a question, which is e-mailed back to the user. Within a day or so, an answer is received in e-mail, which is (hopefully) witty and humorous. Basically, everyone answers each others questions. But since everyone takes the dual role of the grovelling whimpering supplicant, and the omnipotent and omniscient Oracle, everyone has an equal opportunity to show their creativity. I was surprised by the creativity and writing ability many of the Oracle users had. Many of them had a similar style of humor to my own, yet many were also different. The diversity of styles, and the ease of use meshed quite well to form this interactive and cooperative system for creative humor. One of my personal favorites from the collection of the "best of the best" was this one where the supplicant asked a question about the existence of magic. The Oracle, who was at a loss for a good answer, decided to run a simulation to find out. He loaded up simulations of Merlin (for magic) and Steven Hawking (for physics) and set them against one another in a game-show format. Eventually Hawking wins because Merlin violates the laws of the universe (temporal causality to be precise). Additionally, there are two Usenet newsgroups (the equivalent of message subs) in existence for the Oracle. One is used to post the best of the Oracle responses (termed "Oracularities") as chosen by the "Oracle Priesthood." The other is a discussion area for the readers. Also, an anonymous FTP site is available from which you can obtain the back-issues of the Oracularities, or copies of source code for other non-net oracles. (FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is one of the most popular systems for transferring files through the Internet. Anonymous FTP sites allow the general public access to certain directories on those computers). For a long time I had considered writing some software for WWIVnet, but had no idea what to make. But after working with the Usenet Oracle for a while, my path became quite clear. Within a few days, I had the basic skeleton completed for the "WWIVnet Oracle," although debugging took considerably longer. By the end of May I had most of the bugs sorted out, and only one or two more features to add. I managed to test it on a different computer than my actual BBS, but a few final tests through WWIVnet itself proved it was working. Very quickly I managed to get a small group interested in it, but I had little at my disposal to get the word through the net. So I created a sub called "The WWIVnet Oracle Discussion" upon which everyone can discuss the Oracle, and read the best of the oracle responses (termed "Scrolls") as chosen by the "Seers of the Oracle." I advertised on the "WWIVnet Subs Yellow Pages" sub, and activity from remote systems started to pick up. Some of the messages have been quite good, below are a few examples from the first few months of the Oracle's lifetime. One of the things I found the most enthralling about the Usenet Oracle was the mythos that had evolved over time. The Oracle had a pretty well established persona, as well as it's own history, all of which sprung up virtually on it's own during the course of it's existence. While the authors of the individual messages had free liscense to write whatever they chose, writings that followed the mythos were accepted by the priests and readers more enthusiastically. Basically the Oracle is portrayed as an omnipotent being who only answers questions as his day-job. He's arrogant, and very quick to "ZOT" anyone who doesn't sufficiently grovel in their questions, or those who ask the dreaded "woodchuck" question. Also, he lives on Mount Olympus, and has a girlfriend named Lisa (although over-use of this is frowned upon to the extreme). In his home he has access to every computer and commuications device known to man (and in some cases, unkown to man as well), and can contact anyone anywhere anytime. Sometimes the Oracle is portrayed as an aging wise man, and other times an immortal, yet naive, being who is irritated that his job has no fringe benefits. At other times he's portrayed as an intelligent program running in his own little directory at the University of Indiana, and is often having difficulties with his author, Steve Kinzler, clipping his access when he goes off on a tangent, and not sufficiently answering the questions. It