I am looking to possible create a private BBS. One thing I want to do, is not allow people to create an account. Rather, they would apply by other means (e-mail), and a sysop would create the account and send them the login details.

This can be done with Synchronet, as you can disable the creation of new accounts, but there is still a tool that one can use to create an account.

Is there a way for a sysop to create a new Mystic BBS account? Once you disable the ability to create a new user, there seems to be no other way to create a user, not with the user editor either.

The only other option, would be to edit the user database file directly. If one knows the binary format, is this possible with a custom tool (I can create that).

Thanks,
Dennis Katsonis
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: thePharcyde_ telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (1:154/700)

I am looking to possible create a private BBS. One thing I want to do,
is not allow people to create an account. Rather, they would apply by other means (e-mail), and a sysop would create the account and send them the login details.

Is there a way for a sysop to create a new Mystic BBS account? Once you disable the ability to create a new user, there seems to be no other way to create a user, not with the user editor either.

There are a few ways you could accomplish this but Mystic has a "matrix" login system which is designed for this exact purpose. The user is given the option to "apply" for an account but they never get into the BBS until you approve the application.

To experiment with this, go into System Configuration > Login Settings and set the following options:

Use Matrix Login: Yes
Matrix Password: <no value>
Matrix ACS: s20

In a default Mystic installation, new users are given a security level of 10. Because you set the Matrix ACS to "s20" they would never be able to login until you manually upgraded them to Security Profile 20.

What the user sees when the connect are two options: "(A)pply" or "(L)ogin". If the try to login before you approve them it will say they have not been approved yet (until you manually upgrade them to security 20).

Is there a way for a sysop to create a new Mystic BBS account? Once you disable the ability to create a new user, there seems to be no other way to create a user, not with the user editor either.

It shouldn't be too much effort to allow users to be created in the user editor, but the way Mystic is designed to handle this scenario is with the Matrix login.

If you really didn't want users to be able to Apply online (ONLY via email) then you could do something like limit the "(A)pply" option to a local-only node, and automate the "(L)ogin" command for non-local connections. Personally doing this doesn't make sense to me since the application workflow is pretty much identical either way, but to each their own! :)

If you set it up this way then remote connections would never be given the option to Apply for a new account, instead they would immediately be given the login prompt. Only when you connected via the local console would you get a menu to Login or Create a new account.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/05/11 (Windows/64)
* Origin: Sector 7 | Mystic WHQ (1:129/215)

It shouldn't be too much effort to allow users to be created in the user editor, but the way Mystic is designed to handle this scenario is with
the Matrix login.

Just a heads up: I added the ability to create within the user editor and
that will be in a build that goes up sometime today at

www.mysticbbs.com/downloads/prealpha

So now if you don't want to use the Matrix login/approval you can just set Allow New Users to No and create in the user editor.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/05/11 (Windows/64)
* Origin: Sector 7 | Mystic WHQ (1:129/215)

Re: Re: Sysop to create new user
By: g00r00 to Borax Man on Sat May 16 2020 05:07 pm

There are a few ways you could accomplish this but Mystic has a "matrix" login system which is designed for this exact purpose. The user is given the option to "apply" for an account but they never get into the BBS until you approve the application.

To experiment with this, go into System Configuration > Login Settings and set the following options:

Use Matrix Login: Yes
Matrix Password: <no value>
Matrix ACS: s20

In a default Mystic installation, new users are given a security level of 10. Because you set the Matrix ACS to "s20" they would never be able to login until you manually upgraded them to Security Profile 20.

I've tried this, and without a Matrix password, the user is able to select "L" and login, after creating their account intially and returning to the Matrix Menu. With a password put in, they need to enter a password to proceed.

What the user sees when the connect are two options: "(A)pply" or "(L)ogin". If the try to login before you approve them it will say they have not been approved yet (until you manually upgrade them to security 20).

This doesn't happen, despite the fact they have a security level of 10, and I set the Matrix ACS level s20.

It shouldn't be too much effort to allow users to be created in the user editor, but the way Mystic is designed to handle this scenario is with the Matrix login.

If you really didn't want users to be able to Apply online (ONLY via email) then you could do something like limit the "(A)pply" option to a local-only node, and automate the "(L)ogin" command for non-local connections. Personally doing this doesn't make sense to me since the application workflow is pretty much identical either way, but to each their own! :)

If you set it up this way then remote connections would never be given the option to Apply for a new account, instead they would immediately be given the login prompt. Only when you connected via the local console would you get a menu to Login or Create a new account.

