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Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!hookup!news.join.ad.jp!news.imnet.ad.jp!usenet.seri.re.kr!news.cais.net!news.ac.net!imci4!newsfeed.internetmci.com!info.ucla.edu!library.ucla.edu!agate!news.ossi.com!pagesat.net!cg57.esnet.com!bbs.dsnet.com!not-for-mail From: unixbbs@news.dsnet.com (UnixBBS FAQ Maintainer) Newsgroups: alt.bbs.unixbbs,alt.bbs,comp.bbs.misc,comp.answers,alt.answers,news.answers Subject: alt.bbs.unixbbs Frequently Asked Questions Supersedes: <unixbbs-faq-1-828349504@news.dsnet.com> Followup-To: alt.bbs.unixbbs Date: 15 Apr 1996 01:05:04 -0700 Organization: DSnet Lines: 1389 Sender: unixbbs@bbs.dsnet.com Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU Distribution: world Expires: 20 May 96 01:05:03 Message-ID: <unixbbs-faq-1-829555503@news.dsnet.com> Reply-To: unixbbs@news.dsnet.com (UnixBBS FAQ Maintainer) NNTP-Posting-Host: news.dsnet.com Keywords: FAQ, UNIX, BBS, SHELL Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu alt.bbs.unixbbs:3914 alt.bbs:60913 comp.bbs.misc:29792 comp.answers:18163 alt.answers:17107 news.answers:69521 Posted-By: auto-faq 3.3 beta (Perl 5.001) Archive-name: unix-faq/bbs-software/faq Posting-Frequency: posted on the 1st and 15th of each month X-Content-Currency: This FAQ changes regularly. When a saved or printed copy is over 6 months old, please obtain a new one. Instructions in the FAQ indicate where to find it via NetNews, FTP, World Wide Web, and finger. This is the UNIX(TM) compatible BBS Frequently Asked Questions Answers. It is posted on the 1st and 15th of each month. Please email all comments, corrections, and additions to this FAQ to unixbbs@news.dsnet.com. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. About this FAQ 2. What is a BBS? 3. What is UNIX? 4. What is Usenet? 5. What BBS Software is covered? 6. BBS software that we need more info on 7. BBS software that isn't covered 8 - N. The packages From: unixbbs@dsnet.com Subject: 1. About this FAQ Date: Sat May 27 23:03:17 PDT 1995 Thanks go to Gregory G. "Wolfe" Woodbury (news@wolves.durham.nc.us) for the excellent job he did creating and maintaining this FAQ for as long as he did. Duane Davis The FAQ is in Message Digest Format, so that various newsreaders can automagically decompose it into its component parts. The latest version of this FAQ can be obtained from several places. It is posted on the 1st and 15th of each month to the alt.bbs.unixbbs, alt.bbs, alt.answers and news.answers newsgroups. It is also available via ftp from rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet-by-group/alt.bbs.unixbbs, and via the World Wide Web from http://www.dsnet.com/unixbbsfaq. You can also 'finger unixbbs@news.dsnet.com' at last resort. 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. to locate the packages listed in the articles below, search for the short name listed in the Subject: headers. Also listed are the FTP sites and filenames for known or suspected copies of the packages. 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(!) Thomas Mechtersheimer, Bill Schwartz, Brian Dear(!), Bill Blue(!), Jared Quinn(!) (!) Authors of packages providing information (*) Special Thanks to Aydin Edguer (#) Bill is keeper of the Waffle FAQ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us (G. Wolfe Woodbury) Subject: 2. What is a BBS? Date: Wed Aug 11 19:29:48 EDT 1993 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 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, and 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. Some of the commercial computer service providers (e.g. CompuServe, Prodigy, America OnLine, etc.) provide BBS systems in addition to their regular services. Care should be taken to distinguish between the "public" messages of a BBS system and "private" Electronic Mail message services that may be provided by a computer service. ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us (G. Wolfe Woodbury) Subject: 3. What is UNIX? Date: Wed Aug 11 19:30:11 EDT 1993 UNIX is currently a trademark of X/Open Ltd (*). 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 8086 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 registered TradeMarks of their respective owners. :-) ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us (G. Wolfe Woodbury) Date: Tue Dec 14 00:54:16 EST 1993 Subject: 4. 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. Newsgroups can be thought of as analogous to the channels in broadcast television. 