goes without question that I was happy to see a little bit of a mythos starting to form on my Orcale as well. Much of the way the WWIVnet Oracle thinks was borrowed from the Usenet Oracle, but some of it's own history is starting to be created. The WWIVnet Oracle is an entity who usually knows all the answers, but isn't afraid to make one up when he is at a loss. Like the Usenet Oracle, he is arrogant, taking great joy in the fact that he's not "one of you lowly humans." He is fascinated by obscure information, and therefore gets bored with the mundane "life" questions, but enjoys exposing government conspiracies involving your socks that dissappear in the wash. While he would be answering questions anyway, he is extremely frustrated at the dragon that guards him and won't let him leave his room on Mt. Olympus, a dragon that is old and weak, barely able to blow fire at all. The most recent development in the WWIVnet Oracle is that it can now be accessed across net gates. What this means is that it is accessible from any network that is conencted to WWIVnet. For instance, if you wanted to contact it from MageNet (my own small local net), you would use a different e-mail address than "ORACLE@4079", specifically it would be "WWIVnET ORACLE AT 4079 @705". To access it on other nets, you would simply replace the "705" with whatever the node number is of the board in your net that is connected to WWIVnet. As of this writing I am currently seeking boards willing to carry the Oracle traffic into other nets, as well as the Oracle Discussion Sub which is detailed towards the end of the article. Below are several examples from the WWIVnet Oracle Scrolls, as promised. Title: Oracle Response (OR00052) From: The Oracle (Chosen by: Keeper of the Scrolls) Date: 12:28:58 P 05/30/93, Oracle Time. You said unto the Oracle: Title: Tell me Oh tell me, the great, and wonderful, the one who wrote the great and wonderful book, the one who's name is! Yes you are the one who wrote the book. The knowledgeable, you wrote the BOOK! Your name is! Oracle!!!!!!!!!!!! Please, oh PLEASE tell me!!! Why is it that the parts NEVER fit when one tries to put together something that is unassembled? I beg thee, oh wise Oracle for an answer!!! Thus spake the Oracle: Title: Ditto, ditto, ditto...[Random Title] RE: The Oracle requires an answer (EORA000052) Oh simple supplicant, if only everything in your mortal life could work the way you wish. As you will find, all mortals have the same difficulty as you. By instinct, all primates enjoy putting things together and then taking them apart, or vice versa. But there are always complications. Sometimes it is beyond your control, and sometimes all it takes is to simply look at it from a different perspective. My advice to you in this particular scenario is to throw away that square block and try using a ROUND peg on that circular hole. You owe the Oracle a pre-assembled exercise bicycle. ---- * WWIVnet Oracle (C) 1993 Ed T. Toton III, All Rights Reserved. Title: Oracle Response (OR00069) From: The Oracle (Chosen by: Keeper of the Scrolls) Date: 21:11:49 P 06/03/93, Oracle Time. You said unto the Oracle: Title: Tell me Why must the cost of computer material be so vastly expensive, whilst it can be easily obtained for little or no price Pirate on local boards? Wouldn't the software companies realize this and lower prices to compete with Piracy? And why does the Secret Service handle Busts, why don't the local authorities or the FBI? Tell me Oracle! I need to know! Thus spake the Oracle: Title: For a good time call 410-290-3752...[Random Title] RE: The Oracle requires an answer (EORA000069) Very interesting question, oh humble supplicant. The answer is this. The software companies are working with the CIA and Secret Service. It's a conspiracy to use subliminal messages in software to control the minds of the masses. If you haven't noticed, busts are always handled poorly. This is done on purpose, as piracy helps them spread the subliminal messages. The busts only serve to attempt to show the public that they prefer you to buy the software instead of pirating it. That way you still get brainwashed, and they make a buck at the same time. In fact, [vote for hitler] those messages can be found [buy more software] almost everywhere [don't use condoms] you look. It's quite disturbing [love thy government] how they manage to get the [go republican] darned things into everything. [work eat sleep, work eat sleep] You owe the Oracle a [burn books] copy of "How to be a Democrat and not a stupid moronic slobbering republican." ---- * WWIVnet Oracle (C) 1993 Ed T. Toton III, All Rights Reserved. Title: Oracle Response (OR00079) From: The Oracle (Chosen by: Keeper of the Scrolls) Date: 15:32:26 P 06/05/93, Oracle Time. You said unto the Oracle: Title: Tell me, oh great and wise Oracle... This question has been on my mind for a while. Your humble servant humbly requests that you give an answer to my burning question: Did Bill Clinton inhale or not? Thank you, oh great all-knowing Oracle. Thus spake the Oracle: Title: This space for rent... [Random Title] RE: The Oracle requires an answer (EORA000079) Well, this interesting question deserves an interesting, and true, answer. Clinton actually has not inhaled for about 5 years. Several years ago, he and a few friends were joking around, and one of them said, "You know? I bet a stiff could make it into office!" And that's when they got the idea. If one of them were to die, they would try to get him into office. Clinton was the first to go, so they rigged him up with computer controlled electrodes to control his muscles. So the entire time you mortals have been fooled! The president is actually a remote controlled corpse! You owe the Oracle a thread of the finest cloth, and a presidential campaign. ---- * WWIVnet Oracle (C) 1993 Ed T. Toton III, All Rights Reserved. Title: Oracle Response (OR00098) From: The Oracle (Chosen by: Keeper of the Scrolls) Date: 20:55:10 P 06/10/93, Oracle Time. You said unto the Oracle: Title: TELL ME...or face consequences! Hey.....tell me......Why are some computers slow and others fast? Thus spake the Oracle: Title: Well, my humble supplicant... RE: The Oracle requires an answer (EORA000098) This question is actually quite interesting, as the answer lies in the Holy Bible. Computers have always ran at different speeds, as the following passages show. Let's start with SYSTEMS verse 80:86. Then the lord did say unto the people, "Go now, and create large electronic machines to perform high speed calculation and data manipulation." And the followers of the Lord did just that. And verily there were computers, and the Lord saw that it was good. Many days and nights passed, and turmoil did return to the land. Opposing groups were many, and fights unavoidable. Programmers did slay administrators, data enterers did slay system operators, and many deleted and erased data most valuable. The Lord looked upon this and was unhappy. Then the Lord did say unto them all, "Why art thou doing this?" The response was "because everyone is the same, and all have the same security levels on our sacred LANs. The administrators need more power, and the loathsome loser-users need less access." The lord listened, and saw that changes in security level could not help with personal computers. So verily did he think. Think he did, and the Lord did say, "Go forth, and create computers with different speeds. The Administrators and programmers will have computers bearing the names of speed, and the loathsome loser-users will use computers bearing the names of slowness, including the the PC and the XT." The Lord smiled, as he knew the people would listen. Listen they did. Computers of all shapes, sizes, speeds, and storage capacities emerged, and peace was restored to the world. Hallowed be the sacred differences in computer speeds! Does that answer your question? Good. You owe the Oracle a Commie-64 for his collection of obsolete junk. ---- * WWIVnet Oracle (C) 1993 Ed T. Toton III, All Rights Reserved. Using the Oracle: Using the Oracle is quite simple. While most of the details are described completely in the Oracle Help-File, I'll cover it briefly here. To request the Oracle-Help file: E-mail ORACLE@4079 with "HELP" in the title To ask a question: E-mail ORACLE@4079 w/ "TELL ME" in the title. To answer one that you have received, simply press "A" for Auto-Reply, and answer the question in the wittiest and most humorous way you can. Please don't use a quoting system to quote the question, as the Oracle pastes the question in when it receives your response. For back-issues of the Scrolls, write to ORACLE@4079 with the word "SCROLL" in the title, and list (one per line!!) the scroll numbers you want. For example: Title: Gimme da scroll please. 