HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rjt@softin.lonestar.org (Richard Threlkeld)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle,comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Re: Pathological subdirectory read/create/delete time under DOS 5.0?
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 92 08:17:30 CST
Organization: Software Innovation, Arlington, Tx

> fenner@postscript.cs.psu.edu (Bill Fenner) writes:
> 
> > I've been running Waffle under MS-DOS for a couple of years.  Up until
> > recently, I've been using NEC's OEM'd DOS 3.21 .  Occasionally, when a
> > directory would get really big, it would take a few seconds to do anything
> > with it.  Waffle stores each message in a seperate file, so if I end up
> > keeping a few days of a high-traffic newsgroup, I'll get over 1,000 files
> > in a directory.
> > 
> > I recently moved up to 5.0, and formatted the disk in question with 2K
> > allocation units.  The problem has gotten about an order of magnitude worse
> > With 1,300 files in a directory, it takes about 25 seconds to list it all,
> > and about 8 seconds to add or remove an entry from the directory.  My expir
> > runs went from a half an hour to 2 or 3 hours.
> > 
> > Will disk caching help?  I don't have any spare memory right now, but I can
> > get some if I need to.
> > 
> > Should I switch back to 4K allocation units, even though that will
> > drastically slash the amount of disk space I have available?
> > (That would almost be worth it if it were to solve this problem).
> > 
> > Will defragmenting the disk and consolidating directories help?
> > 
> > Can anyone explain (at a technical, data-structures level) why this problem
> > exists, so that I can try to figure out a workaround?  (yes, scarily enough
> > I'm willing to write a device driver if I can nip this problem)
> > 
> 
DOS stores the directory in blocks (as it does all files).  When you get too
many files for one block, it chains in another block...  Unlike Unix, which 
builds a hierarchy, this is just a collection of blocks and DOS must 
search the chain from the beginning to the end to find a file.  The 
blocks of the directory are probably not close together and this makes for 
a lot of head motion.

Defragmentation will help by reducing the head movement (most defrags 
consolidate the directories).  Caching will help if you have defragged
(if the directory segments are together, they will be read in during 
a cache read.  If they are apart, this will not happen.)

I have a commercial application which got into this mess and we finally
had to change the file structure to one file with an index.  This saved
90%+ of our copy time (we had to copy the base files to approximately
30 other machines up to 20 times a day).  It also sped up our application
substantially.  If we could get Tom to take on the admittedly major task
of building one file per newsgroup (or one overall?), this would save 
a major amount of disk space and processing time.
From: jgostin@eternal.chi.il.us (Jeff Gostin)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: Multiple addresses
Date: 27 Sep 92 23:16:42 GMT
Organization: The little node that could...

fenner@postscript.cs.psu.edu (Bill Fenner) writes:

> In article <mwPmRB2w165w@eternal.chi.il.us> jgostin@eternal.chi.il.us (Jeff G
> |As an aside, I've noticed on quite a few posts the replacement of the "@"
> |in quoted messages with a "#" (as above). Any clues? Is it a bug, feature,
> |"feature", or op-proc?
> 
> I thought it was WWCP.
Yes, it is. At least *NOW* I can tell you that. One kind waffler (THANX!)
sent me that very response. The "#" is a WWIV hack to kludge Usenet
compatibility.
                                   Jeff

...From a tiny little node called Eternal!
--
    /|Email  to:   jgostin@eternal.chi.il.us, offline@infopls.chi.il.us
   / |Smail  to:   Jeff Gostin, 917 High Ridge Pass, Carol Stream IL 60188
   \ |Vmail  to:   708-293-5526
    \|Flames to:   trashcan@eternal.chi.il.us
From: rhawk@netcom.com (Sean Ackley)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: newsgroup updating with Novell 3.11
Date: 3 Oct 92 17:25:52 GMT
Followup-To: comp.bbs.waffle
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)


I am running Novell Netware 3.11 and Waffle 1.65 (DOS)

I would like to know if there is a way, that when I update or otherwise
change my \waffle\system\usenet file that it will automatically update
all the users' join files. 

