From: pizzi@nervous.com (Riccardo Pizzi)
Subject: Announcing UniBoard 1.10, a BBS package for Unix on 80x86 boxes
Reply-To: pizzi@nervous.com (Riccardo Pizzi)
Organization: The Nervous XTC Public Access Unix System, Rimini, ITALY
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 92 02:43:12 GMT

================================================================================
UniBoard 1.10 -- a complete BBS system for 386/486 Unix<tm> boxes now available!
================================================================================

UniBoard is a BBS package with Usenet and Email capabilities that looks
very similar to most popular DOS-based BBS systems like Opus, RA, etc. If you
are looking for a unix BBS software that doesn't scare your users, this is what
you need! Even the most inexperienced user can read/post news and mail, without
having to learn how to use mail(1), rn(1), or any other Unix<tm> program.
In addition, all the other well known BBS features as file upload/download,
doors (games), bulletins, and so on are available.
UniBoard is not a true "commercial" program, but you will have to register it
if you want to use it on a regular basis. Prices are as low as $35 for a
2 users licence, with full unlimited upgrades + email support (I would prefer
to call this "donation" instead of "price"). It is distributed in executable
form only. Please do not ask for sources, they will not be released; also
please do not start another flame war on this topic -- if you don't agree with
my way of doing things, please ignore this message and stop reading now!



O.S. supported by UniBoard 1.10 as of Mon Jun 15 02:21:17 GMT 1992

vendor            type            release        vendor rel.            notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESIX              SVR3            3.2            5.3.2.D
ISC               SVR3            3.2            2.0.1
ISC               SVR3            3.2            2.2.1
ISC               SVR3            3.2            3.0
SCO               SVR3            3.2            2.0
SCO               SVR3            3.2            4.0 beta
DELL              SVR4            4.0            beta release
ESIX              SVR4            4.0            4.0.3
INTEL             SVR4            4.0            2.0

(if you run (or will succeed in running) UniBoard on another Unix brand/version
 please let me know so that I will able to update this list)

The package requires a customized activation key in order to run. A demo
key is supplied with the package, but you will have to change your nodename
and clock setting to use it. If you cannot (or don't want to) change anything
you can email me and I will send you an evaluation key with a limited lifetime
that will let you use all the program's features while you decide whether to
buy it or not. The key will work on the licensed host only and includes info
like sysop name, key licensee, etc. that will be customized for you.

Where to get it?

The package can be downloaded from any support BBS at the first call.
There are two "official" distribution sites:

site                            N    data #                login    standards
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UniBoard Development site       It   +39 541 27135         bbs      HST,PEP,V32
Akademia Pana Kleksa p.a. unix  US   +1 216 481 9445       bbs      HST,V32
Akademia Pana Kleksa p.a. unix  US   +1 216 481 9425       bbs      TPEP,V32

Upgrades will be made available on those sites as soon as they are released.

How to get it from Akademia (US):

1) by logging in as 'bbs', walking thru the new user procedure and downloading
   it from file area #1 (download possible on first call; z/x/ymodem);
2) via anonymous UUCP, login: nuucp (no password), dir: /x/files/unixbbs,
   files: 

328429 Sep 18 14:10 UNIB110A.tar.Z    protocols, archivers (zoo, arc...)
391659 Sep 24 19:05 UNIB110B.tar.Z    bbs binaries and utilities
129283 Sep 18 14:10 UNIB110C.tar.Z    config files, docs, etc

Right now it is NOT available for FTP. If someone manages to put it somewhere
please let me know so that I can tell it to the net.