1 2 3 This would tell the Oracle to send you Scrolls #1 through #3. Capitalization in the titles does not matter, and the Oracle can be reached from any WWIV board in WWIVnet (and maybe a few non-WWIV boards). Please don't attempt to access it through net-gating. The Oracle will receive your messages, but will be unable to send anything back to you. Gating is supported. For more detail on gating, ask a Sysop with experience in such matters. Oracle Discussion: Auto-requestable, Host: 4079, Type: ORACLE The Scrolls can also be downloaded from my BBS, The Sorcerer's Quarters at (410)-290-3752. We support ASV/GSA, and QWK messaging, plus a normal petty guest account. (300 through 14400 baud, 24 hours/day). To access the Usenet Oracle is similar. Write to oracle@cs.indiana.edu with the word "help" in the title for the help-file, and "tell me" to ask a question. The newsgroups are rec.humor.oracle and rec.humor.oracle.d The FTP site is cs.indiana.edu in the pub/oracle directory. If anyone has any questions concerning the Oracle, be it from a programming standpoint, or how to use it etc, please feel free to E-mail me (1@4079) and I'll be glad to answer your questions. If you have serious questions such as these, they should *not* be sent to the Oracle, for you will not receive a straight answer. However, if you're asking a simple question such as "how do I use the Oracle", please read the Oracle help file and then ask me if you still have questions. Random Titles in Message Bases Laziness or Just Plain Stubborn? By King Lerxt (WWIVnet 1@8863) It's the weekend, and you sit down at your computer after a long hard week at the office (or school). Lately, it seems that the weekends are the ONLY time you have to call out to your favorite local BBSes. You know that after a week of not calling out, many of your favorite message bases will have MANY new messages to read. You decide to call anyway since this is YOUR TIME to relax, and keeping in touch with what's going on in the BBS world is part of the fun. After logging on the BBS and reading your 10 pieces of mail, you hit "N" to read all the new messages. Just as had suspected... the General Discussions sub has 50 new messages.!! You don't have time to read all 50 of those messages, and the Sysop hasn't installed his QWK Offline Mail/Message Reading program yet. What are you to do ?? You can either 1: (B)ypass this sub altogether; 2: Read the last 5 or 10 messages; or 3: Scan the titles of the messages for some interesting topics. Well, like most WWIV users in your predicament, you hit "T" to scan the titles of the next 10 messages hoping to find some posts that MIGHT be of interest to you. Here's what you see : (1) Well... (2) I agree... (3) "History Will Teach Us Nothing" [Random Title] (4) DOS 6.0 sucks! (5) ... (6) ... (7) "Live long and prosper" [Random Title] (8) Koon & Powell gets sentenced for 18 months. (9) HELP ME! (10) Why... Oh boy, what a choice, eh? Seeing nothing of interest in those 10, you hit "T" again, to scan the next 10 messages. You find one title of interest to you, but upon reading the actual message, you find it has NOTHING to do with the message title. You contine on using "T" to scan for titles, totally disregarding the [Random Title] messages as well as the "..." and other meaningless titles, thinking to yourself: "Why should I read a message from a person who was too lazy to write a real title ?? " After doing this for a few subs, you get frustrated. You've scanned over 300 message titles and have only seen 50 "real titles". Of those 50, only 10 were of any interest to you. Seeing as your time online is almost over, you decide to log off, not calling again until another week passes... Did that scenario sound familiar to you? If so you are not alone. Today, many BBS users are entering Random or unspecific tiles for their messages. Lately, in WWIVnet, there has been many heated discussions on the #1 National SysOp sub as well as other subs arguing over the validity or worthlessness of Random and Unspecific Message Titles. Here is a post from a Sysop who believes Random Titles ARE OK : Title : Oh jeez... Author : Psychomaster #1 @7107 I don't see why some of you people make that big of a deal