I'm thinking about starting my own BBS, strictly through Telnet. I'm look for a setup that's new-user friendly, i.e., stable, well supported and wel documented. It doesn't have to have lots of bells and whistles. So far, heard about Synchronet and Mystic. What else is out there?
Greetings!
I'm thinking about starting my own BBS, strictly through Telnet. I'm looking for a setup that's new-user friendly, i.e., stable, well supported and well documented. It doesn't have to have lots of bells and whistles.
So far, I've heard about Synchronet and Mystic. What else is out there?
I'm thinking about starting my own BBS, strictly through Telnet. I'm looking for a setup that's new-user friendly, i.e., stable, well supported
and well documented. It doesn't have to have lots of bells and whistles.
So far, I've heard about Synchronet and Mystic. What else is out there?
Mortar M. wrote to All <=-
I'm thinking about starting my own BBS, strictly through Telnet. I'm looking for a setup that's new-user friendly, i.e., stable, well
supported and well documented. It doesn't have to have lots of bells
and whistles. So far, I've heard about Synchronet and Mystic. What
else is out there?
I'm thinking about starting my own BBS, strictly through Telnet. I'm looki for a setup that's new-user friendly, i.e., stable, well supported and well documented. It doesn't have to have lots of bells and whistles. So far, I heard about Synchronet and Mystic. What else is out there?
Nick Andre wrote to Mortar M. <=-
Many DOS and Windows BBS software, all the fun door games, Fido
mailers, utilities & mods etc... all of it just seems to be best on
that OS.
I'm thinking about starting my own BBS, strictly through Telnet. I'm looking for a setup that's new-user friendly, i.e., stable, well
supported and well documented. It doesn't have to have lots of bells
and whistles. So far, I've heard about Synchronet and Mystic. What
else is out there?
What OS are you wanting to run it on?
Nick Andre wrote to Mortar M. <=-
You may find your options are greatest if you run 32-bit Windows either
on a real hardware or in a virtual machine.
Many DOS and Windows BBS software, all the fun door games, Fido
mailers, utilities & mods etc... all of it just seems to be best on
that OS.
I'm testing out 64-bit Windows 11 with my BBS - I've gotten all of my archivers switched out for Windows-compatible versions and most of my
door games are Javascript based. I've added a game door to multi-BBS
games, since I don't have a lot of gamers logging in here.
Worried that in 2025, Windows 10 will go EOL and there are no supported 32-bit windows options at that point. It's either that or Linux.
I'm testing out 64-bit Windows 11 with my BBS - I've gotten all of my archivers switched out for Windows-compatible versions and most of my
door games are Javascript based. I've added a game door to multi-BBS
games, since I don't have a lot of gamers logging in here.
Worried that in 2025, Windows 10 will go EOL and there are no supported 32-bit windows options at that point. It's either that or Linux.
Worried that in 2025, Windows 10 will go EOL and there are no supported 32-bit windows options at that point. It's either that or Linux.
I'm more worried of "Windows as-a-service" or "Windows 365" in the longrun.
Nick Andre wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-
I'm more worried of "Windows as-a-service" or "Windows 365" in the longrun.
Mortar M. wrote to Sean Dennis <=-
Either Windows or Linux. Too early to decide.
...people have their phones.
I'm more worried of "Windows as-a-service" or "Windows 365" in the
longrun.
I'm more worried of "Windows as-a-service" or "Windows 365" in the
longrun.
That may not actually be a bad thing. Something as dumb as that would prob convince more AAA game developing companies to make even *more* games for Linux, which would probably move more people away from Windows. :)
Not all of us sit around playing games ;)
Not all of us sit around playing games ;)
Well said. Or sit around playing I can type out a 900 line of text in
linux to do a COPY *.* command. Just to do things DOS did 30 years ago easier.
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: Jas Hud to Nick Andre on Fri Nov 22 2024 12:14:51
...people have their phones.
Pffft. Forget about some virus, it cell phones that'll cause the Zombie Apocolypse. Oh wait, it's already here.
Not all of us sit around playing games ;)
Well said. Or sit around playing I can type out a 900 line of text in
linux to do a COPY *.* command. Just to do things DOS did 30 years ago easier.
Third, every few years you have to upgrade operating systems (not too far, though.. because any further into the new millenium and your old software won't work properly unless you update it) to stick with a 32bit version th still supports your hobbies. Then with the discontinuation of 32bit Window the future is looking pretty grim, especially for any newcomers that want do all of this on their modern OSes.
