Usenet 1993 July/InfoMagic USENET CD-ROM July 1993.ISO/answers/unix-faq/bbs-software/faq

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From: [e-mail] (G. Wolfe Woodbury)
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.misc,alt.bbs,comp.unix.questions,alt.bbs.unixbbs,alt.answers,comp.answers,news.answers
Subject: UNIX BBS Software FAQ with Answers (v 0.6)
Summary: BBS Software for use with UNIX-like Operating Systems.
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Archive-name: unix-faq/bbs-software/faq
Version: 0.7
Last-modified: 1993/06/09

This is the UNIX (TM) compatible BBS Frequently Asked Questions Answers.
It is posted monthly.

The FAQ is in Message Digest Format, so that various newsreaders can
automagically decompose it into its component parts.  These are the
parts of the digest.

1. What is a BBS?
2. What is UNIX?
3. What is Usenet?
4. What BBS Software is covered?
5. Acknowledgements
6 - N.    The packages

These listings are provided for informational purposes only.  I am not
making recommendations (con or pro) here, simply telling what I know
about each package that I have information for.  You are encouraged to
evaluate each package for yourself to see if it matches your needs.
                Gregory G. "Wolfe" Woodbury
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (G. Wolfe Woodbury)
Subject: 1. What is a BBS?
Date: Mon Sep 28 23:00:00 EDT 1992

BBS is an acronym for Bulletin Board System.  This is software that allows
a computer to be used as a message posting and reading system that has
some similarities to a bulletin board like you might find in an office
or in a grocery store.  Users of the system can post messages and read
messages posted by others.  Many computer BBSes also allow the users to
send private messages to other users, andor to "download" files that are
stored on the computer.  Some BBSes also allow users to run other
programs (such as games) in addition to the BBS program.

Some BBS programs allow the individual BBS systems to share messages by
using a communications medium to exchange the messages via a standard
protocol which the BBSes understand.  Such systems are "networked"
BBSes.  There are several BBS Networks around the world. Among them are
FIDOnet, WWIVnet, RIMEnet, VNET and Usenet.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (G. Wolfe Woodbury)
Subject: 2. What is UNIX?
Date: Sat Apr  3 00:53:29 EST 1993

UNIX is a trademark of Unix System Laboratories, Inc. (*) for its brand of
multi-user, multi-tasking operating system software.  UNIX was developed
at AT&T Bell Laboratories in the late 1960's and has become the most
portable operating system ever developed.  This portability means that
UNIX (or Unix-like) operating systems can run on nearly any computer
that has been developed since 1975.  Unix-like operating systems run on
computers from the Intel 80286 through the gamut to computers like the
Cray X-MP and the Connection Machine 5.  Programs written for one
Unix-like system can be moved (fairly easily, if written with portability
in mind) from one Unix system to another with some minor editing and
re-compiling of the source code on the new machine.

The history of Unix-like operating systems is quite complicated, and
there are several versions of Unix-like operating systems in existence.
The two major divisions of these are AT&T UNIX systems, and BSD Unix
systems.  There are lots of others, but these two versions cover most of
the territory in terms of portability issues.  Truly portable Unix
software packages can examine the software environment and automatically
configure themselves when the user compiles the package.

Unix operating systems are flexible and portable for many reasons, and a
detailed examination of that issue is not relevant here.  For more
information see the Unix-FAQ posted regularly to comp.unix.questions.

(*) Just who *is* the actual holder of the TradeMark on UNIX is
something that can change with bewildering rapidity.  At various times
it has been the "offical" property of: AT&T, Bell Laboratories, Western
Electric and other groups.  These names, of course, are also probably
registered TradeMarks of their respective owners. :-)

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Sat Apr  3 00:43:56 EST 1993
Subject: 3. What is Usenet?

Usenet is a network message sharing system that exchanges messages in a
standard format.  Messages are arranged into topical categories called
newsgroups.  The messages contain plain text information (which may
include encoded binary information) and a series of headers that define
who the message came from, when the message was posted, where it was
posted, where it has passed, and other administrative information.