about random titles... I really don't mind them. In fact, a lot of the time, I don't even really read post titles... who cares about the titles, it's what's in the post that I read the message bases for. And here is MY REPLY to that message (somewhat edited and re-worded to be included in this article.) : Title : Random Titles and "..." RE : Oh jeez... Author : King Lerxt #1 @8863 Yes, and in order to get some users to even read the messages there has to be an interesting title in there. Tell me this, which message would you rather read, if they had the following titles ? : (1) hdkjsahdkahg (2) This is an IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE HOST. PLEASE READ (3) The theory of relativity (4) "My god, it's full of stars" [Random Title] The above were just a few examples of titles. Message #2 looks like it is VERY important and if it had a random or silly title, it might be skipped or bypassed, and the people who needed to read that message would probably miss it. In message number 3, some user MIGHT be VERY interested in that topic, so they WILL read it, but they don't have the time to be reading every message, so they are ALWAYS using the "T" command to scan for interesting titles. They call their favorite BBS (Blue Thunder, for example) and can only get on once a week (a TRUE fact over at Blue Thunder, hehe) and the BBS DOESN'T have an offline mail reader (Blue Thunder does though), and there are 50 new messages in each sub they have in their Q-scans, so what else can they do BUT to use the "T" command to scan for interesting topics to read ? You are making too many generalizations about BBS users. These days, users will do ANYTHING to get through a BBS as fast as possible, especially when its costing them some $$$. Anyone who uses a bogus title for a message (ie: "flhkwskks", or "....." is ruining the whole idea of BBSing, which is: ***** To effectively communicate with others and get information out to as many people as possible. ***** Here is an example that demonstrates my point: Say your dog is lost and you want to get him back. Would you post flyers all over town that read in big letters: "GOD WILL RETURN SOON", and then underneath that, in smaller type, you go ahead and describe your lost dog ?? Well of course you wouldn't. But, when people use bogus or random titles in their messages, that's EXACTLY what they are doing. Just as most people wouldn't take the time to stop and read a flyer annoucing the 2nd comming of Jesus, not many users are going to want to pay ANY attention to a message that has a title of "..." or [Random Title] in it. Even though the flyer about your lost dog IS important to you, you are SEVERELY limiting your chances of someone finding your dog when you titled your flyer with a title that DID NOT pertain to the subject at hand. End of my reply Some users will say that posting random or bogus message titles is lazy. Some will say that NOT reading EVERY message posted on a sub is lazy. Some users just don't care. Who is right? What are we to do? It all goes back to the orginal purpose of a BBS (Bulletin Board System): Its NOT about leeching files. Its NOT about playing games. It's about COMMUNICATING with others. Just as it's real life counterpart (the bulletin board at your local school or office which communicates the wants and needs of people) the electronic BBS can be an invaluable tool. You can use it to ask others all over the country a question on how to fix a computer problem you might be having. You know SOMEONE will be able to help you out, since a netted BBS reaches so many people in a short amount of time. Why would anyone want to "hide" the intent of their posts? Why would anyone want to make it difficult for other users to FIND the information they are looking for? Why would YOU want to make it harder to get the help you so desperately need? It's all up to you, the BBS user. Make the right choice...and take an extra second to post a meaningful message title. You'll be glad you did. Filo's Mod of the Month by Filo (1@5252) The Mod-of-The-Month Selection represents my choice of what appears to be a useful, practical mod to WWIV. It does not mean it is the best mod posted or even that it works as I may not have tested it. Given the limitations of this media, uuencoded mods are NOT eligible for selection as mod-of-the-month. Since