TBBS 2.2 - MS-DOS Version 6.0

Contact:   eSoft, Inc. (Makers of TBBS)
           15200 E. Girard Ave., Suite 3000
           Aurora, CO  80014
           (303) 699-6565      Voice
           (303) 699-6872      Fax
           (303) 699-8222      BBS
           support@esoft.com   E-Mail

MS-DOS VERSION 6.0
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  +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
  |  PLEASE NOTE!  READ THIS TECH NOTE CAREFULLY, AND IN ITS ENTIRETY!  |
  |       THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO THE       |
  |                  RELIABILITY OF YOUR TBBS SYSTEM!                   |
  +---------------------------------------------------------------------+


INTRODUCTION

Microsoft Corporation introduced an upgrade to MS-DOS in March, 1993.
This new version, 6.0, makes virtually no changes to the DOS kernel 
itself, but adds an array of DOS utilities to the standard DOS package 
which previously have only been available from third party vendors.  

Many of these utilities, such as DEFRAG, will be of great value to TBBS 
system operators.  Others, such as VSAFE and MEMMAKER, have the potential 
to destroy the reliability and/or performance of your TBBS system.



ADDITIONS TO MS-DOS 6.0

The primary additions to MS-DOS with the new upgrade are:

        - Memory usage optimization (MEMMAKER).
        - Enhanced deleted file recovery ("undelete").
        - Anti-virus utilities (MSAV and VSAFE).
        - Background disk compression (DBLSPACE).
        - Enhanced backup functionality.
        - Enhanced online help system.
        - Multiple configuration file support.
        - "Clean" startup.
        - Interactive startup.

Some of these features are extremely valuable to TBBS sysops, while others 
may invite trouble.  Each of these major features is discussed in detail 
below.



MEMORY USAGE OPTIMIZATION (MEMMAKER)

The purpose of MemMaker is to "optimize" your system's use of memory.  As 
good as this sounds, what it does functionally is less glamorous, and is 
potentially dangerous to TBBS installations.  It is similar to QEMM's 
OPTIMIZE feature and 386Max's MAXIMIZE feature.

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             |  DO NOT RUN MEMMAKER IN A TBBS ENVIRONMENT!  |
             +----------------------------------------------+

The MemMaker program analyzes your resident drivers and other TSR (memory 
resident) software to see what software could be "loaded high," i.e., 
loaded into UMBs.  As the TBBS 2.2 manual states, eSoft STRONGLY 
RECOMMENDS NOT LOADING RESIDENT SOFTWARE INTO UPPER MEMORY.  The potential 
for memory conflicts rises greatly, and you may cause your TBBS system to 
become unstable and unreliable.  

The most fatal of MemMaker's potential effects is the loading high of 
drivers relating to disk I/O from SCSI devices such as some hard disk and 
most CD-ROM drives.  If you are using a bus-mastering SCSI controller, 
loading device drivers high will generally cause fatal malfunctions due to 
memory conflicts.  IT IS BEST TO SIMPLY NOT RUN MEMMAKER.  Its value to 
the typical TBBS installation is questionable.  



ENHANCED DELETED FILE RECOVERY ("UNDELETE")

This feature does not affect TBBS, and can be used normally.



ANTI-VIRUS UTILITIES (MSAV AND VSAFE)

The anti-virus protection offered by MS-DOS 6.0 comes in two forms:

        - Microsoft Anti-Virus (MSAV)
        - VSAFE Resident Virus Checker

MSAV is run when TBBS is offline, and can be effective when used 
routinely.  

NOTE:  Most file traffic on a BBS is done with compressed files, i.e., 
files archived using ZIP, ARC, LZH, etc.  MICROSOFT ANTI-VIRUS IS 
INEFFECTIVE AT DETECTING VIRUSES IN COMPRESSED FILES!  Viruses are simply 
computer programs.  Like all programs, archive software can compress the 
virus code itself, making its detection impossible without first 
extracting the file(s) from the archive.  Microsoft Anti-Virus DOES NOT 
extract files from archives to perform this checking.  Therefore, its 
value to a BBS sysop is marginal at best when file traffic is accomplished 
via archived files.  Do not allow the use of MSAV to give you a false 
sense of security.

