you have a number of ways to contribute this month:
1) online (via wepay): https://sudoroom.org/
2) online (via gittip): https://www.gittip.com/sudoroom/
3) in person (anytime): please drop cash or checks into the clear plastic
box by the door that goes to the elevator
4) in person (at meetings): bring cash or checks to wed. meetings.
and certainly i barely need to remind you of our *precarious month to month
financial situation*.
pay your dues!
marina
A friend and I are working on a project that involves an Ultimaker 3d
printer (http://www.ultimaker.com/). I am looking to buy a machine or
lease one for a few months (if we lease it, it would be restored to its
original form when returned). Do you or someone you know have one they
might be willing to part with on a permanent or temporary basis?
Ideally, the machine is already assembled and calibrated. We're hoping to
get started immediately--so please reach out ASAP if you are interested. I
will pay above market price.
Thanks,
Jeff
206-271-6290
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Romy Ilano <romy.ilano(a)gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Apr 21, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Subject: A great 360 of the hacker retreat pass it on
To: Brandon Peele <b(a)evr1.co>, Matthew Senate <mattsenate(a)gmail.com>,
Marina Kukso <marina.kukso(a)gmail.com>, "J.C." <r33lmm(a)gmail.com>
@sudoroom visit to #marin hacker house Chaz hack
<http://360.io/qEKq7D>
Click to view interactively: http://360.io/qEKq7D
Captured with [image: 360 Panorama] <http://occipital.com/360>
---
Romy Ilano
Founder of Snowyla
http://www.snowyla.com
romy(a)snowyla.com
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Free Culture Foundation <webleader+rss-bot(a)freeculture.org>
Date: Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 2:15 PM
Subject: [FC-discuss] After 9 Years of free culture advocacy, Students for
Free Culture is now the Free Culture Foundation
To: discuss(a)freeculture.org
We are excited to announce the _Free Culture Foundation_ — the new name
of the organization formerly known as _Students for Free Culture_. This
change reflects the evolution of the organization over the first nine
years of its life to support free culture advocacy in communities beyond
students, to emphasize coalition building with existing free culture
organizations, and to renew our commitment to free culture as an issue
of social justice.
**1. First, this change reflects an expansion of our activism to non-
student communities.**
Although our organization was started within colleges, universities, and
high schools, we have grown to involve the work of many non-students.
Many of our members and leaders have graduated and continue to
participate in the organization. We want an organization that not only
retains its members but has room for those who graduate and still wish
to be organize around free culture. Many non-students have joined and
support our advocacy and activism. To acknowledge the fluidity of
student status as well as the valuable contributions of non-students to
our organizations, we have selected a more inclusive name that reflects
the breadth of our constituency.
That said, with dozens of student chapters that have been established
around the world over the years, our roots and our base will remain in
the academy. A new name and an increased commitment to non-students does
not reflect a retreat from our strong commitment to students and to
student activism in free culture. Although we plan to support local and
non-academic chapters, our organization will continue a strong emphasis
on campus organizing.
Just as we have outgrown our name, we have outgrown our old
institutional structure. With the support of Joseph Dempsey, we are in
the process of filing as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
**2. Second, as the institutional landscape around free culture has
evolved over the last nine years, we aim to reflect a changed position
in an ecosystem of free culture organizations.**
There are many organizations that carry out invaluable work benefiting
the free culture movement: the [Free Software Foundation][1],
[Electronic Frontier Foundation][2], [Mozilla Foundation][3], [Wikimedia
Foundation][4], [ Open Knowledge Foundation][5], [Public Knowledge][6],
[Creative Commons][7], and many other organizations have been founded,
grown enormously, and changed, over the last decade. Today, the broader
free culture movement does much more than our initial goals of promoting
free software and free cultural works. The Free Culture Foundation seeks
to fill a space between these organizations and bring them together.
A decade ago, the free culture movement focused on exploring
possibilities and setting goals. After nine years of work in the broader
free culture community, we can affirm a strong commitment to successful
models of free culture put in practice by organizations like the
Wikimedia Foundation, the [Definition of Free Culture Works][8], the
open access movement, and the Free Software Foundation. The free culture
movement has also grown in breadth. Our work no longer involves only
promoting increased use of free software and free cultural works. With
our strong history of organizing, we aim to build upon, complement, and
fill some of the spaces between the many other organizations to support
a broad range of free culture issues.
**3. Finally, we seek to reiterate a renewed commitment to free culture
as issue of social justice and to connect more effectively with other
activists and movements working on these issues.**
As [our annoncement][9] of support for the [Empowermentors
Collective][10] reads, "It is imperative that we acknowledge that there
are systemic structures of control embedded in our society which
permeate our movement. Refusing to do so in an effort to
compartmentalize and focus on our own goals is detrimental to our
success. We cannot afford to be an isolated, inward-facing movement." We
do not live merely in coexistence with media and technology, but we live
in and through them. They continuously influence how we communicate,
frame our understandings of ourselves, and mediate how we experience the
world.
In our continued advocacy, we want to emphasize that free culture
reflects not only an approach to sharing but an important way to promote
autonomy. Our movement should be grounded in the needs of those most
exploited by private ownership over technology, information, and media.
Songs, films, books, and apps do not need freedom, people do.
In these next steps, there remain many critical open questions and
unfilled needs. We invite all free culture activists to participate in
this ongoing evolution and expansion of our organization and our
movement over the coming months. We encourage existing or former
participants to reconnect. To join our community, please subscribe to
our [discussion list][11].
[1]: https://www.fsf.org/
[2]: https://www.eff.org/
[3]: https://www.mozilla.org/foundation/
[4]: https://wikimediafoundation.org/
[5]: http://okfn.org/
[6]: http://publicknowledge.org/
[7]: https://creativecommons.org/
[8]: http://freedomdefined.org/
[9]: http://freeculture.org/blog/2013/01/31/announcing-the-
empowermentors-collective-a-group-for-women-of-color-and-queer-people-
of-color/
[10]: http://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Empowermentors
[11]: http://lists.freeculture.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
URL:
http://freeculture.org/blog/2013/04/22/after-9-years-of-free-culture-advoca…
_______________________________________________
Discuss mailing list
Discuss(a)freeculture.org
http://lists.freeculture.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
FAQ: http://wiki.freeculture.org/Fc-discuss
==While supplies last==
Come to the sudomaté meeting tomorrow night at 7pm and taste our
competitor, shipped directly from Bavaria, gratis!
[image: Inline images 1]
==But We still need==
If you have any of these sign up on the wiki
https://sudoroom.org/wiki/page/Sudomate_meeting_3
*More maté
*lemons,
*sugar, and
*ginger.
*Vanilla extract, unless @Ray is bringing it?
*Help Monday night driving To Noisebridge to pick up 3 more Corney Kegs and
a Carboy
(Call Max 7074787023)
*Bottles
-driving round to restuarants asking them if they want our bottle refuse
collection service.
On 19 April 2013 00:12, Ray Lai <raymond.wm.lai(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Woot! Now we r in the big time!
