Argus is a 32bit Mailer for Windows 95/98/NT/2K which allows both dialup and TCP/IP connections. A Mailer allows fidonet style mail packets and netmail messages to be transfered from one BBS to another.
Argus is freeware for non-commercial use, and is open sourced. It's available from www.ritlabs.com/argus

This explains how to allow Argus to pass human callers over to EleBBS using a COM port or Virtual COM port such as NetSerial or COM IP. It assumes you already have Argus and EleBBS up and running seperatly, and are somewhat familure with them both. For information on how to setup Argus itself, look here.

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There are two ways that EleBBS can be configured to be run from Argus. The first method is by passing the Win32 com-handle from Argus to EleBBS, which would seem like a cleaner method overall. The problem with doing it this way, is that it leaves Argus in control of the COM port, which prevents EleBBS from being able to close the COM port when it wants to run a DOS door.

The second method is the one that will be shown here. This involves telling Argus to close the COM port before opening up a Window to run EleBBS in. When EleBBS is fired up, Argus passes it the COM port rather then the com-handle, so that EleBBS can run doors.

Argus uses a special parameter %Z on the command line used to run EleBBS which tells it to close the com port. One problem with doing this, is that when Windows closes a COM port, it automaticly lowers the DTR signal, which normally tells a modem to drop carrier.

In order to prevent the modem from dropping carrier when DTR is lowered, the modems init string must be configured to tell the modem to ignore the DTR signal. Not all modems allow this, though most of them do. The most common AT command used to do this is "&D0". Note: This is not needed under Windows 2000 or later.

Here is step by step instructions on how to allow Argus to shell to EleBBS, using the method outlined above:

In Argus, Click on CONFIG> EXTERNALS >DOORS

Under the "Enter" Tab, select the hotkey which the user should press to run EleBBS. You can use a backslash "\" to represent the ESC key, or even two of them to require ESC to be pressed twice.

Under the "Door and parameter" Tab, enter the following:

%Z c:\bbs\elebbs.bat %n %C %B

Note that %Z %n %C %B are all CASE Sensitive. They must be entered in the same case they are shown here, or they will not work!

If you are using windows 9x/ME, then you will also need to specify "c:\command.com /c " in front of the batch file path/name.

In Argus, Click on CONFIG> DIALUP >STATION

Select the template you have already defined for your lines, and Click on BANNER.

Here you should enter the text to display to the user that tells him which key to press to access the BBS. An Example: Press ESC to access the BBS.

Next verify that your com ports defined in Argus are locked at the same speed that they are locked at in EleBBS. I suggest locking them at 115200 bps.

In Argus Click CONFIG> DIALUP> PORTS> COMx

Where COMx is one of the COM ports used, and make sure the BPS rate is set to a locked rate such as 115200. Also make sure that Flow Control is set for CTS/RTS . Do the same with all the COM ports which are defined in Argus.

Now run ELCONFIG > MODEM > OPTIONS

Make sure that the COM port is set to the same speed as Argus, and also make sure that its locked (Lock = Yes ).

If you have multiple MODEM.RA files for each of your EleBBS nodes rather then just one MODEM.RA in the main directory, then you will have to run ELCONFIG.EXE from each of these directorys to make sure that all the modems have been configured properly.

In Argus Click CONFIG > DIALUP > MODEMS

If running a Windows version prior to Windows 2000, select your modem name profile, and edit the modems Init string to include &D0 or whatever AT command tells your modem to ignore the DTR Signal.

For example, if you are using a virtual telnet modem for Win32 known as C0M IP, your init string should look like this:

AT S1001=1 S1002=1 S1003=7 S1005=0 S1008=23 &D2|

Change the Hangup string to: ~~~+++~~~!

If you have additional modem names defined in Argus, configure them as well.

Now create a Batch file in the main EleBBS directory which Argus will run. This Batch file will need to change to the proper nodes directory, and then it should run ELEBBS.EXE in the system directory. It can also define some Environment variables if you like.

EleBBS.BAT :

      @echo off
      SET TASK=%1
      SET RA=C:\BBS
      cd\bbs\node%1
      \bbs\elebbs.exe -n%1 -c%2 -b%3 -E10
      If errorlevel 10 goto End
      rem user entered netmail or echomail, so export it
      \bbs\fastecho\fastecho.exe scan
      :End
      exit
      

At this point Argus and EleBBS should be working together, allowing Argus to answer all the incoming nodes, and open Seperate Windows for each EleBBS session as the callers login to your BBS. Argus can be used for both the Dialup users or Telnet users using the NetSerial or COM IP virtual modem driver.

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