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 a dual entity. On one level is it merely the messages being passed from machine to machine using known protocols. On another level is it the people (the readers and posters of the messages) who interact with the computers. Care should be taken to not get too confused when people talk about "Usenet is...." because of this duality. Usenet should not be mistaken for any underlying transport mechanisms 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. :-) By one popular definition, Usenet is the 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.") There are additional regular FAQ (frequently asked questions) postings in the newsgroup "news.announce.newusers" and the newsgroup "news.answers" that provide much more information about this topic. ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Date: Sat Jan 15 19:26:36 EST 1994 Subject: 5. What software is covered here? The following packages are covered in this FAQ. AKCS AWBBS BBLinux BBS-Util Cafe Caucus Citadel/UX Citux Commune/IX drealm EBBS (Eagle's Nest) GDXBBS ix/MBox Magpie MajorBBS MBS QueBBS pbbs (Pink BBS) PBBS (Pirate BBS) TEAMate TERM UBBS (Ultimate) Unidel UniBoard (UnixBBS) VA-PEN Waffle WhatBBS (a perl BBS) XBBS yabbs ------------------------------ From: unixbbs@news.dsnet.com date: Sun Feb 04 11:18:36 PST 1996 Subject: 6. BBS software that we need more info on Known, but not covered (yet?): (Ftp site info will be added as I run across them. If you happen to check any of these out please drop me a message with more info) 1bbs sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/b bs bbs ftp.cdrom.com:/pub/FreeBSD/incoming CIX/CoSy EIES ftp.njit.edu:/pub/eies Freeport ft_bbs sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/b bs ft_bbs ftp.cdrom.com:/pub/FreeBSD/incoming ISCABBS LIME sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/linux/system/BBS/b bs Mordor (ritz@mordor.com) ftp.cdrom.com:/pub/FreeBSD/incoming nvbbs http://tmok.res.wpi.edu No-Name BBS sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/b bs Participate PicoSpan Qtach2 RapidBBS tubbs.paradigm.co.za:/pub/rapid Rocat sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/b bs SBBS (Sigma BBS) Sentience TurBoard vubbs sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/v ubbs Yapp gatekeeper.dec.com:/.8/misc/yapp_bbs2.2 .tar.Z ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Date: Sat Jan 15 19:26:36 EST 1994 Subject: 7. What software isn't covered here? Minimal/Nil/No Coverage (by request) bbs_bk (no longer supported per Bob Kirkpatrick, author) brand-X (no longer supported per Bob Kirkpatrick, author) Chris Petrelli's groupware project (by request) Coconet (no coverage at request of Coconut Computing) PNN (No coverage at request of Tom True) Pnet (no coverage at request of B.Blue) UnAccess (request by Brandon Alberry, the author) Z/Max Xchange (out of business, no longer available) ------------------------------ From: karl@mcs.net (Karl Denninger) Date: Wed Nov 16 22:01:54 PST 1994 Subject: AKCS Ftp-Site: ftp.mcs.net:/AKCS AKCS Version 7 commercial product source available Usenet compatibility contact: karl@mcs.net Karl Denninger 1300 W. Belmont Chicago, IL 60657 +1 312 248 8649 (voice) demo: up to 14.4Kbps +1 312 248 0900 "AKCS is a threaded BBS/conferencing package with extraordinary versatility, ease of use, performance and support." -- Karl Denninger AKCS can be had in source at ftp.mcs.com. License terms and costs are contained in the archive and on the server. 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: unixbbs@dsnet.com Date: Fri Oct 21 21:00:34 PST 1994 Subject: AWBBS Artificial Worlds BBS Last_update: 94/10/21 AWBBS Artificial Worlds BBS status unknown contact: Steven Doyle wcreator@kaiwan.com platforms: Linux This BBS had alot of potential but the author is very unreliable. After paying $50 for the honor of becoming a beta site I found that the package wasn't even near complete and was very buggy. I got the author to fix a couple of the problems but it kept taking longer and longer to get fixes and he kept coming up with excuses for not working on it. There are fixes that were promised within a couple days that, more than two months later, still haven't been seen. I've given up on him and would advise others to stear clear of this one. ------------------------------ From: unixbbs@dsnet.com Date: Mon, 4 Sep 1995 21:45:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: BBLinux Ftp-Site: sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/bbs/BBLinux-0.1.tar.gz BBLinux BBLinux source included contact: Andreas Schiffler 1230 11th St. E Saskatoon, Sask S7H 0G3 Canada andreas@karlsberg.usask.ca andreas@milo.usask.ca BBLinux isn't really a BBS. It is a C program and a few scripts that allow you to add time limit enforcement to a shell or menu login. Combined with the BBS-Util package and a menu script, or even Lynx, you could probably come up with a pretty decent BBS in little time. Excerpts from the README: The following collection of files and text will help converting a Linux system into a BBS in (almost) no time. Most of it a quick hack but should serve as a good starting