>
> Awesome, Naomi!
>
>
> Raymond Lai
> Ice Cream Man
> Atomic Ice Cream
> Facebook.com/MotoAtomico
>
> On Apr 18, 2013, at 11:32 PM, Naomi Most <pnaomi(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Today i picked up and brought to sudo room 2 each of everything except
> the containers. So now we have the tools to be able to produce 2
> simultaneous batches.
>
> We still need the ingredients and the containers for decanting. Large
> mason jars would work...!
>
> --Naomi
>
>
> On Thursday, April 18, 2013, Naomi Most wrote:
>
>> We also need:
>>
>> * 2 large heat-proof containers for decanting (1 gallon each)
>> * a large fine-mesh strainer
>> * a large wooden spoon
>> * a large heat-proof ladel
>>
>> If no one has these things laying around to donate, I can pick them up
>> from Target or something.
>>
>> And more ingredients:
>>
>> * a large quantity (1-2 lbs) fresh ginger
>> * 3-4 fresh lemons
>> * vanilla extract
>> * sugar
>> * stevia glycerite
>>
>> I am happy to provide everything BUT the sugar, just for
>> ability-to-carry-things reasons. (I come to sudo room directly after work
>> via Bart or ferry, and I already carry way too much stuff.)
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Naomi
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --Naomi
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 11:20 PM, Max Klein <isalix(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> ==Progress==
>>> Sudoroom productivity increased 500% after drinking 4 Gallons of hy
>>> bottle.permateinated liquid. $23 collected - enough to buy more maté for
>>> the time being.
>>>
>>> ==Next Meeting==
>>> April 23rd, 7pm. Please bring what you need to refine recipes.
>>>
>>> We will have a beer gun and be ready to bottle.
>>>
>>> ==Needed - Bottles==
>>> Please collect and bring as many bottles as possible.
>>>
>>>
>>> Max
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 17 April 2013 09:35, Max Klein <isalix(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Amazing Work at the Sudomaté hacking tonight means that there will be 3
>>>> flavour variants of Sudomaté available at the General Meeting tomorrow.
>>>>
>>>> Come blind taste test for the winner: Chefs doing battle RAY vs. NAOMI
>>>> vs. PATRICK
>>>>
>>>> all documented at https://sudoroom.org/wiki/page/Sudomate
>>>>
>>>> p.s. if you want to add to the meeting agenda
>>>> https://pad.riseup.net/p/sudoroommeeting
>>>>
>>>> Max
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Naomi Theora Most
>> naomi(a)nthmost.com
>> +1-415-728-7490
>>
>> skype: nthmost
>>
>> http://twitter.com/nthmost
>>
>
>
> --
> Naomi Theora Most
> naomi(a)nthmost.com
> +1-415-728-7490
>
> skype: nthmost
>
> http://twitter.com/nthmost
>
>
Hey everyone! I'm using an iPhone app ( autodesk 123) of various objects in
SudoRoom.
Would anyone like to join me?
I'm going to get these STL files on our own servers though in the future.
This STL file is on AudoDesk, we will put it on a sudoroom file in the
future powered by Jae's solar power plant that also powers our bitcoin
mining operation.
http://www.123dapp.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/1295114
<<< this is a 3D model in STL of one of the chairs in the mainroom.
I think we could keep it real classy, put up signs and maybe a curtain of some sort, have some volunteers around and keep the common room doors on the Broadway side closed. Keep it simple, consider consent, remain respectful of culture and such.
I hope I'm available, would be happy to help.
// Matt
----- Reply message -----
From: "Hol Gaskill" <hol(a)gaskill.com>
To: <jehan.tremback(a)gmail.com>
Cc: <sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org>
Subject: [sudo-discuss] Bike Smut: Sex-Positive erotic bike flims at Sudo Room?
Date: Sun, Apr 21, 2013 11:10 PM
o rly
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M71NDy_t7m0/TyGnLFiYqpI/AAAAAAAAAv4/ZSKhJPn7rW0/s…
Apr 21, 2013 07:57:48 PM, jehan.tremback(a)gmail.com wrote:
Would be kind of weird to bring your kid to sudoroom and have porn on the big screen. For those opposed to the concept of children, I have it on very good authority that you were children at one point. Hypocrites.
On Apr 21, 2013 7:18 PM, "aestetix" aestetix(a)aestetix.com> wrote:
>
>
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>
Hash: SHA1
>
>
Please provide clarification on what "kid friendly" means?
>
>
On 4/21/13 3:30 PM, Andrew wrote:
>
> Hey,
>
>
>
> I would love to have screening of bike smut at Sudo Room! There are
>
> some concerns, however, mainly because we are a kid friendly space
>
> and want to make sure that if we do have an erotic screening it's
>
> done in a way that makes it clear to everyone whats going on. Also
>
> our screen is in a common area, so maybe it would be best to work
>
> with public school to have the screening in a more semi-private
>
> space (their room).
>
>
>
> --Andrew
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 21, 2013 at 2:08 PM, revphil revphil(a)gmail.com
>
> revphil(a)gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hi, we had a grand screening in Davis! Really responsive Q and A
>
> afterward!
>
>
>
> Hope to answer your various questions soon!
>
>
>
> rev
>
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 12:26 AM, Vicky Knox
>
> vknoxsironi(a)gmail.com vknoxsironi(a)gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>> In my late night ramblings I forgot to provide links!
>
>>
>
>> Bike Smut http://www.bikesmut.com/> Fabulous Friday Films
>
> https://sudoroom.org/wiki/page/Fabulous_Friday_Films>
>
>> Hacking Sexual Health
>
> https://sudoroom.org/wiki/page/Hacking_Sexual_Health>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> 2013/4/18 Vicky Knox vknoxsironi(a)gmail.com
>
> vknoxsironi(a)gmail.com>>
>
>>>
>
>>> THE BACKGROUND: The people from Bike Smut and I think it would
>
>>> be
>
> fun and
>
>>> fascinating and fabulous to have a screening of their erotic
>
>>> bike
>
> films at
>
>>> Sudo Room as a combo of Fabulous Friday Films and Hacking
>
>>> Sexual
>
> Health.
>
>>> Bike Smut encourages "sex-positive bikers to make short films
>
> about bikes
>
>>> and sex to help spread a message of joy and liberation through
>
> sexuality and
>
>>> cycling". Everything they do is non-commercial, and is backed
>
>>> by
>
> the desire
>
>>> to demystify and provoke more open thought and conversation
>
>>> around sexuality.
>
>>>
>
>>> We would like to do this on Friday, May 17th in the evening.
