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?

HAGO!
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (1:124/5016)

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?

Renegade - http://www.rgbbs.info

... I don't recall running for this office.

--- Renegade v1.35/DOS
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (1:129/305)

To: Mortar M.
Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: Mortar M. to All on Tue Nov 19 2024 11:43 pm

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 tried them all and i'd suggest synchronet.
the rest have issues.

for bbs softwares theres:
bbbs
vadv
wwiv
mystic
citadel

and many more. it's all about your preference.
try them out.

you can even run an older one that doesn't have a telnet server
by using dosbox or a telnet server like gameserv or synchronet with a script to run your bbs as a door.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

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?

-- Sean



--- MBSE BBS v1.1.0 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

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?

Synchronet and Mystic are both well documented and well supported. Both
have their own look and feel, features and shortcomings. I think it
boils down to personal preference - you can't go wrong with either.



... Always the first steps
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: http://realitycheckbbs.org | tomorrow's retro tech (1:218/1)

On 19 Nov 24 23:43:48, Mortar M. said the following to All:

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?

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.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)

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.

DOS software runs well under DOSemu in Linux. I even set up your compile
of RG once to see if it'd work. It does, quite well.

-- Sean

... Software independent: it won't work with any software.
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

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 can suggest the following;

Synchronet
Mystic
Enigma.5
Talisman

Legacy;
Renegade
MajorBBS
Virtual BBS

All that being said, I'd suggest using Synchronet *IF* you are going to stick with it and completely customize your BBS in the end. IMO its the most stable, most capable and most reliable BBS software.

I use Mystic - its quick, easy and similar to Renegade but with advancements in the MPL language for customizing using code. Its where the cool kids go.

Enigma.5 is rad - built on current day .json and can be powerful - again, you'll have to customize to make something cool.

The legacy stuff if you want to live in 1990...



|07p|15AULIE|1142|07o
|08.........

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (1:105/420)

Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: Sean Dennis to Mortar M. on Wed Nov 20 2024 14:26:59

What OS are you wanting to run it on?

Either Windows or Linux. Too early to decide.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (1:124/5016)

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.




--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: http://realitycheckbbs.org | tomorrow's retro tech (1:218/1)

On 21 Nov 24 18:06:08, Kurt Weiske said the following to Nick Andre:

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.

Nice!

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

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)

To: Kurt Weiske
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: Kurt Weiske to Nick Andre on Thu Nov 21 2024 06:06 pm

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.

and you wont have any gamers with that kind of setup.
that's basically phoning it in.

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.

what are you worried for all of a sudden? you ran tinyxp and other stuff for years.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

To: Nick Andre
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: Nick Andre to Kurt Weiske on Thu Nov 21 2024 09:30 pm

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.

that's their gameplan but people and businesses will not conform unless it's slipped in little by little.

i dont think home users would want to pay for windows as a service but pc desktops have been in the decline for a long time so it may be a non issue.
people have their phones.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Nick Andre wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-

I'm more worried of "Windows as-a-service" or "Windows 365" in the longrun.

I have a few friends who work for Microsoft and they've postulated that
Windows will end up a window manager running on top of Linux.

I don't take much stock in that but I do know that Windows is not the cash
cow it once was for M$.

-- Sean

... WinErr 010: Reserved for future mistakes by our developers.
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

Mortar M. wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

Either Windows or Linux. Too early to decide.

I use MBSE under Slackware Linux. It works well for me. DOSemu also allows
me to run DOS doors and even participate in a few IBBS games. There's a
pretty steep learning curve but once you catch on, it's very reliable.

If you're wanting a more modern board, I'd stick with what's already been mentioned like Synchronet or Mystic.

If you're going more retro, maybe something like Maximus/NT might be worth
it.

However, the big problem as it's been said, is DOS doors under modern
Windows.

I ran my BBS under OS/2 for decades before switching to Linux. My personal justification for the move is that I needed the BBS to do more than just
run the BBS and remote access (I am not in good health and I have been hospitalized a lot).

-- Sean




... I pulled a muscle digging for gold. Just a miner injury.
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

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.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (1:124/5016)

Hello Nick,

On Thu, Nov 21 2024 15:30:19 -0600, you wrote:

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 probably convince more AAA game developing companies to make even *more* games for Linux, which would probably move more people away from Windows. :)

Regards,
Nick

... He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (1:154/700)

On 22 Nov 24 18:27:15, Nicholas Boel said the following to Nick Andre:

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 ;)

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)

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.