point. Any help or improvements are welcome ... I will try to collect them, incorporate them and make them available in the same package. Files ----- README - this file listcheck.c - kick-out-program timecheck - shows time left limitcheck - shows exceeded quotas newuser - creates an account xxx.sample - sample file from The Gnu BBS ------------------------------ From: unixbbs@dsnet.com Date: Mon, 4 Sep 1995 22:11:36 -0800 (PST) Subject: BBS-Util Ftp-Site: sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/BBS-Util_0.9.tar.gz> BBS-Util BBS Utilities source included contact: Adam McKee Adam.McKee@usask.ca Adam wrote this package to enhance and add to the functions provided by the BBLinux package. It adds the following functions: timeleft: Tells users how much time they have left daysleft: Tells users how many days they have left before their account expires user_add: Creates passwd file entry AND record in the BBS user database. user_del: Removes passwd file entry AND record in the BBS user database. user_data: Shows BBS user record in a readable format. user_kick: Give a user the boot (i.e. kill all of their processes). user_purge: Remove accounts which have not been used in a certain # of days . user_renew: Resets users daily time used. Handles expired accounts. user_subscribe: Give a user x minutes / day for the next y days. user_sync: synchronize the BBS user file with the password file. user_time: change the expiry date and daily time limit of a user. user_touch: Modify a user's "last online" field to equal the current date. ------------------------------ From: roth@gamgee.lt.lrt.emich.edu (Charles Roth) Date: Fri, 3 Feb 1995 15:00:49 -0500 (EST) Subject: Caucus Caucus commercial package source not generally available Usenet via message import contact: Camber-Roth 3588 Plymouth Road #223 Ann Arbor, Mi 48105-2603 USA 1 313 482 8710 (voice) 1 313 662 7225 (FAX) demo: NONE 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. Caucus Prices as of September 1994 After Educ. or One Year After Simultaneous Users List Price Gov't Discount Support Discount ------------------ ----------- ----------- -------- --------- 8 (PC only) $ 1,800.00 $ 1,260.00 $ 270.00 $ 189.00 16 (PC only) $ 3,000.00 $ 2,100.00 $ 450.00 $ 315.00 25 $ 4,000.00 $ 2,800.00 $ 600.00 $ 420.00 50 $ 8,000.00 $ 5,600.00 $1,200.00 $ 840.00 75 $11,250.00 $ 7,875.00 $1,687.00 $1,180.00 100 $15,000.00 $ 10,500.00 $2,250.00 $1,575.00 Unlimited $20,000.00 $ 14,000.00 $3,000.00 $2,100.00 This is an overview of Caucus pricing. Pricing is based on hardware, operating system, and number of simultaneous users. All size licenses are not available on all systems. Please note that 8 and 16 user licenses are available on certain PC-based Unix systems only (SCO, Coherent). Workstation prices start at 25 simultaneous users. Caucus comes with three months of customer and software support. Support includes all upgrades to the software released during the covered period, plus e-mail, on-line, and telephone support. (Telephone support is provided for two designated individuals.) The CaucusLink add-on option, which shares conferences across remote Caucus sites, may be purchased at an additional 50% of the base Caucus license fee. ------------------------------ From: unixbbs@dsnet.com Date: Wed Sep 29 20:04:00 PST 1994 Subject: Cafe Ftp-Site: Citadel/UX for description ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us (G. Wolfe Woodbury) Date: Sat Jan 15 19:36:41 EST 1994 Subject: Citadel Ftp-Site: From: unixbbs@dsnet.com Date: Wed Sep 29 20:04:00 PST 1994 Subject: Citux Ftp-Site: Citadel/UX for description ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Subject: Commune/IX Date: Sat Apr 3 00:25:03 EST 1993 Updated: 11/11/94 Commune/IX for Linux commercial source available? NetNews available contact: Michael Quigley (address unknown) 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: unixbbs@dsnet.com Date: Wed Feb 17 22:17:01 PST 1996 Subject: drealm Platforms: Linux, SysVR4.2 Ftp-Site: ftp.demon.co.uk:/pub/unix/unix/drealm Ftp-Site: tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/packages/drealmbbs DRealm GNU License source included contact: Peter Jones thanatos@drealm.org demo: drealm BBS +44 (0)181 568 2204 I run DrealmBBS myself and must say that I am very pleased with it. This is the blurb that came with version 2.0 (released 2/96). drealmBBS is a multi-user BBS system. drealmBBS runs a separate process for each node, and finds out about other nodes by interrogating certain files on disk and via IPC. It needs about 1Mb virtual memory per user. ALL data is produced and stored as plain ASCII so it can be accessed by any other application. It is highly configurable. All menu options can have access controlled by user level, userflags, areaflags, and min/max times of day. You may offer your callers any of eight external