SEPTEMBER 1994
`
`eT[oetotoElectronic Bulletin LefeF-Tkek and rs a
`
`
`
`THETOP 100 BBSs IN THE U. OH
`1994 Boardwatch 1ny)
`—PC
`:
`Readers’ Choice BBS
`Contest Results
`
`|
`
`7
`Software Creations
`CL eel
`(508) 368-7139
`
`Ps
`America’s
`etefs TsC3 eles Leds
`Ronkonkoma NY
`(516) 471-8625
`
`Corporation, Ex. 1029, p. 1
`
`MAJOR BBS ON
`TG
`4
`Me (aa ith <aals
`Monterey Gaming
`- Connectivity Option
`rhe)
`Systems
`eldCLAS
`Monterey CA
`Prodigy Genealogy
`GLIB
`(408) 655-5555
`White Plains NY
`‘to MajorBBS
`800 775-7714
`Pati:bolaPedc)
`(703) LWht
`
`Deep Cove BBS
`6 White Rock BC i
`(604) 536-5885
`
`edtUE
`
`New Berlin Wi
`bth?) RCE4350
`Fea
`
`online
`PUMeeton)
`ee eae
`
`9
`Lifestyle. Online
`Patwetted
`(516) 689-5390
`
`Blue Ridge
`Express
`Richmond VA
`ee 3
`rg: |eme Roi ds)
`
`CIX-WE OWN
`bfaae
`rueemNaeerrya)ae
`Pay Us $10,000 or Get Off the Highway
`
`$4.95US&CANADA
`
`o°"a9
`
`09
`
`83
`
`9
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1029, p. 1
`
`

`

`You are the cybervisionary.
`
`You start with a brilliant idea ...
`
`You smoothly integrate multi-user
`applications as you need them ...
`
`You prototype your concept on a small
`scale quickly and inexpensively ...
`
`You have a vision. Bring your com(cid:173)
`pany online. Ile the workgroups to the
`customers. Distribute all kinds of infor(cid:173)
`mation and electronic media. Or maybe
`launch a new business in cyberspace.
`You need more than just a BBS -
`you want an open platform for creating
`your own online service. A system that
`is tailored to your mission. And nobody
`can do it better than you.
`
`Start Right the First Time
`The Major BBS<P Version 6.2 gives
`you everything you need to get started:
`e-mail, forums, polls, file libraries, QWK,
`teleconference, a user registry, and more.
`Right away, you can plug in one or two
`modems in a DOS-based 386 or better
`and go online.
`Customize your look and feel with
`the built-in Menu Tree"' and text block
`editor. Use Locks and Keys"' security for
`intuitive access control. Create unlimit(cid:173)
`ed user classes for accounting and
`system management.
`Enjoy auto-generated RIP graphics,
`MHS importing/ exporting, full multi(cid:173)
`lingual support, time analysis and user
`reports, CD-ROM utilities, remote Sysop
`management, "doors" to an auxiliary
`
`machine, an activity audit trail, auto(cid:173)
`cleanup and timed events -
`hundreds
`of special features designed to make
`your life as Sysop a success.
`But that's just the beginning ...
`
`Expand Your Horizons
`Next, you can integrate a wide array
`of add-on options. Installation is as easy
`as "A:INSTALL". The Major BBS takes
`full advantage of DLL technology to
`dynamically link these features into
`your system.
`For instance, Fax/Online lets you
`provide outgoing fax-mail and fax data(cid:173)
`base services to your users. Search and
`Retrieve gives you a full document data(cid:173)
`base, with support for graphics files and
`fax attachments. And Internet mail and
`newsgroups can pipe right in with the
`Major Gateway/Internet package.
`Other DLL extensions available from
`Galacticomm include Shopping Mall, The
`Major Database, Entertainment Collection,
`Dial-Out, and a special version of the
`RIPaint GUI design tool.
`Use the Menu Tree designer to place
`these new options in the most conve(cid:173)
`nient location. Full security control lets
`you decide which users will have access.
`
`And because these DLLs are written in C
`and Assembly, they provide far greater
`performance ana flexibility than script
`languages or xBASE derivatives.
`
`You Need It? You Got It ...
`Over 150 independent software ven(cid:173)
`dors offer a wealth of products you can
`cleanly add to your system as DLLs.
`Plug in software such as:
`• multimedia document servers
`• MLS photograph databases
`• credit card verifiers
`• FIDO, QWK, RIME mail support
`• online bidding networks
`• employment classifieds
`• 1-900 payment and tracking
`• interactive multiplayer games
`•worldwide "chat" networks
`• automatic call-back verifiers
`• contact management databases
`•alternate user languages
`• photograph dating services
`• online purchasing systems
`• satellite news delivery
`• remote management tools
`• and much, much more ...
`
`Each of these products integrates
`directly into your system, taking full
`advantage of our open architecture and
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1029, p. 2
`
`

