Darklord's Nifty Setup Series- Setting Up Oblivion/2 Multinode
-REV 04/01/95

Ok- one of the most often asked questions I get, is in regard to
setting up Oblivion/2 Multinode. I'm going to do my best to explain
it so that it's as painless as possible. But hey- Youv'e already
decided to become a SysOp, so you DO have a bottle of asprin ready
anyways. ;>

Ill state that out of about 8 other BBS types, Ive found OBV/2 to
be the most stable and easy to setup multinode- So youv'e already
made a good choice in the right direction-

This documentation is by far not complete- I'll update it whenever
I feel like it, IF I ever feel like it. I'm doing you a favor 
without being bound to fix any problems you encounter. Theres 
nothing more reliable than the true support you get from registering
software- And The Oblivion/2 team has set standards in the support
area...

Ok. Lets assume you already have (1) working OBV/2 setup. You'll NEED
for this route, these additional programs:

DESQVIEW, installed.
QEMM, installed.
TAME, (some may say optional) READ THE DOCUMENTATION!
A GOOD SHELL program to make copying directories and subs easy- I used
XtreeGold. It made copying full directories (in this case c:\obv\etc.)
a 2 second operation. Not required though.

Alrighty- begin by making a backup of your BBS. fantastic- make 2 if
youre scared. I made this whole shot go faster by zipping my bbs.
ie; PKZIP -rp MYBBSBAK.ZIP c:\obv\*.*
(Youll see why in a minute.) Put it aside.

Load up Oblivion and goto the system configuration. In system config 1
Set multinode operation to YES. 
Node Number: 2

Go to System Config 3 and set these:  (Note options marked "*"- these
are multinode options we need to set. the others not marked, are
dependent on your partic. system)

Swap to EMS                 Yes   
Swap to XMS                 Yes   
Open/Close FDF              Yes  *
Give up Time Slices:        Yes  *
Inform Nodes:               No   *  (optional)
User Xfer Line:             1       (1-25)

Go to COMMUNICATION SETUP and set these:  (We're setting up a local only
node, and will address working (line) nodes later)

COM Port:        0       (0-4)       *  (0 is local only!)
Man. Answer:     Yes
Init Str:        ATZ|~~~
HangUp Str:      ~~~+++~~~ATH0|
Off Hook Str:    ATH|
Send Car. Str:   ATA|
Rec Car. Str:    ATX1D|
Default Baud:    19200   (110-57600)
Min. Baud:       9600    (110-38400)
Lock out Pass:   XXXXXXXX
115.2k Locking:  No
Wait Until Sent: No

Go to FILENAME CONFIGURATION OPTIONS, and Set THESE:
(Pay attention to options marked "*"!!!)

BBS Directory:           C:\OBV2\           *
Text Directory:          C:\OBV\TEXT\
Board Directory:         C:\OBV\BOARDS\
File Directory:          C:\OBV\FILES\
Data Directory:          C:\OBV\DATA\
Menu Directory:          C:\OBV\MENU\
Work Directory:          C:\OBV\WORK\
TextFile Directory:      C:\OBV\TEXTFILE\
File Mail Directory:     C:\OBV\FILEMAIL\
Log Directory:           C:\OBV\LOGS\
Door Directory:          C:\OBV\DOORS\
Swap Directory:          C:\OBV\SWAP\
Bad Directory:           C:\OBV\BAD\
MultiNode Directory:     C:\OBV\MULTI\      *   As of 2.30 B6!
DSZ Log:                 C:\OBV2\DSZLOG.    *

Ok. Getting there... Now, comes the fun part-
Your'e saying what gives? we only specified ina few options pointers
to a different BBS dir that doesnt exist! It will soon enough.
The only real directory we will be using for node 2 is C:\OBV2.
the rest are SHARED by both nodes. Now. Before going any further,
quit the OBV config, and SAVE the changes.

Go to your COMPUTER System files, and add SHARE to your AUTOEXEC.BAT.
If your'e not sure how to set it up on yours,
go to the system prompt and type:

C:>HELP SHARE

(DOS 6 and up) for syntax/examples.