file transfer protocols, any three editors and any three display programs. We have included our own line editor (isle) and our own display program (pager) which are both absolutely free of shell escapes and command access. There is support for output in up to 10 human languages or styles. Each BBS user has his/her own account in the passwd file, but may of course run drealmBBS as his shell for security. Security is also aided by reverting user to login permissions when using external file transfer protocols, editors or file viewers - and other external programs optionally. Facilities include: Private inter-user mail, with interface to external mail. A quota of external mail can be set per person, and mail can be made available only to users over a certain level or with a certain flag set. Message areas (forums): Public messages are posted without naming a recipient and can be read by anyone who may access a particular area. Areas can be open or private, read only or read/write or moderated. Each area may have an individual areamask, which represents the flag settings of the users who may access it. An area may also be restricted to people of over a certain security level. In the case of a "private" area access is restricted to only people who are specifically named within that area. Messages are linked as threads, and may be read threadwise, numerically, or by "reference" (ie always reading down through replies first). Messages may be unlinked, relinked in a different way, and copied to other message areas. Whole threads or branches may be copied to other areas, retaining their relationships. Voting: Votes are attached to public messages. File up/downloads: Functions to descend through directories and re-ascend. File descriptions held. Files may be posted between individual users. No internal protocol provided, you can use any which are available on your system. Rename, delete, edit, view files. Searches recursively from any named parent directory on filenames or file descriptions. Chat: Realtime chat on a message by message basis via pipes and sockets. Users can chat and listen whilst doing other things. Users can select chat reception on or off. Menus may disable or enable chat at any point. Broadcast chat to anyone listening, or a private message to named person. Timing: Session timers can be set on, off, or paused. Also total time per day can be limited. User defaults: An extensive range of user default choices including inactivity timeout, hotkey mode, chat message colours. Also interface with terminfo to allow user to choose his best terminal type for use with external programs. Run Unix commands or "doors" either with BBS permissions or with login permissions, as required for access and security. All above are under total control of configuration files and the semi-programmable menus. Each line of each menu can be made available only at certain times, or only to people with a certain flag set or security level. The nodes themselves may be configured to only accept callers fulfilling certain criteria. ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Date: Wed Aug 11 19:55:34 EDT 1993 Subject: EBBS Eagle's Nest BBS Updated: 11/11/94 Ftp-Site: bbs.augsburg.edu:/files/bbs_software/Eagles.BBS.2.0.tar.Z Ftp-Site: sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/bbs/ebbs* Ftp-Site: ftp/demon.co.uk:/pub/unix/bbs EBBS Eagle's Nest BBS source included Usenet unknown contact: Raymond Rocker Guy Vega (address unknown) demo: Eagles Nest BBS seabass.st.usm.edu login: bbs (no password) 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. Notes are given to me that EBBS runs in a "chroot" environment. It has hooks for "doors" and chat. Known systems in use: SunOS4.1.x, ESIX/SysV, AIX 3.2, Ultrix, Alpha OSF/1, Linux. ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Date: Tue Feb 20 20:55:12 PST 1996 Subject: GDXBBS Ftp_Site: http://www.ict.pwr.wroc.pl/ftp/pub/bbs/gdxbbs.tgz GDXBBS freeware bbs source included Usenet is planned contact: Jay A Snyder jay@gdx.uucp demo: GDX-BBS (home system for GDX) +1 717-737-3249 (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). ------------------------------ From: unixbbs@dsnet.com Date: Sat Jan 15 19:51:29 EST 1994 Subject: Magpie for Unix Updated: 11/11/94 Magpie for Unix Shareware/commercial source available for $$ NetNews planned contact: Steve Manes (address unknown) demo: unknown 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. Recently announced was a version for AIX on the IBM RT platform. ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Date: Tue Dec 14 00:58:41 EST 1993 Subject: ix/MBox comp.sources.misc: volume 29 and volume 31 Ftp-Site: sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/BBS/bbs/mbox* Ftp-Site: ftp.cdrom.com:/pub/FreeBSD/incoming/mbox.tar.gz ix/MBox System V Unix BBS source included Usenet is basis contact: Volker Schuermann (address unknown) 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. Volker announced a new version recently, and there is an MBox mailing list. ------------------------------ From: maier@gcomm.com Date: Tue Apr 25 11:47:36 EDT 1995 Subject: MajorBBS MajorBBS MajorBBS for UNIX source not available news/mail support Contact: Galacticomm, Inc. 4101 SW 47th Ave, #101 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314 800/328-1128 305/583-5990 305/583-7846 FAX unix@gcomm.com Demo: unix.gcomm.com (199.227.15.26) 305/583-1759 (Motorola V.34 300-28,800 bps) http://www.gcomm.com/ Overview: The Major BBS for UNIX is a complete bulletin board system software package for UNIX systems. Includes multilingual/ multiprotocol architecture for language add-ons and graphical interfaces, full suite of RIPscrip GUI menus, local and Interne t e-mail, forums, USENET newsgroup support, file libraries, teleconference, QWK-mail support, telnet, ftp, full screen editor, fully configurable menuing, security and accounting features, and much more. Open architecture provides the ability to seamlessly "plug-in" add-on modules. Current add-on modules available: * Entertainment Collection -- Includes the Action Teleconference, a chat extravaganza with action verbs for users; Teleconference Poker, Bingo, and Blackjack; multiplayer text adventures, ANSI-graphics and teleconference games; and more. * Spanish Language -- Allows users to choose Spanish as the language for the messages and prompts they see on your BBS. Other add-ons to follow from Galacticomm and existing third- party community (200+ Developers). Development layer permits C programming at API level for creating add-on applications that seamlessly integrate into the baseline package. Worldgroup MS-Windows client/server interface will be available 3rd QTR 1995. Pricing starts at $1,695 for an 8-User license fully bundled. Moving up to higher license counts only requires paying difference in price. Special 4-User Linux version starts at $995. Optional yearly support and software update programs availale. Supported operating systems: Solaris 2.3, Solaris 2.4 (SPARC/x 86) BSD/OS 1.1, BSD/OS 2.0, SCO ODT 3.0, Linux 1.1+ ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Date: Tue Sep 29 23:30:00 EDT 1992 Subject: MBS Updated: 11/11/94 MBS Unix C language BBS source included (In alpha test) Usenet planned contact: Willam Davidsen (address unknown) 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: news@wolves.durham.nc.us 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: izcer@sdf.lonestar.org 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: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Date: Wed Aug 11 19:45:04 EDT 1993 Subject: PBBS (Pirate BBS) FTP-Site: bbs.augsburg.edu:/files/bbs_software/Pirates.BBS.1.9.tar.Z Ftp-Site: sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/bbs/pbbs* PBBS "Mars" Pirate Unix BBS source included Usenet not supported 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. ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Date: Thu Nov 25 14:07:48 EST 1993 Subject: QueBBS QueBBS Unix C language BBS source included Usenet via import/export contact: (address unknown) 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. There is a little confusion about whether the NoDak bbs is the same as the "quebbs" that is listed as available for Coherent. ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Date: Thu Nov 11 01:25:35 EST 1993 Subject: TEAMate TEAMate Commercial UNIX BBS source NOT available Usenet by import/export contact: bob%teamate@uunet.uu.net 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, full: 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. ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us (via Dave Nause) Date: Wed Aug 11 19:56:42 EDT 1993 Subject: TERM from Century Software TERM commercial source $$$$ Usenet possible? contact: Century Software (no email) 5284 South 320 West Suite C-124 Salt Lake City UT 84107 801-268-3088 demo: unknown TERM is a commercial terminal emulation package for UNIX and DOS that supports file transfers and script driven interfaces. According to a brief conversation with one of their folks after hours (good service!) the system *could* be used to create a BBS system. FTP support is available in the package, and more literature is being sent to me for review. ------------------------------ From: unixbbs@news.dsnet.com Date: Tue Feb 20 20:56:12 PST 1996 Subject: UBBS Ftp-Site: ftp://daystar.org/linux/apps/ubbs103.tgz UBBS (Ultimate) free (?) source available? NetNews available (not yet) contact: Jean-Francois Gagnon http://phoque.info.uqam.ca/~gagnon/html/ubbseng.htm gagnon@phoque.info.uqam.ca demo: unknown 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: pizzi@nervous.com (Riccardo Pizzi) Date: Sun Nov 