`

`We just provide the tools.
`
`As you grow, you add more lines, hook
`up your LAN, connect to the Internet ...
`
`And you experience the success of
`your own, unique online service.
`
`1iilti-user environment. No other BBS
`atform gives you this power.
`"Doors" even let you interface to
`ient/server databases and other DOS
`>plications, as well as the programs
`ritten for multinode BBSes.
`'ith the Freedom to Grow
`As your system takes off, you can
`ld more lines without the headaches
`multitaskers or stacks of computers.
`mply add User Six-Pack licenses and
`>ok up more modems.
`
`ONLY THE MAJOR BBS GIVES YOU
`THE POWER TO SUPPORT OVER 100
`SIMULTANEOUS HIGH-SPEED USERS
`ON ONE PENTIUM-CLASS MACHINE.
`
`In performance tests reported by
`•ardwatch Magazine, The Major BBS
`mdled 104 simultaneous file transfers
`14.4 modem rates (1750 cps), and over
`at 28.8 modem speeds (3300 cps). In
`ost real world cases, even more simul(cid:173)
`neous users are possible.
`You can use multiport hardware
`ch as the GalactiBoard and GalactiBox
`easily manage huge numbers of inter-
`1 and external modems. (Galacticomm
`the only BBS manufacturer with multi-
`
`user hardware design experience.) The
`Major BBS also works smoothly with
`non-intelligent hardware by vendors
`such as DigiBoard and Boca Research.
`
`And Connectivity For All
`Only The Major BBS gives you the
`ability to support modems, serial con(cid:173)
`nections, IPX/SPX LAN channels, direct
`X.25 circuits, and TCP /IP sessions - all
`on one computer. Each channel group
`can have different menu branches and
`security controls, at your option.
`The Advanced LAN Option lets you
`create a bank of channels that will
`dynamically accept calls from computers
`around your office -
`directly through
`your Novell LAN.
`You can also provide national and
`international access at low cost via the
`X.25 Software Option and a PC XNet card
`-
`you avoid the inefficiencies and
`expense of a PAD.
`And our new Internet Connectivity
`Option lets you integrate a TCP /IP stack
`directly into your BBS. You don't need a
`separate machine to provide telnet in,
`telnet out, FrP client, and FrP server fea(cid:173)
`tures to your users. Anonymous FrP and
`Internet surcharges are also supported.
`
`A Bright Future Awaits You
`There are few limits to what you can
`accomplish with The Major BBS. The full
`C source code to the BBS is available, to
`give you the ultimate flexibility. Write
`your own add-on options, or tweak a
`particular function to your exact needs.
`And to address the needs of very
`high-end applications, Galacticomm has
`launched a UNIX technology division
`to provide The Major BBS platform for
`minicomputers to supercomputers.
`Integrated solutions, consulting,
`and custom development are available
`from Ambassador dealers worldwide.
`World-class support is available to you
`via voice, fax, BBS, CompuServe, and the
`Internet. A quarterly magazine called
`The Major News provides you tips and
`tricks, as well as a resource for third(cid:173)
`party products and services. And regular
`software improvements bring you the
`latest in online technology.
`For more information, give us a call
`at 1-800-328-1128 (or 305-583-5990 out(cid:173)
`side the U.S. and Canada). And let's turn
`your visions into reality.
`
`0GALACTICOMM
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1029, p. 3
`
`