Usenet/NetNews is merely the netnews messages, being passed from machine
to machine, and the readers and posters of those messages.  Usenet should
not be mistaken for any underlying transport mechanisims that provide
other services in addition to the transfer of the messages.  That is,
Usenet is not UUCP, Usenet is not a particular network or set of
networks (e.g. the Internet).

One should also be careful to not confuse Usenet with any particular
group of users.  That is, Usenet is *not* an american network, Usenet is
not a network of computer scientists, and Usenet is not a network of
system administrators.  It is a complete cross-section of all the sorts
of folks who use computers either for work or play.  English *is* the
common language of Usenet, but there is no guarantee that the users
*know* english particularly well. :-)

Properly speaking, Usenet is defined as newsgroups in the major
categories of comp, misc, news, rec, sci, soc, and talk.  There are a
number of other major "hierarchies" which may be worldwide (alt, bionet,
vmsnet),  regional (usa, can, triangle), or even organizational
(duke, ut, sun).  These message hierarchies use the NetNews protocols,
and are colloquially called "Usenet", but purists can (and do) argue for
days about the distinctions.  I tend to use the term "NetNews" to refer
to the whole suite of programs and all the newsgroups in conglomeration.

There is not enough room here to fully discuss the ins and outs of
NetNews.  There are several NetNews groups that are dedicated to
discussion of NetNews itself.  (news.* and alt.culture.usenet are
examples, the `*' refers to any newsgroup that begins its name with a
string of "news.")

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed Jun  9 22:43:49 EDT 1993
Subject: 4. What software is covered here?

The following packages are covered in this FAQ.

    AKCS
    bbs_bk
    brand-x
    Caucus
    Coconut
    Commune/IX
    EBBS (Eagle's Nest)
    GDXBBS
    ix/MBox
    Magpie
    MBS
    QueBBS
    pbbs (Pink BBS)
    PBBS (Pirate BBS)
    PNN (Princeton News Network)
    TEAMate
    UBBS (Ultimate)
    Unidel
    UniBoard (UnixBBS)
    VA.PEN
    Waffle
    XBBS
    Z/Max Xchange
    yabbs

Known, but not covered (yet?):
    (Anyone with information is invited to send email!)

    Citadel/UX
    CIX/CoSy
    EIES
    Freeport
    ISCABBS
    Participate
    Pnet
    PicoSpan
    SBBS (Sigma BBS)
    Sentience

Obsolete, not covered

    UnAccess
    PNN (still listed)

To locate the packages listed above in the articles below, search for the
short name listed in the Subject: headers.

In the articles below, summary files for some of the received/collected
information are available for anonymous uucp from wolves.durham.nc.us.
The file name for the info file is in the Info-file: subheader.
Wolves.durham.nc.us is located at [phone] (v.32bis/v.42bis/HST)
    login: uanon  (no password)
Also listed are the FTP sites and filenames for known or suspected
copies of the packages.   Space and line-speed limitations prohibit
the distribution of the packages themselves from Wolves.

Some of the packages may appear at sunsite.unc.edu for Anonymous FTP.
(If you don't know about Anonymous FTP, look for the FTP FAQ in news.answers.)

Corrections and additions to this list are welcome: [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Sat Feb 06 23:00:00 EDT 1993
Subject: 5. Acknowledgements

This FAQ is the product of a lot of research and correspondence with
lots of folks.  Here is a partial listing of the folks who were kind
enough to send information and corrections to me for use in this FAQ.
If I've left someone out, write to me :-)

Lars Aronsson(!), Bob Baskerville(!), Bill Brown, Lisa Carlson,
Tom Dell(!), Karl Denninger(!), Aydin Edguer(*), Ken Germann,
Avrum Goodblat, Judy Hallman, David Holland, Bob Kirkpatrick(!),
Hilbert Levitz, Michael Lyons, Stephen Manes(!), Bob Peterson,
Chris Petrilli, Riccardo Pizzi(!), Todd Radel, Gene Saunders,
Greg Seminara, Jay Snyder(!), Chris Stanford, Bill Fenner(#),
Jim Tremblay, Alex Wetmore(!), Sanford Zelkovitz(!), Nick Zimmerman(!)

