Hey guys,

I've joined a number of boards and have noticed that they all have some sort of inactivity timeout values.

I can understand back in the 80's and 90's why time limits should have been applicable - but today the amount of bandwidth used in browsing the boards would be minimal.

Is this a general sort of board design philosophy or is it for nostalgia purposes?

Cheers
DS

---
þ Synchronet þ MS & RD BBs - bbs.mozysswamp.org

Hey guys,

I've joined a number of boards and have noticed that they all have

some

sort of inactivity timeout values.

I can understand back in the 80's and 90's why time limits should have been applicable - but today the amount of bandwidth used in browsing

the

boards would be minimal.

Is this a general sort of board design philosophy or is it for

nostalgia

purposes?

Well you generally shouldn't have a user taking up a node needlessly. A
BBS only has a limited number of nodes that users can connect to, so if a
user isn't going to be doing anything, the node should be freed up to
minimize the chance of all nodes being used, so that other users can log
in. A sysop these days can minimize the chances of that by setting up a
bunch of nodes on their BBS, but still, I think it makes sense to free up a node if the user is just sitting idle doing nothing.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Daniel Samartgis to All on Mon Apr 04 2016 09:33 pm

Hey guys,

I've joined a number of boards and have noticed that they all have some sort of inactivity timeout values.

I can understand back in the 80's and 90's why time limits should have been applicable - but today the amount of bandwidth used in browsing the boards would be minimal.

Is this a general sort of board design philosophy or is it for nostalgia purposes?

Inactivity timeout is used to free up the BBS resources that are allocated to service a "caller". In today's Internet age, you wouldn't expect there to be a limit on the "resources" used by a caller, but there are. For example, traditional BBS door games require a unique configuration for each "node" and each node can only service one caller at a time. So detecting that the caller has left their keyboard and may not be back soon is useful for freeing up that node for the another caller/user.

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #23:
1584 Synchronet BBS Software registrations were sold between 1992 and 1996. Norco, CA WX: 81.3øF, 25.0% humidity, 7 mph ESE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Nightfox to Daniel Samartgis on Mon Apr 04 2016 09:02 am

Well you generally shouldn't have a user taking up a node needlessly. A
BBS only has a limited number of nodes that users can connect to, so if a user isn't going to be doing anything, the node should be freed up to minimize the chance of all nodes being used, so that other users can log
in. A sysop these days can minimize the chances of that by setting up a bunch of nodes on their BBS, but still, I think it makes sense to free up a node if the user is just sitting idle doing nothing.

Nightfox

I get that with the limited nodes - but it appears there aren't enough people around to have to be concerned about that. Maybe increasing timeouts to a respectable value such as 1 hour?

DS

---
þ Synchronet þ MS & RD BBs - bbs.mozysswamp.org

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Daniel Samartgis to All on Mon Apr 04 2016 09:33 pm

Hey guys,

I've joined a number of boards and have noticed that they all have some
sort of inactivity timeout values.

I can understand back in the 80's and 90's why time limits should have been applicable - but today the amount of bandwidth used in browsing the boards would be minimal.

Is this a general sort of board design philosophy or is it for nostalgia purposes?

it's not a bandwidth issue. sometimes people forget they are connected so we have a finite amount of nodes and they should be logged off.

same as the old days. we have maint to run and nodes to keep open.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Daniel Samartgis to Nightfox on Tue Apr 05 2016 08:41 am

I get that with the limited nodes - but it appears there aren't enough people around to have to be concerned about that. Maybe increasing timeouts to a respectable value such as 1 hour?

if you arent around to use the bbs, why not call back later when you can?
no reason to be parked on doing nothing.

why is 1 hour a "respectable value" ?

on a synchronet bbs you can disable being logged off if you are a user, but dont know why you cant call back when you are ready to use the bbs again.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Digital Man wrote to Daniel Samartgis <=-

Inactivity timeout is used to free up the BBS resources that are
allocated to service a "caller". In today's Internet age, you wouldn't expect there to be a limit on the "resources" used by a caller, but
there are. For example, traditional BBS door games require a unique configuration for each "node" and each node can only service one caller
at a time. So detecting that the caller has left their keyboard and may not be back soon is useful for freeing up that node for the another caller/user.

No old doors here, As I al almost the only user of my BBS (which has 4 nodes), inactivity timeout doesn't make a lot of sense on my system (that may change if I get more users than nodes :) ). I would like to see it a bit longer. I couldn't see where to configure the timer in Synchronet.


... AAAAAAAA..... American Association Against Any And All Acronym Abuse
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Digital Man on Tue Apr 05 2016 11:49 am

Digital Man wrote to Daniel Samartgis <=-

Inactivity timeout is used to free up the BBS resources that are allocated to service a "caller". In today's Internet age, you wouldn't expect there to be a limit on the "resources" used by a caller, but there are. For example, traditional BBS door games require a unique configuration for each "node" and each node can only service one caller at a time. So detecting that the caller has left their keyboard and may not be back soon is useful for freeing up that node for the another caller/user.

No old doors here, As I al almost the only user of my BBS (which has 4 nodes), inactivity timeout doesn't make a lot of sense on my system (that may change if I get more users than nodes :) ). I would like to see it a bit longer. I couldn't see where to configure the timer in Synchronet.

SCFG->Nodes->Node 1->Advanced Options->Inactivity Disconnection. You can also set the Inactivity Warning timeout value there.

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #39:
Synchronet has been ported to FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, QNX, and MacOS.
Norco, CA WX: 69.1øF, 28.0% humidity, 3 mph SE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Digital Man on Tue Apr 05 2016 11:49 am

No old doors here, As I al almost the only user of my BBS (which has 4 nodes inactivity timeout doesn't make a lot of sense on my system (that may change I get more users than nodes :) ). I would like to see it a bit longer. I couldn't see where to configure the timer in Synchronet.

I'm in Melbourne. Mind if I come check out your board? What's the address I couldn't find it in the bbs list.

DS
Daniel

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Digital Man wrote to Vk3jed <=-

SCFG->Nodes->Node 1->Advanced Options->Inactivity Disconnection. You
can also set the Inactivity Warning timeout value there.

Thanks. :) So it's set on a per node basis?


... Is truth not truth for all? Natira, stardate 5476.4.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

On 04/04/16, Daniel Samartgis said the following...

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Nightfox to Daniel Samartgis on Mon Apr 04 2016 09:02 am

Well you generally shouldn't have a user taking up a node needlessly. BBS only has a limited number of nodes that users can connect to, so if user isn't going to be doing anything, the node should be freed up to minimize the chance of all nodes being used, so that other users can lo in. A sysop these days can minimize the chances of that by setting up bunch of nodes on their BBS, but still, I think it makes sense to free node if the user is just sitting idle doing nothing.

Nightfox

I get that with the limited nodes - but it appears there aren't enough people around to have to be concerned about that. Maybe increasing timeouts to a respectable value such as 1 hour?

I've set my inactivity timeout to <30 minutes. I do this because if I go
past 30 minutes, my telnet session disconnects and it creates a ghost user.
I figure it's better to be disconnected than to have to clean up a ghosted user.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A10 (Raspberry Pi)
* Origin: Cyberia BBS | Cyberia.Darktech.Org | Kingwood, TX

DANIEL SAMARTGIS wrote to NIGHTFOX <=-

I get that with the limited nodes - but it appears there aren't enough people around to have to be concerned about that. Maybe increasing timeouts to a respectable value such as 1 hour?

Why would someone 'need' an hour timeout on a BBS? If I've fallen asleep
at the keyboard two minutes is enough. If I've walked away, same thing.
If I've switched to another app and rabbit holed then there's no need
to continue to tie up the BBS.

BTW - I'm not a sysop, just a user. :-)


... All wiyht. Rho sritched mg kegtops awound?
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ wcQWK 6.4 ÷ http://finathon.org/neptunes-lair-bbs - Help Save Our Oceans

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Daniel Samartgis to Nightfox on Tue Apr 05 2016 08:41 am

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Nightfox to Daniel Samartgis on Mon Apr 04 2016 09:02 am

Well you generally shouldn't have a user taking up a node needlessly. A BBS only has a limited number of nodes that users can connect to, so if a user isn't going to be doing anything, the node should be freed up to minimize the chance of all nodes being used, so that other users can log in. A sysop these days can minimize the chances of that by setting up a bunch of nodes on their BBS, but still, I think it makes sense to free up node if the user is just sitting idle doing nothing.

Nightfox

I get that with the limited nodes - but it appears there aren't enough peopl around to have to be concerned about that. Maybe increasing timeouts to a respectable value such as 1 hour?

DS

It appears that in synchronet the max timeout is 9999 seconds, I have the first 8 nodes set on my BBS to 37 minutes till warning, then disconnect happens at 55 minutes of inactivity.
Since my BBS has low traffic and is on 100 mbt connection I don't mind haveing afk'ers lol.
on a BBS like vert with higher traffic it makes sense to limit the timeuts.

---
þ Synchronet þ The Outwest BBS - outwestbbs.com - DOORS - Files -Dove-Net

It appears that in synchronet the max timeout is 9999 seconds, I have the first 8 nodes set on my BBS to 37 minutes till warning, then disconnect happens at 55 minutes of inactivity.
Since my BBS has low traffic and is on 100 mbt connection I don't mind haveing afk'ers lol.
on a BBS like vert with higher traffic it makes sense to limit the timeuts.