Not really. I'm running the BBS from Win7, Nick is running from XP. The B is on it's own computer. No care about EOL or security for it. What are they gonna take, door game reg codes? ;)
Third, every few years you have to upgrade operating systems (not too far, >> though.. because any further into the new millenium and your old software
won't work properly unless you update it) to stick with a 32bit version th >> still supports your hobbies. Then with the discontinuation of 32bit Window >> the future is looking pretty grim, especially for any newcomers that want
do all of this on their modern OSes.
Not really. I'm running the BBS from Win7, Nick is running from XP. The BBS is on it's own computer. No care about EOL or security for it. What are they gonna take, door game reg codes? ;)
I wish I kept all the hilarious messages from 2002 telling me I was
going to be "hacked tomorrow" for running XP let alone running on
port 23.
Tomorrow never came...
Nick Andre wrote to T.J. Mcmillen <=-
I wish I kept all the hilarious messages from 2002 telling me I was
going to be "hacked tomorrow" for running XP let alone running on port
23.
Tomorrow never came...
I was merely stating one must run old and outdated Windows operating systems to run said software. Even more so with the phasing out of 32bit Windows.
I'm sorting through my mom's affairs while we get her ready for a new living situation, and sorting through 25,000 unread emails. 500 of them were from McAfee warning her of the danger of virii and the need for her
to renew the evaluation account she had on a Dell laptop I bought her in 2008 or so.
I was merely stating one must run old and outdated Windows operating systems to run said software. Even more so with the phasing out of 32bit Windows.
BOOO!! I was up for a good OS fight! ;)
Not really. I'm running the BBS from Win7, Nick is running from XP. The BBS is on it's own computer. No care about EOL or security for it. What are
they gonna take, door game reg codes? ;)
How could you possibly be hacked on port 23, running a BBS, aside from having some kind of backdoor in the software you're answering with
(which you don't, so it's basically impossible without gaining sysop access)?
Dunno. When I asked politely this reason (And pointing out I have the source code for the software I run), was just given the Nothingburger replies of
"Go look it up why XP sucks" or "Anythings possible, nothing is hackproof".
One bragged about hanging out online with superhackerz "who take down networks
for fun" to which I politely challenged him to go ahead and take my subnet down while the popcorn gets ready. He never replied and vanished months later.
I wish I kept all the hilarious messages from 2002 telling me I was going to be "hacked tomorrow" for running XP let alone running on port 23.
Tomorrow never came...
Nicholas Boel wrote to All <=-BBS
Not really. I'm running the BBS from Win7, Nick is running from XP. The
is on it's own computer. No care about EOL or security for it. What are they gonna take, door game reg codes? ;)
I didn't say anything about not being secure, since that can be
controlled by the person operating it. You can definitely lock down XP
or 7, or anything prior to those, to only allow the connections you
want. The only reason people freak out about security issues is because it's not actually getting security updates any more (which really isn't
a big deal if you have a decent firewall), and because Microsoft says
you shouldn't run it.
I was merely stating one must run old and outdated Windows operating systems to run said software. Even more so with the phasing out of
32bit Windows.
well there WERE exploits released to get into windows xp and windows 7 easi luckily if you kept it updating and didn't disable anything that wasn't possible or atleast harder for attackers. people were holding onto xp for long so microsoft kept sending some updates for quite some time.
Not all of us sit around playing games ;)
...if they do something stupid like some kind of 365 crap, more
people will leave the Windows fandom.
On 23 Nov 24 14:55:51, Jas Hud said the following to Nick Andre:HAW!
well there WERE exploits released to get into windows xp and windows
7
easi luckily if you kept it updating and didn't disable anything that wasn't possible or atleast harder for attackers. people were holding onto xp for long so microsoft kept sending some updates for quite some time.
Please tell us more Professor, we just got our first computers yesterday.
Hello Nick,
On Sat, Nov 23 2024 10:01:41 -0600, you wrote ..
Dunno. When I asked politely this reason (And pointing out I have the source code for the software I run), was just given the Nothingburger replies of
"Go look it up why XP sucks" or "Anythings possible, nothing is hackproof".
I mean sure, anything is possible. However, they're not getting through unless you specifically let them. Aside from that, that "anything is possible" also goes for the latest and greatest OSes out there, too.
I use both Windows and Linux for different tasks...
you aren't entirely save because of obscurity.
people were holding onto xp for so long so microsoft kept sending some updates for quite some time.
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: Jas Hud to T.J. Mcmillen on Sat Nov 23 2024 14:53:56
you aren't entirely save because of obscurity.
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: Jas Hud to Nick Andre on Sat Nov 23 2024 14:55:51
people were holding onto xp for so long so microsoft kept sending some updates for quite some time.