Or maybe there is a supplement program that does this?

thank you.  replies to rhawk@prag.com or su@prag.mhs.compuserve.com

replies might also be warranted in this group (due to the subject).
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
When the morning sun rises, the hawks fly free as the wind. -- r. hawk

MHS:  su@prag                  Compuserve:  70214,2111
                               FAX:         510-732-0289
su@prag.mhs.compuserve.com     PRODIGY:     RWCR77A
rhawk@netcom.com               AOL:         SACKLEY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
From: medley@sun44.synercom.hounix.org (Bert Medley)
Subject: Re: Functionality of Waffle 1.65
Keywords: Patches, COLOR, SECURITY, ENVIRONMENT
Organization: Synercom Technology, Inc., Houston, TX
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 13:04:52 GMT

In article <1992Sep28.161731.8940@bluemoon.rn.com> grant@bluemoon.rn.com (Grant DeLorean) writes:
>rthomas@hakatac.almanac.bc.ca (Robert N Thomas) writes:
>
>>SHELL ACCESS (How to HACK a waffle site)
>>=========================================
>
>>   Quite simply, if a SHELL user can gain any access to your waffle executable,
>>then the BBS system is vunerable.  Especially if waffle is suid to some account.
>>Once inside, the user running the program simply runs some external program,
>>and then SHELLS to unix, and then HACKS the system...
>
>>   [stuff deleted]
>>
>
> You missed something obvious...  Why the heck would you have given a
>shell account to someone who would do that in the first place? If someone
>isn't 100% trustable, they should not be given a shell account. Not
>counting the various administrative ids (on my current SunOS system or
>my previous SysV system) there have never been more than 6 shell accounts
>including my own on my systems (usually not more than 5).

But if your waffle site is the only public access (free) site in an area then
shell access may be viewed as a desirable feature.  Many non-waffle sites,
basically user groups, provide mail, news, and shell access on their UNIX 
boxes.  Check out the controversial UNIX Public Access list.
-- 
Bert Medley				medley@synercom.hounix.org 	[work]
					bert@medley.ssdl.com		[home]
Xref: sparky comp.bbs.waffle:2885 comp.dcom.modems:14387
From: vds7789@aw2.fsl.ca.boeing.com (Vincent D. Skahan)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: Can FEEDS files have multiple entries?
Keywords: dos waffle 165 news feed
Date: 5 Oct 92 13:47:57 GMT
Organization: none

pacolley@ember.UUCP (Paul Colley) writes:

>Personal beef:  WHY DOESN'T WAFFLE HANDLE DISTRIBUTIONS?!

>The change to the code should be trivial:  After matching the "Newsgroups:"
>line against the feed file, match the "Distribution:" line the same way (this
>would give you B-news functionality, and it sounds like a trivial change to
>me).

there was a very long thread/flame/discussion in news.admin or news.software.b
several months ago about the fact that the Distribution: mechanism not really
working in 'real news' either.

-- 
   ---------   Vince Skahan   -----------   vince@atc.boeing.com   ---------   
                   Project management is often an oxymoron.
From: freitag@elrond.toppoint.de (Claus Schoenleber)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: File System Validation
Date: 6 Oct 92 05:15:04 GMT
Organization: Claus Schoenleber, Kiel, Germany (3-926986)

crawls@dorsai.com (Charles Rawls) writes:

> Ok folks, I'm Stumped
> 
> 
> I have a number of users, that get an error about must be validated to use FI
> area.  All of my users have been validated.  Just went through and did it ALL
> 
> Does anyone have any ideas?  Suggestions.
> 
> I am running waffle 1.65 under Interactive unix 3.0
> 

Had this in 1.64 when files-directory was empty.
Also (in 1.65) if users have not high enough privilege level, that error occurs.

> Thanks in advance for youe assistance.

You're welcome.