13 16:45:29 PST 1994 Subject: UniBoard (UnixBBS) FTP-site: ftp.wariat.org:/pub/uniboard Ftp-Site: sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/bbs/unib* Gopher-site: wariat.org) [USA Dist. Site] Login: bbs (no password) +7 351 265 3601 (rich.chel.su) (Chelyabinsk Russia?) see alt.bbs.unixbbs support: svr3 - SCO, ISC and other SVR3 on INTEL processors svr4 - Unixware and other SVR4 on INTEL processors sun - SunOS 4.1.3 or Solaris 2.3 on SUN SPARC processor s linux - Linux 0.99.14 or greater FreeBSD - FreeBSD 2.0 UniBoard is a decent Unix BBS according to most reports. Pricing is reasonable, ranging from $50 to $500 (2 user to unlimited), with an 8-user license costing $140 (US). Here is the current blurb (as of 11/14/94) UniBoard is a BBS package with Usenet and Email capabilities that looks very similar to most popular DOS-based BBS systems like Opus, RA, etc. If you are looking for a unix BBS software that doesn't scare your users, this is wh at you need! Even the most inexperienced user can read/post news and mail, witho ut having to learn how to use mail(1), rn(1), or any other UNIX program. In addition, all the other well-known BBS features as file upload/download, doors (games), bulletins, and so on are available. UniBoard is not a true "commercial" program, but you will have to register it if you want to use it on a regular basis. Prices are as low as $50 for a 2 users licence, with full unlimited upgrades + email support (I would prefer to call this "donation" instead of "price"). It is distributed in executable form only. Please do not ask for sources, they will not be released! The package requires a customized activation key in order to run. A demo key is supplied with the package, but you will have to change your nodename and clock setting to use it. If you cannot (or don't want to) change anything you can email me and I will send you an evaluation key with a limited lifetim e that will let you use all the program's features while you decide whether to buy it or not. The key will work on the licensed host only and includes info like sysop name, key licensee, etc. that will be customized for you. Where to get it? Latest version is always available from the development and support site: "the Nervous XTC Public Access UNIX", located in Rimini, Italy. The number is +39-541-27135 (14.4k/V32bis) or, if you are on X.25, just call the NUA (2222) 954123111. Just log in as 'bbs' and register with us, then go to file area #8: UniBoard can be downloaded from the 1st call. If you are located within the continental US, you may want to get the stuff from the US distribution site. This site has also an anonymous FTP access, so that you will be able to get UniBoard via FTP instead of downloading it via modem. For further info about the US site, please see the 'avail' file . Upgrades will be made available on those sites as soon as they are released. Usually, it takes from one to two weeks for a new version to appear on the US mirror site. If you are impatient, get it from nervous and do not stress the US sysop (he is helping me for free in his spare time -- thanks, Zbig). The features list (quite out-dated): - available with 2, 4, 8, 16, 64 and 254 users licence; - pretty robust code, no core dumps; - easy-to-use and highly intuitive interface for unexperienced people; very similar to the popular MSDOS program "Opus"; - runs on top of the popular netnews packages, either B-News or C-News are supported, full/true Usenet support; - very easy setup and configuration; a complete system can be set up in roughly 30 minutes (if you already have the netnews package up and running) ; - Fidonet support provided (still in alpha version, though); - tree-structured message base, access privileges and other parameters are assigned in hierarchical fashion (child newsgroups inherit all parameters from their parents if not otherwise specified); unlimited # of newsgroups supported; - logoff message area can be either a news group or a user mailbox; - Internationalization support: the user will be able to choose his/her preferred language at the beginning of the bbs session; up to 99 different languages can be added by the sysop, two are supplied with the package (english and italian); - all constant strings in UniBoard are customizable, including colors, using a normal text editor (e.g. 