AR-Cluster runs on 32-bit Windows platforms of Windows 95®, Windows 98®, Windows NT® Workstation, Windows NT® Server and Windows 2000. Sysops running NT should install NT Service Pack 5 later. Minimum screen resolution requirements are 800 X 600. Recommended memory requirements are 64 Meg. Recommended free hard-drive space is 200 Meg. All testing has been conducted on English versions of Windows operating systems. The status of running AR-Cluster on non-English versions of Windows is documented in the Internationalization section of this manual.
AR-Cluster is installed
using the standard Windows installation package. Make sure you have installed Internet Explorer 6.0 before
installing AR-Cluster. Run the
AR-Cluster setup program on the supplied CD or copy the supplied files into a
temporary directory and then run the setup program. Follow the instructions supplied. You may be asked to re-boot your computer in the middle of the
installation. It is normal to see a
percent progress report exceeding 100 percent when the installation is
complete. After you complete the
installation of the program, copy your license file (License.Art for
AR-Cluster, License.arl for AR-Cluster Lite) into the folder where the program
files were installed.
The Microsoft installer
use for AR-Cluster claims that Win 95 and 98 installs will also need to install
the Microsoft DCOM98.
The AR-Cluster
installation also installs the latest AGW and BPQ drivers for connecting into
RF/TNC devices. The installation
creates the following directory structure:
|
Folder |
Data |
|
AR-Cluster |
Executable |
|
AGW |
AGW Packet Engine |
|
BPQ32 |
BPQ32 Packet Engine Switch |
|
Configuration |
Script configuration files |
|
Archive |
Archive files |
|
Buckmaster |
Buckmaster Callsign Database files |
|
Bulletins |
Bulletin files |
|
Callbook |
Callbook Database files |
|
Files |
Files storage |
|
QRZ |
QRZ Callbook search files |
|
Database |
AR-Cluster Database files |
|
Debug |
Debug and monitoring files |
|
Docs |
Documentation files |
|
SysopManual |
Sysop Manual |
|
UserManual |
Users Manaul |
|
System |
System files |
|
Utils |
Utilities |
|
WaveFiles |
Multi-media Wave files |
|
XML |
Database XML export files |
Start the application
using the following: Start > Programs > AR-Technology > AR-Cluster. The
program will launch displaying the AR-Cluster splash screen. After a few seconds, the main menu will
appear. As you resize the main application,
all sub-controls, windows and tabs are re-sized automatically. Be sure and set up your station parameters
before placing your node on the air.
The program may be shipped with a database containing a small amount of
real data captured from the cluster network.
When installing
a new version of AR-Cluster make sure the node call is setup for remote sysop
by doing a CFG>User(Local) enter you call
with no SSID and set your filters.
These filters effect what is displayed on the output Window. Also make sure you check the remote sysop
box so you can do remote sysop commands from the console.
When shutting down
AR-Cluster, a built-in delay is added to allow attached communication devices
to disconnect from their appropriate users and nodes. This delay varies based on the number of nodes and users attached
to the system.
The AR-Cluster
User Manual contains help on user commands and can be copied and
distributed to the users of your node.
It can also be published to your web site or your clubs web site. The only thing we ask is that you also
include a link back to the AR-Technology web site at www.ab5k.net.