>
>>>
>
>>> WE NEED YOU: The films are of course erotic in nature, and
>
>>> will
>
> involve
>
>>> nudity and sexual acts. Please let me know if you have any
>
>>> concerns, reservations or clarifying questions--we realize
>
>>> pornography may
>
> not be for
>
>>> everyone, and are sensitive to any concerns you may have. :]
>
>>
>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -- 7 years of sex-positive, human-powered porno ________Hop on The
>
> Porny Express________ ----------------------- Bike Smut
>
> ------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss
>
> mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org
>
> sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org>
>
> http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -- ------- Andrew Lowe Cell: 831-332-2507 http://roshambomedia.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss
>
> mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org
>
> http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
>
>
>
>
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>
_______________________________________________
>
sudo-discuss mailing list
>
sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org
>
http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>sudo-discuss mailing list
>sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org
>http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
>
_______________________________________________
sudo-discuss mailing list
sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org
http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
Hey all,
I swung (swang?) by the space this morning around 10am to drop off some
found glassware for mate-making, and found the door propped open. There
was nobody in the space whatsoever.
I was only there for about 10 minutes so I don't know whether someone had
just popped out for a bloody mary or something (sure was a nice brunch
day), but it didn't seem like it.
I closed the door behind me when I left.
--Naomi
ps. we could still use a few more items of glassware for mate-making.
Anything 500ml to 2L in size, with or without a seal, will be of use!
--
Naomi Theora Most
naomi(a)nthmost.com
+1-415-728-7490
skype: nthmost
http://twitter.com/nthmost
Howdy all,
You're invited to join this most excellent Hacker Retreat at the Chez Hack
hacker house in San Rafael, Marin County, California!
https://sudoroom.org/ai1ec_event/hacker-retreat-at-chez-hack/
The details:
What: Add to the schedule
https://sudoroom.org/wiki/page/Chez_Hack/Hacker_Retreat/4-19-2012
When: 4/19 ~5pm to 4/21 ~5pm
Where: RSVP to JC r33lmm(a)gmail.com for Address!
How: Tell JC if you plan to drive, bike or take public transit. Pickups may
be available from Larkspur ferry station.
I'll coordinate any group who wants to bike from Larkspur (I'll meet up at
SF embarcadero station, take the ferry to Larkspur)
See you there!
// Matt
hey everyone,
the next ada camp event for women in FOSS and the larger free culture
movement is going to be in sf jun 8-9.
http://sf.adacamp.org/
- marina
if I were to make a
- non corporate
- nonpromoting a skateboard label
- non promoting some random skate shop where the only girls that hang out
there don't skate
-non serving as a platform for some random guy who has nothing to do with
sudoroom wanting to go pro
- non x games or maloof cup promoting
- non focused on promoting a brand of big money skate shoe or skate wear
*TOTALLY informal night to watch skateboarding (not longboarding, they are
different), snowobarding films... *
how do you do it? do you use the projector that we use for meetings? + then
hook it up to stereo systems?
this wouldn't be during film night.
Best,
Romy
Cos I can't post to sudo-announce!
So I grovel at your feet, masters of my ability to control my email, please
bless my message to try and educate the sudo-populace. Allow my seed to
proliferate, who ever you are, self-aggrandizing hypocritical lords who
masquerade as protectors of freedom. Take my speech, pass your judgement,
and join me in celestial hope that I
may transmit this missive of generosity.
O Avatars of Institutional Intertia, take mercy upon my soul.
Notconfusing
Hello Sudo Room folks-
Last year was the first Radio Shack Hackerspace Challenge, which featured
teams from Ace Monster Toys and Artisan's Asylum in Somerville, MA. It's
happening again this year, and I'm helping to recruit challengers to take
on the current champs (Artisan's Asylum).
The challenge is sponsored by Radio Shack, and will be featured in print in
Popular Mechanics magazine. It's part of Radio Shack's "Great Create"
campaign, which includes an effort to improve their offerings to the DIY
community.
This is a great opportunity to work on a cool project, and get some good
publicity (for Sudo Room and for the hackerspace movement in general). If
anyone from Sudo Room is interested in forming a team, I'd love to hear
from you.
More specifics on the challenge will be available a bit later, but it will
take place over the month of June, and each team will build a project based
on a theme (tba). Both teams will get profiled in the magazine.
Some info about last year's challenge, including links to the print pieces:
http://www.popmechnow.com/radioshack/
If you're interested, and think you get a group together from your space,
drop me a line. Also feel free to contact me with any questions.
Ken
I told Troy he should write a cometbus style zine with all his political
views and thoughts on culture and history.
as a public service I am pasting a cometbus piece in sudo discuss
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miromi/1083496891/
[image: Inline image 1]
On losing
It's too easy to just let yourself be defeated,to wallow in the comfort of
suffering. to let your self-destructive tendencies become your whole life.
to retreat and hide from the world you could have taken by storm. to keep
the fruits of your creativity to yourself and let them rot on the vine.
it's too easy to say you're a loser and think there's something noble about
failure.
[image: Inline image 1]
*Romy Mimi Ilano*
*
*
*romy.ilano(a)gmail.com*
*http://www.romyilano.com*
+1 (415) 779-6237
skype: romy.ilano
==Progress==
Sudoroom productivity increased 500% after drinking 4 Gallons of hy
bottle.permateinated liquid. $23 collected - enough to buy more maté for
the time being.
==Next Meeting==
April 23rd, 7pm. Please bring what you need to refine recipes.
We will have a beer gun and be ready to bottle.
==Needed - Bottles==
Please collect and bring as many bottles as possible.
Max
On 17 April 2013 09:35, Max Klein <isalix(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Amazing Work at the Sudomaté hacking tonight means that there will be 3
> flavour variants of Sudomaté available at the General Meeting tomorrow.
>
> Come blind taste test for the winner: Chefs doing battle RAY vs. NAOMI vs.
> PATRICK
>
> all documented at https://sudoroom.org/wiki/page/Sudomate
>
> p.s. if you want to add to the meeting agenda
> https://pad.riseup.net/p/sudoroommeeting
>
> Max
>
>
// Matt
----- Forwarded message -----
From: "Laurie Cooperman Rosen" <Lscoop(a)comcast.net>
To: <mattsenate(a)gmail.com>
Subject: Big White Couch......
Date: Thu, Apr 18, 2013 4:56 PM
Hi Matt-There is a large white couch downstairs in 2135 Broadway towards the back of the space where the 2nd “open space” is (the one surrounded by office partitions as you are walking back towards the restroom). Would the Sudo room have any interest in bringing it upstairs, or alternatively would somebody like to take it for themselves? We need to get rid of it because that space is being used for photography a lot and the couch is getting in the way. I can’t remember whether it has all of the cushions still on it or not, but a quick look and you can decide what you think.Let me know, and thanks!Laurie
Hi All,
In accordance with the action item from yesterday's meeting, Bill and I
have come up with a process for replacing strings in the archive. If you
would like this for you please let us know. What we need to know is what
strings (last name, first name, phone numbers, emails) you would like to be
replaced. We would like to the replace strings to have the same number of
characters as the original, so if you just want "anon" we will add random
numbers to pad it out. If you want something else, let us know.
Keep in mind that this only changes the archive up to when we do it, so any
emails you send after we replace strings will be archived as is. If you
want to remain anonymous you should re signup to the list with a new email.
If you have any questions about this please let me know.
