@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@ @@@@@ @@@@ @@@ @@@@@ @@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@ @ @@@@ @ @@@@ @@@ @ @ @@@@ @@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@ @@@@@ @@@@ @@@ @ @@@ ­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=- The Newsletter of the Connecticut CP/M Users' Group ­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=­=- FEBRUARY 1989 ------------- NEXT MEETING February 14 - NZ-Com (postponed from a previous meeting.) Farmington Public Library, Farmington, CT. 6:30-7:00pm ----------------------------------------------------------------- Remote CP/M Systems (RCP/M) The Computer Club PBBS Remote Access System - an overview A presentation to the Computer Club on November 2, 1988 Copyright 1988 by Rick Swenton Introduction: What we know today as "Bulletin Board Systems" (BBS) actually had their beginning in 1978 in Chicago. Ward Christensen and Randy Suess started a dial-up CP/M computer system to support the local hobbyist activity. They used a computer based on the Intel 8080 CPU called the North Star. Their floppy disk capacity was 70K per drive. The BBS software was called CBBS (Computerized Bulletin Board System) and it was written in 8080 assembly language. The ability to transfer files from the remote system to the user started out as a secret feature known only to a few friends of Ward and Randy. To support this feature, Ward created "MODEM", the first modem program to support file transfers. As the word spread, many asked to buy CBBS to set-up their own systems. Keith Petersen modified Ward's original MODEM program and created a special version to run on the remote system. This was called XMODEM. With MODEM running at the user end and XMODEM running at the unattended remote end it was possible to exchange files with virtually 100% error free accuracy. This XMODEM protocol became the standard for file transfers and is still supported today. While all this was going on, Dave Jaffe was working on a program called BYE. Ward's system wasn't very secure. When you called-in on Ward's modem, you actually connected to his console port and you attained total control of Ward's computer. With BYE, the computer supports the modem port without loss of the local console. BYE asked the caller for a password and limited his access time. BYE also controlled access to the disks and other system functions. It also allowed the system operator (SYSOP) to see what the remote caller was typing and even "chat" with him. With BYE and a BBS program like CBBS we had the birth of a national phenomenon called RCP/M's - Remote CP/M Systems. By mid 1983 there were over 100 RCP/M systems in the U.S. Remember that all this took place before the birth of the IBM-PC. Evolution: Over time there were many BBS programs written to be run under CP/M. A full-featured system was written in MBASIC called RBBS (Remote Bulletin Board System). This version was generally compiled and run as a COM file. RBBS running under the MBASIC in- terpreter was just too slow. Another popular BBS program was MBBS (Micro Bulletin Board System) which was also a compiled MBASIC system. METAL, also released as Z-MSG which is found on many of the ZCPR3 Z-Node systems, was written in C. Finally, there is PBBS (Public Bulletin Board System) which we use on our system. PBBS was written in Z80 assembly language. All of the above systems and many others basically did the same thing. They allowed users to read and write mail to each other and offered other services like news and information as well as access to CP/M for performing file transfers. CP/M versus MS-DOS Systems There is a big difference in the operation of a BBS on a CP/M system compared to running one on an MS-DOS system. One MS-DOS BBS I have used in the past is RBBS-PC. It is a compiled basic BBS and is very similar in "feel" to RBBS which runs under CP/M. With RBBS-PC, you perform file transfers from within RBBS-PC. The BBS software handles the file transfers. With this system, the caller remains forever under the control and limits of RBBS-PC. With a CP/M BBS, the file transfers aren't done by the BBS program. To do a file transfer, the BBS program sends you right to the CP/M operating system command prompt: A>. Normally this would be a problem since plain old CP/M is rather awkward and clumsy to use. CP/M is actually a hindrance. The real benefit comes when you replace CP/M with Z-System. Z-System is an advanced Z80 operating system which replaces CP/M. Z-System allows named directories which appear in the command prompt. Let's say, for example, you are browsing around on our hard disk where the utilities are stored. You will see a prompt which looks like this: [20:12] C0:UTILITY> The first digits are the 24 hour local time. The C0 means drive C user area 0 and UTILITY is the name of the directory. Remember that you are at the operating system level. It is as though you are sitting at the console of our BBS computer. In order to get to this area on the disk, you could have typed C0: or UTILITY:. Since you are at the OS level, you could type DIR to see the directory of that area. On our system, if you typed C1: or just 1: as well as