Written By:
Steven Reeves
Tequila Nights BBS
www.tequilanightsbbs.com

Note: This documentation has been changed from its original formatting. To download the original MS Word file, click here.

Software needed for this setup.

1) Virtual Advanced 2.10
2) Com/IP 2.4
3) Argus Win32 mailer

This documentation will not go into detail on how to install any of the software. This documentation will assume that you have Virtual Advanced 2.10, Com/IP and Argus installed. This documentation will walk you through the configuration to setup Argus to act as a front-end for Virtual Advanced 2.10 using Com/IP. Also, this was written exclusively for Com/IP v2.4. Later versions may or may not work.

This is still in Beta! However as of this point I have not come across any bugs with this setup and it is working perfectly on my system.

The main reason that I created this setup is because I was fighting with the internal clock in Virtual Advanced. For some reason it would fall behind the system clock running through Com/IP. This would cause issues with some door games such as BRE. When a user would try and run the door, it would return the error “System clock has been set back, notify the SysOp!” I battled with this for a month or so and tried several other configurations... one being Synchronet`s telnet front-end. This did work, however it was a 50/50 shot to login the first time. For some reason it would return “Times UP … “, and disconnect the caller. So, here is my fix for the front-end issue.

Install Com/IP, following the instructions in the Com/IP documentation. You will need to install 10 virtual modems in windows control panel as well. Starting with node 5 and ending at node 15.

Here are step by step instructions on how to allow Argus to shell to Virtual Advanced 2.10.

• In Argus, Click on CONFIG > EXTERNALS > DOORS

Under the "Enter" Tab, select the hotkey in which the user should press to run Virtual Advanced 2.10. You can use a backslash "\" to represent the ESC key, or even two of them to require ESC to be pressed twice.

Under the "Door and parameter" Tab, enter the following:

%Z c:\VA\bbs.bat %n /ac /b115200

Note that %Z is CASE Sensitive. It must be entered in the same case they are shown here, or it will not work! The %Z tells Argus to pass the COMPORT to Virtual Advanced 2.10. Virtual Advanced is not a 32bit program, so passing the COM handler will not work. We MUST pass the COMPORT to Virtual Advanced.

If you are NOT using Windows NT, 2000 or XP then you may also need to specify "c:\command.com /c" in front of the batch file path/filename. I have not tested this as I personally run Windows 2000. Test this at your own risk!

Ok... Let’s configure Argus.

• In Argus, Click CONFIG > DIALUP > MODEMS

Click the modems tab and click NEW

Modem Name: Com/IP
Init: ATH0|
Answer: ATA!
Dial Prefix: ATDP
Dial Suffix: !
Hang Up: ~~~+++~~~|

• In Argus, Click CONFIG > DIALUP > MODEMS

Select NEW to add a new line for Com/IP.

Set as follows:

Line Name: node 2
Default station (your station)
Default COM Port COM 5
Default modem COM/IP

The rest should be left alone.
Do the same thing for Nodes 3 threw 10 choosing COM ports 6 threw 15 and the modem profile in Com/IP.

• In Argus, Click on CONFIG > DIALUP > STATION

Select the template you have already defined for your lines and Click on BANNER.

Here you should enter the text to display to the user that tells them which key to press to access the BBS. IE: Press Escape twice to load the BBS or whatever you wanted…

• Next, verify that your COMPORTS defined in Argus are locked at the same speed that they are locked at in Virtual Advanced 2.10. I suggest locking them at 115200.

Ok, lets setup Com/IP.

Open the Com/IP control panel and place the following init string in each of the COMPORTS (5 through 15).

AT S1001=1 S1002=1 S1003=7 S1005=0 S1008=23 &D0

In Argus, click CONFIG > DIALUP > PORTS > COMx

Easy huh?

Ok, lets setup Virtual Advanced 2.10:

Run VCONFIG > Channel Configuration > Choose channel 2

You will want to set this to the Fossil Device 4 for COM 5 and also make sure that it is locked (option 5 Locked Baud Rate = YES) Set the setting as follows:

Channel 2
1) Serial Port: Fossil Device 4
2) Base Address (Hex): 3F8
3) IRQ (Hex): 4
4) Baud Rate: 115200
5) Locked Baud Rate: Yes
6) CTS/RTS Handshake: No
7) Minimum Baud Rate: 0
8) Init String1: ATH0
9) Init String2:
A) Init String3:
B) Off-Hook String:
C) Answer String: ATA
D) Dial String:
Z) Modem String Help
[Esc] to EXIT

Do the same things for channels 6 through 10. Remember to set them all to a Fossil Device one lower then the COMPORT that you configured in Argus. I.E. COM 5 is Fossil Device 4, COM 6 is Fossil Device 5 Etc.

• Now we have to create a batch file in the main Virtual Advanced 2.10 directory that Argus will run. This batch file will need to pass the port number and baud rate. It can also define some environment variables if you like.

BBS.BAT
REM The line below will load the fossil driver needed by COM/IP.
TSNT14
REM Change to your main Virtual Advanced 2.10 Dir.
CD \VA
REM Executes the BBS.exe with the %1 = Channel %2 = /ac (tells VA to REM run as a door) and the %3 = the baud rate.
bbs %1 %2 %3

• By this time, Argus and Virtual Advanced 2.10 should be working together, allowing Argus to answer all the incoming calls, and open separate Windows for each Virtual Advanced 2.10 session as the callers login to your BBS.

If you need further help with this setup please let me know. I can be found at www.tequilanightsbbs.com , Telnet://Tequilanightsbbs.com , AspectNet (Virtual Network) 1801000 OR FidoNet 1:311/13

Steven Reeves AKA Thebutler4
Tequila Nights BBS