WWIVnews took an unexpected hiatus, there's been sort of a backlog of articles, so we'll be taking care of that with this column by reprinting those mods which have been selected since the last issue of WWIVnews. The first mod allows you to install a safe, but tailorable guest account for WWIV 4.23. Ŀ Mod Name: AA002 Mod Author: Arc Angel 1@4067 Difficulty: moderate Date: September 7, 1993 WWIV Version: v4.22 Description: Guest Account Mod. The Guest mod allows you to make a guest account on the BBS that can be used by multiple users without an account. The mod assumes you will make the guest account and set it's security levels, restrictions, ARs, and DARs to your liking. NOTE: to make the account a guest account, it is only important that you set the G (guest) restriction on the account. You should probably also edit the logon prompt if your guest account is not named "GUEST". The mod is hard coded to allow 10 minutes per call on all guest logons. Because the guest account is shared by multiple users, certain restrictions are hard coded. A guest account cannot edit it's defaults. A guest account cannot kill (and thus read) E-Mail it has sent. A guest account cannot upload (in case the guest is hostile, and only wishes to tie up the BBS for more than 10 minutes). It is up to the Sysop to set all other restrictions desired on a guest account. My apologies to anyone who has done a similar mod, I know there are several. I wasn't able to find any when I need the mod, so wrote this myself. I hope people find the code useful. I am not responsible for any problem cause by your use of my code of course. I encourage you to back up everything before installing this, or any mod. Arc Angel - Andrew Jon Lundberg Internet address: lundberg@cs.jhu.edu WWIVnet address: 1@4067 ****************************************************************************** diff -H -b -p ./BBS.c Guest/BBS.c *** ./BBS.c Mon Jan 11 19:37:54 1993 --- guest/BBS.c Tue Sep 07 21:39:02 1993 *************** void send_E-Mail(void) *** 337,342 **** --- 337,345 ---- outstr(":"); input(s1,40); helpl=0; + /* Guest MOD */ if (guest()) + /* Guest MOD */ sprintf(irt,"Guest (%s) connected at %s.",guest_name,curspeed); + /* Guest MOD */ else irt[0]=0; irt_name[0]=0; parse_E-Mail_info(s1,&un,&sy); *************** void mainmenu(void) *** 630,635 **** --- 633,642 ---- break; case 'D': helpl=4; + /* Guest MOD */ if (guest()) { + /* Guest MOD */ pl("Guests may not change default settings."); + /* Guest MOD */ nl(); + /* Guest MOD */ } else defaults(); break; case 'E': *************** void mainmenu(void) *** 636,641 **** --- 643,651 ---- send_E-Mail(); break; case 'F': + /* Guest MOD */ if (guest()) + /* Guest MOD */ sprintf(irt,"%s Guest (%s) connected at %s.",get_stringx(1,14),guest_name,curspeed); + /* Guest MOD */ else strcpy(irt,get_stringx(1,14)); irt_name[0]=0; grab_quotes(NULL, NULL); *************** void mainmenu(void) *** 654,659 **** --- 664,670 ---- break; case 'K': helpl=8; + /* Guest MOD */ if (!guest()) kill_old_E-Mail(); break; case 'L': *************** void dlmainmenu(void) *** 993,998 **** --- 1004,1010 ---- break; case 'U': helpl=17; + /* Guest MOD */ if (!guest()) if ((thisuser.restrict & (restrict_validate | restrict_upload)) || (syscfg.sysconfig & sysconfig_all_sysop)) { if (syscfg.newuploads0) { + /* Guest MOD */ outstr("\nWould you like to log onto the guest account? "); + /* Guest MOD */ if (yn()) { + /* Guest MOD */ read_user(usernum,&thisuser); + /* Guest MOD */ read_qscn(usernum,qsc,0); + /* Guest MOD */ actsl = syscfg.newusersl; + /* Guest MOD */ topscreen(); + /* Guest MOD */ return; + /* Guest MOD */ } + /* Guest MOD */ outstr("\nWould you like to leave feedback to the sysop? "); + /* Guest MOD */ if (yn()) { + /* Guest MOD */ outstr("Who are you? "); + /* Guest MOD */ mpl(40); + /* Guest MOD */ input(guest_name,40); + /* Guest MOD */ sprintf(irt,"Guest (%s) failed to enter NUP, connected at %s.",guest_name,curspeed); + /* Guest MOD */ irt_name[0]=0; + /* Guest MOD */ grab_quotes(NULL, NULL); + /* Guest MOD */ E-Mail(1,0,1,0); + /* Guest MOD */ } + /* Guest MOD */ } if (!ok) hangup=1; } diff -H -b -p ./utility.c Guest/utility.c *** ./utility.c Thu Dec 03 19:55:56 1992 --- guest/utility.c Tue Sep 07 21:26:40 1993 *************** double nsl(void) *** 706,711 **** --- 706,713 ---- tlt = tpd - tot - ((double) thisuser.timeontoday) + (thisuser.extratime); tlt=(((tlc)<(tlt)) ? (tlc) : (tlt)); + /* Guest MOD */ if (guest()) + /* Guest MOD */ tlt=10.0 * 60.0 - tot + extratimecall; if (tlt<0.0) tlt=0.0; if (tlt>32767.0) *************** void end_crit(void) *** 1141,1143 **** --- 1143,1149 ---- geninterrupt(0x15); } } + /* Guest MOD */ int guest(void) + /* Guest MOD */ { + /* Guest MOD */ return(thisuser.restrict & restrict_guest); + /* Guest MOD */ } diff -H -b -p ./fcns.h Guest/fcns.h *** ./fcns.h Tue Sep 07 21:40:24 1993 --- guest/fcns.h Tue Sep 07 21:40:50 1993 *************** void detect_multitask(void); *** 327,332 **** --- 327,333 ---- void giveup_timeslice(void); void begin_crit(void); void end_crit(void); + int guest(void); diff -H -b -p ./vardec.h Guest/vardec.h *** ./vardec.h Thu Dec 17 17:49:10 1992 --- guest/vardec.h Tue Sep 07 21:26:46 1993 *************** typedef enum { *** 488,494 **** --- 488,498 ---- #define restrict_net 0x0200 #define restrict_upload 0x0400 + /* Guest MOD #define restrict_string "LCMA*PEVKNU " + Guest MOD */ + /* Guest MOD */ #define restrict_guest 0x0800 + /* Guest MOD */ #define restrict_string "LCMA*PEVKNUG " /* userrec.sysstatus */ #define sysstatus_ansi 0x0001 diff -H -b -p ./vars.h Guest/vars.h *** ./vars.h Wed Dec 16 15:36:48 1992 --- guest/vars.h Tue Sep 07 21:26:46 1993 *************** __EXTRN__ char ansistr[81], cdir[81], ch *** 74,79 **** --- 74,80 ---- search_pattern[81], *sp, str_no[20], str_pause[80], str_quit[20], str_yes[20], tc[81], ver_no1[51], ver_no2[51],wwiv_net_no[20], xdate[9], *xenviron[50]; + /* Guest MOD */ __EXTRN__ char guest_name[41]; __EXTRN__ unsigned char actsl, andwith, checksum; This next mod selection is by Gate Keeper 1@8143 and corrects what some consider an annoying "feature" of WWIV. Filoheader(c)Ŀ Mod Name: REALMAIL.MOD Author: Gate Keeper Difficulty: Pretty Easy Date: Aug. 23,1992 WWIV Version: 4.21a Tested, should work with past/future versions. Description: Get The Real Value Of How Much Mail You Have Waiting. So, It Won't Say "You Have Mail" Then Say "You Have No Mail" Ok, Well, I wrote up this mod because I have been having mail problems. So I had to delete my E-Mail data file..it got corrupted or something I guess. It happends once in a while. Anyway, Usually when I do that users get on and it says "You have 5 pieces of mail waiting, read it now?" then they hit yes and it says "You have no mail" now. Is that good? No, That is a bug in some ways, I mean, it should never actually do that according to logic but about 5 WWIV BBS's down here have done this, this mod is small and should be considered to standard code to get rid of this annoying thing... This mod doesn't do much, it could be changed to have the checkmail function return a number when asked to or do a few other things. But this will do it. All it does is get the real number of mail waiting before it says you have any by opening up the E-Mail file and checking. This reads the HD for a second, but it works, and its better then having that problem mentioned above, I didn't stick the extra char's with the old because I just want it to be one easy block code so hear it is... = Existing + Add Open Up LILO.C: Search for void logon..and do this... = void logon(void) ={ = char ct[3],s[255],s1[100],s2[100],*ss; = int i,i1,i2,f,m; = long len,pos; + char fn[81]; /* Mail */ + mailrec mail; /* Check */ + int count,mfl,mw,mloc[256]; /* Mod */ = if (usernum<1) { = hangup=1; = return; = } = + sprintf(fn,"%sE-Mail.DAT",syscfg.datadir); + f=open(fn,O_RDWR | O_BINARY | O_CREAT, S_IREAD | S_IWRITE); + mfl=filelength(f)/sizeof(mailrec); + mw=0; + for (i=0; (i=0) && (i<=numchain) || (s[0]=='$')) { ++ if (s[0]=='$') ++ i=numchain; == insert_chain(i); == } Save file CHNEDIT.C. Step 3: ------- Open file DIREDIT.C. Make the following additions in function 'void dlboardedit(void)'. == case 'I': == if (num_dirs=0) && (i<=num_dirs) || (s[0]=='$')) { ++ if (s[0]=='$') ++ i=num_dirs; == insert_dir(i); Save file DIREDIT.C. Step 4: ------- Open file SUBEDIT.C. Make the following additions in function 'void boardedit(void)'. == case 'I': == if (num_subs=0) && (i<=num_subs) || (s[0]=='$')) { ++ if (s[0]=='$') ++ i=num_subs; == insert_sub(i); Save file SUBEDIT.C. Step 5: ------- Change the following strings in BBS.STR to read as shown. 131: Insert before which chain ('$'=End)? 