These instructions have been provided by Sean Dennis!

Sean's Quick 'n Easy SIO/VModem Setup FAQ v0.0.6 Updated on 25 October 2023 Written by Sean Dennis (sysop@outpostbbs.net)

This document is released under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) and was originally written on 26 September 1999 at 14:14 CST.

* NOTE: This FAQ assumes you know how to set up your BBS and OS/2 correctly. If you need help with that, please look elsewhere. This FAQ covers SIO v1.60d as I have never used SIO2K.

1) What is SIO/VMODEM?

SIO stands for Serial Input/Output. It is a serial communications driver for OS/2. VModem is a virtualized modem engine also for OS/2. Note that these are NOT FOSSIL drivers, but replacements for OS/2's VCOM.SYS/COM.SYS and ArcaOS' PSCOM.SYS/VCOM.SYS. OS/2 doesn't need FOSSIL drivers but if you use DOS doors/BBS software, VXOO.SYS, SIO's virtual VDM FOSSIL driver, is required.

Basically, VMODEM fools the BBS into thinking that it's connecting to a standard serial port(s) and SIO handles the real communications end. I've used this with both OS/2 and DOS based BBS software and SIO/VMODEM work flawlessly.

2) Where can I download this? Is it registerable?

Look for SIO160D.ZIP. It's available from my BBS in file area 16, “Cheepware” (guest access available to download).

SIO is no longer registerable. Ray Gwinn, the author of SIO, has said publicly on Facebook to use the keygen that is available for 1.60d. No keygen is available for SIO2K.

3) OK, I got it on my system, now how do I install it?

Put the ZIP file into a temporary directory, unZIP it and then type INSTALL. SIO will then install itself into C:\SIO and run REREG.EXE (to check to see if you have a registration). Now, here's where things get fun! Get out your favorite text editor and load up CONFIG.SYS. Under OS/2 and eComStation, the lines referring to COM.SYS and VCOM.SYS have been commented out and the lines referring to SIO.SYS and VX00.SYS have been installed.

For ArcaOS, you must manually comment out the following lines in CONFIG.SYS:

 DEVICE=C:\OS2\BOOT\PSCOM.SYS
 DEVICE=C:\OS2\MDOS\VCOM.SYS

For all systems, make sure all of this is after the MOUSE.SYS line. If not, your mouse may quit working.

4) It's in the directory…how do I configure it for my system?

You'll need to define each COM port.

(Before you go any further, open the docs and read them. Yeah, they're dry, but there's a lot of good information in there! However, there is one little piece of info that you'll need…)

Basically, your SIO line should look like:

 DEVICE=C:\SIO\SIO.SYS

You'll then want to add something like:

 (COM1,3F8,IRQ4)

to the line… but that's not complete either. It will get you basic comm support, but you will not be able to run DOS doors over telnet! Why? SIO does not give up the COM port to any other program unless specified with a - in the command line. So, with that addition, the command line would look like:

 DEVICE=C:\SIO\SIO.SYS (COM1,3F8,IRQ4,-)

If you want to lock your ports (I do and recommend it for the most consistency with data streams), you put it directly after the COM port like so:

 DEVICE=C:\SIO\SIO.SYS (COM1:57600,3F8,IRQ4,-)

That's all there is to it for your regular dial-up modem. Now, if you're planning on using a virtual modem, things are a wee bit different. Since you're really not using a modem, you'll need to fool the computer into thinking there IS one on that COM port. You don't need the real IRQ and base addresses here, you can make them up… however, for this example, I'll use COM2's standard calling conventions here.

To use COM2 as a virtual modem, here's the line you could use:

 DEVICE=C:\SIO\SIO.SYS (COM2,INTERNET:2F8,NONE:3)

To run DOS doors on the virtual modem:

 DEVICE=C:\SIO\SIO.SYS (COM2,INTERNET:2F8,NONE:3,-)

If you want to lock the COM port AND run DOS doors:

 DEVICE=C:\SIO\SIO.SYS (COM2:57600,INTERNET:2F8,NONE:3,-)

See a pattern emerging here? :)

This is my personal SIO command line in CONFIG.SYS (the first line is wrapped for this document):

 DEVICE=C:\SIO\SIO.SYS (COM1:57600,3F8,IRQ4,-) (COM2:57600,
 INTERNET:2F8,NONE:3,-) (COM3:57600,INTERNET:3E8,NONE:4,-),
 (COM4:57600,INTERNET:2E8,NONE:3,-)
 DEVICE=C:\SIO\VSIO.SYS
 DEVICE=C:\SIO\VX00.SYS
 DEVICE=C:\OS2\MDOS\ANSI.SYS

If you are going to run DOS doors, make sure to include the VX00.SYS line as that is the DOS FOSSIL driver. VSIO.SYS is required in all cases. ANSI.SYS is also needed if you are going to use ANSI graphics.

Make sure that SIO's directory is in both your PATH and DPATH statements. Very important.

When you're done, save the file and reboot. You will see SIO's little “I'm alive” screen while booting up the system.

5) Great! Now, HOW do I set up VModem?

VModem is blessedly simple to use… just type in VMODEM at a VIO prompt. Vmodem will pop up and say at the bottom a message about being alive and well. The window will look somewhat like a modem with lights: when a particular port is being used, the black text will turn yellow when accessed.

If you're not online, VModem will still fire up. It doesn't care as long as those ports are defined in CONFIG.SYS.

You can make VMODEM load after the TCP/IP stack is loaded by creating a CMD file called TCPEXIT.CMD in C:\TCPIP\BIN (applies to all systems).

Something like this will work:

   @echo off
   c:
   cd \sio
   start "VModem" /win /min vmodem

You can also start your entire BBS via that batch file.

6) So, just what do I do to my BBS to have it access those virtual modems?

Set it up normally as if those modems were really there. However, the init string is ATZ. That's all that is needed. DO NOT USE +++ in the init string as it is not implemented in VModem. Please read the SIO documentation for more information.

That's all for a simple SIO/VModem setup. However, RTFM DOES APPLY. PLEASE READ THE MANUALS! There is mportant information in there that you need to know!

If you have any questions, I would be happy to try to help you.

As of this writing, you may contact me via:

BBS     : telnet://bbs.outpostbbs.net:10323 or
          https://outpostbbs.net/connect.html
Echomail: MIN_OS2 (Micronet), OS2 (Fidonet)
Netmail : 1:18/200@Fidonet and 618:618/1@Micronet
Email   : sysop@outpostbbs.net
WWW     : http(s)://outpostbbs.net

I greatly prefer to be contacted via my BBS or in echomail.

I hope this document helps you. This is gained from over twenty-five years of running SIO and VModem. My current BBS configuration is running ProBoard 2.17 under ArcaOS PE 5.0.8 with SIO/VMODEM v1.60d.

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