karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) (10/05/88)
AKCS V5 (tm)
The Future in Computer Conferencing is available today.
NOW:
For a limited time, and only on specific machines, get AKCS V5
for just $149! This is a savings of 40% off the regular price!
Order TODAY - This is a LIMITED TIME OFFER. See the end of this
posting for price and ordering information.
AKCS is a threaded conferencing package which provides messaging functions
well beyond the capabilities of typical "bbs" software. Unlike most "bbs"
packages, AKCS keeps all responses to an item with the original, showing a
user only new information in complete context.
Designed for excellent performance on a small Unix or Xenix machine,
AKCS is willing to work for you on all sizes of computers. From the
small 80286 system to the largest Amdahl or VAX, AKCS and MCS deliver an
outstanding value for your investment.
Priced from just $149.00 (in binary on 80286/3b1 systems), AKCS is an
economical solution for the business or individual who wishes to operate
a computer conferencing system.
Some key features of AKCS V5 are:
o Unequaled captive login and enhanced security features
allow you to set up a complete multiuser system with bbs,
file up/down load, chat (multiuser real-time talk) and
external programs without the need to assign user shell
accounts. AKCS manages all aspects of creation of these
ids and the maintenance involved. Multiuser 'chat' software
and a newuser signup program which creates normal unix login
id's are provided at no additional charge in source format.
o Greatly improved access control, including a special
"guest" user id (uid) for new users or special restricted
access and "read only" conference provisions for
announcement conferences.
o Security features are automatically keyed to the account;
if a normal user runs AKCS he/she may use all normal system
facilities and shell escapes. A user signing on in a
'captive' account is denied these privileges as well as
others needed to insure the security of the environment.
o Full privileges for conference membership may be assigned
by conference, for both normal system and captive AKCS
users. Both 'allowed' and 'denied' processing is
provided for utmost flexibility.
o All AKCS commands, help screens and main command prompts
may be redefined by the system administrator, and new
external commands may be added or deleted as desired.
Customize your system to suit YOUR needs and desires.
Detailed information is provided to customers on request
so they may insure that a captive login remains secure.
o Conferences link with any number of other AKCS sites, for
a fully networked solution. You can now share your bbs
items with your uucp neighbors. Fully configurable to use
any desired transport mechanism (uucp, arpa, xmodem,
etc.), and capable of maintaining linkage with any number
of additional machines. Both compressed and
straight-ascii interchange is supported. Mailed
transport permits transfer in a multi-hop environment.
The message interchange format is documented in the owner
manual in the event you would like to interface an
external package to AKCS, is in 7-bit ASCII (non-compressed
mode) for the utmost in flexibility. MCS permits the free
use of the *message interchange format* by the public;
the descriptive document is in the public domain.
o Fully multi-user, with multiple system links being
transparent to the user. AKCS supports up to 4096 active
threads per conference, with no limit to the number of
conferences -- you are effectively limited only by disk.
o Maintenance commands from the main menu permit a
'fairwitness' to rebuild critical system files without
advanced training in AKCS internals. A full-screen
maintenance program is provided as well, and allows the
AKCS administrator(s) to add and delete conferences,
configure links, and impose or lift restrictions on the
usage of conference(s), as well as maintain the captive
user accounts. There is no need to manually search
directories for affected files; the 'point and shoot'
interface makes it a snap.
o Easy installation instructions and an on-line manual
page as well as on-line help are available at every
point; use of the system is easy for both the novice
and the experienced user.
o All commands may be entered with the least number of
characters that uniquely identifes that command (ie:
'read' can be entered as 'r', since no other command
starts with the letter "R").
o 'Mark' function allows users to place 'book marks' in the
system for later use -- these remain beyond the end of a
session if unerased/unused.
o Full moderation capability for those conferences which
should be run as a moderated forum of discussion. AKCS
fully supports mail paths to the moderator for those sites
which are distant from the actual moderator's home site.
Moderation may be set individually for each conference.
o An 'options' screen is provided in AKCS which allows users
to customize the operation of AKCS to suit their needs
without knowing anything about the Unix environment.
Several user options have been added to make it easier for
the first-time user to become acclimated with the AKCS bbs
system, including a 'verbose prompt' mode. In addition,
the message header and response format is under user
control.
o A utility to port Picospan conferences to the standard
AKCS interchange format is supplied with all AKCS systems.
o Interfaces with our companion product, ELBS, providing
file Up/Download access in an easy-to-use and understand
format. ELBS can run in either a full-screen or text mode,
depending on the user's terminal capabilities. ELBS
permits either unrestricted or quota-based Up/Download.
o Can be easily linked in with other programs to provide a
complete environment uniquely tailored to your needs.
o Source code is available; call or write for information.
Of course, AKCS, like all our software products, comes with our famous
support and upgrade policy -- problems are attended to *now*,
enhancements (downloaded via uucp or xmodem) are free during the first
6 months, and our competent technical support staff is standing by
should you have questions about the product. AKCS users are also
eligible to receive any or all of our currently linked conferences,
providing you are willing to poll our organizations' equipment. We have
several conferences which are of wide-area interest available on
request to all AKCS sites.
AKCS is available NOW for the following system configurations:
o SCO Xenix/286 and /386
o Microport Unix SysV/286 and /386
o AT&T 3b1 and 3b2 series systems
MCS will port to other Unix configurations on a time-and-materials
basis if desired -- contact us if you wish to inquire about a specific
system configuration. We are also willing to license the Source Code to
qualified firms.
AKCS V5 Binary License Pricing:
Operating system Price
Xenix V/286 or Microport SV/AT $ 149.00
AT&T 3b1/7300 $ 149.00
All 80386 Operating Environments $ 249.00
AT&T 3b2 From $ 249.00
Others $ CALL
AKCS V5 Source License Pricing:
Unix/Xenix System V $2,499
To order or for more information, contact MCS today.
Macro Computer Solutions, Inc.
415 South East Garfield Avenue
Mundelein, IL 60060
(312) 566-8910
For a complete live demonstration of AKCS call our computer system by modem at:
(312) 566-8911 or (312) 566-8912 24-hour modem access at 300-2400 baud