Multi-user Operation

Since ProBoard is a multi-line BBS package, it allows you the ability to have more than one user use the userfile and the message base at the same time. ProBoard doesn't do any internal multi-tasking to make the program act as flexible as possible.

This makes sure that you can set up a multi-line BBS via a network and multiple computers, or by running ProBoard under a multitasking system. ProBoard is also DESQview aware.

ProBoard can handle up to 255 nodes. Each node needs its own directory, because ProBoard supports the use of many different external message editors and most of these editors are designed to be used on single-node systems. One editor that does not need such a configuration is GEDIT. With GEDIT, you simply place one copy of it in your ProBoard startup directory (or any other directory of your choice) and then specify where the editor is located in PROCFG, [F1], Paths, under the “Editor Command” option. A few other newer style editors also support multi-line use without needing a copy in each nodes directory. To find out more, ask one of the support BBS's.

Each node MUST be started from its own private directory.

No ProBoard-related files have to be placed in this directory but certain doors and certain message editors may need this directory for their own use.

If you want to install 3 nodes in a network, you could create the following structure:

C:\PB\MSGBASE Message base directory
C:\PB\TXTFILES Textfiles directory
C:\PB\MENUS Menus directory
C:\PB\PEX PEX files directory
C:\PB\NODE1 Start-up directory for node 1
C:\PB\NODE2 Start-up directory for node 2
C:\PB\NODE3 Start-up directory for node 3
C:\PB\NODE4 ... 255 Start-up directory for node 4 - 255

ProBoard should be started from C:\PB\NODE1 for node 1, from C:\PB\NODE2 for node 2, etc. These directories may require the files for the external editor. All the other files that ProBoard uses, should be stored in ProBoard's system directory (usually C:\PB).

If you run ProBoard under a multitasker like DESQview, the different nodes MUST be run on different com-ports. It should be noted that the new DESQview v2.6 supports networks like Novell Lite and Lantastic directly, making it possible to run the BBS on a machine that is also a server. Refer to your DESQview v.26 manual/setup program for more details.

┌───────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ IMPORTANT │ If you are running ProBoard multi-line using a │
├───────────┘ multitasker, the DOS program SHARE.EXE MUST! be │
│ installed. ──── │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