`

`|
`
`|
`
`i
`
`
`
`
`
`e@eece
`
`ee _.....KE
`
`140
`
`10
`
`ine) joe)
`
`Bowles Ave. Suite 210, Littleton, CO 80123 Printed in USA.
`
`elas ess
`Mud Wrestling on the Internet
`
`eeee
`
`DVORAK ONLINE
`
`Separating Trends From Fads,Again
`
`IN My HumB_Le OPINON - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
`
`Hayes Announces V.34 MOdeMMs............:ccccssccsssssecessccrscersensesecnsestaserenes28
`Top 100 Readers’ Choice Contest Results..................:0:ce8s opener28
`Reportsfromithe Pacific... vcsrc:.-.ccot ote ene etter eterna ese tinees 31
`BobStein - Galacticomm Internet Connectivity Option Released.......... 38
`PeopleiOnline = Cybersighttin<-.:..----srsssrtemteristersrrteteters trees sere:- 54
`
`Gordon Cook- CIX to Require $10,000 Fee From Internet Providers ...57
`net.imperative - Fame on the Net
`.......::cccssserececssssscsssessrscseressreserecseeeees66
`
`MacINTOSH BBS News
`
`Ey
`
`EavoriteiMac BBSS iver ieirscsocccc ce geen ee ce nen meee E Es ot syne80
`Macintosh BBS FAQ.............ccc:cssercesereeeees Peter ett ereterr cree er Nie: 80
`MailiBagpen 2.50.22 iisactvarcs aicteti ts ere cteeee rae enetenat ren cer rer eects, 81
`
`EbDUCATION LINK
`
`Digital Help for/AnalogiUserss. evawccereressreretsesccrsertecccesereevreeseterssceseet:78
`
`gy
`TECHNOLOGY FRONT
`Apple Quicktake 100 - Not Quite Ready For Prime Time..................6548
`
`Access To GOVERNMENT
`
`Tidieitsuromaroundithe Nationss-:..sacceeettere eeenen74
`
`Boardwatch Magazine (Issn:1054-2760)is published monthly at an annual subscription rate of $36. ($99 Overseas) by
`Boardwatch Magazine, 8500 W. Bowles Ave., Suite 210,Littleton, CO. 80123. Second Class postage paid atLittleton,
`CO andat additional mailing officas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Boardwatch Magazine, 8500 West
`
`BES
`
`.
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1029, p. 4
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1029, p. 4
`
`

`

`All Rights Reserved Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1029, p. 5
`
`John C. Dvorak
`Jim Warren
`Jim Thompson
`Lance Rose
`Bill Gram-Reefer
`Walt Howe
`Harley Hahn
`crane
`arles Moore
`Phyllis Phlegar
`Dave Tennant
`Lenny Bailes
`
`oeEditorial
`
`303)973-3731 Fax
`303)973-4222 BBS
`800)933-6038 Subscriptions
`
`Electronic Mail
`
`Internet:
`jack.rickard @ boardwatch.com
`subscriptions@boardwatch.com
`
`FidoNet: 1:104/555
`
`Copyright 1994 Jack Rickard
`
`Coen crits
`yl tT fo
`
`| aeee _
`o
`jj
`laa
`
`ISSN: 1054-2760
`Volume VIII, Issue 8
`September 1994
`
`Boardwatch Top 100 Readers’ Choice Contest Results
`
`THE BiG Boarps
`
`LEGALLY ONLINE
`
`TELECONFUSION
`
`Direct DIAL
`
`List DiRECTORY
`
`|
`
`Editor/Publisher
`
`Jack Rickard
`
`Assistant Editor
`
`Brian Gallagher
`Contributing Writers
`
`Art Director/Cover Desian
`
`Charlie Moore
`
`Graphic Design andProduction
`
`Jeff Rouyer
`Marla Asheim
`
`Subscriptions/Circulation
`
`Rob King
`Ryan Boggess
`
`Technical Operations
`
`Gary Funk
`Richard Moreaux
`
`NewsstandCirculation
`
`Martin L. Shafkowitz
`
`AdvertisingSales
`
`Roger Mertes
`Charlie Moore
`
`Editorial Offices
`8500 W. Bowles Ave., Suite 210
`Littleton, CO 80123
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1029, p. 5
`
`