-- --------------------------------------------------------------
Claus Schoenleber             I  UUCP    freitag@tpki.toppoint.de
=================================================================
The Galaxy shall miss you! I "What's the matter?" - "Never mind!"
Isaac Asimov died 06Apr92. I  ;-)  "What's mind?" - "No matter!"
=================================================================
From: bobk@dogear.spk.wa.us (Bob Kirkpatrick)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: Mail piping
Date: 2 Oct 92 19:31:25 GMT
Organization: Dog Ear'd Systems of Spokane, WA

prisoner@village.freeside.com (The Prisoner) writes:

> 
>   Is there any way to pipe mail from one mailbox to another (or external devi
> *AND* leave it in the original mailbox?  We have tried everything we can thin
> of but the original gets erased (actualy it just bypasses the original box).
> 

Offhand, the only way that I can think of is via an alias which feeds a
list:

mailacct           + \waffle\system\mailout.lst

/waffle/system/mailout.lst:
account1
account2
account3
...


--- 
Bob Kirkpatrick <bobk@dogear.spk.wa.us>
Dog Ear'd Systems of Spokane, WA
From: herrickd@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (daniel lance herrick)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: if (++moves > 255) logout ("SiN"); ?!?! call waiting
Date: 5 Oct 92 17:02:28 GMT

In article <RZeyRB2w165w@micromed.com>, system@micromed.com (Duane Davis) writes:
> Jonathan Herr <herrj@valnet.UUCP> writes:
>> the one that has call-waiting.  If your users have call-waiting, then
>> tell them in the sign-up that they need to put "*70," in the front of
>> the dial-out string to turn off their call-waiting.
> 
> Problem with that is that alot of areas don't have call-waiting cancel.

Ohio Bell just lost the call waiting fee on two lines when one of my
users learned that the *70 has to come after the call is connected,
while the modems are talking.  That is a real clever one.

dan
From: tomg@cuckoo.egg.com (Grand Master)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: Waffle 1.65. and schedules
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 92 07:59:57 PDT
Organization: The Cuckoo's Egg  +1 503 777 4931

Alan Millar <amillar@bolis.SF-Bay.Org> writes:

> hho@girtab.usc.edu (** N.T.K.C.D. ***) writes:
> 
> > Yes, I am having the same problem eversince upgrading to Waffle 1.65..
> > Cron won't run :-(
> > 
> > I event deleted everything and reinstalled..
> > I am running waffle on 486 on Novell drive, then moved to 286..
> 
> When I ran Waffle 1.64 on NetWare, the scheduler wouldn't run until
> I fixed security on /waffle/system/stamp.  It needed to be writable/
> modifiable.  Perhaps in your 1.65 installation you secured the
> entire /waffle/system directory as read-only?
> 
> - Alan
> 
> Alan Millar       amillar@bolis.SF-Bay.org            __oo  \  
>     (Remember: only YOU can prevent bang paths)         =___/  
> But Moses said "Oh, Lord, please send someone else to do it." -Exo. 4:13

I got it working. When I was running 1.64 I got into the habit of testing 
my schedules by resetting the system clock. So, if I had an event 
scheduled for say 1:55 I reset the clock to 1:54 and then I could watch 
the event run without waiting long. This doesn't seem to work with 1.65. 
However, if I set the event to occur at 2:01 and reset the clock to 1:59 
then everything is kosher. So, does Waffle 1.65 only check the schedule 
and write CRON on the hour instead of everytime you run it? I don't know 
but I am still testing.

Nothing is set for RO at this time.

On another subject has anyone run Waffle 1.65 on a Novell Netware Lite 
(yuch!!!!!!!). I want to set up another line and run two systems with a 
shared file structure and Netware Lite is a LOT less expensive than 
Netware 3.11.

Thanks for all the responses to my last question.
?
quit
From: Michael Reichelt <mick@wanda.ob.open.de>
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Keyboard//Editor-Problems
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 92 22:16:03 +0200
Reply-To: mick@wanda.ob.open.de
Organization: Murphy's_Creative_Chaos_Organisation.