Heh, I'm like that. I'll squeeze every last bit out of an OS before upgrading. Usually, that means using third-party virus blockers until even they stop supporting that versio.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (1:124/5016)
I'm not 100% sure, as I don't use Windows and have only the info I
read (some of it on BBSes), but.... isn't there something called "NTVDM<something>" that allows modern Windows (64-bit Win 10/11) to
run old 16-bit (DOS) software? I'm fairly certain many Sysops are
doing that, and running any/all software they want to.
I use both Windows and Linux for different tasks...
I'm curious, what is it you do with Linux you can't/won't do in
Windows, and vice versa.
Nick Andre wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-
Is it the emails with the picture of a super-scary-Matrix-hacker-in-a-hoodie with the zeroes and ones in the background?
Or the ones with the big stupid shield icon and 22-point fonts?
I swear cybersecurity companies are as bad or worse as the malware
itself.
Nicholas Boel wrote to All <=-
How could you possibly be hacked on port 23, running a BBS, aside from having some kind of backdoor in the software you're answering with
(which you don't, so it's basically impossible without gaining sysop access)?
Mortar M. wrote to Nicholas Boel <=-
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: Nicholas Boel to T.J. Mcmillen on Sat Nov 23 2024 14:47:54
I use both Windows and Linux for different tasks...
I'm curious, what is it you do with Linux you can't/won't do in
Windows, and vice versa.
I swear cybersecurity companies are as bad or worse as the malware itself.
The latter. I'm surprised that a virus hasn't been traced to an
anti-virus company. Great way to increase market share...
well my processor is on the win 11 blacklist. i've looked it up and i have the tech to meet their requirements but it's still on that list.
Nicholas Boel wrote to Dan Clough <=-
I'm not 100% sure, as I don't use Windows and have only the info I
read (some of it on BBSes), but.... isn't there something called "NTVDM<something>" that allows modern Windows (64-bit Win 10/11) to
run old 16-bit (DOS) software? I'm fairly certain many Sysops are
doing that, and running any/all software they want to.
As far as I know, NTVDM is the 32bit version, and works decent. NTVDM64
is the 64bit version and it seems there's all sorts of problems with it (as it needs some kind of crutch or hackery to still run 16bit applications - and even then it's iffy whether it will work or not).
Maybe some day that'll work better, but at the moment it's still recommended to use 32bit Windows if you plan on running door games or other 16bit applications.
I would imagine things would be fine if one were to run one of the more up-to-date BBS softwares that at least have a 32bit version, on 64bit Windows if you just used DoorParty, BBSLink, or whatever other hosted
door servers are out there. So there is definitely some options..
Yes, I see that advice a lot. Of course, "use Linux" is another
viable answer/recommendation. :-)
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: Jas Hud to Mortar M. on Sun Nov 24 2024 01:36:53
well my processor is on the win 11 blacklist. i've looked it up and i have the tech to meet their requirements but it's still on that list.
Don't let that stop you. It's possible to run 11 on non-approved CPUs. There are numerous articles/videos on how it's done.
Sean Dennis wrote to Dan Clough <=-
Yes, I see that advice a lot. Of course, "use Linux" is another
viable answer/recommendation. :-)
There's a substantial learning curve involved with BBSAing and Linux
some sysops may not want to bother with.
However, even though it took
me a while to catch on, my Slackware-based system has been nothing but reliable. I even have actual off-site backups working correctly via rsync.net and AWS S3. Both cheap and reliable backup solutions.
watching tv and movies and telling everyone online what a shit retard program d'bridge is.
Things run on Slackware here, too, and have for a LONG time. I have similar backup configurations, all automated, validated, and reliable.
I do understand how folks are reluctant to make a switch from Windows
to Linux. It's a big jump, with a LOT of learning needed. For many (most, even), it's not worth it. I'm glad I did it many years ago,
when Linux was even harder to learn about, but Windows wasn't
completely intertwined into everything I do. ;-)
Sean Dennis wrote to Dan Clough <=-
Things run on Slackware here, too, and have for a LONG time. I have similar backup configurations, all automated, validated, and reliable.
Except when I think I'm smart and start breaking things...
I do understand how folks are reluctant to make a switch from Windows
to Linux. It's a big jump, with a LOT of learning needed. For many (most, even), it's not worth it. I'm glad I did it many years ago,
when Linux was even harder to learn about, but Windows wasn't
completely intertwined into everything I do. ;-)
I'll be honest: if I was going to do it all over now, I'd just shut the BBS down and run as a point. However, over the years it took me to do what I want, I'm glad I did it as it helped me learn Linux and BSD. I learned a lot that does serve me well now but I'm at the point to where
I am done experimenting. I remember trying to compile Slackware
Linux's kernel in 2000 from scratch on my P3/933 and it took hours upon hours then configuring the system (I'm looking at you, X...). If
Windows didn't enforce forced obsolsence (sp), I'd still be using
Windows 2000 Professional.
