BBSs for UNIX-like Systems [FAQ preliminary]
The Wolfe of the Den
From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us (G. Wolfe Woodbury)
Date: Mon 23 Sep 23:00:00 EDT 1992
Subject: UNIX BBS Software FAQ with Answers (v 0.2)
This is the UNIX (TM) compatible BBS Frequently Asked Questions Answers.
1. What is a BBS?
2. What is UNIX?
3. What is Usenet?
4. What BBS Software is covered?
5 - N. The packages
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From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us (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.
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From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us (G. Wolfe Woodbury)
Subject: 2. What is UNIX?
Date: Mon Sep 28 23:00:00 EDT 1992
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 early 1970'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. 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.
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From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
Date: Mon Sep 28 23:00:00 EDT 1992
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 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).
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) or may be regional (usa, can, triangle) or even organizational
(duke, ut, sun). These message hierarchies use the Usenet protocols,
and are colloquially called "Usenet", but a purist could argue for days
about the distinctions.
There is not enough room here to fully discuss the ins and outs of
Usenet. There are several Usenet groups that are dedicated to
discussion of Usenet itself. (news.* and alt.culture.usenet are
examples, the `*' refers to any newsgroup that begins its name with a
string of "news.")
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From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
Date: Mon Sep 28 23:00:00 EDT 1992
Subject: 4. What software is covered here?
The following packages are covered in this FAQ.
AKCS
bbs_bk
brand-x
Caucus
GDXBBS
ix/MBox
MBS
QueBBS
pbbs (Pink BBS)
PBBS (Pirate BBS)
TEAMate
Unidel
UniBoard (UnixBBS)
------------------------------FAQ complete to here
Waffle
XBBS
Z/Max - Xchange
Known, but not covered:
Citadel/UX
CIX
CocoNet
EIES
Freeport
Participate
Pnet
PicoSpan
SBBS (Sigma BBS)
Obsolete, not covered
UnAccess
In the subject lines below, summary files for 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.
------------------------------------
From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
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: ka...@ddsw1.mcs.com
Karl Denninger
3217 N. Sheffield
Chicago, IL 60657
+1 312 269 9058 (voice)
demo: 300-2400 bps modem line
+1 312 248 0900
"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: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
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
ro...@dogear.spk.wa.us
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.
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From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
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
ro...@dogear.spk.wa.us
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: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
Date: Tue Sep 29 23:00:00 EDT 1992
Subject: Caucus
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)
in...@aule-tek.com
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.
------------------------------------
From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
Date: Tue Sep 29 23:00:00 EDT 1992
Subject: GDXBBS
FTP_site: plains.nodak.edu:/pub/alt/gdxbbs
GDXBBS freeware bbs source included
contact: Jay A Snyder
j...@gdx.uucp
I had some info on GDX, but I seem to have lost it :-(
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From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
Date: Tue Sep 29 23:30:00 EDT 1992
Subject: ix/MBox
comp.sources.misc: volume 29
ix/MBox System V Unix BBS source included
Usenet is basis
contact: Volker Schuermann
Volker.S...@uunet.w.open.de
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.
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From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
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
davi...@crd.ge.com
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.)
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From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
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: qb...@milo.ndsu.nodak.edu
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.
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From: ne...@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: iz...@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.
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From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
Date: Thu Oct 1 00:30:00 EDT 1992
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: mars.ee.msstate.edu
login: bbs (no password)
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.
------------------------------------
From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
Date: Thu Oct 1 01:00:00 EDT 1992
Subject: TEAMate
TEAMate Commercial UNIX BBS source NOT available
Usenet by inport/export
contact: bob%tea...@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 and several
phone calls for 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.]
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: uni...@bitsko.slc.ut.us (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
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: uni...@bitsko.slc.ut.us
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.
Questions can be directed to uni...@bitsko.slc.ut.us
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From: ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us
Date: Fri Oct 16 23:00:00 EDT 1992
Subject: UniBoard (UnixBBS)
UniBoard Commercial Unix BBS Source NOT available
contact: Riccardo Pizzi
pi...@nervous.com
Rimini, Italy
demo: <several>
see alt.bbs.unixbbs.uniboard
UniBoard is a decent Unix BBS according to most reports, however there
is some controversy about the authors use of the Usenet group to so
aggressively market his product. 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.
--
Usenet Net News Administrator @ The Wolves Den (G. Wolfe Woodbury)
ne...@wolves.durham.nc.us news%wol...@cs.duke.edu ...duke!wolves!news
"The flame war is a specific Usenet art form." --me
[This site is not affiliated with Duke University. (Idiots!) ]