Some events and other things (such as shutting down Synchronet) require all nodes
to be free (no users logged on), so the timeouts can still be important. If you
have a nightly maintenance event that you don't want any users logged on for (i.e., if it performs door game maintenance), then the timeouts can be useful.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Digital Man on Tue Apr 05 2016 11:49 am

may change if I get more users than nodes :) ). I would like to see it a bit longer. I couldn't see where to configure the timer in Synchronet.

it's in scfg
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Melacon to Vk3jed on Tue Apr 05 2016 02:32 am

No old doors here, As I al almost the only user of my BBS (which has 4 nodes inactivity timeout doesn't make a lot of sense on my system (that may change I get more users than nodes :) ). I would like to see it a bit longer. I couldn't see where to configure the timer in Synchronet.

I'm in Melbourne. Mind if I come check out your board? What's the address I couldn't find it in the bbs list.

you want to visit a bbs with no games or anything?
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Digital Man on Tue Apr 05 2016 06:38 pm

Digital Man wrote to Vk3jed <=-

SCFG->Nodes->Node 1->Advanced Options->Inactivity Disconnection. You can also set the Inactivity Warning timeout value there.

Thanks. :) So it's set on a per node basis?

no, you set it up for every node one by one :D
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Denn Gray to Daniel Samartgis on Tue Apr 05 2016 09:39 am

on a BBS like vert with higher traffic it makes sense to limit the
timeuts.

vert has traffic?
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Digital Man on Tue Apr 05 2016 06:38 pm

Digital Man wrote to Vk3jed <=-

SCFG->Nodes->Node 1->Advanced Options->Inactivity Disconnection. You can also set the Inactivity Warning timeout value there.

Thanks. :) So it's set on a per node basis?

Sort of. In v3, the configuration settings of the "first node" for each sbbs instance is used for all nodes of that instance. So you probably only need to set it for Node 1.

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #35:
Synchronet's Windows DLLs are built with Microsoft Visual Studio/C++.
Norco, CA WX: 89.2øF, 17.0% humidity, 0 mph S wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Denn Gray to Daniel Samartgis on Tue Apr 05 2016 09:39 am

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Daniel Samartgis to Nightfox on Tue Apr 05 2016 08:41 am

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Nightfox to Daniel Samartgis on Mon Apr 04 2016 09:02 am

Well you generally shouldn't have a user taking up a node needlessly. A BBS only has a limited number of nodes that users can connect to, so if a user isn't going to be doing anything, the node should be freed up to minimize the chance of all nodes being used, so that other users can log in. A sysop these days can minimize the chances of that by setting up a bunch of nodes on their BBS, but still, I think it makes sense to free up node if the user is just sitting idle doing nothing.

Nightfox

I get that with the limited nodes - but it appears there aren't enough peopl around to have to be concerned about that. Maybe increasing timeouts to a respectable value such as 1 hour?

DS

It appears that in synchronet the max timeout is 9999 seconds, I have the first 8 nodes set on my BBS to 37 minutes till warning, then disconnect happens at 55 minutes of inactivity.
Since my BBS has low traffic and is on 100 mbt connection I don't mind haveing afk'ers lol.
on a BBS like vert with higher traffic it makes sense to limit the timeuts.

In Synchronet, you can just give users the 'H' exemption and they will have no inactivity timeout.

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #46:
The Synchronet Museum is online at http://wiki.synchro.net/history:museum: Norco, CA WX: 89.2øF, 17.0% humidity, 0 mph S wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

SCFG->Nodes->Node 1->Advanced Options->Inactivity Disconnection.
You can also set the Inactivity Warning timeout value there.

Thanks. :) So it's set on a per node basis?

no, you set it up for every node one by one :D

I'd think that's what he meant by "per node basis"..

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

on a BBS like vert with higher traffic it makes sense to limit the
timeuts.

vert has traffic?

I've visited Vertrauen's web site every so often, and yeah, it often reports more users per day than I see on other BBSes.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Nightfox to Mro on Tue Apr 05 2016 04:55 pm

SCFG->Nodes->Node 1->Advanced Options->Inactivity Disconnection. DM>> You can also set the Inactivity Warning timeout value there.

Thanks. :) So it's set on a per node basis?

no, you set it up for every node one by one :D

I'd think that's what he meant by "per node basis"..

And the correct answer is: It is not set on a per node basis (in v3).

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #72:
SyncTERM (created by Deuce) contains portions of Synchronet and SEXYZ code. Norco, CA WX: 87.3øF, 24.0% humidity, 1 mph SE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Melacon wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Digital Man on Tue Apr 05 2016 11:49 am

No old doors here, As I al almost the only user of my BBS (which has 4 nodes inactivity timeout doesn't make a lot of sense on my system (that may change I get more users than nodes :) ). I would like to see it a bit longer. I couldn't see where to configure the timer in Synchronet.

I'm in Melbourne. Mind if I come check out your board? What's the
address I couldn't find it in the bbs list.

Sure, there's not a lot there other than a heap of messaging areas from a handful of networks, but if you want to look around, feel free. :)

The address is freeway.apana.org.au (just noticed you were on DOVENet, so the helpful Fido origin line isn't available to you. :) ).


... Chopped cabbage-it's not just a good idea...it's THE SLAW
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Mro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Digital Man on Tue Apr 05 2016 11:49 am

may change if I get more users than nodes :) ). I would like to see it a bit longer. I couldn't see where to configure the timer in Synchronet.

it's in scfg

I guessed that's where it would have been, but there's a lot of nooks and crannys in scfg. However, DM has pointed me in the right direction very specifically. :)


... 10.0 times 0.10 is hardly ever 1.00.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Mro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Thanks. :) So it's set on a per node basis?

no, you set it up for every node one by one :D

Isn't that what I just said? :P


... Did the aliens forget to remove your anal probe?
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

JIMMY ANDERSON wrote to DANIEL SAMARTGIS <=-

Why would someone 'need' an hour timeout on a BBS? If I've fallen
asleep at the keyboard two minutes is enough. If I've walked away, same thing. If I've switched to another app and rabbit holed then there's no need to continue to tie up the BBS.

BTW - I'm not a sysop, just a user. :-)

I'm looking at increasing mine to at least 15 minutes, because I often download an offline mail packet, read it and then upload, and being able to leave the session idling does save a bit of messing around with logins, etc (though using rlogin helps a LOT! :) ). Will have to have a fiddle in scfg. :)


... Don't Panic! It's only ones and zeros.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Denn Gray wrote to Daniel Samartgis <=-

It appears that in synchronet the max timeout is 9999 seconds, I have
the first 8 nodes set on my BBS to 37 minutes till warning, then disconnect happens at 55 minutes of inactivity.
Since my BBS has low traffic and is on 100 mbt connection I don't mind haveing afk'ers lol.
on a BBS like vert with higher traffic it makes sense to limit the timeuts.

Agree. ATM, I have 4x the number of ports as active users, so long timeouts aren't a problem for me! :)

If I get a lot more users, that will change. :)


... Almost everything in life is easier to get into than out of.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Nightfox wrote to Denn Gray <=-

Some events and other things (such as shutting down Synchronet) require all nodes
to be free (no users logged on), so the timeouts can still be
important. If you
have a nightly maintenance event that you don't want any users logged
on for (i.e., if it performs door game maintenance), then the timeouts
can be useful.

I thought you could set system events that boot all users at a specific time for that though.


... Cursor: An expert in four-letter words
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Mro wrote to Melacon <=-

I'm in Melbourne. Mind if I come check out your board? What's the address I couldn't find it in the bbs list.

you want to visit a bbs with no games or anything?

I always did, I discovered those message area thingys. :P


... There is a multi-legged creature crawling on your shoulder.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Digital Man wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Sort of. In v3, the configuration settings of the "first node" for each sbbs instance is used for all nodes of that instance. So you probably
only need to set it for Node 1.

OK, thanks, though I did set it for all nodes. :)


... Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Daniel Samartgis to All on Mon Apr 04 2016 09:33 pm

Is this a general sort of board design philosophy or is it for nostalgia purposes?

It's the old style database, that needs exclusive access to do maintenence, so you kick the users, and repair, consolodate, recompress etc. Also doors need to do the same thing, and they aren't running all the time.

I guess you could try to dive into the source, and replace all the SMBLIB stuff with SQL calls to something more 'multiuser' friendly, but that sounds like work....

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to JIMMY ANDERSON on Wed Apr 06 2016 09:44 am

JIMMY ANDERSON wrote to DANIEL SAMARTGIS <=-

Why would someone 'need' an hour timeout on a BBS? If I've fallen asleep at the keyboard two minutes is enough. If I've walked away, same thing. If I've switched to another app and rabbit holed then there's no need to continue to tie up the BBS.

BTW - I'm not a sysop, just a user. :-)

I'm looking at increasing mine to at least 15 minutes, because I often download an offline mail packet, read it and then upload, and being able to leave the session idling does save a bit of messing around with logins, etc (though using rlogin helps a LOT! :) ). Will have to have a fiddle in scfg. :)

Tip: You can idle indefinetely at the Ctrl-P prompt.

Also, if you're a sysop (or a friend of the sysop), just give yourself the 'H' exemption and you'll never get disconnected due to inactivity.

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #21:
The second ever Synchronet BBS was the Mid-Nite Hacker BBS (sysop: The Zapper). Norco, CA WX: 76.0øF, 37.0% humidity, 5 mph S wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Nightfox on Wed Apr 06 2016 09:46 am

Nightfox wrote to Denn Gray <=-

Some events and other things (such as shutting down Synchronet) require all nodes
to be free (no users logged on), so the timeouts can still be important. If you
have a nightly maintenance event that you don't want any users logged on for (i.e., if it performs door game maintenance), then the timeouts can be useful.