Thanks,
Andrew
--
-------
Andrew Lowe
Cell: 831-332-2507
http://roshambomedia.com
i'm always down for competitive creativity
Apr 17, 2013 08:30:02 AM, rachelyra(a)gmail.com wrote:
On Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 1:35 PM, Ken Murphy kenmrph(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hello Hackerspace folks-
>
>
>
> Last year was the first Radio Shack Hackerspace Challenge, a friendly competition between Ace Monster Toys in Oakland, CA, and Artisan's Asylum in Somerville, MA. It's happening again this year, and we're looking for challengers to take on the current champs (Artisan's Asylum).
>
>
>
> The challenge is sponsored by Radio Shack, and will be featured in print in Popular Mechanics magazine (and therefore seen by millions of people). It's part of Radio Shack's "Great Create" campaign, which includes an effort to improve their offerings to the DIY community.
>
>
>
> This is a great opportunity to work on a cool project, and get some good publicity for your hackerspace and for the hackerspace movement overall. I'd love to hear from spaces interested in forming a team and throwing their hat in the ring.
>
>
>
> More specifics on the challenge will be available a bit later, but it will take place over the month of June, and each team will build a project based on a theme (tba). Both teams will get profiled in the magazine.
>
>
>
> Some info about last year's challenge, including links to the print pieces:
>
>
>
> http://www.popmechnow.com/radioshack/
>
>
>
> If you're interested, and think you get a group together from your space, drop me a line!
>
>
>
> Ken
_______________________________________________
>
Discuss mailing list
>
Discuss(a)lists.hackerspaces.org
>
http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>
>_______________________________________________
>sudo-discuss mailing list
>sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org
>http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
>
it's not paranoia if they're really after you. also, we should have a screening of They Live at some point, speaking of them.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256/
Apr 18, 2013 08:15:03 AM, romy(a)snowyla.com wrote:
>I like this line. maybe we should set up a BBS!
>4) The Tin-Foil-Hat Factor -- This one is a bit harder to fully explain. But let's say that you're not happy with the way things are going online in terms of privacy. Let's say that you are paranoid about people snooping in your email, reading your browser cache and cookies and monitoring your general online activity. Well. If you've got a BBS that is only accessible via SSH (Secure Shell)... things just got a lot more secure. Heck. I'd say it's a safe bet that most of the kids in hacker groups (like Anonymous) don't even know what a BBS is.
>
>
>
>
>
>
http://lunduke.com/?p=2156
>
>
Lunduke.com » How To Set Up Your Own BBS – Be The King of 1989… Today!
With the rise of the World Wide Intertubes, in the 19-Something-Or-Others, we saw the decline of the old-school, text based dial-up BBS.
Luckily, that hasn't stopped many of us from continuing to use (and enjoy) the best that BBS-ing has to offer. Considering running your own BBS? Read on!
What is a BBS?
If you never had the joy of using a BBS (perhaps they were a bit before your time), here is the idea in a nutshell:
A BBS is a system that you "call" (in the old days with a modem and an analog phone line) and interact with via a text and ANSI graphics (colorful ascii with a little animation) interface.
There were a few key components to a BBS that closely mirror what we currently have available today on the internet:
1) Message Forums and Networks
2) Email
3) Online, multiplayer games
4) Downloadable files
5) Real-time Chat
Nowadays it is entirely possible to run a BBS, that looks and acts just like a BBS from the 80's and 90's, and have that BBS accessible to anyone on the internet.
Why run your own BBS?
So let's say you decide you want to run a BBS of your very own -- thus making you a SysOp (System Operator).
You really need to ask yourself one question: WHY?!
I mean, let's be honest. It's not for the fame. And it's not for the mega-bucks that are going to come rolling in. So... why?
1) The Nostalgia Factor -- There is something inherently enjoyable about using systems the way they were used 20+ years ago. The experience isn't all that different from playing a video game you played as a kid and finding that it is still just as fun.
2) The Fun Factor -- There are some great multiplayer games available for BBS's. Some of the best, in fact. TradeWars and Legend of the Red Dragon being two of the most famous examples. If you enjoy MUD's and games that put game play, thinking, player interaction and, well, text above all else... you'll be right at home.
3) The Geek Factor -- How many people do you know that run a BBS? Seriously. Anyone can put up a website. Your grandma probably has a website. But do any of them run a telnet-accessible multi-node BBS? Instant Nerd-Cred.
4) The Tin-Foil-Hat Factor -- This one is a bit harder to fully explain. But let's say that you're not happy with the way things are going online in terms of privacy. Let's say that you are paranoid about people snooping in your email, reading your browser cache and cookies and monitoring your general online activity. Well. If you've got a BBS that is only accessible via SSH (Secure Shell)... things just got a lot more secure. Heck. I'd say it's a safe bet that most of the kids in hacker groups (like Anonymous) don't even know what a BBS is.
In a nutshell: A person decides to run a BBS because he/she wants to.
But, be warned. Setting up a BBS can be time consuming. Keeping a BBS running can be time consuming. Administering the users on your BBS... can be time consuming.
Setting up a BBS is a lot like adopting a puppy. Time consuming. (But rewarding... if you like puppies.)
Choosing BBS Software
So, you're in. What next?
Next step: figure out what BBS server software you want to run.
Luckily, there are many options to choose from. Unfortunately... most are abandoned and not exactly super compatible with newer systems.
I am going to talk about two of my personal favorite options that should cover most people's needs: Synchronet and Virtual Advanced.
Both systems can handle many, many concurrent online users ("nodes"). Both support message forums, file downloads, games and chat. So let's look at where they differ.
Synchronet is open source, still updated (though not necessarily all that often) and runs on Windows, Linux and FreeBSD.
Virtual Advanced is closed source (though freely available), no longer in development and runs under DOS. (Yes. I did say this was one of my favorites. I'll explain a little further down.)
Despite these, relatively massive, differences both systems are entirely capable of running an excellent BBS. More on getting these two setup in just a bit.
(There are many other, very capable, BBS servers out there. Including EleBBS, WWIV, Wildcat! and Mystic. I am choosing to cover only Synchronet and Virtual Advanced here to keep things simple.)
BBS Door Games
A BBS "Door" is basically a piece of external software (usually a game). How it works is this:
1) A person calls your BBS, then chooses to run a "door game" from a menu that you have set up.
2) The BBS server software then generates what is called a "drop file" (often called "door.sys" or "chain.txt"). This is simply a text file that contains pieces of information that will tell the door software how to continue communicating with the person (connection info, user name, etc.).
3) The BBS server then launches the door software and instructs it where to look for that drop file.
4) When the user is done playing the game, the door software exits and returns control back to the BBS server.
Now that you know the basics of how they work, you'll need to decide which (if any) you want on your system.
This can be a rather huge task. Not only do you need to find out which games you like (and that your callers may like)... but you need to find a way to actually BUY these games (which are, often, long since abandoned).
Luckily there are some games that are still supported (and usually very inexpensive), and various resources to get you started:
John Dailey Software - John supports and sells some truly excellent games, including Barren Realms Elite (a personal favorite strategy game of mine).