Hi everybody,

just a few minutes ago I found one more problem (bug ?).
I was logged in my waffle as 'mick' and typed in the following :

cd ..\root
edit extern.txt

Now I will have to tell you that the account 'mick' has access=9 and
priv=9 so that I can do that directory change. But that is not the problem.
The edit command failed. Several times my editor did not want to edit the
file that is there in the home directory of root. It is definitivly there.
My editor did not open the file "extern.doc" and instead of that it
opened a file called "extern.t." and that is not correct ! :-( This
file cannot exist (two '.' in the name) and so this seems to be a bug.

Some more information : I do not use any type of ansi.sys (I have read some
postings in this newsgroups about this) ans thereby this cannot be the problem.

Does anyone have the same problem ?
I use waffle 1.65 on a 4DOS based system.

Michael.

ps. I have also had the problem with the shells and keys that do not do
    what they should do.  E.g. it has not been possible to use the 'e' key.
    So it has not been possible to type "exit" to return to waffle :-(
    After that I switched off the ansi.sys.



============================================================================= 
 Michael Reichelt   privat: <mick@wanda.ob.open.de>    (wanda.ruhr.sub.org)
                     @work: <mick@macrotk.uucp> ...!unido.uucp!macrotk!mick
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
From: jeh@crux3.cit.cornell.edu (John E Hood)
Subject: Re: Waffle and PC Pursuit
Organization: Cornell Information Technologies
Date:  6 Oct 92 04:35:28 GMT

dawson@willard.UUCP writes:

>adrian@spectrx.saigon.com (Seth Adrian) writes:

>> Is it possible to make UUCP callouts with PC Pursuit?

>You really need a different UUCP protocol, like t or f (I forget which)
>to do UUCP over packetized networks that are not necessarily 8-bit clear.

uucp-g will run ok over PC Pursuit, provided you can set windows=7,
which is true for DOS Waffle.  You will need to send a whole heap of
commands to the local node, though.  I did it in a Xenix chat script
and it was ugly, but it worked...

E-mail me for more info.

  --jh
From: jgostin@eternal.chi.il.us (Jeff Gostin)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Logging in again without logging out?
Date: 26 Sep 92 15:16:07 GMT
Organization: The little node that could...


     I was interested in a way to have the LOGIN: prompt come back up, so
I can log in again, without having to drop the connection. Basically, I'm
considering setting up Waffle as a BBS (so far I'm a private site), and
was hoping there was a way I could log in to an account set up for remote
access, check for mail on my main (set "local only") account, make
appropriate changes to that account and log in under it. I know, its a bit
anal-retentive, but can it be done?

                                   Jeff

...From a tiny little node called Eternal!
--
    /|Email  to:   jgostin@eternal.chi.il.us, offline@infopls.chi.il.us
   / |Smail  to:   Jeff Gostin, 917 High Ridge Pass, Carol Stream IL 60188
   \ |Vmail  to:   708-293-5526
    \|Flames to:   trashcan@eternal.chi.il.us
From: a-dent@somenode.uucp (Bryan Hannahs)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: USERS command V1.65 hangs system
Date: Sun, 04 Oct 92 14:03:01 EDT
Organization: .sdrawkcaB sgnihT gnipyT roF yteicoS ehT

moon!cyberden!system@well.sf.ca.us writes:

> Is there a fix for this problem?
> 
> I come home to find that some user has type USERS and get's some garbage
> for the first user to the extent of some field codes and then it hangs foreve

Your fix is probably deleting your password file and starting over.
Sounds like it's hosed. I've never had any trouble with the users
command (except that you can't specify where in the list to start), but
if the first entry in password is bad, that would produce the garbage
and probably could make it hang.

