BBS Sysop
Resources
Main Page
BBS Software
BBS Utilities
Door Games
Other Resources
Sysop FAQ
Telnet Utilities
BBS
User
Resources
Intro to BBSing
Getting Connected
Telnet BBS Guide
Other BBS Lists
User FAQ
Other Useful
Information
BBS Corner Home
About Us
Contact Us
Weblog
DM Online Home
|
Telnet BBS Sysop Frequently Asked Questions |
Here is a Frequently Asked Questions list for those many questions that BBS Sysops may have about Telnet BBS systems. Make sure you see our Setting Up A Telnet BBS Page for more resources.
- Q. What is Telnet?
A. Telnet is an Internet tool where a user interactively can access and use a remote computer over the Internet. It is a text line-by-line access method. Since Telnet and the concept of Dial-Up BBS systems are very similar, Telnet is the natrual migration of the traditional ANSI-based BBS systems to the Internet.
- Q. Is a Telnet BBS expensive to operate?
A. A Telnet BBS system can cost as much as you want it to be. There are many factors involved, including the type (and cost) of the following: Your connection to the Internet, the brand of BBS software that you use, and if you use legacy DOS based BBS software, the of the use of a Virtual Modem (see below) So the price of a Telnet BBS can be very cheap or very expensive. Its all up to you what you want and how much you can afford.
- Q. Are there any BBS Software Packages that have built-in Telnet capabilities?
A. There are now a number of Telnet ready
BBS systems. These systems come with built-in Telnet servers, and many
have other Internet featues such as Internet E-mail, FTP and more. There
are both commercialware and freeware systems. Commercialware systems
include the Wildcat
Winserver and the Worldgroup
system. Freeware systems include Mystic
and Synchronet.
All of these are available as 32-bit Windows applications, and some are
available in other operating systems such as Linux.
Q. Can I use my old
DOS based BBS on the Internet?
A. Under most circumstances, the answer is yes. The key is the use of a piece of software called a Virtual Modem that allows the use of any DOS based BBS (or early generation Windows based BBS) that normally communicates with a hardware modem to work on the Internet. There are Virtual Modems for Windows and OS/2. Linux users can use DOS Emulation (DOS EMU) and do the same
Q. Can I Keep my Existing Dial-up BBS Too?
A. If your Dial-Up BBS software is capable of multiple nodes, you can operate a "hybrid" system where you can have both a Dial-Up BBS and a Telnet BBS at the same time.
Q. How Many Nodes Can I Run?
A. There is no answer that will work in all situations.
If you have a Telnet-ready BBS system and you have a high speed connection with a fast computer, you may be able to support many nodes (10, 20 or more).
For those who are using an older DOS based BBS program
with a Virtual Modem, it all depends on how many physical COM ports and
Virtual COM ports that you may have. It also depends on if your BBS or
your Door Games or your File Transfer software (i.e. Zmodem) can go above
COM 4. For most older BBS software systems, going above COM 4 will cause problems with a
number of older BBS Door Games. Part of
the reason is that there is no set standard for the hexadecimal address or
IRQ for COM ports 5 and higher. An example of a program that has problems
working above COM 4 is DSZ Zmodem.
The main limiting factor is the actual Internet connection. The faster the
connection, the more nodes you can run without running out of bandwidth. A
56k Modem may support 3 nodes fairly well, while a Cable Modem or DSL can
handle much more.
Q. Will my 56k dial-up "unlimited" Internet Service work?
A. The answer to this question is not an easy one and depends on a lot of factors. Basically the faster the connection speed, the better off you will be. While 56k modems will work, Cable Modem or DSL works better. It also depends on if your Internet Provider will allow you to be logged on 24/7. Details on what is best for you can be found on the Types of Internet Connections page.
Q. Can I use a Cable Modem or DSL connection?
A. Most of the time the answer is yes. Most cable and DSL services allow inbound Telnet connections on the normal TCP/IP port (Port 23). However, some block this port. A work around is to let your users come in to your BBS on a non-standard port (Port 24, 26, or other high port over 1000). Other potential problems include that you do not have a true IP address (usually due to Network Address Translation or NAT), therefore inbound connections to your computer won't work. Sometimes you need to subscribe to a "business class" (more expensive) version of your cable modem or DSL service to either get Port 23 open or to get a true routable IP address to your computer. (See more on Port 23 blocking and work arounds below.)
Q. How Will BBS Users Find Me With a Dynamic IP Address?
A. If you are on an Internet Service Provider that changes your IP address each time you log on, there are now ways for your users to find you no matter what IP you currently are using. These services are called Dynamic Domain Name Services. Your users see you as a "fixed" address while in reality you can move around to any available IP at your Internet Provider. For details see the Dynamic Domain Name Services section.
Q. Will File Transfers Work Over the Internet?
A. To a certain extent, yes. It depends on the speed of your connection and the connection of the user, the type of BBS software that you use and the type/brand of the transfer protocol software. In the case of old DOS legacy BBS systems, it also may depend on the brand of Virtual Modem software that you may be using (some don't support file transfers). Zmodem downloads seem to work fairly well over the Internet. You can use regular DSZ or GSZ (or the fossil version of DSZ, called FDSZ) or other compatible Zmodem software such as CE-XYZ. The trick is to find a working combination and that may take some trial and error.
Q. Are there any Web-Based BBS Systems?
A. In the last couple of years there has been some major advances in hybrid traditional/web based BBS systems. Commercialware services include the Wildcat Winserver and Worldgroup. Freeware services now include Synchronet.
Q. My Internet Provider blocks port 23. What can I do?
A. In the Internet world, each service (mail, web, FTP, etc) is allocated a default "port" number. Telnet typically used Port 23. A number of Internet providers block these inbound ports to prevent incoming access to users on their system. There isn't a good way around this.
You can use a non-standard port, but it may be hard for your users to find your BBS. You can also use a redirect service that can redirect service on one port to another port that may be open on your end. However if at all possible, the ideal solution is to use a different Internet Provider that doesn't block port 23.
Site Created April 1996. Page last modified January 1, 2006
Contact us for more information