BBSFiles.com - This is a great collection of downloads of door games (as well as add-ons). What makes this site truly excellent is that it also provides many, many public (and legal) registration keys for long abandoned games.
TradeWars - This is one of the most popular games out there (and for good reason). But purchasing a new license for the old (and unsupported) DOS door game version can be tricky. The new TradeWars server is developed and sold by EIS. If you really want a good, legal copy... your best bet is to contact them directly.
Gameport - Want Legend of the Red Dragon? Hint: Your callers probably do. Gameport owns the rights and can sell you a registration for 15 bucks. They also have a few other BBS door games available for purchase for the same price.
For each game you'll want to read through the supplied documentation for how to set it up with your BBS. Most likely you'll be making your BBS available via Telnet... which means you'll be ignoring any settings for "Com Ports" and the like for each game and instead relying on something called a "Fossil Driver".
Choosing your OS and Hardware
Hardware -
The hardware requirements for running a BBS are... very small. Have an old PC lying around that can technically run semi-modern OS? Should be fine.
Operating System -
Choosing the OS you run your BBS server on is entirely personal. Linux or Windows (XP or newer) would be my recommendations.
Here's what I'm running:
Arch Linux running on an old Eee PC netbok (with a roughly 600mhz processor).
Small. Cheap. Quiet. Low power.
Linux Notes - I like Linux. But setting up DOS based Door games can be a bit more challenging under Linux (for obvious reasons). If you elect to use Synchronet (which is my recommended approach under Linux) here is a great tutorial on setting up door games for Synchronet under Linux using DOSEMU. It is also possible to use DOSBox to run your DOS door games, but this can be very problematic as DOSBox caches the file system... making it difficult to run games that have multiple, simultaneous online users (but not impossible... just very, very hard). For that reason I highly recommend the Synchronet/DOSEMU route.
Network Connection -
A great speed for using a BBS is roughly equivalent to an old 14.4 or 28.8 analog modem. This allows text to appear on the screen rapidly without making people wait. (Man. The days of 300 baud modems... life was tough!)
Luckily, if you have any decently modern network connection you should be all set. If you want to be able to have 10 concurrent connections, you'll be looking at a maximum usage of about 280 kbit/sec. (And even that is unlikely unless people are downloading files).
For a good example: My BBS (The House of Lunduke) has 20 lines. Even when all 20 lines are full of people playing games I don't even notice the network traffic on my FiOS line.
What *is* important to consider is latency. While a satellite internet connection may have enough bandwidth to handle a BBS... the ping time is going to make your BBS almost unusable as you will end up waiting for an eternity every time you hit a key.
The other big consideration here is how people will connect to your BBS. Will you have your own domain name? A static IP address (recommended)?
If you do not have a static IP address (and your ISP refuses to give you one) you can sign up for a Dynamic DNS service.
Getting Up And Running
Ok. So you've chosen your hardware, OS and BBS software and you're ready to go. What now?
Synchronet -
So you chose Synchronet, eh? If you are running Windows go grab the installer from the Download page then follow these instructions. It's truly pretty straight forward.
Running on Linux? You're going to need to build Synchronet from source and do some tweaking. Luckily there are excellent instructions available. Which I recommend following to the letter.
Virtual Advanced -
Running on Windows:
1) Go grab the Virtual Advanced Windows installer.
2) Then you'll need the VADV32 installer, which is supplied by Aspect Technologies.
Remember when I said Virtual Advanced is no longer being developed? Luckily Aspect Technologies stepped up to the plate and built a great tool called VADV32 which acts as a telnet server and configuration front end for Virtual Advanced. Follow the instructions provided with VADV32.
Running on Linux:
Don't do it. VADV32 is necessary to have a good experience running Virtual Advanced as a telnet accessible BBS. And it is a Windows application.
That said: I am running Virtual Advanced and VADV32 under Arch Linux using Wine (and other tools). It was a royal pain to get working properly. But I'm a stubborn Linux user who used to run Virtual Advanced on OS/2 "back in the day"... I chose that route for nostalgic reasons. So it's possible. If you really hate yourself and want to do this like I did, ask in the comments for this article and I will do my best to help with any issues you have.
Additional Considerations
Does your BBS need a website? If so, will you allow people to connect to your BBS via your website (via something such as FlashTerm or jsTerm).
Will you promote your BBS on the various BBS list website out there (such as BBSFinder)?
How much time/access will you give your users? How will you handle new users?
Will you join a message network (such as FidoNet)?
Lots and lots to consider. Far too many to list and answer. But if you have questions, just ask here and I (or others) may be able to point you in the right direction.
My Thoughts on BBSing
I feel that BBSing is genuinely important. Both as a leisure activity (a rather nerdy one), a communication mechanism and a way of preserving our past (and making that past accessible to everyone to see, experience and study).
I would love to see more BBS's. If this interests you, dive in and have fun. What's the worst that can happen?
Filed under: BBS | 9 Comments
>
>---
>Romy IlanoFounder of Snowylahttp://www.snowyla.comromy@snowyla.com
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>sudo-discuss mailing list
>sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org
>http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
>
I like this line. maybe we should set up a BBS!
*4) The Tin-Foil-Hat Factor* -- This one is a bit harder to fully explain.
But let's say that you're not happy with the way things are going online
in terms of privacy. Let's say that you are paranoid about people snooping
in your email, reading your browser cache and cookies and monitoring your
general online activity. Well. If you've got a BBS that is only
accessible via SSH <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Shell> (Secure
Shell)... things just got a lot more secure. Heck. I'd say it's a safe
bet that most of the kids in hacker groups (like
Anonymous<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group)>)
don't even know what a BBS is.
> http://lunduke.com/?p=2156
>
> Lunduke.com » How To Set Up Your Own BBS – Be The King of 1989… Today!
>
> With the rise of the World Wide Intertubes, in the 19-Something-Or-Others,
> we saw the decline of the old-school, text based dial-up BBS<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletin_board_system>
> .
>
> Luckily, that hasn't stopped many of us <http://lunduke.com/?page_id=1316>from continuing to use (and enjoy) the best that BBS-ing has to offer.
> Considering running your own BBS? Read on!
> What is a BBS?
>
> If you never had the joy of using a BBS <http://lunduke.com/?page_id=1314>(perhaps they were a bit before your time), here is the idea in a nutshell:
>
> A BBS is a system that you "call" (in the old days with a modem and an
> analog phone line) and interact with via a text and ANSI<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_art>graphics (colorful ascii with a little animation) interface.
>
> <http://lunduke.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/144external.jpg>There were
> a few key components to a BBS that closely mirror what we currently have
> available today on the internet:
>
> 1) Message Forums and Networks
>
> 2) Email
>
> 3) Online, multiplayer games
>
> 4) Downloadable files
>
> 5) Real-time Chat
>
> Nowadays it is entirely possible to run a BBS, that looks and acts just
> like a BBS from the 80's and 90's, and have that BBS accessible to anyone
> on the internet.
> Why run your own BBS?
>
> So let's say you decide you want to run a BBS of your very own -- thus
> making you a SysOp <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sysop> (System Operator).