VSAFE is a memory-resident software program which constantly monitors all 
file activity for possible virus activity. 

               +-------------------------------------------+
               |  DO NOT USE VSAFE IN A TBBS ENVIRONMENT!  |
               +-------------------------------------------+

Because VSAFE intercepts all disk I/O calls on your system, it can add 
significant overhead to all disk operations.  This overhead can cause TBBS 
various problems from extreme performance degradation to damaged disk 
files.  You are STRONGLY warned NOT to use this program with TBBS.



BACKGROUND DISK COMPRESSION (DBLSPACE)

MS-DOS 6.0 adds disk compression functionality in the form of DoubleSpace, 
a whole-disk compression scheme.  Although not nearly as sophisticated as 
programs like Stacker, disk compression has some limited level of value to 
TBBS systems.  

WARNING:  Unlike Stacker, you cannot easily reverse the installation of 
DoubleSpace.  For this reason, it is not easy to "test" DoubleSpace on 
your system without a great deal of time and effort to reverse the 
installation if you are not satisfied with the results.  You may wish to 
carefully consider your decision to activate DoubleSpace before you do so.

eSoft has prepared a Tech Note on disk compression, TECH3.TXT; consult it 
for additional information and warnings about disk compression.  However, 
two important points should be made here:

        - DoubleSpace can significantly slow down performance of TBBS
          if you are running anything less than a 33 MHz 386 based PC.
          All XT and 286 class PCs should *NOT* install DoubleSpace
          in a TBBS environment.

        - DoubleSpace is totally ineffective on pre-compressed (archived)
          files.  The majority of the disk space used on a BBS consists
          of files, usually pre-compressed files.  DoubleSpace will *NOT*
          increase available disk space on drives populated primarily with
          pre-compressed files.



ENHANCED BACKUP FUNCTIONALITY

eSoft highly recommends maintaining good, regular backups of your TBBS 
system.  The enhanced backup functions of MS-DOS 6.0 are particularly well 
suited to this purpose. 

The only down side to the backup functions is that they cannot be run 
unattended through an external event.  For unattended operation, you must 
use a third party backup system such as Central Point Backup.



ENHANCED ONLINE HELP SYSTEM

Explanations of all MS-DOS commands is now available by typing "HELP" at 
the DOS prompt.  This feature does not affect TBBS and can be used 
normally.



MULTIPLE CONFIGURATION FILE (MULTI-CONFIG) SUPPORT

This feature allows you to create different system configurations 
(CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT) for different purposes.  Although a valuable 
feature, it cannot be effectively used in the typical TBBS environment.  
Creating multiple configurations forces a prompt to be displayed when the 
PC is booted, asking the user to make a configuration selection.  

Most TBBS systems are configured to start automatically after a reboot.  
THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE WHEN USING MS-DOS 6.0'S MULTIPLE CONFIGURATION 
OPTIONS.  If you want your TBBS to restart automatically after a reboot, 
do not use the multiple configuration features.



"CLEAN" STARTUP

This feature allows you to boot your PC and bypass the processing of 
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.  It is useful for debugging purposes, 
and in that regard, does not affect TBBS.



INTERACTIVE STARTUP

This feature allows you to "set through" the various commands in your 
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files one line at time.  It is used for 
debugging purposes, and in that regard, does not affect TBBS.



- END -
TBBS0005
Rev. 10/93

Copyright (C) 1994 eSoft, Inc., All Rights Reserved.  Permission granted
to distribute this file in its entirety, without modification, to any
interested party.  Any other use requires the written permission of
eSoft, Inc.

IMPORTANT:  The information herein is subject to change without notice.
Please call or write to confirm factual information of importance to you
or your organization.

