erict@flatline.UUCP (J. Eric Townsend) (06/21/89)
[Please, please email all replies. I *WILL* summarize to the net.] I'm working on a proposal for a multi-line chat/bbs system, and I've thought that a 386-based unix system would be the way to go. Here're the requirements that I'm looking at: Basic requirements: -- Able to handle large number of incoming lines, 16 for right now. Up to 32 or more if things work well. It would be nice if the software could be made to handle resources allocated over more than one computer. (ie: can it run as part of a 4 machine LAN?) -- bbs system with threaded message bases, private mail, up/downloads -- chat system with multiple channels and more features than "who's on right now" :-) -- able to drive full-screen and/or glass-tty terminals (see below) -- support for multple terminal emulations, and room for customization for new terminals. (At least vt100 and ansi. If it uses termcap/terminfo and/or VDI libs and/or curses, all the better.) Secondary requirements: -- access to source code or *good* support from company to deal with needed local modifications -- support for games (single and/or multiple player) Some games will be written locally and will need to be accessible as well. -- support for online database searches of cd-rom or other mass storage devices -- if source is available, it be in C or some other 'real' language. :-) Other things I've thought about: -- answer-only modems. Are these made, and are they significantly cheaper than, say, a hayes modem. What speeds/protocols are available? What sort of price savings are there with rack mounted modems? -- buying a used miniframe, so that I can expand in all directions later on (ie: CPU, mass storage, serial lines, etc etc) (I could just get an 88000 card for the 386, I guess. :-) Is this at all practical? Would the maintenace costs and problems defeat the expandable-cpu pluses? -- other operating systems. The only other multitasking OS I'm at all familiar with is OS-9/68K. I'm not interested in MS-DOS or OS/2 based applications. I'm interested in any comments you might have about conferencing systems, chat systems, unix-based bbs'es, 386 Unix or anything else you feel is relevant. Lookit all those questions. :-) Again, please email replies, I'll summarize to the net. -- "But why should i type "rm -r $HOME" if I want to play rogue???" J. Eric Townsend -- uunet!sugar!flatline!erict || cosc5zz@george.uh.edu 511 Parker #2, Houston, Tx 77007 EastEnders Mailing list: eastender@flatline.UUCP