I thought you could set system events that boot all users at a specific time for that though.

Yes, being booted because you've ran out of time allowed (per day or per call) and being booted due to keyboard inactivity are different things.

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #61:
Name of Synchronet PCMS compiler/language "Baja" was coined by Michael Swindell.
Norco, CA WX: 76.0øF, 37.0% humidity, 5 mph S wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

On 04/05/16, Vk3jed said the following...

JIMMY ANDERSON wrote to DANIEL SAMARTGIS <=-

Why would someone 'need' an hour timeout on a BBS? If I've fallen asleep at the keyboard two minutes is enough. If I've walked away, sa thing. If I've switched to another app and rabbit holed then there's need to continue to tie up the BBS.

BTW - I'm not a sysop, just a user. :-)

I'm looking at increasing mine to at least 15 minutes, because I often download an offline mail packet, read it and then upload, and being able to leave the session idling does save a bit of messing around with
logins, etc (though using rlogin helps a LOT! :) ). Will have to have a fiddle in scfg. :)

If all you're doing is downloading/uploading qwk packets, then why don't you just use ftp to exchange packets? Its the exact same method used to exchange these here dovenet packets. That way you won't go afoul of the timeout issue.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A10 (Raspberry Pi)
* Origin: Cyberia BBS | Cyberia.Darktech.Org | Kingwood, TX

Gryphon wrote to Vk3jed <=-

If all you're doing is downloading/uploading qwk packets, then why
don't you just use ftp to exchange packets? Its the exact same method used to exchange these here dovenet packets. That way you won't go
afoul of the timeout issue.

Good point, though I haven't seen that documented, since the BBS has to know you want a QWK packet and generate it.

Lately, now that I am starting to get users, the new message alerts are helpful too though. :)


... Epithaph on McCoy's Gravestone: I'm dead, Jim!
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Mro on Wed Apr 06 2016 08:49 am

it's in scfg

I guessed that's where it would have been, but there's a lot of nooks and crannys in scfg. However, DM has pointed me in the right direction very specifically. :)

you should look at every section of scfg to see that you have your bbs configured properly and to your liking.
it would only take a couple of minutes and it's not a fruitless.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Nightfox on Wed Apr 06 2016 09:46 am

I thought you could set system events that boot all users at a specific
time for that though.

that may or may not work depending on what they are doing.

anyways, afk users should just log back in. not that hard.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Mro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Mro on Wed Apr 06 2016 08:49 am

it's in scfg

I guessed that's where it would have been, but there's a lot of nooks and crannys in scfg. However, DM has pointed me in the right direction very specifically. :)

you should look at every section of scfg to see that you have your bbs configured properly and to your liking.
it would only take a couple of minutes and it's not a fruitless.

True, though I tend not to look in nooks and crannies. Every turn and detour is a chance for something to lurk. One thing to be said in favour of flat text file configuration. :) Online help does help a lot, to identify what is what (in the text file there are usually comments).


... Daddy, what does "now formatting drive C:" mean?
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Mro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Nightfox on Wed Apr 06 2016 09:46 am

I thought you could set system events that boot all users at a specific
time for that though.

that may or may not work depending on what they are doing.

anyways, afk users should just log back in. not that hard.

Highly annoying. That's why I don't have a lock timer on my phone, it's never the right time. I lock it when I'm finished with it. If I want it unlocked for a while, I can have that too. :)


... IBM = Institute of Black Magic
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Daniel Samartgis wrote to All <=-

Hey guys,
I've joined a number of boards and have noticed that they all have some sort of inactivity timeout values.
I can understand back in the 80's and 90's why time limits should have been applicable - but today the amount of bandwidth used in browsing
the boards would be minimal.
Is this a general sort of board design philosophy or is it for
nostalgia purposes?
Cheers
DS
= Synchronet = MS & RD BBs - bbs.mozysswamp.org

It's still needed as telnet sessions hang and drop, something needs to handle that and the timeout is part of that.It doesn't have to be less than 10 minutes anymore, but there has to be a timeout and even then it doesn't always work so there are kill and ghost kill keys for a lot of BBS including mystic.


... Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.49

--- Mystic BBS/QWK v1.12 A10 (Raspberry Pi)
* Origin: Cyberia BBS | Cyberia.Darktech.Org | Kingwood, TX (44:100/4)

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: bcw142 to Daniel Samartgis on Thu Apr 07 2016 11:01 am

Daniel Samartgis wrote to All <=-

Hey guys,
I've joined a number of boards and have noticed that they all have some sort of inactivity timeout values.
I can understand back in the 80's and 90's why time limits should have been applicable - but today the amount of bandwidth used in browsing the boards would be minimal.
Is this a general sort of board design philosophy or is it for nostalgia purposes?
Cheers
DS
= Synchronet = MS & RD BBs - bbs.mozysswamp.org

It's still needed as telnet sessions hang and drop, something needs to handle that and the timeout is part of that.

A keyboard-inactivity timeout and a TCP/IP session timeout are 2 different things. A keyboard-inactivity timeout should not be necessary to detect a "hung or dropped telnet session". If it is, then something is wrong with some networking software somewhere.

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #7:
Synchronet was originally intended as a replacement for WWIV BBS software. Norco, CA WX: 62.5øF, 48.0% humidity, 1 mph ESE wind, 0.01 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Daniel Samartgis to Nightfox on Tue Apr 05 2016 08:41 am

I get that with the limited nodes - but it appears there aren't enough people around to have to be concerned about that. Maybe increasing timeouts to a respectable value such as 1 hour?

But why would I want someone sitting idle on the board doing nothing for an hour? Why would you want to call up and then just sit there doing nothing?

Also, even with 4 nodes I get one or two callers at a time and I get tons of port scanners that occasionally fill up 2 or 3 nodes. (I use peer block to block about 5 million IPs from 6 or 7 countries as it is...)

|01-|03nolageek

---
þ Synchronet þ Capitol Shrill BBS - Washington, DC - capitolshrill.com

Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: nolageek to Daniel Samartgis on Thu Apr 07 2016 11:40 pm

But why would I want someone sitting idle on the board doing nothing for an hour? Why would you want to call up and then just sit there doing nothing?

Watching time pass by in LORD, or TW2002?

Originally I had a PS/1 I was going to use as a TW2002 "console" so I could watch things happen, or leave it logged in as SYSOP for messages or something, then I found out about the need to kick everyone off for the database maintenence.

But we live in a connectionless world now.

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Well you generally shouldn't have a user taking up a node needlessly. A
BBS only has a limited number of nodes that users can connect to, so if a user isn't going to be doing anything, the node should be freed up to minimize the chance of all nodes being used, so that other users can log
in. A sysop these days can minimize the chances of that by setting up a bunch of nodes on their BBS, but still, I think it makes sense to free up a node if the user is just sitting idle doing nothing.

There's also the way some timed events run exclucively, as well as doors that are single-player.

--
Michael J. Ryan
tracker1(at)gmail.com
+o Roughneck BBS

---
þ Synchronet þ RoughneckBBS - http://www.roughneckbbs.com/

I'm looking at increasing mine to at least 15 minutes, because I often
download an offline mail packet, read it and then upload, and being able to leave the session idling does save a bit of messing around with logins, etc (though using rlogin helps a LOT! :) ). Will have to have a fiddle in scfg.

If it's enabled, you could always use FTP.

--
Michael J. Ryan
tracker1(at)gmail.com
+o Roughneck BBS

---
þ Synchronet þ RoughneckBBS - http://www.roughneckbbs.com/

GRYPHON wrote to VK3JED <=-

If all you're doing is downloading/uploading qwk packets, then why
don't you just use ftp to exchange packets? Its the exact same method used to exchange these here dovenet packets. That way you won't go
afoul of the timeout issue.

If you do that, though, it takes the whole 'BBS experience' out of the equation. :-)

Next step would be to just use a browser to read echomail... :-)


... Almost had a psychic girlfriend - she left me before we met.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ wcQWK 6.4 ÷ http://finathon.org/neptunes-lair-bbs - Help Save Our Oceans

On Apr 08, 2016 12:11pm, JIMMY ANDERSON wrote to GRYPHON:

If you do that, though, it takes the whole 'BBS experience' out of the equation. :-)

Next step would be to just use a browser to read echomail... :-)

If you've ever visited my BBS with a web browser before, you noticed you can
do just that :)

... Platinum Xpress & Wildcat!..... Nice!!!!
---
þ wcQWK 6.4 ÷ http://finathon.org/neptunes-lair-bbs - Help Save Our Oceans

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Mro on Thu Apr 07 2016 12:23 pm

True, though I tend not to look in nooks and crannies. Every turn and detour is a chance for something to lurk. One thing to be said in favour
of flat text file configuration. :) Online help does help a lot, to identify what is what (in the text file there are usually comments).

well this is the bbs way of doing things. back in the old days there wasnt a big conf file to edit to get things up and running.

regarding the online help,
synchronet's is pretty scattered about. i'm not sure if all the info from those whatsnew files were carried over to whe wiki.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Mro on Thu Apr 07 2016 12:25 pm

anyways, afk users should just log back in. not that hard.