>
> You really need to ask yourself one question: *WHY?!*
>
> I mean, let's be honest. It's not for the fame. And it's not for the
> mega-bucks that are going to come rolling in. So... why?
>
> *1) The Nostalgia Factor* -- There is something inherently enjoyable
> about using systems the way they were used 20+ years ago. The experience
> isn't all that different from playing a video game you played as a kid and
> finding that it is still just as fun.
>
> *2) The Fun Factor* -- There are some great multiplayer games available
> for BBS's. Some of the best, in fact. TradeWars<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TradeWars_2002>and Legend
> of the Red Dragon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_of_the_Red_Dragon>being two of the most famous examples. If you enjoy
> MUD <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUD>'s and games that put game play,
> thinking, player interaction and, well, text above all else... you'll be
> right at home.
>
> *3) The Geek Factor* -- How many people do you know that run a BBS?
> Seriously. Anyone can put up a website. Your grandma probably has a
> website. But do any of them run a telnet-accessible multi-node BBS?
> Instant Nerd-Cred.
>
> *4) The Tin-Foil-Hat Factor* -- This one is a bit harder to fully
> explain. But let's say that you're not happy with the way things are going
> online in terms of privacy. Let's say that you are paranoid about people
> snooping in your email, reading your browser cache and cookies and
> monitoring your general online activity. Well. If you've got a BBS that
> is only accessible via SSH <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Shell>(Secure Shell)... things just got a lot more secure. Heck. I'd say it's a
> safe bet that most of the kids in hacker groups (like Anonymous<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group)>)
> don't even know what a BBS is.
>
> In a nutshell: A person decides to run a BBS because he/she wants to.
>
> But, be warned. Setting up a BBS can be time consuming. Keeping a BBS
> running can be time consuming. Administering the users on your BBS... can
> be time consuming.
>
> Setting up a BBS is a lot like adopting a puppy. Time consuming. (But
> rewarding... if you like puppies.)
> Choosing BBS Software
>
> So, you're in. What next?
>
> Next step: figure out what BBS server software you want to run.
>
> Luckily, there are many options<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBS_Software>to choose from. Unfortunately... most are abandoned and not exactly super
> compatible with newer systems.
>
> I am going to talk about two of my personal favorite options that should
> cover most people's needs: Synchronet and Virtual Advanced.
>
> Both systems can handle many, many concurrent online users ("nodes").
> Both support message forums, file downloads, games and chat. So let's
> look at where they differ.
>
> <http://www.synchro.net/><http://lunduke.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/synch.png>Synchronet
> is open source, still updated (though not necessarily all that often) and
> runs on Windows, Linux and FreeBSD.
>
> Virtual Advanced <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Advanced> is
> closed source (though freely available), no longer in development and runs
> under DOS. (Yes. I did say this was one of my favorites. I'll explain a
> little further down.)
>
> Despite these, relatively massive, differences both systems are entirely
> capable of running an excellent BBS. More on getting these two setup in
> just a bit.
>
> (There are many other, very capable, BBS servers out there. Including
> EleBBS <http://elebbs.com/>, WWIV <http://wwiv.sourceforge.net/>, Wildcat!<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildcat!_BBS>and
> Mystic <http://www.mysticbbs.com/>. I am choosing to cover only
> Synchronet and Virtual Advanced here to keep things simple.)
> BBS Door Games
>
> A BBS "Door" is basically a piece of external software (usually a game).
> How it works is this:
>
> 1) A person calls your BBS, then chooses to run a "door game" from a menu
> that you have set up.
>
> 2) The BBS server software then generates what is called a "drop file"
> (often called "door.sys" or "chain.txt"). This is simply a text file that
> contains pieces of information that will tell the door software how to
> continue communicating with the person (connection info, user name, etc.).
>
> 3) The BBS server then launches the door software and instructs it where
> to look for that drop file.
>
> 4) When the user is done playing the game, the door software exits and
> returns control back to the BBS server.
>
> <http://lunduke.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/bre.gif>Now that you know
> the basics of how they work, you'll need to decide which (if any) you want
> on your system.
>
> This can be a rather huge task. Not only do you need to find out which
> games you like (and that your callers may like)... but you need to find a
> way to actually BUY these games (which are, often, long since abandoned).
>
> Luckily there are some games that are still supported (and usually very
> inexpensive), and various resources to get you started:
>
> *John Dailey Software <http://www.johndaileysoftware.com/>* - John
> supports and sells some truly excellent games, including Barren Realms
> Elite<http://www.johndaileysoftware.com/products/bbsdoors/barrenrealmselite/index…>(a personal favorite strategy game of mine).
>
> *BBSFiles.com <http://www.bbsfiles.com/>* - This is a great collection of
> downloads of door games (as well as add-ons). What makes this site truly
> excellent is that it also provides many, many public (and legal)
> registration keys for long abandoned games.
>
> *TradeWars <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TradeWars_2002>* - This is one
> of the most popular games out there (and for good reason). But purchasing
> a new license for the old (and unsupported) DOS door game version can be
> tricky. The new TradeWars server is developed and sold by EIS<http://www.eisonline.com/>.
> If you really want a good, legal copy... your best bet is to contact them
> directly.
>
> * <http://www.gameport.com/><http://lunduke.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/lord.jpeg>
> Gameport* - Want Legend of the Red Dragon? Hint: Your callers probably
> do. Gameport owns the rights and can sell you a registration for 15 bucks.
> They also have a few other BBS door games available for purchase for the
> same price.
>
> For each game you'll want to read through the supplied documentation for
> how to set it up with your BBS. Most likely you'll be making your BBS
> available via Telnet... which means you'll be ignoring any settings for
> "Com Ports" and the like for each game and instead relying on something
> called a "Fossil Driver <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOSSIL>".
> Choosing your OS and Hardware
>
> *Hardware -*
>
> The hardware requirements for running a BBS are... very small. Have an
> old PC lying around that can technically run semi-modern OS? Should be
> fine.
>
> *Operating System - *
>
> Choosing the OS you run your BBS server on is entirely personal. Linux or
> Windows (XP or newer) would be my recommendations.
>
> Here's what I'm running:
>
> Arch Linux running on an old Eee PC netbok (with a roughly 600mhz
> processor).
>
> Small. Cheap. Quiet. Low power.
>
> *Linux Notes - *I like Linux. But setting up DOS based Door games can be
> a bit more challenging under Linux (for obvious reasons). If you elect to
> use Synchronet (which is my recommended approach under Linux) here is a great
> tutorial on setting up door games<http://www.synchro.net/docs/linux-dosemu.html>for Synchronet under Linux using
> DOSEMU <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dosemu>. It is also possible to use DOSBox
> to run your DOS door games <http://dosbox.bbsdev.net/>, but this can be
> very problematic as DOSBox caches the file system... making it difficult to
> run games that have multiple, simultaneous online users (but not
> impossible... just very, very hard). For that reason I highly recommend
> the Synchronet/DOSEMU route.