162: Insert before which dir ('$'=End)? 213: Insert before which sub ('$'=End)? -EOM (End of Modifications) Compile Away! Disclaimer: This mod works on my system. It may not work on yours. I take no responsibility for any damage incurred upon your system by improper installation, usage, or typo's on my part, nor on any screw-ups by the message base system this was posted on. Otherwise, sue me! :) GSA / ASV DIRECTORY by Lance Halle >>> New Service flag! ^ = FILEnet New File Catagory! Q = DESQview Files <<< ### -=* Please read policy on granting access to MODS & MODNET *=- ### FILE CATEGORIES Number of files available LOWER case list UPPER case list A = Audio Files 20+ 200+ C = Games For WWIV 25+ 250+ NOTE - This listing only D = Dos Utilities 25+ 250+ gives an indication of E = GIFs 30+ 300+ how many files a system G = Games - off line type 30+ 300+ has to offer. Many I = IceNET support files 2+ 20+ systems with small hard L = Link support files 2+ 20+ drives keep only the BEST M = Mods for WWIV 50+ (SEE BELOW) 500+ and MOST RECENT files, so N = Communications Programs 10+ 100+ don't overlook them! O = OS-2 Utilities 15+ 150+ P = Compression Files 5+ 50+ Q = DESQview Files 15+ 150+ S = Anti-Virus Programs 5+ 50+ V = VBBS support files 5+ 50+ W = WWIV support files 50+ 500+ X = Windows Utilities 15+ 150+ NOTE ABOUT MODS: Per Filo's & Wayne's request, MODS and MODNET should NOT be available to first time callers. The Sysop needs to verify the caller's WWIV registration number by verifying it in the BBSLIST.* files of WWIVnet, or with Filo (1@2050) BEFORE granting access MODS or MODNET. NOTE: MODNET refers to SubType 2370. MODS refers to any other Sub or Directory that carries WWIV mods. SERVICES * = Official Source Distribution Site # = Official WWIV Support Board @ = IPSS (IceNET Primary Support System) ! = ISB (IceNET Support Board) % = PCPursuitable ^ = FILEnet ~ = Unknown System These will be removed from the listing after 30 days to allow time for errors in the NET updates to be corrected. NETWORK for LISTED node # 1 = WWIVnet 2 = IceNET 3 = WWIVnet + IceNET PROTOCOL IDENTIFIERS MODEM LINK SPEEDS (Sp) < = USRobotics HST protocol 2 = 2400 > = Hayes V-series protocol 9 = 9600 | = Telebit PEP protocol 14 = 14400 ! = V.32 protocol 16 = 16800 $ = V.32bis protocol 21 = 21600 / = Compucom 9600 protocol ACCOUNT TYPES A = Auto Sysop Validation systems [ASV] Log on as NEW user. WWIV Sysops will be validated automatically. G = Guest Sysop Account systems [GSA] Log on info - Name : Guestsys PW : WWIV Phone: 0000 DIRECTORY Files & Account type-| Services Protocol-| | ACDEGILMNOPQSVWX*#@!%^ Node Net Phone BBS Name St Sp | | c M w *# 7 1 415-349-4141 Crest CA 16 ! AG cdeg n p s wx 2660 1 216-743-4215 R.A.D.S Y-TOWN BBS OH 9 ! AG cdeg w 2661 1 216-337-0758 K's Korner BBS OH 14 !$ AG CD n s W *# 2914 3 209-549-0423 Anything Goes BBS CA 12 !$ A AcDEG lmNOP SvwX 2932 1 209-274-0621 Ship's BBS CA 14 !$ A c mn p s wx ^ 3081 3 310-973-4949 Entity CA 14 !$ AG cd gilm p ^ 3085 1 310-790-8560 The SlowSleep BBS CA 14 !$ G acdeg mn p x 3101 1 301-229-2957 The Star-Lit BBS MD 14 !$ A c m w 3106 1 301-208-0832 Dupont Plaza [ASV-GSA]MD 2 AG cdegilmnps wx*# !%^ 3314 3 303-755-1884 Erana's Peace CO 14 !$ A ACDEG NoP wX %^ 3359 3 313-668-0221 Freewheelin' BBS MI 14 !$ A c n p s w * % 3459 1 314-861-1820 The M&M Factory MO 14 MD 14 !$ A 4075 1 410-315-9854 Central Station MD 2 AG acd g p S x 4079 1 410-290-3752 Sorcerer's Quarters MD 14 !$ AG ACDEGi mNOP SvWX ~4654 1 416-208-7029 Sledgehammer Base BBS ON 14 !$ AG acdi mn p s wx 4656 1 416-267-6559 Cloud 9 BBS ON 9 ! AG acDEG mnop wX ~4703 1 407-352-4699 The Professor's Lab FL 14 !$ A acdEg mn p s wx 4704 1 407-384-7166 No Name Yet!! BBS Fl 9 >! AG ACDEgI MNoP s WX @ 4707 3 407-994-4427 Patriot Games MS 14 !$ AG ABdEG mnoPs wX 5079 3 510-522-3583 StarPort Valhalla CA 14 !$ A cdegIlmn p s x 5212 1 502-352-2169 The Barbarian's Hut KY 14 !$ AG ac m 5480 1 514-652-5752 Twiggy's Board PQ 2 A Cd IL N P Svw 5489 1 514-948-4802 CYBERGATE! PQ 14 !$ AG acde ilmn p wx # 5497 3 514-664-4503 Alternative Worlds CN 2 A AcDEGi MNop S wX # 5800 1 508-795-7672 Bears Cave BBS MA 14 !$ A d g w 5809 1 508-251-9812 Omega BBS MA 2 G cdG ilMn p s wX @ 5900 3 509-487 6572 DATA*NORTH*WEST WA 14 !$ AG CD MN W 6101 1 601-388-3745 Hacker's Heaven MS 21 !$ A d Gil * 7663 1 716-837-1636 Paragon NY 16