---
"Man created God in his own image." - Lazarus Long

Bryan Hannahs      |   a-dent@somenode.uucp    a-dent@bluemoon.use.com
(aka Arthur Dent)  |               bryan@bluemoon.use.com
From: andyross@infopls.chi.il.us (Andrew Rossmann)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Does /rom work??
Date: Sat, 03 Oct 92 13:59:32 CDT
Organization: INFOPLUS support, Wheeling, IL

  Due to the bug in uploading files into the internal editor, I've asked my
users to not do that. Some have taken the simple approach of doing an ASCII
upload to 'type' into the editor. Others would like to upload into their
directory, and then read it in.

  I did have an upload directory defined in my STATIC file. Problem is,
that caused everything to end up in /public/uploads. I tried removing that,
and marking everything in /waffle/dirs as /rom, except for the upload
directory. That doesn't seem to be working. You can still upload anywhere.

  I though I heard this problem before, and wonder if there are any
workarounds??

--
Andrew Rossmann            | Sysop of Infoplus BBS, +1 708 537 0247
andyross@infopls.chi.il.us | Infoplus Support, latest version available
 uunet!infopls!andyross    | by logging in as infoplus. [v32bis/v42bis]
                      NO new taxes...NO new gambling
From: Ralph Sims <ralphs@remote.halcyon.com>
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: if (++moves > 255) logout ("SiN"); ?!?!
Date: Sat, 03 Oct 92 08:07:09 PDT
Organization: Halcyon's Remote

a-dent@somenode.uucp (Bryan Hannahs) writes:

> Er, excuse me, but DTR is controlled by the computer, not the modem...I
> assume you meant CD.

Right.  That should have been dSr.  And it may not be present on all
modems.  We found problems using Telebit T-2500's in their not being
able to hold DSR/DCD low long enough for Ultrix 4.1 to recover from
dropped carrier.  It seems they do not recognize their own S47 reg.
setting.  Brings up a point...  many newer modems allow the NRAM
to be reloaded when DTR toggles.  I wonder if that might be causing
problems with some folks.  Again, the Telebits (older Plus's) seemed
to hang when this was enabled.  At least on a VAX (7-bit connections).
From: a-dent@somenode.uucp (Bryan Hannahs)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: if (++moves > 255) logout ("SiN"); ?!?!
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 92 13:31:03 EDT
Organization: .sdrawkcaB sgnihT gnipyT roF yteicoS ehT

dawson@willard.UUCP writes:

> a-dent@somenode.uucp (Bryan Hannahs) writes:
> 
> > Sounds to me like you may have forced carrier in your modem (AT&C0 for
> > most Hayes clones). Try an AT&C1 to correct this. I've never had any
> > trouble with Waffle recognizing a dropped carrier, whether or not it was
> > caused by call-waiting.
> 
> No, no, no.  The modem IS properly configured.  It does properly detect 
> dropped carrier 99% of the time.  It is only when a person is knocked 
> offline by their own call-waiting notification that I've ever witnessed 
> this problem.  How do I know this is what happened?  I immediately called 
> up the offending person, via voice, and asked "What the hell just 
> happened, dude?"

Still sounds like a modem bug. Waffle recognized dropped carrier when
the modem drops it. Maybe for some reason the modem isn't properly
recognizing dropped carrier when someone is kicked off by call-waiting.

---
"Man created God in his own image." - Lazarus Long

Bryan Hannahs      |   a-dent@somenode.uucp    a-dent@bluemoon.use.com
(aka Arthur Dent)  |               bryan@bluemoon.use.com
From: dawson@willard.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Extern files spec, /dir option
Date: 26 Sep 92 03:29:42 GMT
Organization: Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- +1 (404) 664 8814

Could someone with experience in writing /waffle/extern/command files offer
me little advice?  I'm trying to integrate some MKS toolkit stuff into Waffle,
and I'd like to be able to include the rm command, as well as some others.
I don't want my users to be able to be able to delete any files other than
files in their own directories.  So, the /dir option, as described in the
/waffle/docs/extern.doc file,seemed like the obvious problem-solver:

	  /dir	Specify a directory to change to before
		executing the command. Useful if commands must
		be executed in a specific directory. The
		previous directory is not restored on return.

