**************************************************************************
PCB Dial On Demand v1.60 (C) 1995,1996 Charles Bailey
**************************************************************************
The latest version of this program can always be found on New JerseyLand
(908) 918-8682
Description:
This program was written out of a need to offer my callers Internet access,
but without being able to afford a leased line. With this program, you can
offer full Internet to your callers using a cheap PPP account! What this
program does is dial your provider when it is needed, and hang up after
your caller is done. In my area, unlimited time PPP accounts are going for
as low as $15 a month. While they may say "Unlimited", if you try and call
and never hang up (Or configure PPP to redial when the connection is broken)
your provider will most likely get a bit upset. "Unlimited" usually means
to use it as much as you want, as long as someone is actually USING it.
This program let's you use these cheap accounts to provide access to your
callers!
This program does not do any Internet functions (Such as FTP, Telnet, IRC).
This program will interface with existing programs, and allow you to use
them without a dedicated Internet connection. A program I use on my BBS
is TELDOOR by Russel Coker. He has just added DOOR.SYS support into his
program, and it works nicely with PCBoard for OS/2. While I haven't
tested PCB Dial On Demand with any other programs, It should work fine
with any Internet programs that will run as a Door. This should also work
with the OS/2 version of the soon-to-be-released Internet Collection by
Clark Development. Also, I am working on configuring PPP.EXE as a SERVER.
This would let you offer your callers full Internet, with no extra cost
for Door software. I'll include information on this in a future release.
Requirements:
- PCBoard 15.22 or higher running under OS/2.
- A TCP/IP stack (Warp Connect, or the IAK that comes with
regular Warp will work fine).
- PPP. In earlier versions of Warp, PPP wasn't included. However,
it can be downloaded from most good OS/2 BBS's, as well as
New JerseyLand - (908)918-8682
- An Internet application that can be run as a Door.
List of Included Files:
- PCBDOD.PPE Main Program. Install in CMD.LST
- PCBDOD.CFG Configuration file
- PCBDOD.TXT This file!
- HISTORY.TXT The History of PCBDOD
- DIALOD.EXE This file should be running continuously
- PPP.CFG A sample PPP Configuration file. Would go in /TCPIP/ETC
- TELNET2. A sample batch file to call TELDOOR
Installation and Setup:
- Copy all the files in this ZIP file to a directory, such as
C:\PCB\PCBDOD
- Edit the PCBDOD.CFG file as follows:
Line 1 --- Your Name
Line 2 --- Your BBS Name
Line 3 --- First Registration Number (Leave at 00000 if Unregistered)
Line 4 --- Second Registration Number (Leave at 00000 if Unregistered)
Line 5 --- The name of the door You want PCBDOD to run
Line 6 --- The Com Port the Internet modem is on. This is needed to take
the phone off hook when not in use. If you'd like to disable
this feature, put NONE here.
Line 7 --- Test Address. This is an Internet address that DIALOD.EXE
uses to determine when the connection is up. Your provider's
Telnet address, or name server address, will work here.
If you'd like to disable this feature, put NONE here.
Line 8 --- 'Press Enter To Continue' flag. This will vary depending on
the way your BBS is set up. When the connection is up, and
you try and run PCBDOD, it will exit with a message. If you
don't get a 'Press Enter To Continue' prompt after, then you
should put NONE here. If You get TWO 'Press Enter To
Continue' prompts, then change this to 'YES'
Line 9 --- ISDN/PPP Flag. If you're connecting with your provider using
ISDN, or if you can connect to your provider VERY quickly,
set this flag to ISDN. Instead of returning a message that
the internet connection isn't up yet, it waits silently until
it is, and then runs the configured door. In case the
internet connection fails for some reason, it times out
after 35 seconds.
If you are running a 'PPP Door', set this flag to PPP. This
will display a message which says 'Waiting for PPP'. When
the Internet connection comes up, OK will be displayed. Your
callers can configure their Winsock scripts to wait for the
'OK'.
Be aware that the Test Address must be in the PCBDOD.CFG
file for both of these to work.
Line 10 -- This is the full command line you want PCBDOD to run when
Internet is to start. This could be just PPE.EXE. However,
some people have had problems getting PPP.EXE to find their
PPP.CFG. You can also specify PPP.EXE's commands on the
command line, or you can specify a Configuration file. See
the PPP docs for more information.
