I'm writing this document to help you get through the steps to configure Com/IP with your VADV BBS. Com/IP is a little more complex than the other software it is competing with it, but it does provide you with the reward of more stability.

If you want to run VBBS instead of VADV, then you either will have to be using Windows 2000, or instead go with Windows9x and Netmodem. The program you use to work with VBBS must be able to emulate a UART. Com/IP will not do this under Windows 9x. Note: You CAN use a combination of Com/IP and a program called TurboCOM under Windows 9x with VBBS, but I do not recommend this.

The versions of software I'm using is Com/IP v2.4, and Virtual Advanced v2.1.

Com/IP:
Install Com/IP onto your computer. The trial version allows you to use it for 30 days before it stops functioning.

At the end of the installation, a window called "Select Ports" will popup. You must select which COM ports you want to use for the BBS. I suggest you start with COM5 and go up from there (so there aren't any conflicts). I use COM5-COM11 for my BBS. At the bottom of this window, you have the option to "Enable DOS/INT 14" (Win2k users will not have this option). Put a check in it. Click OK.

In a few seconds it will ask you to reboot. Just click "Reboot Later". After you click that, a new window will popup called "Install Modems". Click on the 'skip' button. You do not need to install any virtual modems for DOS software.

Now you will see the main Com/IP window. Click on 'Configure' at the top of the window. Go down to the "DOS/INT 14 Settings" and click there.

This is where you will setup each of the COM ports you chose a few minutes ago. Set each node to the following:

BaudRate: 115200 (clicking here will set the other values for the port)
Check Lock Settings on Port
Receive/Transmit Buffer: 4096 (you can play with this value if you like)
Select Enable Fossil Driver
Select Coalesce Outgoing Data
Unselect Release Time Slices When Port Idle
Select Hold Port Open During MSDOS Session

When you have set each of the COM ports to those settings, then click OK.

You must put an init string in the appropriate space for each node. The init string you need to use is:

AT S1001=1 S1002=1 S1003=7 S1004=0 S1005=0 S1008=23 &D2H0

This is the recommended string and you shouldn't have to deviate from it.

Now close the Com/IP window and REBOOT your computer.

Virtual Advanced:
Now VA is the confusing part. In channel configuration in VConfig, select the node number you want to use for telnet access (here I use node 1 through 4). The serial port in VConfig will be one less than you configured in Com/IP. So I use COM5 in Com/IP, in VConfig I have it set for Fossil Device 4 (not 5). If you have Com/IP set for COM1 you would set VConfig for Fossil Device 0 (this is not recommended, just given as an example to understand the difference in numbers).

The base address and IRQ doesn't really matter what you have them set to. Lock the baud rate at 115200 and set CTS/RTS for normal. IMPORTANT: Your INIT string setting is extremely important. Use the following string and try not to deviate from it:

Init1: ATH0
Init2:
Init3:
Off Hook String:

This concludes VConfig configuration.

Now make a batch file to run the BBS (mine is called BBSx.BAT, where x is the node number). It should at least look like:

d:
cd\va
BBS x
d:
cd\va

In this example, 'x' needs to be changed to what node number the batch file is loading. For node 1, change 'x' to a '1'. Node 2, change 'x' to a '2'. Change both of the x's.

NOTE: Under Windows 2000, you must load TSNT14.COM before the BBS node. This driver is how Com/IP and Win2k will communicate with VADV. To load it, just put TSNT14.COM on the first line of the batch file.

The fossil driver is loaded upon Window's startup.

After you do this you should be able to take calls from the internet.

If you have any further questions, just ask.

UPDATE:
By using the internal Com/IP fossil driver, you might experience a small lag when you input characters. If you only use that computer for the BBS, then try this:

Enter VConfig, select Main Configuration, press Z to enter screen two. Now change the option for Multitask Environment to NONE. This will give the BBS all of the CPU and also will help eliminate the Com/IP lag. This will also cause the rest of your computer to become slower. Experiment with this setting and choose the route you like better. Note that by disabling VADV's multitask timeslicing, your CPU usage will be 100% constantly.