TITLE:              Using TaskMgr to Run a BBS
DOCUMENT ID:        TID015431
DOCUMENT REVISION:  1
DATE:               22Mar1994
ALERT STATUS:       Yellow
README FOR:         NA

NOVELL PRODUCT and VERSION:
NOVELL DOS 7.0

ABSTRACT:
NA

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SYMPTOMS:

How can I run a BBS in a TaskMgr background task?

SOLUTION:

Novell does not officially support actively running serial
communications in the background.  The text from DOSBOOK reads as
follows:

"Note: When you are using communications software such as electronic
mail or file transfer, make sure you do not switch tasks while the
communications software is sending or receiving data via the serial
port on your computer; if you do, data may be lost. Use the
application to stop the remote card sending data before you switch
tasks or adjust the foreground/background ratio setting."

Unofficially, in some cases users have been able to run a BBS in a
TaskMgr background task by making the following three changes to the
TASKMGR.INI file:

     1.   Set the foreground/background ration to 1 to 1.

     2.   Set the com port timeout for the port using the modem to
          65535.

     3.   Turn idle detection off.

The following is an abridged TASKMGR.INI file showing these changes:

     #
     #    Sample TaskMgr parameter profile
     #

     [Drivers]
     # Load IPX support. Used by Multitasker.
     .
     .
     .

     [Slice]
     # Ratio of foreground-to-background
     # process time for Multitasker
     Foreground=1
     .
     .
     .

     [COM1]
     TimeOut=65535  # com port ownership time out
     # legal time out values are 1 to 65534
     # value of 0 means the port is not virtualized
     # value of 65535 means infinite timeout
     # AUTO allows OS defaults, including mouse
     # detection

     .
     .
     .

     [Shell]
     Idle=FALSE
     # if FALSE the default is no idle detection.
     .
     .
     .

     # end of TaskMgr profile

After making these changes, users have been able to run their BBS in
the background and do other things in the foreground.

In summary, try it, and if it works, fine; if it does not, this
configuration is not supported by Novell.

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