`

`GALACTICOMM
`ANNOUNCES INTERNET
`CONNECTIVITY OPTION
`FOR THE MAJOR BBS
`
`The drive to develop tools connecting
`
`bulletin boards to the Internet is
`picking up steam strongly going into
`the fall of 1994. The latest to announce
`an Internet connectivity solution is
`Galacticomm, Inc. They'll be demoing a
`new option for The Major BBS at ONE
`BBSCON titled the Internet Connec(cid:173)
`tivity Option or (ICO). Priced at $995,
`the new software package is slated for
`availability by October 1, 1994.
`
`The Internet Connectivity Option
`provides inbound and outbound telnet
`and ftp for The Major BBS. This means
`callers to a Major BBS system can
`telnet or ftp out to other services on the
`Internet, and Internauts, conversely,
`can telnet or ftp into the bulletin board
`system . The package, developed by
`Galacticomm's chief engineer Bob
`Stein, is unique in a couple of key ways.
`
`First, it is reasonably self sufficient. It
`consists almost entirely of software,
`including changes to Major BBS itself,
`some additional applications, and a
`TCP/IP stack from lpswitch, Inc., of
`Wakefield Massachussetts. The result
`is a series of layers of software between
`Major BBS and the LAN adapter
`allowing the four basic functions imple(cid:173)
`mented in this release.
`
`This is somewhat similar to the packet
`driver/winsock architecture
`for
`Windows we described in our March
`issue. As a result, it does not require
`
`the use of other PC's, software on a
`Novell File Server, etc. You connect the
`PC that runs Major BBS to an ethernet
`cable that has TCP/IP connected to it,
`and you can play.
`
`The basic architecture relies on a
`layered design. The Major BBS itself
`normally relies on an underlying
`communications software library called
`the Galacticomm Software Break(cid:173)
`through Library or GSBL. This is the
`lo~ level comm routines the company
`origiri'Blly offered with a modem board
`sold by Galacticomm and it is inter(cid:173)
`esting to note that The Major BBS was
`originally a demonstration BBS to
`demonstrate use of the GSBL for
`communications applications.
`
`The ICO requires a new version of
`Major BBS. Version 6.25 and later will
`incorporate a new layer in the GSBL
`called The Galacticomm Custom Device
`Interface or GCDI. The GCDI allows
`vendors to interface devices to the
`GSBL simply by providing a Dynamic
`Link Library or DLL program.
`
`The heart of the Internet Connectivity
`Option or ICO is the TCP/IP stack from
`lpswitch, Inc. titled the Piper/IP
`TCP/IP Kernal. This is a DLL that
`implements the Transmission Control
`Protocol/Internet Protocol necessary to
`connect to the Internet. This particular
`stack is interesting in that it exists
`mainly in Protected Mode memory and
`leaves a very small footprint of perhaps
`8 KB in the PC's main memory when
`using a LAN driver.
`
`The telnet out, ftp out, and ftp in func(cid:173)
`tions of the ICO are really just applica-
`
`Bob Stein, Gs/set/comm, Inc.
`
`i
`tions added to the BBS. But the telnet
`in function requires a small shim
`between the GCDI and the TCP/IP
`stack to intercept calls to port 23, a
`telnet convention.
`
`The TCP/IP stack, in tum interfaces to
`a packet driver. This conforms to the
`basic Clarkson Driver packet driver
`concept that has virtually become a
`standard for PCs. The basic Galacti(cid:173)
`is
`to use
`the
`comm design
`ODIPKT.COM driver written by Daniel
`Lanciani, who coincidentally is the
`main designer of the lpswitch kemal as
`well, to interface the system to Novell's
`Open Data-Link Interface LAN
`protocol. But you could conceivably
`replace ODIPKT.COM with another packet
`driver for SLIP or PPP for example, to
`connect the system by modem to an
`Internet Services Provider using the
`Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or
`the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) as
`well.
`
`The resulting package offers some
`interesting features. Callers can
`connect to a site using Major BBS
`global commands available from almost
`any
`command
`line
`like
`/ftp
`lmages .. jsc.nasa.gov or /telnet books.com.
`
`Intemauts who telnet in will simply be
`connected to the normal Major BBS
`logon prompt. FTP callers can either
`login with their existing logon name
`and password to access all file directo(cid:173)
`ries that correspond to BBS file
`libraries, or as "anonymous" following
`the normal Internet convention to gain
`access to a limited series of files made
`available to the public. Additionally,
`Galacticomm is making an Internet
`Connectivity Development Kit available
`to their third-party developers allowing
`them in turn to develop additional
`capabilities. The DLL architecture
`afforded by their new Galacticomm
`Common Device Interface allows these
`plug-in applications. They can use func(cid:173)
`tions such as regtcpsvr() to register a
`server to listen for connections on a
`specific TCP port number (telnet
`listens on port 23, ftp on port 21,
`gopher on port 80 by convention) or
`tcpdial() to initiate a connection to
`another system. The company is hoping
`to inspire their active third-party devel(cid:173)
`oper community to build applications
`such as archie clients, gopher servers,
`WWW servers, and so forth to add to
`the basic system. Availability and
`pricing on the development kit has not
`been set.
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1029, p. 38
`
`