(!)    Authors of packages providing information
(*)    Special Thanks to Aydin Edguer
(#)    Bill is keeper of the Waffle FAQ

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Mon Sep 28 23:00:00 EDT 1992
Subject: AKCS
Info-file: wolves!/news/Archives/UnixBBS/akcs

AKCS    Version 7    commercial product    source available
                                                Usenet compatibility

    contact:    [e-mail]
        Karl Denninger
        3217 N. Sheffield
        Chicago, IL  60657
        [phone] (voice)

    demo:    300-2400 bps modem line
        [phone]

"AKCS is a threaded BBS/conferencing package with extraordinary versatility,
 ease of use, performance and support."   -- Karl Denninger

 Supplied in binary form for SINGLE CPU, AKCS is licensed for a fee based
 on the cpu type.  Prices range from $500 to $1500, with a yearly
 support fee of $100 - $250.  NFS support is $1000.  Source is $5000.00.
 Custom porting is available for time and materials.

 Fully configurable, threaded messages, termcap/terminfo type support,
 private mail, file attachments, upload/download, full screen editor
 (custom), external programs, security system.  AKCS newsgroups
 available to licensees.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Mon Sep 28 23:00:00 EDT 1992
Subject: bbs_bk
Source-file: /news/Archives/Sources/Misc/bbs_bk/part01.Z
comp.sources.misc: volume 13 issue 1

bbs_bk        bourne shell freeware        source available
                        Usenet via unix

    contact:    Bob Kirkpatrick
        [e-mail]

    demo:    none known

bbs_bk is a shell system that provides the primitive functionality for a
BBS on Unix. Unix commands available determine how much real
functionality is available.  Usenet is available via calls to the
newsreader of choice on the system.  Editors depend on sysop choice.
Download protocols depend on what is available on the underlying system

bbs_bk  is a skeleton bbs that should allow an experienced unix user to
provide basic BBS functions in short order when a need arises.  A
special "bbs" user login is needed to start up the bbs capability.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Tue Sep 29 22:00:00 EDT 1992
Subject: brand-x

brand-X        C source freeware        source included
                        Usenet via unix

    contact:    Bob Kirkpatrick
        [e-mail]

    demo:    none known

Brand-X is a C language skeletal BBS similar in flavor to bbs_bk (no
suprize).  The sysop needs to know C and Unix fairly well to turn this
package into something more than a toy.  Like bbs_bk, a bbs user id is
required and the program takes care of its own user names.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Tue Sep 29 23:00:00 EDT 1992
Subject: Caucus
Info-file: wolves!/news/Archives/UnixBBS/Caucus.info

Caucus        commercial package        source not generally available
                        Usenet via message import

    contact:    Camber-Roth
        A Division of Aule-Tek, Inc.
        1223 Peoples Ave
        Troy, NY  12180
        1 518 273 0983 (voice)
        1 518 276 6380 (FAX)
        [e-mail]

    demo:    CASTANet
        1 518 273 1467 (300-2400)
        1 518 273 1508 (v.32bis v.42bis)
        login: caucus
        NEWUSER
        voice assistance: 1 518 273 0983

Caucus is a large and robust commercial package.  It is supported on
several hardware platforms and provides a complete networed BBS
solution.  User customization is supported.  I actually got two
responses to requests for Caucus, from Aule-Tek, the owners, and another
company that sent me information via paper mail.  Despite being asked
for pricing, no pricing information was sent.

I do know that the City of Santa Monica (California) selected Caucus as
its platform for its Public Information System.

------------------------------

Subject: Coconut
Date: Wed Jun  9 22:50:06 EDT 1993
From: [e-mail]
Info-file: wolves!/news/Archives/UnixBBS/COCONET.info

COCONUT Host v4.?    Commercial        source available?
                        NetNews not available

     contact:    Brian Dear
        [e-mail]
        [e-mail]
        Coconut Computing Inc.
        7946 Ivanhoe Ave  Suite 303
        La Jolla   CA  92037
        [phone] (voice)
        [phone] (FAX)

     demo:    unknown

    Coconut is a Unix-based HOST program system that provides
support to users using a special Coconut Access Program (CAP) on MS-DOS
and Macintosh platforms.  It provides a complete BBS package, with
conferences, discussion and file bases.  It is fully configurable,
supports multi-level security, internet mail, mailing lists and external
programs.  It seems like a decent package.  I have some concerns over
the unclear status of Usenet import/export functions, and there is a 999
unit limit on all sorts of configuration parameters.

