This document is old and obsolete now.

docs/sbbs3faq.txt

-Answers to frequently asked questions regarding Synchronet Version 3.0
-by Rob Swindell (digital man), December 1999 (updated June 2000)
-*  Updated February 2002
-
-Q: Is Synchronet going to continue to be freeware?
-A: Yes, I'm just doing this for fun (what a sicko!).
-   * See http://synchro.net/copyright.html for details.
-
-Q: What operating system does Synchronet Version 3.0 run on?
-A: Synchronet v3 is currently a Win32 application designed for use on Windows 
-   95/98/NT4/2000.
-   * Windows XP is supported too.
-   * Synchronet v3.10 also runs on Linux and FreeBSD operating systems.
-
-Q: Is v3 multi-user/multi-threaded?
-A: Yes, all nodes are (typically) run in the same process/window.
-   External programs, however, run in their own processes/windows.
-   Version 2.3 for OS/2 was also multi-threaded, but not multi-user: each node 
-   ran in its own process/window.
-
-Q: Is there going to be a DOS version of v3?
-A: No, but I did release an update to v2 for DOS/OS2 (2.30c). This update
-   included some of the Y2K fixes I've made in v3 and some other minor
-   additions, fixes, and features.
-
-Q: Is there going to be an OS/2 version of v3?
-A: Possible, but not probable.
-
-Q: Is there going to be a Linux version of v3?
-A: Definitely.
-   * The Linux version is currently distributed in source code form only,
-     see http://synchro.net/source.html for details.
-
-Q: Can I mix v2 and v3 nodes on the same BBS?
-A: Yes, all of the configuration and data files were purposely kept backwards 
-   compatible.
-   * As of v3.10, there are additional "issues" that must be addressed when mixing
-     v2 and v3.1 nodes (mainly in regards to the TEXT.DAT and exec/*.BIN files).
-
-Q: Can I mix v2 and v3 nodes on the same computer?
-A: Yes.
-
-Q: Does v3 still support traditional dial-in users?
-A: No, v3 is a telnet-only BBS program. Use v2 nodes for your dial-in users.
-
-Q: Do I need a Telnet/FOSSIL application (e.g. NetModem or COM/IP) for v3 
-   nodes?
-A: No, Synchronet v3 includes a DOS/FOSSIL interrupt driver (dynamically loaded
-   VXD for Windows 95/98 and VDD for Windows NT/2000).
-
-Q: Is v3 Y2K compatible?
-A: Yes.
-
-Q: Is the source code for Synchronet v3 available?
-A: * The source code has been available since October, 2000. 
-     See http://synchro.net/source.html for details.
-
-Q: How many v3 nodes can I run on one machine?
-A: Theoretically, 250. If your BBS uses external DOS programs for file 
-   transfers and/or doors, then the realistic number is much lower depending on
-   bandwidth and horsepower (DOS programs consume more system resources than
-   native 32-bit programs). 
-
-Q: Can I spread my nodes across two or more machines?
-A: Yes, v3 includes a configuration dialog that lets you specify a range of 
-   nodes to support in that instance.
-
-Q: Are there limitations to v3?
-A: Yes:
-	o No direct dial-in support (Telnet only)
-	o Only externals programs that use DOS interrupts (XSDK/WWIV doors) or 
-          FOSSIL for I/O will work with v3.
-          * 32-bit doors that use TCP Sockets or Standard I/O are also supported.
-	o Relative paths (e.g. "..\XTRN\BLA.EXE") are no-longer supported in 
-          command lines (the current directory cannot be assumed to be the 
-          current NODE directory). Relative paths ARE still supported in data 
-          directories and other paths in SCFG.
-	
-Q: Are there benefits to v3?
-A: Yes:
-	o Speed, speed, speed 
-		* Separate I/O threads dynamically created for each node in use
-		* Direct socket communications (except when running dos 
-                  externals)
-		* No DOS context-switching (except when running dos externals)
-		* Idle nodes (WFC) consume no resources, bandwidth, or CPU time
-		* System events run in their own dedicated thread
-	o Reliability
-		* A crashed door shoudn't crash the entire system, or in most 
-                  cases, even the current node
-	o Functionality
-		* User IP address and host name are logged and stored in user 
-                  record
-		* Optional AutoLogon via IP address
-		* IP/Host name trashcan
-		* Users can be ;INTERrupted while running ANY external program
-		* Non-exclusive events do not take any nodes off-line
-		* No memory limitations (for configuration items, message 
-                  lengths, etc)
-		* Integrated FTP Server: seemlessly integrated with the BBS
-		  file database with long filename support and QWK transfers
-		* Integrated Mail (POP3/SMTP) server supports MX-record
-		  lookups, aliases, SPAM filters, are more
-	o Simplicity
-		* No third-party Telnet/FOSSIL driver (NetModem or COM/IP) 
-                  necessary
-		* Simple COM port configuration (all nodes can use COM1, for 
-                  example)
-		* No more hassling with baud rates and initialization strings 
-                  (they're not used)
-		* As many nodes as you want to run, all in the same window!
-		* Eliminates all those short-cut icons and taskbar buttons!
-		* DCDWATCH no longer necessary to support WWIV externals
-
-Q: When will v3 be available?
-A: It is available now. Logon to vert.synchro.net via FTP or Telnet.