On a side note, my parents will be using computers with Slackware installed soon as they basically only use Firefox and Thunderbird for everything. My mom needs more programs than my dad as she is the
finance arm of their household but they were never fans of Windows
anyway.
BBSing has always been a niche hobby even when it was more mainstream. While we all enjoy discussing the hobby's halcyon days, I also don't
feel that there is a "one size fits all" solution and every BBS is different and a labor of love for its sysop.
-- Sean
(who is still sick and waxing poetic under the influence of Nyquil)
Hello Dan!
24 Nov 24 18:41, you wrote to Nicholas Boel:
Yes, I see that advice a lot. Of course, "use Linux" is another viable answer/recommendation. :-)
To: Mortar M.
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations By: Mortar M. to Jas Hud on Sun
Nov 24 2024 12:14 am
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations By: Jas Hud to Nick Andre on Sat Nov 23 2024 14:55:51
somepeople were holding onto xp for so long so microsoft kept sending
updates for quite some time.
Heh, I'm like that. I'll squeeze every last bit out of an OS before upgrading. Usually, that means using third-party virus blockers untileven
they stop supporting that versio.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (1:124/5016)
well my processor is on the win 11 blacklist. i've looked it up and i have the tech to meet their requirements but it's still on that list.
i'm not hitting any walls now. i download a game and i can play it. i need to encode video and it does it fast. If i want to login someplace and say how bad d'bridge is, I don't have any issues.
I'm not going to upgrade my older computer because i don't need to. I've got the money to just swap out a processor and a coworker offered to sell me a nice one for 69 bucks, but I don't feel like it. I'd rather do something else.
I'm lazy or i'm focused on something else. I know windows 10 has been around a long time but I'm old and for me it doesn't feel like a long time.
furthermore, windows 11 doesn't really excite me. I don't need it yet, and back when i was hesitant to switch from xp I found ways to get updates and ways to secure my system. I might have to do that again or maybe by then i'll have a newer computer at that time.
Anyways, back to the subject. If i were to recommend an Os to run bbs software on, in the short term i'd say run a vm with windows 10 32bit.
If the sysop wants to be around for a while they should probably run a linux vm and use dosemu. I suggest running a vm because it makes backing up so easy.
I'm pretty sure i've been running my bbses in vms for over 10 years, and using a commercial host for much longer than that. since i started doing things this way i have had very little problems.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
Sean Dennis wrote to Dan Clough <=-
I'll be honest: if I was going to do it all over now, I'd just shut the BBS down and run as a point.
On a side note, my parents will be using computers with Slackware installed soon as they basically only use Firefox and Thunderbird for everything. My mom needs more programs than my dad as she is the
finance arm of their household but they were never fans of Windows
anyway.
BBSing has always been a niche hobby even when it was more mainstream. While we all enjoy discussing the hobby's halcyon days, I also don't
feel that there is a "one size fits all" solution and every BBS is different and a labor of love for its sysop.
-- Sean
(who is still sick and waxing poetic under the influence of Nyquil)
... Assassination is the extreme form of censorship.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20240209
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)
Dan Clough wrote to Sean Dennis <=-
The last Windows I really used was XP, and somewhere around 2002 I switched to Linux full time. Mandrake was my first daily driver, and
then around 2004 I went to Slackware for everything.
Kurt Weiske wrote to Dan Clough <=-
Dan Clough wrote to Sean Dennis <=-
The last Windows I really used was XP, and somewhere around 2002 I switched to Linux full time. Mandrake was my first daily driver, and
then around 2004 I went to Slackware for everything.
I wish I'd done that around 2007, but back then I used my home system
for work and needed Windows. In retrospect, I should have kept Windows
on a work laptop and done Linux on my desktop.
I don't remember if WINE was around back then...
Dan Clough wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-
I don't remember if WINE was around back then...
I don't know if it was. I've never needed, wanted, nor used WINE
though.
| Sysop: | digital man |
|---|---|
| Location: | Riverside County, California |
| Users: | 1,043 |
| Nodes: | 16 (0 / 16) |
| Uptime: | 89:42:15 |
| Calls: | 500,953 |
| Calls today: | 2 |
| Files: | 109,377 |
| D/L today: |
1,148 files (200M bytes) |
| Messages: | 304,684 |