Highly annoying. That's why I don't have a lock timer on my phone, it's never the right time. I lock it when I'm finished with it. If I want it unlocked for a while, I can have that too. :)

cool, once i see you i'll get your phone when you're not looking and steal your cc info :D
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: ROBERT WOLFE to JIMMY ANDERSON on Fri Apr 08 2016 03:18 am

Next step would be to just use a browser to read echomail... :-)

If you've ever visited my BBS with a web browser before, you noticed you
can do just that :)

yeah but the interfaces arent good enough yet.
maybe vadv is
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

On 04/08/16, JIMMY ANDERSON said the following...

GRYPHON wrote to VK3JED <=-

If all you're doing is downloading/uploading qwk packets, then why don't you just use ftp to exchange packets? Its the exact same metho used to exchange these here dovenet packets. That way you won't go afoul of the timeout issue.

If you do that, though, it takes the whole 'BBS experience' out of the equation. :-)

Next step would be to just use a browser to read echomail... :-)

I've always felt that the OLR's took away from the bbs experience. Yes, I understood their need back in the day of LD phone charges, but not in this
day and age. If you're using a different means to read and post messages
OTHER than while on the BBS, then what's the point of having a BBS? You can just use a web browser to read echomail :)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A10 (Raspberry Pi)
* Origin: Cyberia BBS | Cyberia.Darktech.Org | Kingwood, TX

yeah but the interfaces arent good enough yet.
maybe vadv is

IF the sysop is running the VA PHP web interface. Otherwise, it does
not have one.

... 69, 714, 2112 Sex, drugs, rock'n'roll
--- Wildcat! v6.4.454.2 (Nov 17 2011), Editor Mod v2.0
þ wcQWK 6.4 ÷ http://finathon.org/neptunes-lair-bbs - Help Save Our Oceans

tracker1 wrote to Vk3jed <=-

If it's enabled, you could always use FTP.

Again, the question being how does that trigger packet generation? (FTP obviously works, if that's what QWK networking uses, according to a previous message). Saying "You could do this" without explaining how the extra steps are done, or pointing me to some documentation that explains it isn't helpful to me. That's due at least in part to an issue I have.

In one sense, it's not a biggie, because the telnet information does give additional information, such as when there's new mail for me or other user activity, that I wouldn't get via FTP, but now I am curious to know.


... Capt'n! The spellchecker kinna take this abuse!
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Mro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

well this is the bbs way of doing things. back in the old days there
wasnt a big conf file to edit to get things up and running.

Yeah, RA and related software was the same. I've been spoilt by 20 years of Linux and its tendency to use .conf files. :D

regarding the online help,
synchronet's is pretty scattered about. i'm not sure if all the info
from those whatsnew files were carried over to whe wiki.

Yeah, does make it difficult for someone like me (I have specific issues that makes hunting around for information difficult), but I'll battle on, it is fun learning. :)


... Love is blind, marriage is the eye-opener.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Mro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

cool, once i see you i'll get your phone when you're not looking and
steal your cc info :D

Chances are it will be locked. :P I lock it as soon as I've finished with it. ;)


... Chain Tagline Stolen 4 Times (add one when you steal it)
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

ROBERT WOLFE wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

If you've ever visited my BBS with a web browser before, you noticed
you can do just that :)

Can do that with mine as well, or NNTP works too. :)


... My computer has EMS... Won't you help?
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Gryphon wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

I've always felt that the OLR's took away from the bbs experience.
Yes, I understood their need back in the day of LD phone charges, but
not in this day and age. If you're using a different means to read and post messages OTHER than while on the BBS, then what's the point of
having a BBS? You can just use a web browser to read echomail :)

Actually, there is a lot of point. I find offline readers are both more responsive and better organised than reading online, and orders of magnitude faster than a web interface, as well as being more efficient to navigate. Offline NNTP is a close second though. :)


... It's good to be children sometimes and never better than at Christmas.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Gryphon to JIMMY ANDERSON on Fri Apr 08 2016 08:00 pm

I've always felt that the OLR's took away from the bbs experience. Yes, I understood their need back in the day of LD phone charges, but not in this day and age. If you're using a different means to read and post messages OTHER than while on the BBS, then what's the point of having a BBS? You
can just use a web browser to read echomail :)

maybe so, but even today we are only trying to copy the bbs experience because things are quite different.

less or no users, different people, anybody can run a bbs now, different technology and alternatives.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: ROBERT WOLFE to MRO on Fri Apr 08 2016 07:31 am

yeah but the interfaces arent good enough yet.
maybe vadv is

IF the sysop is running the VA PHP web interface. Otherwise, it does
not have one.

yes, but that's what they have to do due to not having the source code.
no issue, really.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to tracker1 on Sat Apr 09 2016 08:11 am

tracker1 wrote to Vk3jed <=-

If it's enabled, you could always use FTP.

Again, the question being how does that trigger packet generation? (FTP obviously works, if that's what QWK networking uses, according to a

yep
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Mro on Sat Apr 09 2016 07:04 pm

Yeah, does make it difficult for someone like me (I have specific issues that makes hunting around for information difficult), but I'll battle on,
it is fun learning. :)

it's not that hard. if an idiot like me can do it better than most people you can too.

people that cant get things done or dont have time,etc are usually just lazy and doing something they'd rather do.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Mro on Sat Apr 09 2016 07:07 pm

Mro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

cool, once i see you i'll get your phone when you're not looking and steal your cc info :D

Chances are it will be locked. :P I lock it as soon as I've finished with it. ;)

all you need is that one time that you dont, though. and then it gets lost. it's happened before.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Mro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

it's not that hard. if an idiot like me can do it better than most
people you can too.

It's not that simple, I suggest you look up "executive dysfunction". Oh, and it's autism awareness month (join the dots :) ).

people that cant get things done or dont have time,etc are usually just lazy and doing something they'd rather do.

This is often true, but that's an assumption, and remember what the word assume means (to make an ASS out of U and ME :) ). My response to these sorts of queries from others is to offer a few pointers to get the other person started looking, and if they can't follow that, offer further assistance, but the long term goal is to get them working things out for themselves, in a gradual fashion. There are things I take for granted that I now know 99% of the population can't do without at least a fair bit of instruction. We're all different. :)


... Racial prejudice is a pigment of the imagination.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Mro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

all you need is that one time that you dont, though. and then it gets lost. it's happened before.

Can happen with a timeout too, someone picks the phone up during the window of opportunity, or an app has overridden the timeout (which can catch you out). :)


... Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Mro on Sun Apr 10 2016 08:04 am

it's not that hard. if an idiot like me can do it better than most people you can too.

It's not that simple, I suggest you look up "executive dysfunction". Oh, and it's autism awareness month (join the dots :) ).

we gave it a month so that means something? do we wear ribbons too? oh wait, we change our facebook pics to have a blue tint and that makes a difference?

This is often true, but that's an assumption, and remember what the word assume means (to make an ASS out of U and ME :) ). My response to these

that's not what the word means, that's just a funny saying that goes back pretty far.

My response to these
sorts of queries from others is to offer a few pointers to get the other person started looking, and if they can't follow that, offer further assistance, but the long term goal is to get them working things out for

my experience is if you baby someone they will stay a baby. and if you do everything or mostly everything for these types of people they will continue to look to you for doing everything.

there is no reason for them to break away and do things on their own if they dont have a reason to build the skills to help themselves.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to tracker1 on Sat Apr 09 2016 08:11 am

tracker1 wrote to Vk3jed <=-

If it's enabled, you could always use FTP.

Again, the question being how does that trigger packet generation? (FTP obviously works, if that's what QWK networking uses, according to a previous message). Saying "You could do this" without explaining how the extra steps are done, or pointing me to some documentation that explains it isn't helpful to me. That's due at least in part to an issue I have.

In one sense, it's not a biggie, because the telnet information does give additional information, such as when there's new mail for me or other user activity, that I wouldn't get via FTP, but now I am curious to know.

The FTP server in Synchronet v3 generates the .QWK packet dynamically, on demand, when the <hub-id>.QWK file is downloaded by a user. A phantom file is shown in the directory listing via FTP, but the physical file is not created until the download is started.

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #36:
Synchronet's Windows Control Panel is built with Borland C++ Builder.
Norco, CA WX: 61.8øF, 71.0% humidity, 11 mph NE wind, 0.03 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

If it's enabled, you could always use FTP.

Again, the question being how does that trigger packet generation? (FTP obviously works, if that's what QWK networking uses, according to a

previous

message). Saying "You could do this" without explaining how the extra

steps

are done, or pointing me to some documentation that explains it isn't helpful to me. That's due at least in part to an issue I have.

In one sense, it's not a biggie, because the telnet information does give additional information, such as when there's new mail for me or other user activity, that I wouldn't get via FTP, but now I am curious to know.

The FTP server in Synchronet v3 generates the .QWK packet dynamically, on ->demand, when the <hub-id>.QWK file is downloaded by a user. A phantom file is ->shown in the directory listing via FTP, but the physical file is not created ->until the download is started.

This is a feature I wish Wildcat! had in it...



...To err is human; To moo is bovine.
---BapStats Module (bsDBASE v6.1 Build 1)
þ wcQWK 6.4 ÷ http://finathon.org/neptunes-lair-bbs - Help Save Our Oceans

Digital Man wrote to Vk3jed <=-

The FTP server in Synchronet v3 generates the .QWK packet dynamically,
on demand, when the <hub-id>.QWK file is downloaded by a user. A
phantom file is shown in the directory listing via FTP, but the
physical file is not created until the download is started.

Thanks, now that explains the pissing piece, it all makes sense. You've explained the missing pieces perfectly. And am I right in assuming that if <QWK-ID>.REP is uploaded, the BBS assumes this is a .REP packet and automatically processes it?