... You're floatin' for a slit-throatin'...

--- Renegade v1.35/DOS
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (1:129/305)

Hello T.J.,

On Fri, Nov 22 2024 15:40:55 -0600, you wrote:

Not all of us sit around playing games ;)

Play games, mess around with your BBS software on OS/2 for hours on end, same difference. We all waste countless hours doing what others would consider pointless shit. *shrug*

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.

To be fair, I didn't talk shit about Windows, as I still use it also. I just said that if they do something stupid like some kind of 365 crap, more people will leave the Windows fandom.

Now, in defense to your statement:

First, to do the exact same thing you mention above is actually "cp *" in Linux, so it looks like you didn't do your studying on what commands are longer than others, before spouting off at the mouf. :D

Second, only one of the two you mention above is still currently supported.

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 that still supports your hobbies. Then with the discontinuation of 32bit Windows, the future is looking pretty grim, especially for any newcomers that want to do all of this on their modern OSes.

Last, door games run great on 64bit Linux. You can definitely keep on hatin' on it, though! :D

Regards,
Nick

... He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (1:154/700)

To: Mortar M.
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: Mortar M. to Jas Hud on Fri Nov 22 2024 03:59 pm

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.

i'd rather be on my phone than talk to some stranger.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

To: T.J. Mcmillen
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: T.J. Mcmillen to Nick Andre on Fri Nov 22 2024 09:40 pm

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.

i dunno, linux is stuff is pretty easy. i never had to type out 900 lines in text.

there are some things about it that piss me off, but not those kind of things. it's usually what developers do and how short sighted they are.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

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'm part Scotch -- my other part's water.

--- Renegade v1.35/DOS
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (1:129/305)

On 23 Nov 24 11:08:07, T.J. Mcmillen said the following to Nicholas Boel:

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? ;)

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

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)

Hello T.j.,

On Sat, Nov 23 2024 05:08:07 -0600, you wrote..

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 *think* everything I wrote above still stands here, even after your
reply. :)

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.

That also doesn't affect the fact that I have an XP VM with said
software setup on it, either. :)

Regards,
Nick

... Take my advice, I don't use it anyway.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (1:154/700)

Hello Nick,

On Sat, Nov 23 2024 05:20:58 -0600, you wrote..

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...

IMO, people that freak out about EOLs are just too ingrained that they
should be paying for and/or upgrading to the latest and greatest when
they're told to do so.

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)?

Regards,
Nick

... Take my advice, I don't use it anyway.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (1:154/700)

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'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.

She's been on a Chromebook for the past 10 years.



--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: http://realitycheckbbs.org | tomorrow's retro tech (1:218/1)

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! ;)

... How will banning *MY* firearms reduce crime?

--- Renegade v1.35/DOS
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (1:129/305)

On 23 Nov 24 09:35:19, Kurt Weiske said the following to Nick Andre:

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.

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.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)

Hello T.J.,

On Sat, Nov 23 2024 08:25:51 -0600, you wrote ..

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! ;)

HAHA. I don't think I'd be able to participate for very long, as I'd end
up fighting with myself! That might look a bit wierd.

I use both Windows and Linux for different tasks, and appreciate what
they both have to offer! :)

Regards,
Nick

... He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (1:154/700)

To: T.J. Mcmillen
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: T.J. Mcmillen to Nicholas Boel on Sat Nov 23 2024 11:08 am

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? ;)

well what they are going to shoot for is putting some crypto thing on there where they want you to send them bitcoin and everything is encrypted, or they want to use your computer for a botnet.

you aren't entirely save because of obscurity.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

On 23 Nov 24 11:04:20, Nicholas Boel said the following 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)?

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.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)

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.

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.

3y3m 601n6 70 h4x0r j00!
NO CARRIER

:)

Regards,
Nick

... He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (1:154/700)

To: Nick Andre
Re: Re: BBS Software Recommendations
By: Nick Andre to T.J. Mcmillen on Sat Nov 23 2024 11:20 am

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...

well there WERE exploits released to get into windows xp and windows 7 easily. 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 so long so microsoft kept sending some updates for quite some time.
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Nicholas Boel wrote to All <=-

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 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.

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.



... Gone crazy, be back later, please leave message.
=== MultiMail/Linux v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.22-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (1:135/115)

On 23 Nov 24 14:55:51, Jas Hud said the following to Nick Andre:

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.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)