    A recent report in alt.bbs indicates that CocoNet has no plans
to implement Usenet message importing/exporting.  Looks like a single
system (or shared file systems) only.
    There have also been some sporadic reports of "hassles" dealing
with the folks at CocoNut by some sysops.  They bent over backwards when
talking to me, but I make no recommendations here.

------------------------------

Subject: Commune/IX
Date: Sat Apr  3 00:25:03 EST 1993
From: [e-mail]

Commune/IX for Linux    commercial        source available?
                        NetNews available

     contact:    Michael Quigley
        [e-mail]
        [e-mail]

     demo:    no

    Michael is developing yet another DOS look-alike UNIX BBS for
the Linux platform.  This implies source availability, but since it
looks like he wants to make it a commercial product, it is more likely
to be a binary (object code) distribution rather than source.  The
project sounds ambitious, with replacements for the mailer, and
additional modules for connecting to FIDO Technology Networks, in
addition to all the usual BBS features.
    Pricing and availability are not known.  MQ comments that it
will be a "low cost" system, with per-module pricing.

------------------------------


From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed Jun  9 22:43:31 EDT 1993
Subject: EBBS    Eagle's Nest BBS
FTP-Site: bbs.augsburg.edu:/files/bbs_software/Eagles.BBS.2.0.tar.Z

EBBS        Eagle's Nest BBS        source included
                        Usenet unknown

    contact:    Raymond Rocker
        [e-mail]
        Guy Vega
        [e-mail]

    demo:    Eagles Nest BBS
        seabass.st.usm.edu
        login: bbs  password: bbs
    or
        Auggie BBS
        bbs.augsburg.edu
        login: bbs         (no password)
        (Wm. Schwartz - sysop)

This is an Extension of the Mars Pirate BBS code to enhance
functionality and provide some network access.  It now features an IRC
(Internet Relay Chat) client mode so that users can participate in IRC
if allowed.  Usenet may be supported via shell access, but I haven't
tried the demo system or read the code that closely.  It is in current
use, so it has some support and merit.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Sat Feb 06 23:00:00 EDT 1993
Subject: GDXBBS
Info-file: wolves!/news/Archives/UnixBBS/gdx.info
FTP_site: plains.nodak.edu:/pub/alt/gdxbbs

GDXBBS        freeware bbs        source included
                    Usenet is planned
    contact:    Jay A Snyder
        [e-mail]
    demo:    GDX-BBS (home system for GDX)
        [phone] (WorldBlazer/PEP/v.32bis/v.42bis/etc...)

This seems to be a fairly complete BBS system that is well-integrated
into Unix (except for Usenet News).   The system looks easy to configure
and provides linkages to standard E-mail (via smail or deliver).

Usenet can be provided via external functions (doors).

------------------------------

Subject: Magpie for Unix
Date: Mon May  3 03:59:27 EDT 1993
From: [e-mail]
Info-file: wolves!/news/Archives/UnixBBS/magpie.info

Magpie for Unix        Shareware/commercial    source available for $$
                        NetNews planned

     contact:    Steve Manes
        [e-mail]

     demo:    yes?
        magpie.nycenet.edu?

    Magpie has a good reputation, but its limited availability
(binaries only for SCO COFF compatible systems) is a drawback. It
supports lots of nice features that are easy to provide via Unix, and
seems aimed at K-12 school systems that want a "real product" for use
with some standard platform.
    Installation is via special login account, and BBS users do not
have standard "/etc/passwd" accounts.  No pricing was posted for Source
code availability.