Line 11 -- The text message you want displayed when the Internet
connection is comming up.
Line 12 -- The text message you want displayed when the Internet
connection has started to come up, but isn't ready yet.
Line 13 -- This is the text displayed when the connection has failed.
- Configure PPP.CFG (Located in the TCPIP/ETC directory) to dial your
Internet provider. A sample CFG file is included. If You're not using
PPP.CFG, make sure line 10 of PCBDOD.CFG will call your provider if
it's typed on the command line in an OS/2 window.
- Set up DIALOD.EXE so that it starts upon bootup. This program sits in
the background, and waits for a signal from PCBDOD.PPE
- Install PCBDOD.PPE in your CMD.LST file (Usually located in \PCB\GEN\)
- Set up Your Internet application as a Door. For your convenience, I've
included the latest TELDOOR in this archive. I have also included a
sample batch file to start up TELDOOR. TELDOOR is a separate shareware
product, and is not related to PCBDOD in any way.
- Make sure that PPP.EXE is in your path. It is usually located in
C:\TCPIP\BIN
That's It! When your callers run the command you configured to call
PCBDOD, it will check to see if the Internet connection is up. If not, it
will start the Internet connection, inform your caller that Internet will
be ready for use in a minute, and exit. If the connection is already
comming up, it will run the Door program you configured, and pass along
any parameters your caller put after the PCBDOD command.
Q & A:
Q. How can I speed things up so that Internet will connect quicker?
A. There are a few things you can do.... First, make sure you have Touch
Tone dialing. This will save a good 10 seconds. Second, I'd recommend
using a US Robotics modem, and dealing with a provider that also uses
US Robotics. There are two advantages. One, a US Robotics modem connects
Much faster when connecting with another US Robotics. Second, US Robotics
Modems support the new 33.6 speed.... And If you're going to try and run
a Mini-ISP using a dialup connection, every little bandwith increase
becomes important.
Q. How long does it on average take for the Internet connection to come up?
A. I run this program without the above benefits, and it comes in at almost
exactly one minute. Of course, this will vary, depending on Your modem,
CPU, Provider's equipment, etc..
Q. Will this program work with ISDN?
A. PCB Dial On Demand should work great with an ISDN adaptor that will look
like a Modem to PPP. ISDN is perfectly suited for this application, as
it's a lot quicker and cheaper than a 56k leased line, and ISDN takes
less than a second to complete a call. To make PCBDOD work more
smoothly with the shorter delay, you can set the ISDN flag. This
eliminates the message telling your callers that 'Internet is comming
up'. It just waits until the connection is up, and then runs the door
command. This way, your callers could easily be fooled into thinking
you have a 24-hour connection.
Q. Why do I have to hang up when I'm done? Why not just stay connected
forever? My provider says they have UNLIMITED access.
A. Well, despite what they say, Unlimited almost always means a non-24
hour connection. Most PPP providers also monitor activity, and will
boot you off if the PPP isn't in use.
Q. Do I REALLY Need OS/2?
A. At this time, You DO need OS/2, with a TCP/IP stack for this program
to work. If you're serious about running multiple nodes on a single
computer, I highly recomend you consider switching to OS/2. Besides
being a very good and stable multitasker, it makes adding Internet
access easier and cheaper. Forget Win95, as It's just a pretty (?) face,
but very buggy, and far inferior technically to OS/2. If there is enough
demand in the future, I'll add support for DOS.
Q. Can more than one person use an Internet door at the same time?
A. Absolutely! You can support at least 2 Telnet sessions on one PPP line,
and on average, probably support as many as 5 simultaneous Telnet
sessions. As many as 10 IRC sessions could be run, as IRC is generally
low-bandwith. This is a good alternative to a leased line, as 28.8
modems have compression, while a 56K leased line usually does not.
Q. The Internet connection seems to 'Lock Up' occasionally. Sometimes I
have to reset the computer. How can I fix this?
A. Get the latest Fixpack (Currently 17) from IBM, or another reliable
source.
Q. Do I need a network to offer my callers full Internet?
A. NO. OS/2 Warp comes with everything needed to connect your machine to
the Internet. All you need is one connection to provide access to all
of your callers. PCBDOD will also work with a network, if you have one.
