Galacticomm Press Sheet - The Major BBS for UNIX
The Major BBS for UNIX combines an open architecture, customizability, loads of features, and a friendly interface with the power of the UNIX environment. It’s flexible enough to run on minicomputers or supercomputers — the perfect base for supporting hundreds of simultaneous users. Whether you’re planning a small bulletin board system, a corporate workgroup interface, or a huge interactive online service, The Major BBS for UNIX can be customized for your organization.
The multi-user bulletin board software can be expanded to support up to 256 concurrent users (subject to user count license) on a single machine. The BBS machine can be connected via SLIP, 56K, ISDN, X.25, or a T1 connection. If you have an Internet connection, your callers can telnet out of your system to remotely access thousands of other Internet sites. With the integrated FTP, callers can easily "get" and "put" files over the Internet.
Users can choose between ANSI or RIPscrip graphical interfaces for smooth and intuitive navigation. You have complete control over the "look and feel" of your system. Create your own menu screens, messages and prompts, security and accounting levels, and more. Or use the default set-up to get up and running quickly. Everything you need to launch your online service is included — electronic mail, forums, file libraries, multilingual/multiprotocol support, a suite of RIPscrip GUI menus, full-screen editor, configurable menuing, security and accounting features, and much more.
Our e-mail package offers an array of practical features — full-screen editing, carbon copies, return receipts, personal and global distribution lists, file attachments, individual preference settings, and more. A powerful auto-forwarding capability permits users on the go to receive mail at any valid e-mail address — even across the Internet. File attachments to Internet users are automatically MIME encoded for reliable delivery.
Configure public message forums that can be used for discussion areas, keyword searchable Q&A databases, classified ad listings, and more. Users can "quickscan" their favorite forums to immediately jump to unread messages. Internet USENET newsgroups can be imported to your BBS as forums.
Messages are passed to your UNIX operating system’s mail delivery agent for immediate delivery to other Internet users, or messages can be queued up for batch delivery at off-peak hours.
You can use the powerful file library facility to offer software updates, documents, shareware, spreadsheets, images, or any other files for download. Users can scan for files by: category, file name, file date, popularity, upload date or by using wildcards or boolean keyword expressions.
Files may be tagged for later download or transferred immediately. You control user security access, manage and review uploads, and more.
Available disk space can be increased with Network File System (NFS) mounted partitions. Add remote file systems from other computers as directories on your BBS.
Market surveys, application forms, opinion polls, and testing are just a few of the ways Polls and Questionnaires can work for your organization. The module features intelligent branching, account macros, and auto-tallying of results.
Integrated global commands for Telnet and FTP provide Internet access from any prompt. Connect to government information archives, shopping malls, bulletin board systems, or other online services. You control access and usage through Sysop configurable options. Automatic DNS address resolution is supported.
Management, Security and Accounting
Online security is handled using "locks and keys." The "Master" key gives you unlimited access throughout the system. Features are assigned "locks" and only users with the correct "key" will be able to access the option. From the Remote Operator Menu, choose from over 30 privileged commands.
The Major BBS for UNIX includes an interface based on the X Window System to perform maintenance while the BBS is running — either remotely or over a network. Eight screens provide information and special capabilities, such as usage statistics, user data technical reports, and more. Use the "emulate" feature to peek over a user’s shoulder, or to step in and offer a helping hand. You can log on locally to jump into a chat with a caller, or write a memo to your staff. The X interface can be brought up on an "as needed" basis while the BBS is running in the background.
User Defined Applications (UDAs)
As a Sysop, you can integrate text-based applications as seamless menu options for your users. Databases, spreadsheets, shell accounts, system utilities, and other applications can be easily added as UDAs. Add World-Wide Web support by attaching to text browers such as Lynx. Search for information on WAIS servers. Query Archie servers for specific files on the Internet. Run applications on the same machine as the BBS, or on other machines connected over a network.
For extended configuration, system text variables (e.g., User-ID, name, phone, security class, etc.) can be passed as parameters, allowing you to create customized applications. Use this information to run specific versions of programs or to tailor the output for each user.
The open architecture of The Major BBS provides you with the ability to increase the functionality and flexibility of your BBS with add-on products. Choose from a variety of add-ons to easily add new features to your online system or write your own with the
Use the Major BBS for UNIX Developer Kit to modify the BBS and its existing add-ons or write your own add-on options. Make all the modifications yourself, or turn to Galacticomm or a Galacticomm independent software vendor (ISV) for custom consultation.
An optional support contract provides software updates and extended service for all your BBS needs.
The multi-user teleconference can be used for holding meetings in real-time that can be captured in transcript format. A user registry lets users share information about themselves. The multilingual/multiprotocol architecture can be configured to support up to 50 alternate languages, such as Spanish, or graphical protocols, such as RIPscrip.
The first version of The Major BBS for UNIX supports BSD/386 1.1 for Intel architectures and Solaris 2.3 for Sun SPARC platforms. We’ll add other operating systems and architectures as market demand dictates. With the performance available on high-end UNIX systems, future releases will be able to support more than 256 concurrent users on a single machine.