(An example, optimized by QEMM)

C:\QEMM\LOADHI /RF C:\DOS\SHARE.EXE /L:500 /F:5100

Take a breather. Go grab a cup of Java, Take a Shit, Etc...

Ok. Now, You need to RENAME the BBS setup's directory we just configured
to say, C:\OBV2. Do so. Then, UNZIP your BBS backup you made.
(ie PKUNZIP -d MYBBSBAK.ZIP C:)
Now youve got a ballistic mess of 2 bbs's on youre system. Go through
and delete ALL of the directories and files BELOW C:\OBV2.
(For node 2, all we AREN'T sharing is the main DIR)

Hold tight now. load up your MAIN BBS (Your original) and go to the
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION.

Set multinode operation to YES. 
Node Number: 1

Go to System Config 3 and set these:  (Note options marked "*"- these
are multinode options we need to set. the others not marked, are
dependent on your partic. system)

Swap to EMS                 Yes   
Swap to XMS                 Yes   
Open/Close FDF              Yes  *
Give up Time Slices:        Yes  *
Inform Nodes:               No   *  (optional)
User Xfer Line:             1       (1-25)

You will now need to make changes to your batchfile that RUNS your board.
I use the "longbatch" method with Intermail on node 1. When the mailer
passes the baudrate to OBV, we NEED to add N 1 to the line, like so:

:28800
cd C:\OBV
OBV -B 28800 -A -N 1
goto top

Note the space between N and 1 is IMPORTANT...

If youre using the same method, change the rest of the errorlevels to
reflect the "N 1" parameter.

Now. Create a batchfile similar to this for node 2:

@Echo Off
SET DSZLOG=C:\OBV2\DSZLOG.2
cls
cd C:\OBV2
OBV -N 2 -A

Add your second node's directory into your PATH (AUTOEXEC.BAT)

Load up Desqview.
Add a Program, (YourBBS)Node1
and set the options for the com port (Y)
Add a Second, (YourBBS)Node2
Set the option for com port to (N)

Ill include my settings for both nodes, BUT these may vary slightly
due to differences in systems. Use them as guidlines only...

1ChangeaProgram
                               Standard Options                               
                                                                              
 Program Name............: BBS NODE 1                                         
                                                                              
 Keys to Use on Open Menu: BB                         Memory Size (in K): 410 

 Program...: C:\BATS\BBS.BAT  (Note: .Batfile I use to load Mailer/BBS)
                                                                              
 Parameters:                                                                  
                                                                              
 Directory.: c:\bats                                                          

 Options:                                                                     
                  Writes text directly to screen.......: [N]                  
                  Displays graphics information........: [N]                  
                  Virtualize text/graphics (Y,N,T).....: [T]                  
                  Uses serial ports (Y,N,1,2)..........: [Y]                  
                  Requires floppy diskette.............: [N]                  
                                                                              
     F1 for Help          F10 for Advanced Options           when Done     

1ChangeaProgram
                               Advanced Options                               
                                                                              
 System Memory (in K).......:   0     Maximum Program Memory Size (in K):     
                                                                              
 Script Buffer Size.......:  1000     Maximum EMS/XMS/VCPI/DPMI (in K):       
                                                                              
 Text Pages: 1               Graphics Pages: 0         Initial Video Mode:    

 Window Position:                                                             
    Maximum Height:  25       Starting Height:           Starting Row...:     
    Maximum Width.:  80       Starting Width.:           Starting Column:     

                                Shared Program                                
 Pathname..:                                                                  
 Data......:                                                                  

 Close on exit (Y,N,blank)......: [N]  Uses its own colors..............: [Y] 
 Allow Close Window command.....: [Y]  Runs in background (Y,N,blank)...: [ ] 
 Uses math coprocessor..........: [Y]  Keyboard conflict (0-F)..........: [0] 
 Share CPU when foreground......: [Y]  Share EGA when foreground/zoomed.: [Y] 
 Can be swapped out (Y,N,blank).: [ ]  Protection level (0-3)...........: [0] 
     F1 for Help          F10 for Advanced Options           when Done     