    I got a posting from Steve Manes, and he points out that the COFF
binaries are a "Shareware" version.  NetNews support (using NOV
database) is planned for version 2.4 (no ETA), but version 2.3 has
UUCP/internet mail available for BBS users.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Sat Feb 06 23:00:00 EDT 1993
Subject: ix/MBox
comp.sources.misc: volume 29 and volume 31

ix/MBox        System V Unix BBS        source included
                        Usenet is basis

    contact:    Volker Schuermann
        [e-mail]

MBox is an excellent product, marred only by the lack of decent
documentation in a language other than german.  Its basic services are
those provided by Unix, and Unix services are required to run the BBS.
The current version is limited to System V r3.2 Intel platforms, but
should not be too hard to transfer to other System V platforms.

C-News (or B-News) and a mail package are needed.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Tue Sep 29 23:30:00 EDT 1992
Subject: MBS

MBS        Unix C language BBS        source included
        (In alpha test)            Usenet planned

    contact:    Willam Davidsen
        [e-mail]

MBS is a new Unix based BBS.  Reminiscent of Citadel (there are rooms)
the implementation is totally new and interesting.  All the basic
functionality for a networked BBS is there, but it's still in
development.  Usenet will be via message importing/exporting programs
now being developed.  (Development has slowed down for a while.)

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Thu Oct  1 00:40:00 EDT 1992
Subject: pbbs (Pink BBS)
alt.sources: Mar 04 00:17:00 GMT 1992

pbbs        "Pink" shell BBS        partial source
                        Usenet via unix cmds

    contact:    unknown
    posted:    [e-mail]

Pink BBS is a bare bones shell (bourne) BBS that relies heavily on
external programs for its functionality.  The notable missing piece in
the alt.sources posting was the "mkacct" program which apparently
collected the information and installed a new unix uid account
interactively.  This is NOT a secure system.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed Jun  9 22:43:10 EDT 1993
Subject: PBBS (Pirate BBS)
FTP-Site: trantor.ee.msstate.edu:/files/Misc.source/bbs.tar.1.6.Z

PBBS        "Mars" Pirate Unix BBS        source included
                        Usenet unknown

    contact:    unknown

    demo:    none

The "Hotel Mars" bbs at Mississippi State was a legend in its own time,
mostly for the furor it created on the internet.  Part of this was due
to the unfortunate choice of name for the software, and the activities
of a similar nature that occurred at one time.  I thought I had a copy
of this one, but it isn't on-line here, so I apologize for the short
schrift it is getting.   It does provide a complete BBS solution in
messages, files and upload/download.

    Once again, the Mars BBS is down, and supposedly for good this
time. (Boo)   The code lives on in EBBS and several others.

------------------------------

Subject: PNN - Princeton News Network
Date: Wed Jun  9 22:56:07 EDT 1993
From: [e-mail]
Info-file: wolves!/news/Archives/UnixBBS/PNN.info

PNN Princeton News Network    Freeware?    source available
                        NetNews supported

     contact:    Tom True
        [e-mail]
        [phone]

     demo:    no?

(Late word has it that PNN is no longer available - look to the VA.PEN
software for a similar large scale system.)

[From PNN intro]
Princeton News Network was developed by the Advanced Technologies Department
of Princeton University. Project leaders include Howard Jay Strauss, Tom True,
Joe Studholme, and Steve Albin.

"PNN" was originally  run in an IBM environment but was converted over to UNIX
environment.  The concept of the program is to have information available to
all users in a friendly menu-driven environment.

"PNN is being phased out in favor of gopher" according to mail from Tom
True that was remailed to me.  The comment was that it's *not* a BBS per
se, but a Campus Information System.  - gww

PNN is available for customization by other institutions of higher
education.  Please contact Tom True at Princeton University (609-258-6064)
or by electrnoic mail ([e-mail]) to discuss how to get
PNN on your campus.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed 30 Sep 23:00:00 1992
Subject: QueBBS
FTP-site: quartz.rutgers.edu:/pub/src/qbbs29d.tar.Z

QueBBS        Unix C language BBS        source included
                        Usenet via import/export
    contact:    [e-mail]
        North Dakota State University
        Student ACM - SIGBBS