However, nothing I've tried seems to work.  At no time does my "ls" command
first change directory to that specified in my /waffle/extern/ls file.
I've tried just about every combination I can imagine, e.g.,

ls /access=3 /dir="c:/user/%A" /command="c:/mks/bin/ls %i"
ls /access=3 /dir="c:\user\%A" /command="c:/mks/bin/ls %i"
ls /access=3 /dir="c:/user/test" /command="c:/mks/bin/ls %i"
ls /access=3 /dir="c:\user\test" /command="c:/mks/bin/ls %i"

Where am I missing the boat???  The ls command executes OK, it's just that
the directory remains UNCHANGED.

-- 
dawson@willard.UUCP (Willard Dawson)
Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- +1 (404) 664 8814
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
From: ralphs@halcyon.com (Ralph Sims)
Subject: Re: Logging in again without logging out?
Organization: Northwest Nexus Inc. (206) 455-3505
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 03:06:29 GMT

jgostin@eternal.chi.il.us (Jeff Gostin) writes:

>ralphs@halcyon.com (Ralph Sims) writes:

>> NOTE: login does not work from local console (used to in 1.64 but doesn't
>> now).

>Surely thou jest... It's been working here fine for the past several weeks
>since I've gotten 1.65. :-) I use it to cycle between 4 different accounts
>here. All are local. No problems yet! :-)

"Sorry, LOGIN disabled (captive mode)."

This is if you are logged in from 'waffle online username'.
From: ralphs@remote.halcyon.com (Ralph Sims)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: Does /rom work??
Keywords: o
Date: 3 Oct 92 23:40:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: remote.aae4RB2w165w
Organization: Halcyon's Remote

andyross@infopls.chi.il.us (Andrew Rossmann) writes:

>   Due to the bug in uploading files into the internal editor, I've asked my
> users to not do that. Some have taken the simple approach of doing an ASCII

Um.... what bug?  One of my users uploaded megabytes of files into news
posts over an extended period.  1.64 and 1.65 flavors.
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
From: fenner@postscript.cs.psu.edu (Bill Fenner)
Subject: Re: if (++moves > 255) logout ("SiN"); ?!?!
Organization: Penn State Computer Science
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 18:43:17 GMT

In article <FmVwRB1w165w@willard.UUCP> dawson@willard.UUCP writes:
|Perhaps the reason you never have had this problem relates to a different
|level of user responsibility?

I have seen plenty of people hang up on the BBS, either by mistake or on
purpose, and haven't ever seen more than about 3 commands worth of garbage,
usually significantly less (20 characters or so).

|So, seeing how I've seen it on two different brands/flavors of modem, I am
|extremely hesitant to blame my modem.

Well, next time it happens, watch your CD light on the modem.

Also, is echo turned on in your init string?  If Waffle is too busy receiving
data, it might not realize that carrier was lost, and an echo loop between
Waffle and the modem would sure cause plenty of data to come in... use
ATE0, Waffle likes that better anyway.

  Bill
From: a-dent@somenode.uucp (Bryan Hannahs)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.waffle
Subject: Re: Logging in again without logging out?
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 92 13:35:14 EDT
Organization: .sdrawkcaB sgnihT gnipyT roF yteicoS ehT

jgostin@eternal.chi.il.us (Jeff Gostin) writes:

> bobk@dogear.spk.wa.us (Bob Kirkpatrick) writes:
> 
> > Type 'login' at your main waffle prompt.
> Ok, thats *IT*!! I'm NOT going to post intelligent-seeming questions in
> the wee hours of the night! :-) What's worse, I already use this to cycle
> between 4 different local accounts. Somebody hit me with a 300 baud modem,
> pullleeeeeze?? :-)

Nah, we'll wait til we can dig up an old 110 baud...   :-)

---
"Man created God in his own image." - Lazarus Long

Bryan Hannahs      |   a-dent@somenode.uucp    a-dent@bluemoon.use.com
(aka Arthur Dent)  |               bryan@bluemoon.use.com