... And on the 8th day God said, "Murphy, you're in charge."
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Digital Man on Mon Apr 11 2016 12:40 pm

Digital Man wrote to Vk3jed <=-

The FTP server in Synchronet v3 generates the .QWK packet dynamically, on demand, when the <hub-id>.QWK file is downloaded by a user. A phantom file is shown in the directory listing via FTP, but the physical file is not created until the download is started.

Thanks, now that explains the pissing piece, it all makes sense. You've explained the missing pieces perfectly. And am I right in assuming that if <QWK-ID>.REP is uploaded, the BBS assumes this is a .REP packet and automatically processes it?

Correct. It has to be uploaded to the FTP root directory however.

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #56:
Synchronet introduced Telnet, FTP, SMTP and POP3 support w/v3.00a-Win32 in 2000.
Norco, CA WX: 56.5øF, 88.0% humidity, 3 mph NW wind, 0.03 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Digital Man wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Correct. It has to be uploaded to the FTP root directory however.

No dramas, thanks. :)


... Is fire supposed to shoot out of it like that!?
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Highly annoying. That's why I don't have a lock timer on my phone, it's
never the right time. I lock it when I'm finished with it. If I want it unlocked for a while, I can have that too. :)

cool, once i see you i'll get your phone when you're not looking and steal your cc info :D

Seeing as my phone is usually right next to my wallet,
there's probably an easier way to do that. ;-)

--
Michael J. Ryan
tracker1(at)gmail.com
+o Roughneck BBS

---
þ Synchronet þ RoughneckBBS - http://www.roughneckbbs.com/

The FTP server in Synchronet v3 generates the .QWK packet dynamically, on
demand, when the <hub-id>.QWK file is downloaded by a user. A phantom file is ->shown in the directory listing via FTP, but the physical file is not created ->until the download is started.

This is a feature I wish Wildcat! had in it...

Also, when you upload <hub-id>.REP to the root, it will process it... Agreed, it's a pretty neat feature.

--
Michael J. Ryan
tracker1(at)gmail.com
+o Roughneck BBS

---
þ Synchronet þ RoughneckBBS - http://www.roughneckbbs.com/

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Gryphon on Sat Apr 09 2016 07:56 pm

Actually, there is a lot of point. I find offline readers are both more responsive and better organised than reading online, and orders of magnitude faster than a web interface, as well as being more efficient to navigate. Offline NNTP is a close second though. :)

What offline readers work with windows 7-10? Especially 10.

Thanks

Talwyn

... Racial prejudice is a pigment of the imagination.

---
þ Synchronet þ SONOS - livewirebbs.ddns.net

Talwyn wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Gryphon on Sat Apr 09 2016 07:56 pm

Actually, there is a lot of point. I find offline readers are both more responsive and better organised than reading online, and orders of magnitude faster than a web interface, as well as being more efficient to navigate. Offline NNTP is a close second though. :)

What offline readers work with windows 7-10? Especially 10.

I'm using Multimail on Windows 7 here. Don't have Windows 10... yet.

... What?! I'm missing Star Tre$#%$^ NO CARRIER
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Talwyn to Vk3jed on Tue Apr 12 2016 06:49 am

What offline readers work with windows 7-10? Especially 10.

I use MultiMail on Windows 7 and WIndows 10. I'm looking for a Qedit-like console editor to use with my QWK reader, as 16 bit DOS apps don't run, and editing a QWK message in Notepad or other Windows editor app doesn't seem right.

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: JIMMY ANDERSON to GRYPHON on Fri Apr 08 2016 12:11:00

If all you're doing is downloading/uploading qwk packets, then why
don't you just use ftp to exchange packets? Its the exact same
method used to exchange these here dovenet packets. That way you
won't go afoul of the timeout issue.

If you do that, though, it takes the whole 'BBS experience' out of the equation. :-)

Next step would be to just use a browser to read echomail... :-)

Why not a WEB server that can handle like bbs
just need a good programmer, and Change the FTN for something more EFF

... One has the right to be wrong in a democracy.

---
þ Synchronet þ SpaceSST BBS - mccarragher.org

Poindexter Fortran wrote to Talwyn <=-

I use MultiMail on Windows 7 and WIndows 10. I'm looking for a
Qedit-like console editor to use with my QWK reader, as 16 bit DOS apps don't run, and editing a QWK message in Notepad or other Windows editor app doesn't seem right.

True, using Notepad does feel a bit strange and disjointed, but at least it works. And yes, I have the same issue. I'm running 64 bit Windows, so 16 bit DOS apps are no go. For the best feel, a 32 bit console app is needed. But Notepad is doing the job for now.


... New Mail not found. Start whine-pout sequence? (Y/N)
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: tracker1 to Mro on Mon Apr 11 2016 04:52 pm

Highly annoying. That's why I don't have a lock timer on my phone, it's
never the right time. I lock it when I'm finished with it. If I
want it unlocked for a while, I can have that too. :)

cool, once i see you i'll get your phone when you're not looking and steal your cc info :D

Seeing as my phone is usually right next to my wallet,
there's probably an easier way to do that. ;-)

are you one of those guys who mounts his phone to his belt? i hate that.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Poindexter Fortran to Talwyn on Tue Apr 12 2016 10:58 am

I use MultiMail on Windows 7 and WIndows 10. I'm looking for a Qedit-like console editor to use with my QWK reader, as 16 bit DOS apps don't run, and editing a QWK message in Notepad or other Windows editor app doesn't seem right.

i've linked one before.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

ROBERT WOLFE wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

On Apr 08, 2016 12:11pm, JIMMY ANDERSON wrote to GRYPHON:

If you do that, though, it takes the whole 'BBS experience' out of the equation. :-)

Next step would be to just use a browser to read echomail... :-)

If you've ever visited my BBS with a web browser before, you noticed
you can do just that :)

Hmm... Since yours is the main one that I use, I should look into that... :-)


... A squirrel is just a rat with good P.R.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ wcQWK 6.4 ÷ http://finathon.org/neptunes-lair-bbs - Help Save Our Oceans

Digital Man wrote to bcw142 <=-

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: bcw142 to Daniel Samartgis on Thu Apr 07 2016 11:01 am

Daniel Samartgis wrote to All <=-

Hey guys,
I've joined a number of boards and have noticed that they all have some sort of inactivity timeout values.

It's still needed as telnet sessions hang and drop, something needs to handle that and the timeout is part of that.

A keyboard-inactivity timeout and a TCP/IP session timeout are 2
different things. A keyboard-inactivity timeout should not be necessary
to detect a "hung or dropped telnet session". If it is, then something
is wrong with some networking software somewhere.

digital man

No doubt, but both things and everything else happens. There are constant hacking attempts where just about everything is tried to cause problems or
get in to a system and plant some bots for a botnet. I've caused many hangs
in the last few months as there's some protocol or other issue with mystic's zmodem protocol vs many Synchronet BBS out there. In at least one case this caused a hang that lasted pretty much all day on OUTWEST BBS. It should have timed-out but it didn't. It does now, just drop connection and it will drop
on the BBS side now. But, point is, time-outs are needed of all types.


... Computer Hacker wanted. Must have own axe.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.49
þ Synchronet þ The Outwest BBS - outwestbbs.com - DOORS - Files -Dove-Net

JIMMY ANDERSON wrote to DANIEL SAMARTGIS <=-

DANIEL SAMARTGIS wrote to NIGHTFOX <=-

I get that with the limited nodes - but it appears there aren't enough people around to have to be concerned about that. Maybe increasing timeouts to a respectable value such as 1 hour?

Why would someone 'need' an hour timeout on a BBS? If I've fallen
asleep at the keyboard two minutes is enough. If I've walked away, same thing. If I've switched to another app and rabbit holed then there's no need to continue to tie up the BBS.
BTW - I'm not a sysop, just a user. :-)

... All wiyht. Rho sritched mg kegtops awound?

I did even J with F ;P Because I can touch type if I need to.

Sometimes it's nice to be able to go down a small rabbit hole (like a phone call you hang up on because it's a pull-poll) and still pick up where you left off.


... IBM = Institute of Black Magic
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.49
þ Synchronet þ The Outwest BBS - outwestbbs.com - DOORS - Files -Dove-Net

Mro wrote to Melacon <=-

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Melacon to Vk3jed on Tue Apr 05 2016 02:32 am

No old doors here, As I al almost the only user of my BBS (which has 4 nodes inactivity timeout doesn't make a lot of sense on my system (that may change I get more users than nodes :) ). I would like to see it a bit longer. I couldn't see where to configure the timer in Synchronet.

I'm in Melbourne. Mind if I come check out your board? What's the address I couldn't find it in the bbs list.

you want to visit a bbs with no games or anything?
---
= Synchronet = ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

People Do. ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVRQK58jrbw
Monty Python - Merchant Banker Sketch - YouTube

There, run rings around you're logic! How far off the time-out topic can
we get?



... AAAAAAAA..... American Association Against Any And All Acronym Abuse
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.49
þ Synchronet þ The Outwest BBS - outwestbbs.com - DOORS - Files -Dove-Net

ROBERT WOLFE wrote to MRO <=-

yeah but the interfaces arent good enough yet.
maybe vadv is

IF the sysop is running the VA PHP web interface. Otherwise, it does
not have one.

... 69, 714, 2112 Sex, drugs, rock'n'roll

Hmm, seems more like Sex, Downer, Rush? ;P
Rock'n'roll doesn't usually have a plot, 2112 does ;)


... And on the 8th day God said, "Murphy, you're in charge."
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.49
þ Synchronet þ The Outwest BBS - outwestbbs.com - DOORS - Files -Dove-Net

Mro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Mro on Sun Apr 10 2016 08:04 am

it's not that hard. if an idiot like me can do it better than most people you can too.