QueBBS was written for the North Dakota State University by members of
the Studen ACM chapter there.  It is a complete BBS service, with
messages, files and private mail.  Usenet support is via special
programs that import and export articles to/from the BBS and the news
system on the computer.  Upload/download protocols depend on what is
available, and are configurable.  Online help is available, menus are
hard coded.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Mon May  3 03:52:33 EDT 1993
Subject: TEAMate

TEAMate        Commercial UNIX BBS        source NOT available
                        Usenet by import/export
    contact:    [e-mail]
        Bob Baskerville
        MMB Development Corp
        904 Manhattan Ave
        Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
        1 310 318 1322

    demo:    supernet.ans.net (147.225.1.51) [telnet]
        1 310 318 8437 (8N1 vt100 1200-9600)
        1 310 318 5302
        login: public

MMB is agressively pushing TEAMate as the "premier" Unix based BBS
system in the country.  My inquiries netted me two copies of PR
materials and several phone calls about the product.  The package looks
complete, with a full-fledged conferencing system, file support, and
full configuration management.  There is a (MSDOS) client program for
it called TEAMterm, that they say is freely distributable, but I
don't know where there is a copy on the net.  I had some problems with
the manual, which was obviously written by/for someone with absolutely
no knowledge of the Unix underpinnings.  The system is full screen,
form oriented, and uses the Unix termcap/terminfo libraries.

Prices are steep(*), a single cpu intel license starts at $2000, and the
full package starts at $5500.  More users bring the cost up rapidly,
with an "unlimited users" full package totalling $63,000.  (Price list,
july 1, 1992)  Systems supported include: Intel, Sun, HP-UX, DEC (RISC),
IBM RS/6000, ATT 3b2, Sequent, DG, Silicon Graphics, and Tandem (UNIX).
[Sequent 4+ cpu starts at 15,000, total 40,200.  Most systems are going
to be 4000-7500/12,800-21,900.]

* - recent mail from TEAMate folk say that a new lower cost (8-line)
entry-level version is available starting around $2000.00.
Additionally, they report new educational pricing and discounts.

A GUI client/server version is planned for showing in August 1993.

User support is friendly and knowledgable, I called to clarify the
ability to include Usenet messages.  It would take a programmer a bit of
time to do it, but it seems easy enough.

------------------------------

Subject: UBBS
Date: Sat Apr  3 00:13:49 EST 1993
From: [e-mail]

UBBS (Ultimate)     free (?)        source available?
                        NetNews available (not yet)

     contact:    Jean-Francois Gagnon
        [e-mail]
        [phone] (BBS)

     demo:    yes
        [phone]
        [phone]

    This is a "clone" of Remote Access for Unix, written by JF for
his public access Unix system in Quebec.  It has an email bridge, and he
plans support for Usenet messages.  Write to JF for more information.

------------------------------


From: [e-mail]
Date: Mon May  3 03:56:22 EDT 1993
Subject: UniBoard (UnixBBS)
Info-file: wolves!/news/Archives/UnixBBS/UniBoard.info

UniBoard    Commercial Unix BBS        Source NOT available

    contact:    Riccardo Pizzi
            [e-mail]
            Rimini, Italy

    demo:       <several>
                    [phone]  (bbs.nervous.com in Italy) HST/PEP/V.32bis
            [phone] (wariat.org) [USA Dist. Site]
            [phone] (rich.chel.su!) (Chelyabinsk Russia?)
            see alt.bbs.unixbbs.uniboard

UniBoard is a decent Unix BBS according to most reports.
Price is reasonable, an 8-user license costing about $70 (US).
Full functions include Usenet news, email, files and online
chat/conferences.  Usenet and mail require the use of the underlying
Unix systems (C-news recommended.)  Security seems good,
customization seems good.  Support for other networks (e.g. FIDO) is
promised in the future.  ANSI character graphics support, color support.
Support for multiple editors, etc.

Latest information is available from Riccardo's mail server.  Mail to
[e-mail] with "SEND LIST" in the message body.