>
> *Network Connection - *
>
> A great speed for using a BBS is roughly equivalent to an old 14.4 or 28.8
> analog modem. This allows text to appear on the screen rapidly without
> making people wait. (Man. The days of 300 baud modems... life was tough!)
>
> Luckily, if you have any decently modern network connection you should be
> all set. If you want to be able to have 10 concurrent connections, you'll
> be looking at a maximum usage of about 280 kbit/sec. (And even that is
> unlikely unless people are downloading files).
>
> For a good example: My BBS (The House of Lunduke<http://lunduke.com/?page_id=1316>)
> has 20 lines. Even when all 20 lines are full of people playing games I
> don't even notice the network traffic on my FiOS line.
>
> What *is* important to consider is latency. While a satellite internet
> connection may have enough bandwidth to handle a BBS... the ping time is
> going to make your BBS almost unusable as you will end up waiting for an
> eternity every time you hit a key.
>
> The other big consideration here is how people will connect to your BBS.
> Will you have your own domain name? A static IP address (recommended)?
>
> If you do not have a static IP address (and your ISP refuses to give you
> one) you can sign up for a Dynamic DNS<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_DNS>service.
> Getting Up And Running
>
> Ok. So you've chosen your hardware, OS and BBS software and you're ready
> to go. What now?
>
> *Synchronet -*
>
> So you chose Synchronet, eh? If you are running Windows go grab the
> installer from the Download <http://www.synchro.net/download.html> page
> then follow these instructions <http://wiki.synchro.net/install:win>.
> It's truly pretty straight forward.
>
> Running on Linux? You're going to need to build Synchronet from source
> and do some tweaking. Luckily there are excellent instructions available<http://wiki.synchro.net/install:nix>.
> Which I recommend following to the letter.
>
> *Virtual Advanced -*
>
> Running on Windows:
>
> 1) Go grab the Virtual Advanced Windows installer<http://www.vadvbbs.com/products/vadv/downloads/index.php>
> .
>
> 2) Then you'll need the VADV32 installer<http://www.vadvbbs.com/products/vadv32/downloads/index.php>,
> which is supplied by Aspect Technologies<http://www.vadvbbs.com/index.php>
> .
>
> Remember when I said Virtual Advanced is no longer being developed?
> Luckily Aspect Technologies stepped up to the plate and built a great tool
> called VADV32 <http://www.vadvbbs.com/products/vadv32/index.php> which
> acts as a telnet server and configuration front end for Virtual Advanced.
> Follow the instructions provided with VADV32.
>
> Running on Linux:
>
> Don't do it. VADV32 is necessary to have a good experience running
> Virtual Advanced as a telnet accessible BBS. And it is a Windows
> application.
>
> That said: I am running Virtual Advanced and VADV32 under Arch Linux using
> Wine (and other tools). It was a royal pain to get working properly. But
> I'm a stubborn Linux user who used to run Virtual Advanced on OS/2<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Os/2>"back in the day"... I chose that route for nostalgic reasons. So it's
> possible. If you really hate yourself and want to do this like I did, ask
> in the comments for this article and I will do my best to help with any
> issues you have.
> Additional Considerations
>
> Does your BBS need a website? If so, will you allow people to connect to
> your BBS via your website (via something such as FlashTerm<http://www.flashterm.com/>or
> jsTerm <http://jsterm.com/>).
>
> Will you promote your BBS on the various BBS list website out there (such
> as BBSFinder <http://www.bbsfinder.com/>)?
>
> How much time/access will you give your users? How will you handle new
> users?
>
> Will you join a message network (such as FidoNet <http://www.fidonet.org/>
> )?
>
> Lots and lots to consider. Far too many to list and answer. But if you
> have questions, just ask here and I (or others) may be able to point you in
> the right direction.
> My Thoughts on BBSing
>
> I feel that BBSing is genuinely important. Both as a leisure activity (a
> rather nerdy one), a communication mechanism and a way of preserving our
> past (and making that past accessible to everyone to see, experience and
> study).
>
> I would love to see more BBS's. If this interests you, dive in and have
> fun. What's the worst that can happen? [image: :)]
> [image: Share Button] <http://www.hupso.com/share/>
>
> Filed under: BBS <http://lunduke.com/?cat=52> | 9 Comments<http://lunduke.com/?p=2156#comments>
>
>
> ---
>
> Romy Ilano
> Founder of Snowyla
> http://www.snowyla.com
> romy(a)snowyla.com
>
>
http://lunduke.com/?p=2156Lunduke.com » How To Set Up Your Own BBS – Be The King of 1989… Today!
With the rise of the World Wide Intertubes, in the 19-Something-Or-Others, we saw the decline of the old-school, text based dial-up BBS.
Luckily, that hasn't stopped many of us from continuing to use (and enjoy) the best that BBS-ing has to offer. Considering running your own BBS? Read on!
What is a BBS?
If you never had the joy of using a BBS (perhaps they were a bit before your time), here is the idea in a nutshell:
A BBS is a system that you "call" (in the old days with a modem and an analog phone line) and interact with via a text and ANSI graphics (colorful ascii with a little animation) interface.
There were a few key components to a BBS that closely mirror what we currently have available today on the internet:
1) Message Forums and Networks
2) Email
3) Online, multiplayer games
4) Downloadable files
5) Real-time Chat
Nowadays it is entirely possible to run a BBS, that looks and acts just like a BBS from the 80's and 90's, and have that BBS accessible to anyone on the internet.
Why run your own BBS?
So let's say you decide you want to run a BBS of your very own -- thus making you a SysOp (System Operator).
You really need to ask yourself one question: WHY?!
I mean, let's be honest. It's not for the fame. And it's not for the mega-bucks that are going to come rolling in. So... why?
1) The Nostalgia Factor -- There is something inherently enjoyable about using systems the way they were used 20+ years ago. The experience isn't all that different from playing a video game you played as a kid and finding that it is still just as fun.
2) The Fun Factor -- There are some great multiplayer games available for BBS's. Some of the best, in fact. TradeWars and Legend of the Red Dragon being two of the most famous examples. If you enjoy MUD's and games that put game play, thinking, player interaction and, well, text above all else... you'll be right at home.
3) The Geek Factor -- How many people do you know that run a BBS? Seriously. Anyone can put up a website. Your grandma probably has a website. But do any of them run a telnet-accessible multi-node BBS? Instant Nerd-Cred.
4) The Tin-Foil-Hat Factor -- This one is a bit harder to fully explain. But let's say that you're not happy with the way things are going online in terms of privacy. Let's say that you are paranoid about people snooping in your email, reading your browser cache and cookies and monitoring your general online activity. Well. If you've got a BBS that is only accessible via SSH (Secure Shell)... things just got a lot more secure. Heck. I'd say it's a safe bet that most of the kids in hacker groups (like Anonymous) don't even know what a BBS is.
In a nutshell: A person decides to run a BBS because he/she wants to.
But, be warned. Setting up a BBS can be time consuming. Keeping a BBS running can be time consuming. Administering the users on your BBS... can be time consuming.