And now, options for Node 2:

1ChangeaProgram
                               Standard Options                               
                                                                              
 Program Name............: BBS NODE 2                                         
                                                                              
 Keys to Use on Open Menu: BL                         Memory Size (in K): 410 

 Program...: C:\OBV2\BBS2.BAT                                                 
                                                                              
 Parameters:                                                                  
                                                                              
 Directory.: c:\OBV2                                                       

 Options:                                                                     
                  Writes text directly to screen.......: [N]                  
                  Displays graphics information........: [N]                  
                  Virtualize text/graphics (Y,N,T).....: [T]                  
                  Uses serial ports (Y,N,1,2)..........: [N]                  
                  Requires floppy diskette.............: [N]                  
                                                                              
     F1 for Help          F10 for Advanced Options           when Done     

1ChangeaProgram
                               Advanced Options                               
                                                                              
 System Memory (in K).......:   0     Maximum Program Memory Size (in K):     
                                                                              
 Script Buffer Size.......:  1000     Maximum EMS/XMS/VCPI/DPMI (in K):       
                                                                              
 Text Pages: 1               Graphics Pages: 0         Initial Video Mode:    

 Window Position:                                                             
    Maximum Height:  25       Starting Height:           Starting Row...:     
    Maximum Width.:  80       Starting Width.:           Starting Column:     

                                Shared Program                                
 Pathname..:                                                                  
 Data......:                                                                  

 Close on exit (Y,N,blank)......: [N]  Uses its own colors..............: [Y] 
 Allow Close Window command.....: [Y]  Runs in background (Y,N,blank)...: [ ] 
 Uses math coprocessor..........: [Y]  Keyboard conflict (0-F)..........: [0] 
 Share CPU when foreground......: [Y]  Share EGA when foreground/zoomed.: [Y] 
 Can be swapped out (Y,N,blank).: [ ]  Protection level (0-3)...........: [0] 
     F1 for Help          F10 for Advanced Options           when Done     


After setting these, reboot, optimize with QEMM, and fire up DV. 
Load up node 1.
Load up node 2.
Yer done. Ya may have some tweaking in DV, but this'll help get ya going.
I suggest going to the "tune" performance section in Desqview and play.

Youll notice now, OBV creates a few subdirectories in your MAIN (C:OBV)
subdirectories-

doors\1
doors\2
swap\1
swap\2
work\1
work\2

For other purposes (adding doors, etc) Make sure you realize you must point
calling batchfiles to those subs.

Lastly, for now, Ill add a section on LOADING up both nodes with a DESQVIEW
script-

                   AUTO-STARTING DV (With YOUR BBS!!)
                                                  
                                          
      -  Make sure all dv windows are closed..

      -  Hit SHIFT then ALT while holding SHIFT down...

      -  Use a rarely used key for the key to redefine..

      -  Use !start for the file name.

      -  Load your board task....and whatever else you wants
      -  Remember it all gets saved..so if u make mistakes REDO IT.....

      -  Hit SHIFT THEN ALT while holding SHIFT down....
 
      -  Hit finish script...exit desqview.
      -  It will ask you to save the scripts..say
      -  Yes...and bingo!! it should work..
      -  (if not keep doing this a couple of times
      -  and it will work...


That about sums it up. This documentation isn't by far teaked to
perfection, but alot of boards have been setup in just this manner,
without a hitch. There are other ways to do this, perhaps even more
efficient. This is merely a start in the right direction. I'm going
to add to this whenever I get a chance, and will gladly accept any
imput anyone has to offer here. I'd be a fool if I claimed GOD 
status in this area, and wouldn't have much fun either, cause Im
still learning something new everyday. This IS supposed to be fun
ain't it? ;>

Any comments can be directed to me at My BBS, The SiN oF DaMnaTioN
(313)381-9524, On the Fringes, And more than likely, anywhere ya see
the name "Darklord" pop up... ;>

Also, check out the other titles authored by ol' Darky-
Just look for the 'DIZ with "Darklord's Nifty Setups" on it!
