Introduction
Welcome to System Information, the local diagnostic console for your Emulator.ca browser session.
Visit any corporate data centre and you will find it: the console room. Banks of terminals display scrolling statistics, blinking status lights, and real-time graphs. System administrators watch these displays like air traffic controllers, catching problems before they cascade into failures. This is how serious computing operations are managed - with constant visibility into the machine's vital signs.
System Information gives your terminal a console-room view of the statistics this browser can observe.
Through your modem connection, you can inspect local browser/session diagnostics. Watch the local statistics uptime counter tick forward. Review recent local calls recorded in this browser, track which services this local log has seen, and monitor storage utilization as browser storage is used.
There is something uniquely compelling about this view. You are not just a user of the BBS - you are watching your local terminal environment work. When you see "Recent Local Sessions: 3" and you are one of them, you are looking at a browser-local estimate from recent unfinished connection records, not a live count of other people on a server.
For aspiring system operators, this is your training ground. Learn to read the metrics that matter: What does healthy utilization look like? How do you spot problems before users complain? What do traffic patterns reveal about how people use the system?
For the curious, this is a peek behind the curtain - the infrastructure that makes networked computing possible, laid bare for your inspection.
System Capabilities:
- Local statistics uptime tracking with precision timing
- Recent local session estimates from browser storage
- Persistent local connection counters with daily and weekly breakdowns
- Browser storage utilization statistics
- Connection history with timestamps and caller handles
- Service usage tracking by phone number
- Local connection statistics for data transfer monitoring
- Interactive category browsing with detailed views
- Local refresh without reconnection
- Export statistics to downloadable text reports
Statistics persist in browser storage for this client. Daily and weekly counters automatically reset at midnight and Sunday respectively.
Quick Start
To view system statistics immediately:
Step 1: Dial the service
ATDT555-0600
Step 2: Upon connection, you will see the main menu with a quick status bar showing local uptime, recent local sessions, and storage utilization.
Step 3: Try these commands:
- Press
1to view the System Overview - Press
4to see recent callers - Press
5to view which services are most popular - Press
Rto refresh all statistics - Press
Eto export a statistics report
Step 4: Press M from any category to return to the main menu.
You are now viewing local BBS diagnostics for this browser session.
Getting Connected
Dialing In
To access the System Information Center, dial 555-0600 from the main terminal. You will be connected to the local diagnostic interface immediately upon carrier establishment.
ATZ
OK
ATDT555-0600
CONNECT 300
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SYSTEM INFORMATION & STATISTICS ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
Local: 2d 14h 32m Recent: 3 Storage: 12.4%
Modem Requirements
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Baud Rate | 300 baud (Bell 103) |
| Protocol | 8N1 (8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit) |
| Carrier Detect | Required |
| Flow Control | Hardware (RTS/CTS) |
System Statistics
The System Overview category (Option 1 from main menu) provides a snapshot of this browser's local diagnostic record at a glance.
Local Diagnostic Status
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Current Time | Local browser time for display |
| Local Uptime | Time since the local statistics record was initialized (days/hours/minutes) |
| Stats Since | Timestamp of local statistics initialization |
Connection Statistics
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Recent Local Sessions | Estimated recent sessions from this browser's local connection log |
| Total Connections | All-time local connection count (persistent) |
| Today's Callers | Connections since midnight (resets daily) |
| This Week | Connections since Sunday (resets weekly) |
| Peak Concurrent | Maximum recent local-session estimate recorded |
Storage Summary
Quick view of browser storage utilization:
- Used: Current bytes consumed versus total capacity
- Utilization: Percentage indicator with color coding
- Files: Total file count in storage
Storage utilization is color-coded: GREEN (<50%), YELLOW (50-80%), RED (>80%)
Caller Statistics
The User Activity category (Option 4) tracks caller patterns in this browser's local log and provides recent caller records.
Today's Activity
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Total Calls | Number of connections made today |
| Unique Callers | Distinct handles (excluding anonymous) |
| Recent Local Sessions | Estimated recent sessions from this browser's local connection log |
A local session record is considered recent if it has had activity within the last 5 minutes. This is a browser-local diagnostic estimate, not a cross-client presence count.
Recent Callers Log
The system maintains a rolling log of the last 100 connections, displaying:
- Timestamp: Connection time
- Handle: Caller's registered name (or "Anonymous")
- Duration: Session length (when available)
- Backend: Phone number dialed (if available)
Recent Callers:
14:32:15 WARDIALER (5m 23s) → 555-0300
14:28:01 SYSOP_BOB (12m 8s)
14:15:44 Anonymous (2m 1s) → 555-0100
14:10:22 CIRCUIT_SAGE (8m 45s) → 555-0400
The standard interface does not display IP addresses. The local diagnostic log is scoped to what this browser records.