`

`The package does NOT includeT(cid:173)
`someitems normally considered pretty
`basic such as the Simple Mail Trans(cid:173)
`port
`Protocol
`(SMTP)
`for
`sending/receiving electronic mail, the
`Network News Transport Protocol
`(NNTP) for sending/receiving USENET
`news, or any form of internal domain
`name service. For the present, those
`who buy ICO at $995
`will automatically get
`The
`Major
`Gateway/Internet add(cid:173)
`on option, normally
`priced at $249, at no
`additional cost. This is
`an e-mail and USENET
`gateway that uses the
`Unix to Unix Copy
`Program (UUCP) g
`protocol to send and
`receive mail. Existing
`Major
`Gateway/Internet users
`will be credited $150
`toward the purchase of
`the Internet Connec-
`tivity Option. And at
`some point in the
`future they intend to
`add SMTP and NNTP
`into
`the
`Internet
`Connectivity Option
`itself, ending
`the
`dependence on UUCP
`for mail.
`
`We did telnet and ftp to
`Bob Stein's
`test
`system, which was
`running on a 14.4 kbps
`SLIP connection at the
`time, which didn't
`allow it to show off
`much with regards to
`performance, but did
`demonstrate the func(cid:173)
`tions. One interesting
`aspect was that from
`any command prompt,
`you can enter an FTPA
`command with a site
`name, and it would
`automatically do an
`anonymous ftp logon,
`including entering the
`ANONYMOUS at the
`login prompt, and ' your
`e-mail address on the
`Galacticomm system as
`the password. We're
`not real clear on why
`we haven't seen this
`nifty feature anywhere
`else before, since the
`anonymous
`login
`
`convention is so widespread it should
`be easy to implement, and is actually a
`real keystroke saver.
`
`Galacticomm faces a big development
`curve for SMTP, NNTP, domain name
`service, and routing issues, but ·for
`basic telnet/ftp access into and out of a
`Major BBS system, the ICO seems to
`
`fill the ticket with a minimum amount
`of other hardware and software. Galac(cid:173)
`ticomm, Inc., 4101 SW 47th Ave., Suite
`101, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314;
`(305)583·5990 voice; (305)583-7486
`fax; (305)583·7808 BBS.
`
`•••
`
`THE MAJOR BBS Version 6.25 or Later
`MAIN LOOP
`
`Galactlcomm Software Breakthrough Library (GSBL)
`wfth Galactlcomm Custom Device Interface (GCDQ
`
`ICO Telnet In Shim
`
`PlpernP TCPnP Kernel
`
`ODI to PACKET DRIVER SHIM
`
`- -
`
`- -
`
`-
`
`- - - - -----·
`SOFTWARE
`TYPICAL
`HARDWARE
`SETUP
`r---m1--..-.--· Ania Network Adapter
`
`Ethemtt Local
`
`aaa aaaa aaa a ....... __ _
`
`Router
`
`CSUIDSU
`
`Boardwatch - September 1994 39
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1029, p. 39
`
`