This might be the better option. It is OK to create the accounts locally, then simply give the user the ability to log in, passing on the details. If there is a way to allow Login for external connection, but Apply for local only, that would solve the problem.

... Mother Nature is a Bitch.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: thePharcyde_ telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (1:154/700)

Re: Re: Sysop to create new user
By: g00r00 to Borax Man on Sat May 16 2020 07:36 pm

It shouldn't be too much effort to allow users to be created in the
user editor, but the way Mystic is designed to handle this scenario
is with the Matrix login.

Just a heads up: I added the ability to create within the user editor and that will be in a build that goes up sometime today at

www.mysticbbs.com/downloads/prealpha

Perfect! That seems the best option for me.

... Committees: A group that takes minutes and wastes hours.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: thePharcyde_ telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (1:154/700)

I've tried this, and without a Matrix password, the user is able to
select "L" and login, after creating their account intially and
returning to the Matrix Menu. With a password put in, they need to
enter a password to proceed.

This doesn't happen, despite the fact they have a security level of 10, and I set the Matrix ACS level s20.

Yes it does. Make sure you're using the version I pointed you to. :)

This might be the better option. It is OK to create the accounts
locally, then simply give the user the ability to log in, passing on the details. If there is a way to allow Login for external connection, but Apply for local only, that would solve the problem.

Yes you can do that. Or use the Matrix. Or create using the user editor (if you're using the latest version).

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/05/16 (Windows/64)
* Origin: Sector 7 | Mystic WHQ (1:129/215)

g00r00 wrote to Borax Man <=-

I've tried this, and without a Matrix password, the user is able to
select "L" and login, after creating their account intially and
returning to the Matrix Menu. With a password put in, they need to
enter a password to proceed.

This doesn't happen, despite the fact they have a security level of 10, and I set the Matrix ACS level s20.

Yes it does. Make sure you're using the version I pointed you to. :)

I'll try it again.

This might be the better option. It is OK to create the accounts
locally, then simply give the user the ability to log in, passing on the details. If there is a way to allow Login for external connection, but Apply for local only, that would solve the problem.

Yes you can do that. Or use the Matrix. Or create using the user
editor (if you're using the latest version).

Im using v1.12 A46 for Raspberry Pi from http://mysticbbs.com/downloads/prealpha. That is the latest with the ability to add users, yes? I am a bit of a noob, who doesn't want to reinvent the wheel.

... Dennis Katsonis
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: The Dungeon BBS Canberra, Australia. (3:712/620)

Dennis Katsonis wrote to g00r00 <=-

g00r00 wrote to Borax Man <=-

I've tried this, and without a Matrix password, the user is able to
select "L" and login, after creating their account intially and
returning to the Matrix Menu. With a password put in, they need to
enter a password to proceed.

This doesn't happen, despite the fact they have a security level of 10, and I set the Matrix ACS level s20.

Yes it does. Make sure you're using the version I pointed you to. :)

I'll try it again.

This might be the better option. It is OK to create the accounts
locally, then simply give the user the ability to log in, passing on the details. If there is a way to allow Login for external connection, but Apply for local only, that would solve the problem.

Yes you can do that. Or use the Matrix. Or create using the user
editor (if you're using the latest version).

Im using v1.12 A46 for Raspberry Pi from http://mysticbbs.com/downloads/prealpha. That is the latest with the ability to add users, yes? I am a bit of a noob, who doesn't want to reinvent the wheel.

I must have made an error while upgrading, perhaps I didn't stop the server while upgrading. I ran it again, and now the option to create a new user appears.

All good now, thank you very much for your help.


... Dennis Katsonis
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: The Dungeon BBS Canberra, Australia. (3:712/620)

Im using v1.12 A46 for Raspberry Pi from http://mysticbbs.com/downloads/prealpha. That is the latest with the ability to add users, yes? I am a bit of a noob, who doesn't want to reinvent the wheel.

Depending on when you downloaded it, yes. I think that is where the
confusion comes from because I don't often update the Pi version since it
takes me a while to compile it. So when I said make sure you use the latest,
I probably didn't have a Pi version with those changes in it on the site.

Sorry about that. But I did update the Pi version 1 or 2 days ago and it should have all of the things we talked about!