WORDPROC: you would see this prompt: [20:12] C1:WORDPROC> where the word processing files are located on the hard disk. The system command files are in A0:COMMAND>. Running DIR while you are in A0: will show all the available commands like DIR, PBBS to re-enter the BBS, MAP to display a chart of the drive/user areas where files are stored, MENU and VMENU to run full-screen single- letter command menus, MSDOS - CPM - TEXT which change your major area of interest, NEW and FOR to list the newly uploaded files and what they do, and many other commands. There is also a program called XMODEM or more recently KMD (KMODEM) which is the file responsible for performing file transfers. KMD supports XMODEM, YMODEM and YMODEM batch modes. ZMODEM protocol support is available from the public domain but hasn't been installed on our system yet. The features and facilities of Z-System are simply too vast and are beyond the scope of this presentation. The Computer Club PBBS The way we set-up our BBS is very typical of how many other CP/M systems are installed. First, you need a computer. Ours is a Heath H89, Z80 CPU, 64K of memory. The computer needs a serial port for the modem and a battery backed time-of-day clock (to keep track of the user's time limit and time/date stamp the messages). You can run a BBS with only floppy disks but it is very limited. You really need a hard disk and all the necessary hardware and software to integrate it into your system. We had to add a hard disk interface board, a XEBEC hard disk controller and a Shugart St-225 20 MB hard disk. Next, you need to obtain the BBS software. There are three important programs you need. Their exact names will vary depending on your choice of BBS. For our system, we chose PBBS as the BBS program. Next, you have to select a version of BYE. BYE.COM is that special program which allows the computer's modem port to operate in tandem with the computer's console port while maintaining security over activity on the modem port. BYE is the interface between PBBS.COM and the operating system. Finally, you need a file transfer program. KMD.COM, like PBBS.COM also goes through BYE to interface to the operating system. All three of these programs, in many varieties, are available from Remote CP/M systems across the country. Now comes the fun part. How's your skill in Assembly Language? Unlike MS-DOS systems which are very hardware consistent, CP/M systems have no hardware standards. This means that for as many different CP/M computers that have ever existed, an equal number of BYE programs have also been created. BYE needs direct port and memory access and you need to provide this information to BYE when you configure it. Fortunately, there is a collection of BYE configuration files, called overlays, which have been written for almost every CP/M computer ever created. Using a text editor, you have to merge the overlay for your computer into the BYE.ASM file. After editing BYE.ASM to select your desired options and memory locations (YOU have to know what memory locations are safe to use) you will assemble BYE into a COM file. Therefore, you have to be able to edit a file over 100K long, merge the overlay, and then have and be able to use a CP/M assembler like ASM or MAC, a loader like LOAD or MLOAD, and get a working BYE.COM file. All this you have to do ... just for BYE! Now you have to configure PBBS. Here you will edit two configura- tion files to select your options. Unlike BYE which is written in 8080 assembly language, PBBS is written in Z80 assembly language. In order to assemble PBBS you need a Z80 Assembler like M80 or Z80ASM (SLR180) as well as a linker like L80 or SLRNK. If you don't have these assemblers, you are out of luck. None of this software will run "out-of-the-box". There are probably 20 files you need to create for PBBS and you need to place these files within the drive/user areas you specified when you edited the PBBS configuration files. You really need to be organized. You also need a deep understanding of the relationships between CP/M, BYE and PBBS. It isn't recommended for the light-hearted. Finally, you need to get the file transfer program, KMD, running. This is a bit easier. Just edit the options and assemble. Since KMD heavily interfaces with BYE, all the hard work was already set-up within BYE. The Rewards: The rewards after bringing up a PBBS system are readily evident. It is a very fast, full-featured system. With Z-System at the operating system helm, the system becomes versatile while remaining powerful and very easy to use, albeit hard to learn if you know very little about MS-DOS or CP/M. I have even emulated many MS-DOS commands using Z-System Aliases. With our full-screen menus, you could move a cursor to point to a file in a directory list that you want to download. Any invalid commands automati- cally invoke the on-line help system. The help system is also menu driven. There are CP/M utilities to access the contents of MS-DOS archive (ARC) files. You can display a directory of the member files. You can type member documents and you can download individual member files. The same is true for CP/M library (LBR) files. Conclusion: A Bulletin Board