The features list:

- available with 2, 4, 8, 16, 64 and 254 users licence;
- pretty robust code, no unexpexted core dumps;
- easy-to-use and highly intuitive interface for unexperienced people; very
  similar to the popular MSDOS program "Opus"; 
- runs on top of the popular netnews packages, either B-News or C-News are
  supported, full/true Usenet support;
- very easy setup and configuration; a complete system can be set up in
  roughly 30 minutes (if you already have the netnews package up and running);
- Fidonet support provided (NOT RELEASED YET);
- tree-structured message base, access privileges and other parameters are
  assigned in hierarchical fashion (child newsgroups inherit all parameters
  from their parents if not otherwise specified); unlimited # of newsgroups
  supported;
- Internationalization support: the user will be able to choose his/her
  preferred language at the beginning of the bbs session;
- all constant strings in UniBoard will be customizable, including colors,
  using a normal text editor (e.g. 'vi').
- 32000 different privilege levels;
- 16 additional access flags for file areas and external programs;
- activity monitor program supplied with the bbs; uses IPC and can show from 1
  to 4 users simultaneously on any tty; sysop<->user chat function included;
- indexed user database with error recovery and automatic backup; a separate
  maintenance program 'bbsmaint' is used to add/delete users, modify users
  access level/status/parameters, etc.
- unlimited file areas with independent up/download directory, access level,
  download level, and unlimited download feature;
- /bin/sh is not used in any way, external programs are spawn using the
  exec(2) family system calls; the bbs program is directly spawned by init(1)
  through getty(1)/login(1), without any parent shell;
- the Sysop can define what ttys can be used for bbs and the working time of
  each port; minimum access level settable to avoid newcomers if desired;
- full color support using ANSI sequences, if the caller supports them;
- true multi-user, dynamic Chat, features automatic capture of called user into
  chat mode (no need for the paged user to go to Main Menu and enter the
  Chat Room), virtually unlimited users can chat simultaneously, "do not
  disturb" option available in the Setup Section to avoid the chat;
- separately definable time-per-call, calls-per-day, time-per-day and
  download limit for each of the 32000 available privilege levels;
- all Menus are user-definable, can have ANSI color sequences in it that will
  be skipped if the caller does not support them; an ansi compiler/decompiler
  is supplied with the package;
- different menu sets can be specified for each of the 32000 privilege levels;
- several different Sysop-definable support texts are shown in some circum-
  stances, like file upload/download, login/logoff, and so on; ANSI color is
  supported within these text files too;
- each menu option is sysop-definable: minimum privilege level and key required
  to activate the option can be changed;
- the unix system "sees" the bbs as a remote system; each bbs user can send
  and receive unix mail and has his own private mailbox. No need to add entries
  to your /etc/passwd file for bbs users!
- message base maintenance directly handled by the netnews package
  (expire, addgroup, etc);
- external programs (doors) menu with definable access level, ANSI flag
  and interactive or batch mode; full user data dump in /tmp allows you
  to write your own interfaces to popular utilities and programs;
- customizable transfer protocols menu, sysop can add or remove protocols
  as need arises;
- batch file transfer security: uploads will have path forced to a temporary
  directory;
- customizable archivers menu, sysop can add or remove archivers as need
  arises (archivers are programs used to show contents of archive files
  e.g. unzip, arcl, unarj, etc);
- detailed logging of all events in a log file; the verbosity level is
  sysop-definable;
- both full-screen and line-oriented editors supplied; sysop can choose his
  own preferred editor (e.g. 'vi' or 'emacs') to edit messages;
- unread messages download feature, can be used to save callers connection
  time (messages are compressed before download);
- built-in "Preferred Groups" reading mode, very similar to the 'rn' interface
  (although very simplified);
- "motd" feature allows you to set up (using a single file) messages regarding
  the system that will be shown to each caller ONLY ONCE, based on their
  last login date;
- bbs email and news traffic can be monitored by the sysop, including
  contents;
- session logging utility included (dumps a session to file).


Many features are probably missing from this list. The best thing I can
suggest is to grab the package and try it out yourself!

For any additional info, question, etc. feel free to email me at the
address in my sig.

Ciao

Rick
-- 
Riccardo Pizzi @ the Nervous XTC Public Access Unix System, Rimini, ITALY
E-Mail -> pizzi@nervous.com        <*>      Bang-path -> uunet!nervous!pizzi
Nervous XTC, the home of the UniBoard package * Data: +39-541-27135 HST/PEP/V32