Setting up a BBS is a lot like adopting a puppy. Time consuming. (But rewarding... if you like puppies.)
Choosing BBS Software
So, you're in. What next?
Next step: figure out what BBS server software you want to run.
Luckily, there are many options to choose from. Unfortunately... most are abandoned and not exactly super compatible with newer systems.
I am going to talk about two of my personal favorite options that should cover most people's needs: Synchronet and Virtual Advanced.
Both systems can handle many, many concurrent online users ("nodes"). Both support message forums, file downloads, games and chat. So let's look at where they differ.
Synchronet is open source, still updated (though not necessarily all that often) and runs on Windows, Linux and FreeBSD.
Virtual Advanced is closed source (though freely available), no longer in development and runs under DOS. (Yes. I did say this was one of my favorites. I'll explain a little further down.)
Despite these, relatively massive, differences both systems are entirely capable of running an excellent BBS. More on getting these two setup in just a bit.
(There are many other, very capable, BBS servers out there. Including EleBBS, WWIV, Wildcat! and Mystic. I am choosing to cover only Synchronet and Virtual Advanced here to keep things simple.)
BBS Door Games
A BBS "Door" is basically a piece of external software (usually a game). How it works is this:
1) A person calls your BBS, then chooses to run a "door game" from a menu that you have set up.
2) The BBS server software then generates what is called a "drop file" (often called "door.sys" or "chain.txt"). This is simply a text file that contains pieces of information that will tell the door software how to continue communicating with the person (connection info, user name, etc.).
3) The BBS server then launches the door software and instructs it where to look for that drop file.
4) When the user is done playing the game, the door software exits and returns control back to the BBS server.
Now that you know the basics of how they work, you'll need to decide which (if any) you want on your system.
This can be a rather huge task. Not only do you need to find out which games you like (and that your callers may like)... but you need to find a way to actually BUY these games (which are, often, long since abandoned).
Luckily there are some games that are still supported (and usually very inexpensive), and various resources to get you started:
John Dailey Software - John supports and sells some truly excellent games, including Barren Realms Elite (a personal favorite strategy game of mine).
BBSFiles.com - This is a great collection of downloads of door games (as well as add-ons). What makes this site truly excellent is that it also provides many, many public (and legal) registration keys for long abandoned games.
TradeWars - This is one of the most popular games out there (and for good reason). But purchasing a new license for the old (and unsupported) DOS door game version can be tricky. The new TradeWars server is developed and sold by EIS. If you really want a good, legal copy... your best bet is to contact them directly.
Gameport - Want Legend of the Red Dragon? Hint: Your callers probably do. Gameport owns the rights and can sell you a registration for 15 bucks. They also have a few other BBS door games available for purchase for the same price.
For each game you'll want to read through the supplied documentation for how to set it up with your BBS. Most likely you'll be making your BBS available via Telnet... which means you'll be ignoring any settings for "Com Ports" and the like for each game and instead relying on something called a "Fossil Driver".
Choosing your OS and Hardware
Hardware -
The hardware requirements for running a BBS are... very small. Have an old PC lying around that can technically run semi-modern OS? Should be fine.
Operating System -
Choosing the OS you run your BBS server on is entirely personal. Linux or Windows (XP or newer) would be my recommendations.
Here's what I'm running:
Arch Linux running on an old Eee PC netbok (with a roughly 600mhz processor).
Small. Cheap. Quiet. Low power.
Linux Notes - I like Linux. But setting up DOS based Door games can be a bit more challenging under Linux (for obvious reasons). If you elect to use Synchronet (which is my recommended approach under Linux) here is a great tutorial on setting up door games for Synchronet under Linux using DOSEMU. It is also possible to use DOSBox to run your DOS door games, but this can be very problematic as DOSBox caches the file system... making it difficult to run games that have multiple, simultaneous online users (but not impossible... just very, very hard). For that reason I highly recommend the Synchronet/DOSEMU route.
Network Connection -
A great speed for using a BBS is roughly equivalent to an old 14.4 or 28.8 analog modem. This allows text to appear on the screen rapidly without making people wait. (Man. The days of 300 baud modems... life was tough!)
Luckily, if you have any decently modern network connection you should be all set. If you want to be able to have 10 concurrent connections, you'll be looking at a maximum usage of about 280 kbit/sec. (And even that is unlikely unless people are downloading files).
For a good example: My BBS (The House of Lunduke) has 20 lines. Even when all 20 lines are full of people playing games I don't even notice the network traffic on my FiOS line.
What *is* important to consider is latency. While a satellite internet connection may have enough bandwidth to handle a BBS... the ping time is going to make your BBS almost unusable as you will end up waiting for an eternity every time you hit a key.
The other big consideration here is how people will connect to your BBS. Will you have your own domain name? A static IP address (recommended)?
If you do not have a static IP address (and your ISP refuses to give you one) you can sign up for a Dynamic DNS service.
Getting Up And Running
Ok. So you've chosen your hardware, OS and BBS software and you're ready to go. What now?
Synchronet -
So you chose Synchronet, eh? If you are running Windows go grab the installer from the Download page then follow these instructions. It's truly pretty straight forward.
Running on Linux? You're going to need to build Synchronet from source and do some tweaking. Luckily there are excellent instructions available. Which I recommend following to the letter.
Virtual Advanced -
Running on Windows:
1) Go grab the Virtual Advanced Windows installer.
2) Then you'll need the VADV32 installer, which is supplied by Aspect Technologies.
Remember when I said Virtual Advanced is no longer being developed? Luckily Aspect Technologies stepped up to the plate and built a great tool called VADV32 which acts as a telnet server and configuration front end for Virtual Advanced. Follow the instructions provided with VADV32.
Running on Linux:
Don't do it. VADV32 is necessary to have a good experience running Virtual Advanced as a telnet accessible BBS. And it is a Windows application.
That said: I am running Virtual Advanced and VADV32 under Arch Linux using Wine (and other tools). It was a royal pain to get working properly. But I'm a stubborn Linux user who used to run Virtual Advanced on OS/2 "back in the day"... I chose that route for nostalgic reasons. So it's possible. If you really hate yourself and want to do this like I did, ask in the comments for this article and I will do my best to help with any issues you have.
Additional Considerations
Does your BBS need a website? If so, will you allow people to connect to your BBS via your website (via something such as FlashTerm or jsTerm).
Will you promote your BBS on the various BBS list website out there (such as BBSFinder)?
How much time/access will you give your users? How will you handle new users?
Will you join a message network (such as FidoNet)?
Lots and lots to consider. Far too many to list and answer. But if you have questions, just ask here and I (or others) may be able to point you in the right direction.
My Thoughts on BBSing
I feel that BBSing is genuinely important. Both as a leisure activity (a rather nerdy one), a communication mechanism and a way of preserving our past (and making that past accessible to everyone to see, experience and study).
I would love to see more BBS's. If this interests you, dive in and have fun. What's the worst that can happen?
Filed under: BBS | 9 Comments
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Romy Ilano
Founder of Snowyla
http://www.snowyla.com
romy(a)snowyla.com