'vi'). - 65536 different privilege levels; - 16 additional access flags for all bbs options, for file areas and external programs; - activity monitor program supplied with the bbs; uses IPC and can show from 1 to 16 users simultaneously on any tty; sysopuser chat function included; - indexed user database with error recovery and automatic backup; a separate maintenance program 'bbsmaint' is used to add/delete users, modify users access level/status/parameters, etc. - unlimited file areas with independent up/download directory, access level, download level, unlimited download feature for specified areas, per-area "download forbidden" time slots, CD-ROM "copy-before-download" support, etc ; - private user file areas, allow users to exchange files privately; also useful for programs that need a work directory, like uqwk. - /bin/sh is not used in any way, external programs are spawn using the exec(2) family system calls; the bbs program is directly spawned by init(1) through getty(1)/login(1), without any parent shell; - the Sysop can define what ttys can be used for bbs and the working time of each port; minimum access level settable to avoid newcomers if desired; - full color support using ANSI sequences, if the caller supports them; - true multi-user, dynamic Chat, features automatic capture of called user in to chat mode (no need for the paged user to go to Main Menu and enter the Chat Room), virtually unlimited users can chat simultaneously, "do not disturb" option available in the Setup Section to avoid the chat; - separately definable time-per-call, calls-per-day, time-per-day and download limit for each of the 65536 available privilege levels; - all Menus are user-definable, can have ANSI color sequences in it that will be skipped if the caller does not support them; an ansi compiler/decompiler is supplied with the package; - different menu sets can be specified for each of the 65536 privilege levels ; - several different Sysop-definable support texts are shown in some circum- stances, like file upload/download, login/logoff, and so on; ANSI color is supported within these text files too; - extended character support is provided in menus and text files; - full 8 bit input can be enabled, allowing UniBoard to run with extended charsets when needed (e.g. ex-SU countries) - each menu option is sysop-definable: minimum privilege level and key requir ed to activate the option can be changed; - the unix system "sees" the bbs as a remote system; each bbs user can send and receive unix mail and has his own private mailbox. No need to add entri es to your /etc/passwd file for bbs users! - message base maintenance directly handled by the netnews package (expire, addgroup, etc); - external programs (doors) menu with definable access level, ANSI flag and interactive or batch mode; full user data dump in /tmp allows you to write your own interfaces to popular utilities and programs; - any number of external programs can be defined for each menu; - customizable transfer protocols menu, sysop can add or remove protocols as need arises; - batch file transfer security: uploads will have path forced to a temporary directory; - customizable archivers menu, sysop can add or remove archivers as need arises (archivers are programs used to show contents of archive files e.g. unzip, arcl, unarj, etc); - detailed logging of all events in a log file; the verbosity level is sysop-definable; - both full-screen and line-oriented editors supplied; sysop can choose his own preferred editor (e.g. 'vi' or 'emacs') to edit messages; - unread messages download feature, can be used to save callers connection time (messages are compressed before download); - built-in "Preferred Groups" reading mode, very similar to the 'rn' interfac e (although very simplified); - "motd" feature allows you to set up (using a single file) messages regardin g the system that will be shown to each caller ONLY ONCE, based on their last login date; - bbs email and news traffic can be monitored by the sysop, including contents; - Session logging utility included (dumps a session to file); - Full accounting includes account expiration dates and usage counters on a per-user basis; these can be combined i.e. you can assign both an expiratio n date, and an usage limit in minutes to each user. Upon expiration the user' s access level can be lowered to a specified value or its status can be changed denying him/her access to the board; - "Wheel of Fortune" gadget allows users to play with their time limit, daily download amount, etc, adding more fun to a bbs call; - Handles (nicknames) can be enabled where desired on a per conference basis; - File tagging allows users to tag files and download them throughout several calls; - Amazingly fast keyword search allows instantaneous searches throughout the entire BBS file system; - Sending from a personal file is allowed for both email and news articles... uuencode is automatic if file is not ASCII; - and more... Many features are probably missing from this list. The best thing I can suggest is to grab the package and try it out yourself! For any additional info, question, etc. feel free to email pizzi@nervous.com. ------------------------------ From: unidel@bitsko.slc.ut.us (Unidel Administrator) Date: Mon Jul 12 13:20:43 EDT 1993 Subject: Unidel, a UNIX/UseNet BBS and news/mail reader, part 1 of 7 