Upgrading To The Field Test Version TSX-Online

Many people ask us, "how do I go about getting the field test version of TSX-Online". Well, here is the answer!

First, the answer may be, "you don't". Generally we are willing to grant access to the field test (read "latest") version to anybody who is in support, although we reserve the right to strongly suggest (read "require") that some sites stick to officially released versions.

The field test version is available via an FTP account. Members of the field test mailing list get notifications of the periodic password changes we make to it.

The name of the account is BBSTEST. So, assuming that you know the password, the first step is to FTP to SANDH.COM, enter a username of BBSTEST, and the current password.

Next, issue the command "CD FTTSXBBS", and the command "BINARY". Now you can do an "LS" command if you want to see all the files that are there.

In general there are two "big" zip files, one containing the latest version of TSX, and one containing the latest version of TSX-Online. Upgrading to the latest of both is never a bad idea, but chances are good that you may be compelled to get the latest TSX-Online version much more often than the TSX operating system.

The operating system files, which is not a complete O/S installation, resides in a file named PPPCARE.ZIP. This is for historical reasons; we started the file when first implimented PPP. To install this:

  • Get to the SY: directory, normally TSX32SYS.
  • Do PKUNZIP PPPCARE. All the files in it, except one, go into the TSX32SYS directory.
  • Copy the TSX32.SYS file to the root of C:. Note: if your TSX32SYS directory is also on C:, you can just do a "RENAME TSX32.SYS C:\*.*" command. Otherwise, use "COPY/DELETE TSX32.SYS C:\*.*".
  • Regen the system with the command "TSGEN TSX32".

    The latest version of TSX-Online is in a large zip file named TSXBBS.ZIP. There are smaller zip files containing selected portions. To install TSXBBS.ZIP, simply unzip this file in the BBSBIN: directory. WARNING WARNING WARNING: If you have customed menus or LOGON.TPL and left the customized versions in BBSBIN:, you have made an error; you are supposed to put customized stuff in BBS:. Move it there now, before your work gets overwritten by the stuff in TSXBBS.ZIP