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/05/17 (Windows/64)
* Origin: Sector 7 | Mystic WHQ (1:129/215)

On 16 May 2020, Borax Man said the following...

Is there a way for a sysop to create a new Mystic BBS account? Once you disable the ability to create a new user, there seems to be no other way to create a user, not with the user editor either.

Just use the matrix login and don't approve any new users.

Are you going to be accessing it remotely? If not, just don't open the telnet port to the outside.

-=>Richard Miles<=-
-=>Captain Obvious<=-
-=>bbs.shadowscope.com<=-

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/04/17 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Shadowscope BBS | bbs.shadowscope.com | Temple, GA (1:3634/24)

g00r00 wrote to Dennis Katsonis <=-

Im using v1.12 A46 for Raspberry Pi from http://mysticbbs.com/downloads/prealpha. That is the latest with the ability to add users, yes? I am a bit of a noob, who doesn't want to reinvent the wheel.

Depending on when you downloaded it, yes. I think that is where the confusion comes from because I don't often update the Pi version since
it takes me a while to compile it. So when I said make sure you use
the latest, I probably didn't have a Pi version with those changes in
it on the site.

Sorry about that. But I did update the Pi version 1 or 2 days ago and
it should have all of the things we talked about!

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/05/17 (Windows/64)
* Origin: Sector 7 | Mystic WHQ (1:129/215)

It does, and the ability to add users in the editor solves the problem perfectly.

... Dennis Katsonis
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: The Dungeon BBS Canberra, Australia. (3:712/620)

It does, and the ability to add users in the editor solves the problem perfectly.

Glad to hear it! I've had that on my TODO list for a while. Thanks for
giving me a good reason to get off my butt and do it :)

I do something a little similar to what you want to do. I let them apply and then all users "s10!s11" get sent to an "unauth" menu where they only have options to change their e-mail, validate their e-mail address (which will automatically upgrade them and let them move on), download Mystic files, or log off.

So the only way to get access is to validate your e-mail address or wait for me to manually upgrade you. You're basically "in jail" until one of those two things happens. And if you try to validate an e-mail and then go change it to something else, it'll instantly downgrade you and put you right back in jail again.

I did that to stop any troll/hater accounts. If they act up I'll have a valid e-mail, hostname, location, and IP captured from them to work with.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/05/19 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Sector 7 | Mystic WHQ (1:129/215)

g00r00 wrote to Dennis Katsonis <=-

It does, and the ability to add users in the editor solves the problem perfectly.

Glad to hear it! I've had that on my TODO list for a while. Thanks
for giving me a good reason to get off my butt and do it :)

I do something a little similar to what you want to do. I let them
apply and then all users "s10!s11" get sent to an "unauth" menu where
they only have options to change their e-mail, validate their e-mail address (which will automatically upgrade them and let them move on), download Mystic files, or log off.

So the only way to get access is to validate your e-mail address or
wait for me to manually upgrade you. You're basically "in jail" until
one of those two things happens. And if you try to validate an e-mail
and then go change it to something else, it'll instantly downgrade you
and put you right back in jail again.

I did that to stop any troll/hater accounts. If they act up I'll have
a valid e-mail, hostname, location, and IP captured from them to work with.

It occured to me that a BBS is a way in which people who want to communicate privately, could do so, WITHOUT having anyone "own" the system. Being so easy to deploy, people could genuinely own their private platform, create their own functions easily. No need for managing group e-mails, using Telegram or SnapChat, FB groups, etc, the BBS could do it all. And it's actually much easier than creating some private webspace. At the moment, people often might create a FB group, or use some other service, or a combination of technologies but the problem with all of this is that a third party (the host) owns the system. It might require people to get apps, give away details, etc. For philosophical reasons, I believe people should own and control their platforms, and BBS's are the easiest way for a group of people to create, and OWN, their own little virtual world.

It could just be a group of friends, a community group, a special interest group, an activist group, whatever. Sure, there are other ways to do it, but this software is so, so easy to set up, to modify, to create custom functions. I can't think of an easier way to get a meeting space up and started. It is a way to move away from communications between people being 'mediated' by some (often abusive, like FB) third party.

Thats why I was enquiring about this functionality. You could create a 'ready to deploy' Rapsberry PI image, all configured to run, say Mystic, in a manner suitable for this type of need.

... Dennis Katsonis
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: The Dungeon BBS Canberra, Australia. (3:712/620)