Backend Usage Stats
The Backend Usage category (Option 5) shows which BBS services appear most often in this browser's local statistics.
Popularity Rankings
Backends are ranked by total call count, showing up to 10 entries:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Rank | Position by popularity (1 = most called) |
| Phone Number | Backend dial string |
| Call Count | Total times dialed |
| Last Called | Most recent connection date |
| Description | Service name (if available) |
Most Popular Backends:
1. 555-0100 1,247 calls (01/22/2026)
Dungeon
2. 555-0300 892 calls (01/22/2026)
SLP-BASIC
3. 555-0400 654 calls (01/21/2026)
Forth Interpreter
4. 555-0600 421 calls (01/22/2026)
System Information
Network Statistics
The Network Statistics category (Option 2) provides local data transfer metrics:
- Session Statistics: Current session duration, bytes sent/received for your connection
- Total Network Traffic: All-time transmitted/received bytes across local sessions
- Connection Info: Carrier status, signal strength, protocol details
The backend tracks bytes sent and received for each local connection. Your session statistics show only your current connection's data transfer. Total network statistics aggregate local traffic since the statistics record was initialized.
Navigation
The System Information Center uses a hierarchical menu system for efficient navigation between categories.
Main Menu Structure
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SYSTEM INFORMATION & STATISTICS ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
Local: 2d 14h 32m Recent: 3 Storage: 12.4%
[1] System Overview
[2] Network Statistics
[3] Storage Information
[4] User Activity
[5] Backend Usage
[6] Performance Metrics
[R] Refresh All Stats
[E] Export Report
[Q] Quit
Selection: _
Category View
When viewing any category, the following options are available:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| R | Refresh current category with latest data |
| D | Detailed view (all statistics combined) |
| M | Return to main menu |
| Q | Quit and disconnect |
Quick Stats Bar
The header always displays three key metrics at a glance:
- Local: Local statistics uptime in days/hours/minutes
- Recent: Recent local session estimate
- Storage: Storage utilization percentage
Command Reference
Main Menu Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | System Overview - Local diagnostic status and connection stats |
| 2 | Network Statistics - Data transfer and session info |
| 3 | Storage Information - Disk usage and file statistics |
| 4 | User Activity - Recent callers and activity logs |
| 5 | Backend Usage - Popular phone numbers and services |
| 6 | Performance Metrics - System load and averages |
| R | Refresh all statistics from storage |
| E | Export statistics to text report |
| Q | Quit and terminate connection |
Category View Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| R | Refresh current category display |
| D | Show detailed view (all stats combined) |
| M | Return to main menu |
| Q | Quit session |
Detailed View Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Q | Return to category view |
| ESC | Return to category view |
Export Function
Press E from the main menu to generate a plain-text statistics report. The export includes:
- System overview with local uptime and connection counts
- Network statistics (total bytes transferred)
- Storage information (capacity, usage, file counts)
- Recent connection log (last 10 entries)
- Backend usage rankings
═════════════════════════════════════════
SYSTEM STATISTICS EXPORT
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SYSTEM STATISTICS REPORT
Generated: 1/22/2026, 3:45:12 PM
=== SYSTEM OVERVIEW ===
Local Uptime: 2d 14h 32m
Stats Since: 1/20/2026, 1:13:00 AM
Total Connections: 1,247
Connections Today: 89
Recent Local Sessions: 3
=== NETWORK STATISTICS ===
Total Transmitted: 45.23 MB
Total Received: 12.87 MB
Report saved as: stats-export-1706024712000.txt
Exported reports are saved to the system export directory and can be retrieved via the File Browser service (555-0603).
Performance Metrics
The Performance Metrics category (Option 6) provides local diagnostic insights for anyone curious about how this browser session and its stored counters behave.
System Performance
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Local Load Estimate | Light/Moderate/Heavy based on recent local sessions vs. capacity (8 max) |
| Recent Local Sessions | Estimated recent sessions from this browser's local connection log |
| Peak Concurrent | Maximum recent local-session estimate recorded |
Traffic Metrics
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Avg Connections/Day | Mean daily connection rate since local statistics initialization |
| Avg Session Duration | Mean time users stay connected |
| Total Data Transfer | Combined transmitted and received bytes |
Resource Usage
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Storage | Percentage and bytes used |
| Files | Total file count in storage |
| Connection Log | Number of entries in rolling log (max 100) |
Storage Information
The Storage Information category (Option 3) provides detailed browser storage metrics.
Disk Information
- Total Capacity: Maximum available storage space
- Used Space: Currently consumed bytes
- Free Space: Remaining available bytes
- Utilization: Percentage with visual bar indicator
Utilization: 42.5%
[██████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░]
File Statistics
- Total Files: Number of stored items
- Average File Size: Mean bytes per file
Storage Directories
Top 5 directories are listed by file count, showing how storage is distributed across service namespaces.