It's not that simple, I suggest you look up "executive dysfunction". Oh, and it's autism awareness month (join the dots :) ).

that's not what the word means, that's just a funny saying that goes
back pretty far.

My response to these
sorts of queries from others is to offer a few pointers to get the other person started looking, and if they can't follow that, offer further assistance, but the long term goal is to get them working things out for

my experience is if you baby someone they will stay a baby. and if you
do everything or mostly everything for these types of people they will continue to look to you for doing everything.

there is no reason for them to break away and do things on their own if they dont have a reason to build the skills to help themselves.
---
= Synchronet = ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

"I know, I know, there's a bale of hay outside Basingstoke, we could throw you out!" Monty Python. That should teach them to fly right?
I won't interrupt again for a pound. ;P


... Cursor: An expert in four-letter words
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.49
þ Synchronet þ The Outwest BBS - outwestbbs.com - DOORS - Files -Dove-Net

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Poindexter Fortran on Wed Apr 13 2016 07:35 am

it works. And yes, I have the same issue. I'm running 64 bit Windows, so 16 bit DOS apps are no go. For the best feel, a 32 bit console app is needed. But Notepad is doing the job for now.

There are a couple of 32-bit DOS console editor apps, but I couldn't get them to feel like Qedit, which I've got 25 years' worth of muscle memory built up.

:)

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Poindexter Fortran wrote to Vk3jed <=-

There are a couple of 32-bit DOS console editor apps, but I couldn't
get them to feel like Qedit, which I've got 25 years' worth of muscle memory built up.

I'm a bit rusty on QEdit these days. Instead, I have 20+ years of pico/nano under Linux. :D


... So easy, a child could do it. Child sold separately.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Bcw142 to Digital Man on Wed Apr 13 2016 11:17 am

Yeah looking at my logs, I recently seen these random hackers are using the username of 'Xc3511' which made me curious what's that even related to, so trusty ole Google told me it's a way to brute force a DVR back to factory settings. I know most, if not all, of these logins are unattended, but if they would just read the screen where it says to type New for a new user, I think they'd realize it's not what they think it is.

It's too bad there isn't a system in place that if they don't login successfully on their second attempt they are automatically added to the Black list. (ip-silent.can and ip.can) file.

No doubt, but both things and everything else happens. There are constant hacking attempts where just about everything is tried to cause problems or get in to a system and plant some bots for a botnet. I've caused many

-Ktulu

---
þ Synchronet þ Realm of Insanity - Racine, WI telnet://roi.synchro.net

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Ktulu to Bcw142 on Wed Apr 13 2016 07:56 pm

It's too bad there isn't a system in place that if they don't login successfully on their second attempt they are automatically added to the Black list. (ip-silent.can and ip.can) file.

Except an IP address doesn't uniquely identify a specific user forever.

---
http://DuckDuckGo.com/ a better search engine that respects your privacy.
Mro is an idiot. Please ignore him, we keep hoping he'll go away.
þ Synchronet þ My Brand-New BBS (All the cool SysOps run STOCK!)

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Ktulu to Bcw142 on Wed Apr 13 2016 07:56 pm

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Bcw142 to Digital Man on Wed Apr 13 2016 11:17 am

Yeah looking at my logs, I recently seen these random hackers are using the username of 'Xc3511' which made me curious what's that even related to, so trusty ole Google told me it's a way to brute force a DVR back to factory settings. I know most, if not all, of these logins are unattended, but if they would just read the screen where it says to type New for a new user, I think they'd realize it's not what they think it is.

It's too bad there isn't a system in place that if they don't login successfully on their second attempt they are automatically added to the Black list. (ip-silent.can and ip.can) file.

There is just such a system in place:
See "LoginAttemptFilterThreshold" at http://wiki.synchro.net/config:sbbs.ini

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #4:
Synchronet version 3 for Win32 development began in 1999.
Norco, CA WX: 56.5øF, 87.0% humidity, 0 mph WSW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

It's too bad there isn't a system in place that if they don't login successfully on their second attempt they are automatically added to the Black list. (ip-silent.can and ip.can) file.

There is just such a system in place:
See "LoginAttemptFilterThreshold" at http://wiki.synchro.net/config:sbbs.ini

I set it at 3 do you think that's enough to stop all the telnets who are not logging on?

Allen

---
þ Synchronet þ SONOS - livewirebbs.ddns.net

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Digital Man to Ktulu on Thu Apr 14 2016 02:11 am

There is just such a system in place:
See "LoginAttemptFilterThreshold" at http://wiki.synchro.net/config:sbbs.ini

Thank you!!!! I will put this to immediate use. I guess reading the docs helps! LOL! Thanks again!

---
þ Synchronet þ Realm of Insanity - Racine, WI telnet://roi.synchro.net

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Deuce to Ktulu on Thu Apr 14 2016 12:30 am

Except an IP address doesn't uniquely identify a specific user forever.

Quite true!

Thanks for the reply, and love your sig.....

---
þ Synchronet þ Realm of Insanity - Racine, WI telnet://roi.synchro.net

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Alprunty to Digital Man on Thu Apr 14 2016 05:03 pm

It's too bad there isn't a system in place that if they don't login successfully on their second attempt they are automatically added to the Black list. (ip-silent.can and ip.can) file.

There is just such a system in place:
See "LoginAttemptFilterThreshold" at http://wiki.synchro.net/config:sbbs.ini

I set it at 3 do you think that's enough to stop all the telnets who are not logging on?

It'll permanently block the IP address of anyone trying and failing to login 3 times in a row (without a successful login). So that could be some of your users. <shrug>

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #2:
Synchronet version 2 was written in C and 8086 assembly programming languages. Norco, CA WX: 69.1øF, 51.0% humidity, 9 mph SSE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Digital Man to Alprunty on Thu Apr 14 2016 04:51 pm

It'll permanently block the IP address of anyone trying and failing to login 3 times in a row (without a successful login). So that could be some of your users. <shrug>

I've noticed I'm getting TONS of connections with no logins they just connect and sit there mostly from Korea, Russia, and other seedy parts of the world.

I don't think they are harmful... also noticed getting lots of attempts trying to log on to my SMTP as ROOT

Allen

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Alprunty to Digital Man on Thu Apr 14 2016 10:27 pm

I don't think they are harmful... also noticed getting lots of attempts trying to log on to my SMTP as ROOT

Allen

welcome to the internet
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Alprunty to Digital Man on Thu Apr 14 2016 05:03 pm

I set it at 3 do you think that's enough to stop all the telnets who are not logging on?

STOP THE TELNETS

I want that on a T-shirt!

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Alprunty wrote to Digital Man <=-

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Digital Man to Alprunty on Thu Apr 14 2016 04:51 pm

It'll permanently block the IP address of anyone trying and failing to login 3 times in a row (without a successful login). So that could be some of your users. <shrug>

I've noticed I'm getting TONS of connections with no logins they just connect and sit there mostly from Korea, Russia, and other seedy parts
of the world.
I don't think they are harmful... also noticed getting lots of attempts trying to log on to my SMTP as ROOT
Allen
---
= Synchronet = Vertrauen = Home of Synchronet =
telnet://vert.synchro.net

Ya it's going on all the time. Checked my log and 63511 Apr 15 16:46:02 0 BLOCKED 186.73.71.34 (Unknown), the 63511 is the number of Blocked tries to get on my bbs telnet from systems that get banned after 3 tries in two
minutes (mystic default). That's from Feb 22 to now (Apr 15). I get script kiddies trying to get into the ftp all the time:
Mar 31 19:26:09 1 Cmd: USER Data: root
Mar 31 19:26:09 1 Cmd: PASS Data: postfix1
Mar 31 19:26:10 1 Cmd: USER Data: root
Mar 31 19:26:10 1 Cmd: PASS Data: postfix123
Mar 31 19:26:10 1 Cmd: USER Data: root
Mar 31 19:26:10 1 Cmd: PASS Data: webuser
Mar 31 19:26:10 1 Cmd: USER Data: root
Mar 31 19:26:11 1 Cmd: PASS Data: webuser1
Mar 31 19:26:11 1 Cmd: USER Data: root
Mar 31 19:26:11 1 Cmd: PASS Data: webuser2
Mar 31 19:26:11 1 Cmd: USER Data: root
Mar 31 19:26:11 1 Cmd: PASS Data: webuser123
Mar 31 19:26:11 1 Cmd: USER Data: root
Mar 31 19:26:12 1 Cmd: PASS Data: 1
Mar 31 19:26:12 1 Cmd: USER Data: root
Mar 31 19:26:12 1 Cmd: PASS Data: 12
and so on and so on and on and on... ;P
How could anyone think that someone would use a 1 digit password?


... OF COURSE I'm on topic! (Which conference is this?)
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.49
þ Synchronet þ The Outwest BBS - outwestbbs.com - DOORS - Files -Dove-Net

Poindexter Fortran wrote to Alprunty <=-

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Alprunty to Digital Man on Thu Apr 14 2016 05:03 pm

I set it at 3 do you think that's enough to stop all the telnets who are not logging on?

STOP THE TELNETS

I want that on a T-shirt!
---
= Synchronet = realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

How about 'Save the Telnets' or 'UUCP is endangered'?
The word TELNETS should have that cirle with a line through it.