Q. What else should I know about PCB Dial On Demand?
A. Well, the dialer portion of PCBDOD keeps the phone off hook when not in
use. This prevents someone from trying to call in on that line. To avoid
problems (Like the phone company thinking Your phone is broken), PCBDOD
hangs up the modem every 10 minutes, so that the line gets a 'Break'.
This can be disabled in the configuration file.
Q. Why does the DIALOD program have to be running? Does it use up a lot of
CPU cycles?
A. DIALOD.EXE is a Multithreaded OS/2 program that actually starts PPP.
When not in use, it uses very little of the CPU's time.
HELP! I can't get things to work!
If things don't work, it's good to test each individual part separately.
First, make sure that PPP is set up and working properly. From an OS/2
window, type exactly what you put on line 10 of the PCBDOD.CFG file. PPP
should come up, call your provider, and connect. If not, then there is a
problem with PPP configuration. If you're using it, Make sure PPP.CFG is
correct, and in the proper directory. If not, make sure all required
parameters were put on the command line. Check the documentation that came
with PPP for more info.
Once PPP is connecting to your provider, you need to make sure it's
working. While PPP is running, try running one of the Internet programs
that comes with Warp, like FTP or Telnet. If you can FTP, or Telnet to
another site, chances are your PPP connection is fine.
Now, you should check to make sure your Internet door application is
working. To do this, from PCBoard, with PPP running, type the command you
configured to run the Internet door (In the included sample configuration,
this is TELNET2). If PCBoard gives you an error, make sure the door is set
up in PCBoard correctly. If you still have problems, consult the
documentation that came with the door.
Once you've come this far, make sure that the PCBDOD.CFG file is
configured properly. DIALOD.EXE should be running in the background
constantly. When, from PCBoard, you enter the command you want your callers
to use the Internet door, it should call PCBDOD.PPE, and the PPE should
call the Internet door when PPP comes up.
Registration:
PCB Dial On Demand is Shareware. If you use this program for more than 30
days, you are expected to register. When you register, you'll receive your
registration number, which will remove the delay and beg message.
Registration numbers will work on all future versions of PCB Dial On
Demand. Registration costs only $15, and can be done by cash, check,
or credit card. To register, you can either send payment by mail, or you
can call my BBS directly, and leave your name, BBS name, address, telephone
number, and payment info to a message to the Sysop. This way, I can respond
with your registration number within a few days. Also, I have a new door
on my BBS called SWREG, that will take your payment information.
If you'd rather send by snail mail, the address is:
Charles Bailey
New JerseyLand
426 Slocum Ave
Neptune, NJ 07753-3829
Be sure to include:
-Your Name
-Your BBS Name Exactly as you spell and capitalize it
-Your Address
-Your daytime telephone number
-Your Credit Card Type (Mastercard, Visa, Etc..), Card number, and exp.
-Method you'd like to receive your registration number. there are a few
choices:
Internet E-Mail
FidoNet Mail
US Post Office mail (Add $5.00 for this option)
I can leave it to You in a message on New JerseyLand
If you don't specify which method You'd like to receive your registration,
I will send it the same way I received your info.
Warranty:
None. I don't guarantee this program does anything, including taking up
room on your hard drive. While I have extensively tested this program, and
have had no problems with it, I can't guarantee that it is bug-free, or
that it will work in your application.
How To Reach The Author:
I can be reached from Fidonet at 1:107/461. My Internet E-Mail address
is sysop@njland.com. Also, You can call My BBS direct at (908) 918-8682,
and leave a Comment to the Staff. If you have any suggestions or comments,
I'd like to hear from you. If there's a feature you need that this program
won't do, let me know, and I'll see if I can include it in a future version.
*** NOTE ***
On around January 17, my Internet E-Mail went dead. I have lost all messages
sent to me from that time. I expect my Internet E-Mail back up by
February 10, 1996. If you've sent me E-mail, please re-send it. I can be
reached by Fido at 1:107/461, or you can call My BBS directly at
(908) 918-8682. I keep the latest version there for download, along with
some other related files (Such as PPP.EXE). You can also register Online.
**************************************************************************