Appendix A: Quick Reference Card
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║ SYSTEM INFORMATION QUICK REFERENCE ║
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║ MAIN MENU CATEGORY VIEW ║
║ ───────── ───────────── ║
║ 1 System Overview R Refresh current view ║
║ 2 Network Statistics D Detailed view (all stats) ║
║ 3 Storage Information M Return to main menu ║
║ 4 User Activity Q Quit session ║
║ 5 Backend Usage ║
║ 6 Performance Metrics QUICK STATS BAR ║
║ R Refresh all stats ─────────────── ║
║ E Export report Local: Days/hours/minutes ║
║ Q Quit Recent: Local session estimate ║
║ Storage: Utilization percent ║
║ STORAGE INDICATORS ║
║ ────────────────── LOAD INDICATORS ║
║ GREEN < 50% used ──────────────── ║
║ YELLOW 50-80% used Light: 1-2 recent local sessions║
║ RED > 80% used Moderate: 3-5 recent local sessions║
║ Heavy: 6-8 recent local sessions║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Appendix B: Troubleshooting
Common Problems and Solutions
Problem: Statistics appear stale or unchanged
Cause: You may be viewing cached data from your initial connection.
Solution: Press R to refresh the current view, or return to the main menu and re-enter the category. Statistics are fetched fresh on each request.
Problem: Recent local session count seems incorrect
Cause: The count is an estimate from recent unfinished entries in this browser's local connection log.
Solution: Use it as a local diagnostic hint only. It is not a cross-client presence count.
Problem: Export function does not produce output
Cause: The export may have completed but the file was saved to the local export directory.
Solution: Press E again and wait for the completion message. The filename will be displayed. Access exported files through the File Browser service (555-0603).
Problem: Storage utilization shows 0%
Cause: Browser storage may not have been initialized, or no user files have been created.
Solution: This is normal for a fresh browser profile. Storage utilization will increase as files are created through services like EC-SHELL.
Problem: Backend usage shows no entries
Cause: No calls have been recorded in this browser's local statistics since the counters were last reset.
Solution: Backend statistics are populated as this browser dials various services. Connect to a few services yourself to see them appear in the rankings.
Appendix C: Glossary
Recent Local Session — A recent unfinished connection record in this browser's local diagnostic log.
Backend — A BBS service accessible via a phone number (e.g., 555-0300 for BASIC, 555-0100 for the Dungeon).
Carrier — The modem signal that maintains the connection between your computer and the BBS.
Connection Log — A rolling local record of recent connections, including timestamps and caller handles when available.
Peak Concurrent — The maximum recent local-session estimate recorded.
Local Load Estimate — A qualitative diagnostic measure based on the ratio of recent local sessions to an eight-session reference capacity.
Session Duration — The length of time a caller remains connected before disconnecting.
Storage Utilization — The percentage of available storage space currently in use.
Sysop — System Operator; the administrator responsible for maintaining the BBS.
Local Uptime — The elapsed time since the local statistics record was initialized.
Understanding What the Numbers Mean
Statistics are only useful if you know how to interpret them. Here is how to think about the metrics System Information provides:
Healthy vs. Concerning Signs
Local Uptime - Long uptime (days or weeks) indicates this browser's diagnostic record has persisted. Frequent resets usually mean browser storage was cleared or reinitialized.
Storage Utilization - Under 50% (green) means plenty of room to grow. 50-80% (yellow) is normal for an active system. Over 80% (red) means capacity planning is needed - or users are accumulating too many files.
Recent Local Sessions - Compare to Peak Concurrent to understand this browser's recent connection activity. Treat it as local diagnostic context, not capacity evidence.
Connections per Day - Trending upward suggests growing popularity. Sudden drops might indicate problems (or might just be a holiday weekend).
Traffic Patterns
Watch the Backend Usage rankings over time. Popular services attract more development attention. If a service you use heavily is low in the rankings, it might be at risk of discontinuation - or it might be an undiscovered gem.
For Aspiring Sysops
The metrics here are the same ones professional system administrators monitor. Understanding them is the first step toward running your own BBS:
- Capacity thinking: What would more phone lines or storage mean?
- Performance monitoring: Which local counters help you reason about demand?
- Usage patterns: Which services appear often in your local log?
Related Services
- Shell (555-0760) - See storage utilization in action by creating your own files
- Stock Ticker (555-0755) - Another data-intensive service showing real-time updates
The next time you dial into any service on the network, remember - your browser's local diagnostic counters are being updated. System Information is where that local data comes alive.
System Information Reference Manual - Emulator.ca Systems
Document Revision 1.0