... Heisenberg may have slept here.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.49
þ Synchronet þ The Outwest BBS - outwestbbs.com - DOORS - Files -Dove-Net

POINDEXTER FORTRAN wrote to ALPRUNTY <=-

STOP THE TELNETS

I want that on a T-shirt!

I would wear it. :-)

teespring.com - make it happen :-)


... OF COURSE I'm on topic! (Which conference is this?)
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ wcQWK 6.4 ÷ http://finathon.org/neptunes-lair-bbs - Help Save Our Oceans

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Alprunty to Digital Man on Thu Apr 14 2016 10:27 pm

I've noticed I'm getting TONS of connections with no logins they just connec

t

and sit there mostly from Korea, Russia, and other seedy parts of the world.

seedy :-)


Oxford Mills Remote BBS Oxfordmi.synchro.net:23
Fidonet 1:249/307 MusicalNET DoveNET Campbellford CA
===

---
þ Synchronet þ Oxford Mills Remote - Campbellford, Cda (1:249/307)

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Poindexter Fortran to Vk3jed on Wed Apr 13 2016 02:37 pm

There are a couple of 32-bit DOS console editor apps, but I couldn't get them to feel like Qedit, which I've got 25 years' worth of muscle memory built up.

Holy crap! You used Qedit for 25 years? That's impressive!

Knight

---
þ Synchronet þ The Phunc BBS -- Back from the dead! -- telnet to bbs.phunc.com

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Poindexter Fortran on Thu Apr 14 2016 11:25 am

I'm a bit rusty on QEdit these days. Instead, I have 20+ years of pico/nano under Linux. :D

Ahh yeah, that's more like it. I've got 20+ years of vi/vim/pico/nano too :)

I think I started using pico when I started using pine (and if I remember correctly, they were both made by a university), which was after I used elm, which was after mail/mailx.

Knight

---
þ Synchronet þ The Phunc BBS -- Back from the dead! -- telnet to bbs.phunc.com

Knight wrote to Poindexter Fortran <=-

Holy crap! You used Qedit for 25 years? That's impressive!

To be accurate, roughly 5 of those years were running Wordstar - WS
and QEDIT use the same Ctrl-K key bindings.



... Powered By Celeron (Tualatin). Engineered for the future.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Knight wrote to Vk3jed <=-

I think I started using pico when I started using pine (and if I
remember correctly, they were both made by a university),

University of Washington.

I found a great setup to point PINE/ALPINE using IMAP, NNTP and LDAP
to point to Exchange. Freaked the heck out of people at work when they
saw work email in a text email client.






... Powered By Celeron (Tualatin). Engineered for the future.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Poindexter Fortran to Knight on Fri Apr 22 2016 01:21 pm

Holy crap! You used Qedit for 25 years? That's impressive!

To be accurate, roughly 5 of those years were running Wordstar - WS
and QEDIT use the same Ctrl-K key bindings.

Still... wild!

Knight

---
þ Synchronet þ The Phunc BBS -- Back from the dead! -- telnet to bbs.phunc.com

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Poindexter Fortran to Knight on Fri Apr 22 2016 01:24 pm

I think I started using pico when I started using pine (and if I remember correctly, they were both made by a university),

University of Washington.

And now that reminds me. Even predating that (or perhaps around the same time) there was this early "internet suite" package for DOS. It had gopher, wais, uucp/email, etc. It was really pretty incredible. I wish I could remember the name of it. I think it was made by a university too (so much was back then).

I found a great setup to point PINE/ALPINE using IMAP, NNTP and LDAP
to point to Exchange. Freaked the heck out of people at work when they
saw work email in a text email client.

I did this too. It was fantastic. I use to always use CLI based mailers.

Knight

---
þ Synchronet þ The Phunc BBS -- Back from the dead! -- telnet to bbs.phunc.com

Knight wrote to Vk3jed <=-

I'm a bit rusty on QEdit these days. Instead, I have 20+ years of pico/nano under Linux. :D

Ahh yeah, that's more like it. I've got 20+ years of vi/vim/pico/nano
too :)

Hehe cool. I didn't get to use vi/vim as much, spose I should though, they are very powerful editors. :) For some reason, the logic of vi/vim just wasn't compatible with my internal logic. Happens sometimes.

I think I started using pico when I started using pine (and if I
remember correctly, they were both made by a university), which was
after I used elm, which was after mail/mailx.

Sounds a bit like my history. :)


... These are the voyages of the starchip Enterkey...
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Knight on Sat Apr 23 2016 07:40 am

Hehe cool. I didn't get to use vi/vim as much, spose I should though, they are very powerful editors. :) For some reason, the logic of vi/vim just wasn't compatible with my internal logic. Happens sometimes.

Yeah, it's a little funky. It comes from the days of slow connections and rated bandwidth per byte, so you could do a lot of powerful things with just a few keystrokes. In some ways it's one of the most optimized commandsets in existance.

Others have since borrowed from the short syntax, such as screen and tmux and plenty of others.

Knight

---
þ Synchronet þ The Phunc BBS -- Back from the dead! -- telnet to bbs.phunc.com

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Knight to Poindexter Fortran on Fri Apr 22 2016 02:53 pm

And now that reminds me. Even predating that (or perhaps around the same time) there was this early "internet suite" package for DOS. It had gopher, wais, uucp/email, etc. It was really pretty incredible. I wish I could remember the name of it.

Minuet.

Minnesota Internet Users Essential Tool.

I was bored at a job and used minuet on a 286 I had sitting at my feet; later I put MINIX on it and ran a web site, mail server and caching DNS server on it.

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Poindexter Fortran to Knight on Fri Apr 22 2016 05:12 pm

Minuet.

YES! Minuet! Holy crap, great memory.

Minnesota Internet Users Essential Tool.

While I only used it on a spare 286, I thought it was really cool because it was comprehensive, easy to set up, and was a free alternative to the likes of AOL and CompuServ, but of course based on open standards (though I wonder if each component actually had full RFCs or not; some probably).

I was bored at a job and used minuet on a 286 I had sitting at my feet; later I put MINIX on it and ran a web site, mail server and caching DNS server on it.

This is identical to my timeline/experience. I put minix on the same system, and maybe even an 8088 (I think minix worked on 8088, but the linux kernel did NOT). I put that 20MB MFM harddrive to good use.

I think I need to go get a copy of minix and get it running in a VM.

Knight

---
þ Synchronet þ The Phunc BBS -- Back from the dead! -- telnet to bbs.phunc.com

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: ROBERT WOLFE to DIGITAL MAN on Sun Apr 10 2016 09:36 am

The FTP server in Synchronet v3 generates the .QWK packet dynamically, on ->demand, when the <hub-id>.QWK file is downloaded by a user. A phantom file is ->shown in the directory listing via FTP, but the physical file is not created ->until the download is started.

This is a feature I wish Wildcat! had in it...

I found a copy of WildCat! 5.0 the other day, and was really surprised at just how terrible it was compared to Synchronet.

Maybe I'm just terribly biased, but what a chore to setup, and it just feels so klunky with so many places to jump around to find any settings. And NTVDM really does suck for running MS-DOS doors.

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Alprunty to Digital Man on Thu Apr 14 2016 10:27 pm

I've noticed I'm getting TONS of connections with no logins they just connect and sit there mostly from Korea, Russia, and other seedy parts of the world.

I get tonnes of these. Sometimes they idle and timeout at the login prompt. I would get so many trying to login as root/root it would give SIO issues with their hacking attempts, I ended up making a root user for them to 'hack'. I also ended up doing some rate limiting on the firewall as apparently trying to hack the root user via telnet wasn't enough they needed 100+ connections.

I've logged a few idlers on as guest, I'm sure it'll screw up someone's logs if they ever see where they 'hacked'...

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Knight wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Yeah, it's a little funky. It comes from the days of slow connections
and rated bandwidth per byte, so you could do a lot of powerful things with just a few keystrokes. In some ways it's one of the most optimized commandsets in existance.

I think it requires a lot more rote memory than I can muster in a short time.

Others have since borrowed from the short syntax, such as screen and
tmux and plenty of others.

Yes, true.


... The Rat Race...win or lose, your still a rat!
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Poindexter Fortran wrote to Knight <=-

Knight wrote to Poindexter Fortran <=-

Holy crap! You used Qedit for 25 years? That's impressive!

To be accurate, roughly 5 of those years were running Wordstar - WS
and QEDIT use the same Ctrl-K key bindings.

Wordstar/Borland key bindings were very common back in those days. :)


... We print the news WE think you need to be told.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Poindexter Fortran wrote to Knight <=-

Knight wrote to Vk3jed <=-

I think I started using pico when I started using pine (and if I
remember correctly, they were both made by a university),

University of Washington.

I found a great setup to point PINE/ALPINE using IMAP, NNTP and LDAP
to point to Exchange. Freaked the heck out of people at work when they
saw work email in a text email client.

That would have looked really interesting! :D


... This tagline is freeware; future support is unavailable.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Knight wrote to Poindexter Fortran <=-

And now that reminds me. Even predating that (or perhaps around the
same time) there was this early "internet suite" package for DOS. It
had gopher, wais, uucp/email, etc. It was really pretty incredible. I
wish I could remember the name of it. I think it was made by a
university too (so much was back then).

One of the more interesting pieces of software I used in the DOS days goes back to the late 80s/early 90s. It's a package that was intended for ham radio applications called KA9Q NOS. There were several variants. This package ran under DOS and was essentially its own OS, plus a suite of applications. Among the things it supported were:

Connectivity via amateur packet radio (AX.25), as well as SLIP, PPP (I think) and Ethernet, possibly more.