Linux port planned according to Riccardo.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Unidel Administrator)
Newsgroups: alt.sources
Subject: Unidel, a UNIX/UseNet BBS and news/mail reader, part 1 of 7
Keywords: Citadel, BBS, UseNet, mail, needs work
Date: 17 Nov 91 23:27:54 GMT
Organization: Bitsko's Bar & Grill, Public Access, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
FTP-site: quartz.rutgers.edu:/pub/src/unidel.tar.Z

Unidel        Unix Citadel-like BBS            Source included

[I'm simply including the front end of the release notice from its
posting to alt.sources last year. - gww]

Submitted-by: [e-mail]
Archive-name: Unidel/part01

If I keep saying I'll wait until I get this cleaner before I post it,
it may never get posted.  And prompted by yet another thread of "Where
can I get a UNIX BBS with UseNet news?" I figured more fuel for the
fires can't hurt :-).  What we have is this:

     * UseNet news reader
     * UseNet/UNIX/Internet mail reader (w/multiple mail areas)
     * Looks like a Citadel room-based BBS system
     * Secure shell (controlled access to external programs, uses rsh)
     * External editors, file-transfer, chat/talk, CB
     * Newsgroup and file permissions (r, r/w, hidden and invite-only)
     * Freely-redistributable
     * Has compiled once or twice each on SVR2 (Microport), SVR3,
       SunOS 4.1 and UHC SVR4
     * Can be used with CNews, BNews, SMail, Deliver, talk, rz/sz,
       kermit, vi, emacs and more
     * still contains a few, uh, unnecessary, uh, features  yea that's it.


  You can play with it and download the source from Bitsko's Bar &
Grill BBS, [phone] (Telebit), login 'guest', type RETURN for
password.  Source and discussion is in the Unidel room.

  Questions can be directed to [e-mail]

------------------------------

Subject: VA-PEN
Date: Feb 24 23:30:00 EST 1993
From: [e-mail]
Info-file: wolves!/news/Archives/UnixBBS/VA.PEN.info
FTP_site:  ftp.virginia.edu:oub/VA.PEN

VA-PEN            freeware        source included
                        NetNews available

     contact:    Tim Sigmon
        [e-mail]
        Academic Computing Center
        Gilmer Hall
        University of Virginia
        Charlottesville  VA  22903

     demo:    none officially

VA-PEN (Virginia Public Education Network) is a message system developed
at UVa for the state's K-12 computer program.  It is based around C-news
as the underlying conferencing mechanism, and support configurable
menus, various upload/download protocols, and extensive on-line
documentation.  The software (with modifications) is used on the
Tallahasee Florida FreeNet machine.

(I remember Tim Sigmon as a Duke Grad Student in the early days of
Usenet. :-)

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Feb 23 02:00:00 EST 1993
Subject: Waffle
Info-file: wolves!/news/Archives/UnixBBS/Waffle.FAQ
FTP-site: halcyon.com[192.135.191.2]:~/pub/waffle/waf165.zip (Dos version)

Waffle        Low Cost Unix BBS        Source Included (Unix only)
                        Usenet support via OS

    contact:    Tom Dell
        [e-mail]

    Demo site:    halcyon.com

Waffle is one of the premier Usenet BBSs for DOS, but there is
relatively little activity about Waffle/Unix on the newsgroup.
Waffle has a whole Usenet News newsgroup (comp.bbs.waffle) for
discussion about it, and there is an excellent FAQ that is posted there
periodically by Bill Fenner.   The author of Waffle is Tom Dell.
Unix Waffle requires the presence of C-news or other native Unix-like OS
NetNews support software.

------------------------------

Subject: XBBS
Date: Feb 23 23:10:00 EST 1993
From: [e-mail]
comp.sources.misc: Volume 32 Issue 16  xbbs/partNN

XBBS v7.2        Freeware(?)        source included
                        NetNews via external
                            commands (doors)

     contact:    Sanford Zelkovitz
        [e-mail]
        [e-mail]
        5852 Maxson Drive
        Cypress CA  90630

     demo:    yes at alphacm
        714 821 9671 (8N1 1200-9600)