System on a CP/M computer is much more than hardware and software. It is almost a personal expression of the system integrator. Given the hundreds of possible configuration and system options it is possible that no two CP/M BBS's are alike. It requires a keen insight into all the pieces working in harmony. You almost have to know what it is that you want before you actually try to do it. It isn't an overnight process. It isn't uncommon to hear of those who required a week or more of nights before the modem answered the first call. Installing BBS software on a CP/M computer isn't a job for a casual user. You need tools. You need an editor, assemblers, linkers, loaders and debuggers and you need to know how to use them. You need to know some details about your hardware. Are there any free memory locations at the bottom of RAM? What ports does your clock/calendar chip use? What ports are assigned to the serial I/O chip attached to the modem jack and what bits are used to test for status? The only hope for an average CP/M user to run a BBS is for him to obtain an exact copy of all files from an existing BBS running on an identical computer with identical hardware, options and accessories. I am confident that for every BBS that was set-up from scratch, another additional system went on-line with the exact hardware and software of the original system. There are many Remote Access Systems, such as ours, which not only support CP/M files but also support MS-DOS files. On our system, we have separate areas on the hard disk to store CP/M and MS-DOS files. Many MS-DOS-only users have expressed that our system is easier to use than systems running on PC's and clones. However, other MS-DOS-only users have said that our system is harder to learn initially. Oh, well, it's just like life! For Further Information: The Computer Club (TCC) PBBS The Dallas Connection RCP/M Farmington, CT. PBBS HQ and Distribution (203) 673-8752 Palo Alto, CA 300/1200/2400 BPS 24 Hrs. (415) 964-4356 300/1200/2400 BPS 24 Hrs. Potpourri RCP/M BYE and KMD Distribution Decibel RCP/M (408) 378-7474 NuBYE and Nukmd Distribution (404) 288-6858 Z-Node #3 (Boston) Z-System Support Z-Node #1 (San Jose) (617) 965-7259 Z-System Support 300/1200/2400 BPS 24 Hrs. (408) 432-0821 300/1200/2400 BPS 24 Hrs.<8> ----------------------------------------------------------------- FREE GENIE SIGN-UP Date: October 25, 1988 To: All CP/M users From: Keith Petersen, W8SDZ The National CP/M RoundTable on GEnie is offering, for a limited time, FREE signups to GEnie. This offer is expected to last 60- 90 days from the date shown above. 1. Set your Terminal software for LOCAL ECHO/Half Duplex at 300 or 1200 baud. 2. Dial (toll free) 800-638-8369. Upon connection, enter HHH 3. At the U#= prompt, enter XJM11890,GENIE and press RETURN. GEnie is available without monthly charge and without any hidden extra charges for $5 per hour for both 300 and 1200 baud. Using this special registration number will waive the normal $29.95 subscription charge. You will be able to order a GEnie manual online if you desire, or download one from the online MANUAL if you just can't wait. We will see you on GEnie! If you need additional assistance, call 800-638-9636 (voice).<8> ----------------------------------------------------------------- INPUT ERROR Due to a printing error some copies of the January 1989 issue of Pieces of 8 were sent out with two copies of page four and no page three. We deeply regret this error and will mail new copies to any who contact us. <8> ----------------------------------------------------------------- CCP/M Z-PLAN SOFTWARE --------------------- CCP/M is now an official dealer of Z System software. To order ANY Z System product through us, send: Your name; Address; Telephone number (home and/or work with area code); type of computer you use; your disk format (size, density/tracks, sides:); the name of the product(s) you want and your check for the listed cost plus $3 S&H to: CCP/M Z Contact Lee Bradley, 24 East Cedar St. Newington, CT 06111. Make checks payable to Lee Bradley. Mass. residents, add 5% sales tax. You must be a member of CCP/M to order thru us. Products available: 1. NZ-COM (CP/M-2.2) $55.95 | 2. Z3PLUS (CP/M-Plus) $55.95 | 3. ZCPR34 Source Code $39.95 | 4. NZ-COM WITH Z34 Source $79.95 | 5. ZSDOS/ZDDOS $56.OO | 6. BackGrounder-ii $60.00 | 7. DateStamper $40.00 | 8. JetFind $40.00 | 9. DosDisk $24.00 (for XBIOS $28, kit $36) | 10. Other Remember to enclose your check made out to Lee Bradley for the total amount. <8> ----------------------------------------------------------------- from: PIECES OF 8 c/o Jim Taylor PO Box 642 Newington, CT 06111 +----------------------------+ | PIECES OF 8 | | -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | | Editor: | | Jim Taylor | | | | Assistant Editor: | | Kathy LaBranche | | | | Contributing Editors: | | Lee Bradley, Al Hathway, | | Brian Nalawajek, Rick | | Swenton, Tom Veile | | -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | TO: | HOW TO JOIN CCP/M | -- | ----------------- | | CCP/M Dues are $15/year | | and may be sent to: Tom | | Veile, 26 Slater Avenue, | | Norwich, CT 06360 | +----------------------------+