Network connectivity using NET/ROM (amateur specific) and IPv4

IP based services included:

SMTP/POP3, with local mailboxes
FTP server and client
telnet server for local mailbox/network switch access, and telnet client. "ttylink" keyboard to keyboard chat, like a networked version of "chat to sysop".
Local mailbox/mini BBS/network switch
Full IP routing capabilities (I once used KA9Q as an Ethernet router on an old 386 too underpowered for Linux).


... You never know which side of the bread to butter until you drop it.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

I found a copy of WildCat! 5.0 the other day, and was really surprised at just
how terrible it was compared to Synchronet.

Maybe I'm just terribly biased, but what a chore to setup, and it just feels ->so
klunky with so many places to jump around to find any settings. And NTVDM ->really does suck for running MS-DOS doors.

It's not representative of what 6.4 (the current release) is like. Wildcat! has improved quite a bit since 5.0 :)



...Blessed is the end-user who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
---BapStats Module (bsDBASE v6.1 Build 1)
þ wcQWK 6.4 ÷ http://finathon.org/neptunes-lair-bbs - Help Save Our Oceans

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Knight on Sat Apr 23 2016 05:34 pm

Yeah, it's a little funky. It comes from the days of slow connections and rated bandwidth per byte, so you could do a lot of powerful things with just a few keystrokes. In some ways it's one of the most optimized commandsets in existance.

I think it requires a lot more rote memory than I can muster in a short time.

That's how I feel about adopting vim/emacs fulltime. I'm too use to Sublime Text for my daily grind that I couldn't jump over completely.

But, it's really easy to get started with vim. It's worth playing with to edit a few small files just to know it, even if you don't adopt it into your workflows.

Knight

---
þ Synchronet þ The Phunc BBS -- Back from the dead! -- telnet to bbs.phunc.com

Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Vk3jed to Knight on Sat Apr 23 2016 06:00 pm

One of the more interesting pieces of software I used in the DOS days goes back to the late 80s/early 90s. It's a package that was intended for ham radio applications called KA9Q NOS. There were several variants. This package ran under DOS and was essentially its own OS, plus a suite of applications. Among the things it supported were:

Connectivity via amateur packet radio (AX.25), as well as SLIP, PPP (I think) and Ethernet, possibly more.

Network connectivity using NET/ROM (amateur specific) and IPv4

IP based services included:

SMTP/POP3, with local mailboxes
FTP server and client
telnet server for local mailbox/network switch access, and telnet client. "ttylink" keyboard to keyboard chat, like a networked version of "chat to sysop".
Local mailbox/mini BBS/network switch
Full IP routing capabilities (I once used KA9Q as an Ethernet router on an old 386 too underpowered for Linux).

Yeah minuet was a lot like this -- just without the HAM bend and network focus. But you know what I should hunt this down and see if I can find it.

Knight

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Knight wrote to Vk3jed <=-

I think it requires a lot more rote memory than I can muster in a short time.

That's how I feel about adopting vim/emacs fulltime. I'm too use to Sublime Text for my daily grind that I couldn't jump over completely.

But, it's really easy to get started with vim. It's worth playing with
to edit a few small files just to know it, even if you don't adopt it
into your workflows.

I can do basic editing and saving, but that's about it. :)


... Rehab is for quitters.
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Knight wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Yeah minuet was a lot like this -- just without the HAM bend and
network focus. But you know what I should hunt this down and see if I
can find it.

Cool, yes, there was some interesting software around, that's for sure. :)


... Dijon vu: the feeling you've tasted that mustard before.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

And now that reminds me. Even predating that (or perhaps around the same time) there was this early "internet suite" package for DOS. It had gopher, wais, uucp/email, etc. It was really pretty incredible. I wish I could remember the name of it. I think it was made by a university too (so much was back then).

It was called SPRY MOSAIC


HusTler

... I used to be indecisive; now I'm not sure.

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It was called SPRY MOSAIC

Later it was packaged and sold as "Internet in a Box"

It included the Dialer w winsock.dll needed for dialup PPP/SLIP, Telnet client, Mosaic Browser which then came Netscape 0.9. An FTP client, a Gopher client, an Email client and NNTP News client. This was state of the art shit! ;-)

HusTler

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VK3JED wrote to POINDEXTER FORTRAN <=-

... This tagline is freeware; future support is unavailable.

STOLEN! :)

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... A lady is one who only shows her underwear intentionally.
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ROBERT WOLFE wrote to VK3JED <=-

VK3JED wrote to POINDEXTER FORTRAN <=-

... This tagline is freeware; future support is unavailable.

STOLEN! :)

Hahaha, as I did a while back. :D


... 2 + 2 = 5 for extremely large values of 2.
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Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: ROBERT WOLFE to NEOZEED on Sat Apr 23 2016 10:26 am

It's not representative of what 6.4 (the current release) is like. Wildcat! has improved quite a bit since 5.0 :)

From the page it still looks the same... http://www.santronics.com/marketing/index.php

https://secure.santronics.com/products/order/purchase.php
And they still price it, like it's 1990. Windows server is cheaper!

Oh well.

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Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: ROBERT WOLFE to NEOZEED on Sat Apr 23 2016 10:26 am

Maybe I'm just terribly biased, but what a chore to setup, and it just feels ->so
klunky with so many places to jump around to find any settings. And

NTVDM ->really does suck for running MS-DOS doors.

It's not representative of what 6.4 (the current release) is like.
Wildcat! has improved quite a bit since 5.0 :)

if you say so, but i dont know who's going to pay santronics $20 usd for just a demo.
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Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Neozeed to ROBERT WOLFE on Sat Apr 23 2016 11:11 pm

From the page it still looks the same... http://www.santronics.com/marketing/index.php

https://secure.santronics.com/products/order/purchase.php
And they still price it, like it's 1990. Windows server is cheaper!

but but but, if you want to change your credit card number for AUP subscription it's free!
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It's not representative of what 6.4 (the current release) is like.

Wildcat!

has improved quite a bit since 5.0 :)

From the page it still looks the same... ->http://www.santronics.com/marketing/index.php

https://secure.santronics.com/products/order/purchase.php
And they still price it, like it's 1990. Windows server is cheaper!

Well, 6.4 has a few more features than what that is showing. That is still from the 5.0 release. 6.4 has additional features that the version pictured there does not have, but, I digress. To each his own.



...All life's answers are on TV. - Bart Simpson
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Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Knight to Poindexter Fortran on Fri Apr 22 2016 06:18 pm

I think I need to go get a copy of minix and get it running in a VM.

ftp://realitycheckbbs.org/programs/free/minix.zip

It's a fully function base MINIX 3 VM for VMWare. You'll need to create an account first.

Enjoy!

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Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: ROBERT WOLFE to NEOZEED on Sun Apr 24 2016 09:54 am

Well, 6.4 has a few more features than what that is showing. That is still from the 5.0 release. 6.4 has additional features that the version
pictured there does not have, but, I digress. To each his own.

i dont care if it gives me a blowjob every night and mows my lawn.
it's still not worth that horseshit he is asking for it.
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Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Neozeed to ROBERT WOLFE on Sat Apr 23 2016 11:11 pm

By: ROBERT WOLFE to NEOZEED on Sat Apr 23 2016 10:26 am

It's not representative of what 6.4 (the current release) is like. Wildcat! has improved quite a bit since 5.0 :)

From the page it still looks the same... http://www.santronics.com/marketing/index.php

https://secure.santronics.com/products/order/purchase.php
And they still price it, like it's 1990. Windows server is cheaper!

Oh well.

I have a license to WInserver, but no current copy of it. Andrea/Hector I love them to pieces, but there's no way I can afford to get a copy of winserver to run without purchasing a support plan.

They are Expen$ive and there just are not many winservers out there anymore.

Synchro is way more actively developed. I paid once for a year support and can't think of anything that actually got updated.

Allen

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Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: HusTler to Knight on Sat Apr 23 2016 05:09 pm

Later it was packaged and sold as "Internet in a Box"

It included the Dialer w winsock.dll needed for dialup PPP/SLIP, Telnet client, Mosaic Browser which then came Netscape 0.9. An FTP client, a Gopher client, an Email client and NNTP News client. This was state of the art shit! ;-)

HAHA!

Knight

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Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Poindexter Fortran to Knight on Sun Apr 24 2016 12:14 pm

I think I need to go get a copy of minix and get it running in a VM.

ftp://realitycheckbbs.org/programs/free/minix.zip

It's a fully function base MINIX 3 VM for VMWare. You'll need to create an account first.

Ahh, thanks for that. I went and downloaded the latest MINIX 3 from their site and installed in Parallels minutes after I wrote that. Logged in but haven't really played around much. I mean, it's not really that useful since there's a whole hell of a lot more modern functionality in most Linux distributions.

But interesting to see that they've really moved MINIX along over the years.

Knight

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Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Mro to ROBERT WOLFE on Sun Apr 24 2016 10:17 pm

i dont care if it gives me a blowjob every night and mows my lawn.
it's still not worth that horseshit he is asking for it.

Hmmmmmm....

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Re: Re: Inactivity timeouts
By: Alprunty to Neozeed on Sun Apr 24 2016 10:05 pm

winserver to run without purchasing a support plan.

They are Expen$ive and there just are not many winservers out there
anymore.

Synchro is way more actively developed. I paid once for a year support and can't think of anything that actually got updated.

but but but, didnt you get that warm fuzzy feeling knowing you gave hector money?
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