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] 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, +1 801 566 6283 (Telebit), login 'guest', type RETURN for password. Source and discussion is in the Unidel room. Results of Archie search at archie.sura.net: Search request for 'unidel' Host athene.uni-paderborn.de (131.234.2.32) Last updated 16:54 25 Jun 1993 Location: /unix/network/tools FILE rw-r--r-- 117883 Mar 26 1992 unidel.tar.Z Host keos.helsinki.fi (128.214.4.83) Last updated 23:29 29 Jun 1993 Location: /pub/archives/alt.sources DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 512 May 3 1992 unidel-1.0 Host nuri.inria.fr (128.93.1.26) Last updated 01:57 14 May 1993 Location: /misc FILE rw-rw-r-- 153656 May 4 1992 unidel-1.0.tar.Z FILE rw-rw-r-- 124801 Nov 18 1991 unidel.tar.Z Host relay.iunet.it (192.106.1.2) Last updated 03:33 14 May 1993 Location: /disk0/unix/bbs FILE rwxrwxr-x 127147 Dec 31 19:15 unidel.tar.Z Host sun0.urz.uni-heidelberg.de (129.206.100.126) Last updated 02:34 11 Jun 1993 Location: /pub/net/unix FILE rw-rw-r-- 117883 Nov 18 1991 unidel.tar.Z Location: /pub/unix/network FILE rw-rw-r-- 117883 Nov 18 1991 unidel.tar.Z ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Date: Feb 24 23:30:00 EST 1993 Subject: VA-PEN FTP_site: ftp.virginia.edu:/pub/VA.PEN VA-PEN freeware source included NetNews available contact: Tim Sigmon tms@holmes.acc.virginia.edu 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: news@wolves.durham.nc.us Date: Feb 23 02:00:00 EST 1993 Subject: Waffle 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 vox@darkside.com 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. ------------------------------ From: news@wolves.durham.nc.us (G. Wolfe Woodbury) Date: Tue Dec 14 00:28:47 EST 1993 Subject: WhatBBS Updated: 11/11/94 WhatBBS free? source provided NetNews unknown contact: Jared Quinn (address unknown) demo: unknown Jared Quinn posted some information about a Perl BBS to alt.bbs some time ago, and I haven't heard anything else about it for a while. ------------------------------ From: sandy@rmii.com (Sanford Zelkovitz) Date: Mon Nov 14 14:24:37 PST 1994 Subject: XBBS comp.sources.misc: Volume 32 Issue 16 xbbs/partNN FTP-site: ftp.demon.co.uk[158.152.1.44]:~/pub/unix/bbs/xbbs* Ftp-Site: sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/bbs/xbbs* XBBS v7.243 Freeware source included NetNews via external commands (doors) contact: Sanford "Sandy" Zelkovitz sandy@rmii.com 4530 Eileen Court Colorado Springs, CO 80919 demo: yes at alphacm 719-548-0782 (8N1 1200-Telebit PEP) 719-548-0757 (8N1 1200-28.8K) 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. I've got XBBS running here at the Wolves Den (actually it is now the ISIS BBS :-) with a fair number of modifications in place. XBBS's user base is handled seperately from the Unixen /etc/passwd file, and runs as a "startup shell" from a "bbs" login. The provided configurations allow for 99 message areas, 99 file areas, 99 "special interest groups", and individual messages are limited to 99 lines each. There is no message import or export function. The builtin text editor is all that is available. Some of the support programs will require heavy modification if you change the directory structure of your layout from the "standard." The "sysop" shell support command needs some work too. Download/upload protocols are limited to Xmodem, Y modem, Z modem and kermit, and requires the installation of the RZ/SZ package from the net, and Unix Kermit. XBBS can be brought up quickly and fairly easily if you can match the "standard layout" that Sandy recommends. ------------------------------ From: alex@phred.org (Alex Wetmore) Date: Wed Dec 7 19:25:35 PST 1994 Subject: yabbs - Yet Another (UNIX) BBS Ftp-site: uglymouse.css.itd.umich.edu Ftp-site: sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/BBS/bbs YABBS free source available NetNews NOT available contact: Alex Wetmore alex@phred.org demo: not currently Yabbs is a server/client BBS system for Unix. It is designed to run efficently with many online users. The current version supports unlimited users, multiple talk channels, 26 public message bases, one email message base, and gopher access. It currently comes with a unix server and client. An X-Windows client is in development, although there is no projected release date for it. A Windows NT port of the server and client are also planned for the near future. It should port to any Unix system that provides POSIX complaince and sockets. It has been tested on: FreeBSD, NetBSD, Linux, HP/UX, SunOS, and Ultrix. The source is fairly well commented. I ran a development-yabbs system on my NetBSD machine for two years, so the system has been well tested and is currently very stable. alex ------------------------------ End of UnixBBS Software FAQ -- unixbbs@dsnet.com UnixBBS FAQ maintainer