    XBBS is a decent BBS system for System V'ish systems.  The code
is rather monolithic, and the menus are embedded in the code.  The
system has similarities to the WWIV BBS in style.   Configuration is via
static files that are position dependent.  Limited access groups are
available, multilevel security is supported.  Access to NetNews is via
shell escape(!) and might be insecure.  There was a small attempt at
runtime code validation (by checking for the authors id string) in a
previous version.   I ran an XBBS based system until my disks crashed,
but the code was rather heavily modified for modularity and keyword
based configuration.   The bbs handles its own user base seperate from
that of the Unix passwd file, so it can be used for guest accounts.
Supports a wide variety of u/dload protocols, some via "system" command
execution of external programs (e.g. Kermit, rz/sz)

------------------------------

Subject: Z/Max XChange
Date: Fri Apr  2 23:11:20 EST 1993
From: [e-mail]

Z/Max XChange v3.2    commercial        source NOT available(?)
                        NetNews available

     contact:    Z/Max Computer Solutions
        [e-mail]
        8287 Loop Road, Radisson Woods Office Park
        Baldwinsville, NY  13027
        [phone] (voice)
        [phone] (FAX)

     demo:    yes
        Z/Max Online Demo System
        [phone] (2400)
        [phone] (USR 9600 ?v.32)
        Parameters: 8-N-1  Terminal emulation: vt100
        login: zmax
        Password: xchange
            Fill in new users screen
            call back in 24 hours :-(

Z/Max has a very full featured Unix BBS here.  The package seems cleaner
and more "professional" than TEAMate, and the price is also a bit more
reasonable, even if the hardware supported is less extensive.
Features: BBS, News (Usenet import supported), Files (upload/download -
standard protocols plus external protocols), "doors", menu interface,
graphical (character graphics) interface, on-line conferences, Email
(internet access), multi-level (per-function) access security, custom
editor (? vi or emacs access?), and full logging.
Terminal support is flexible, and the system uses "curses" for its
character graphics interface.
Hardware: 80[34]86 Unix boxes (SCO, Interactive, AT&T, SVr4), 88000 BCS,
NCR, SEQUENT, Sun, IBM RS6000, HPUX, Dec Ultrix (4.2), AT&T 3B2.

Typical Prices: (# of users)  (1-4) 695.00  (16) 1495 (32) 2495 (>32) 3995
  30-day evaluation: 75.00   (+$25 for tape distribution)
  prices effecive 3/1/93 - subject to change w/o notice (etc....)
  Documents: 34.95, quick ref card - 2.95
  1-year support/upgrades included, additional years - $400/year
  There is a license upgrade cost schedule as well.
There is a Dos overview/demo disk available.  (Bragware)

There are a few Internet sites that use XChange as their interface for
information management.  I haven't played with a Z/Max system yet, this
is written from their poop sheets.

------------------------------

Subject: yabbs - Yet Another (UNIX) BBS
Date: Wed Jun  9 22:44:12 EDT 1993
From: [e-mail] (Alex R.N. Wetmore)
Info-file: wolves!/news/Archives/UnixBBS/yabbs.info
FTP_site:  phred.pc.cc.cmu.edu:/pub/yabbs/*

YABBS            free            source available
                        NetNews NOT available

     contact:    Alex R.N. Wetmore
        [e-mail]

     demo:    yes
        telnet to phred.pc.cc.cmu.edu port = 8888.
        (note: down during summer 1993)

I have recently put up a new version of the Yabbs (yet another bbs)
software package on my machine (phred.pc.cc.cmu.edu).  This is a small,
highly portable bbs package for unix that supports:
  * up to 26 public message bases (plus one private area)
  * multiuser talk
  * g-files support (to put text files online, good for mirroring ftp
    servers)
  * up to 3 external editors and one external pager (I include keybinding
    files for less and joe, and have source for a version of elvis with
    some commands removed).
  * has a menued structure (as opposed to command line structure of waffle)

So far it has been proven to be very portable across unix variants.
Comes with full source (all pretty well commented) so changing it around
isn't too hard.

Current platform is 386bsd, portability may be affected by this.

If you want to see a copy in action telnet to phred.pc.cc.cmu.edu 8888.
You can ftp the source from the same machine in /pub/yabbs.
alex
(uglymouse.css.itd.umich.edu also has sources.)

------------------------------


End of Unix-like BBS Software FAQ
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[e-mail]  [e-mail]  ...duke!wolves!news
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