Should setting up a board be a little tough, just to weed out the riff-raff? Maybe. But if the goal is to get more people into the hobby, perhaps this idea has some merit:

A Raspberry Pi image preinstalled with Synchronet...

I'll skip specifics until after the inevitable beating I'm expecting to take for this "idea".

---
þ Synchronet þ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com

Should setting up a board be a little tough, just to weed out the riff-raff? Maybe. But if the goal is to get more people into the hobby, perhaps this idea has some merit:

A Raspberry Pi image preinstalled with Synchronet...

I'll skip specifics until after the inevitable beating I'm expecting to take for this "idea".

---
þ Synchronet þ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com

Join the club. Free membership. I get a beating from someone every day here.

$ The Millionaire $

..."I'm board. Time to set up another Synchronet BBS."...

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Crazy Idea?
By: dragon to All on Wed Oct 07 2020 11:15:32

Should setting up a board be a little tough, just to weed out the riff-raff?

I don't want to be a gatekeeper, but my sense is that if you can't deal with getting Synchronet *installed* in the first place, you're going to have a devil of a time customizing it and keeping up to date.

That's okay though. An easier install isn't a bad thing, and any problems in the future can be dealt with when they crop up.

A Raspberry Pi image preinstalled with Synchronet...

This isn't a bad idea, but there are a few problems.

People tackle these projects and then fail to maintain them. If it isn't set up in some future-proof way, you've got an image including Synchronet 3.18b which becomes decreasingly useful as time goes by.

Your image should focus on bootstrapping - grabbing all prerequisites and the latest *release* of Synchronet when it is first run - rather than having a Synchronet install baked into it. Or at least making it really easy to update the copy that is baked in.

---
echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com
þ Synchronet þ electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com

Re: Crazy Idea?
By: dragon to All on Wed Oct 07 2020 11:15 am

Should setting up a board be a little tough, just to weed out the riff-raff? Maybe. But if the goal is to get more people into the hobby, perhaps this idea has some merit:

A Raspberry Pi image preinstalled with Synchronet...

I'll skip specifics until after the inevitable beating I'm expecting to take for this "idea".

I considered making a docker image with Synchronet on it, But really it comes down to configuration. Synchronet is easy to install, but it takes a lot of work to get configured, which isn't something you can just "package"

DaiTengu

... A power so great, it can only be used for Good or Evil!

---
þ Synchronet þ War Ensemble BBS - The sport is war, total war - warensemble.com

The Millionaire wrote to dragon <=-

Should setting up a board be a little tough, just to weed out the riff-raff? Maybe. But if the goal is to get more people into the hobby, perhaps this idea has some merit:

A Raspberry Pi image preinstalled with Synchronet...

I'll skip specifics until after the inevitable beating I'm expecting to take for this "idea".

Join the club. Free membership. I get a beating from someone
every day here.

Ever heard the saying "You reap what you sow"?

Look it up if you haven't.


... All hope abandon, ye who enter messages here.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

dragon wrote to All <=-

Should setting up a board be a little tough, just to weed out the riff-raff? Maybe. But if the goal is to get more people into the
hobby, perhaps this idea has some merit:

A Raspberry Pi image preinstalled with Synchronet...

Not a bad idea, but... I just read echicken's response to you and
that's the answer. It would be quickly outdated.

As for the mechanics of it, it would be a simple matter to just
use 'dd' to make an image of your RPi disk/stick once you had it
set up the way you wanted.

I'll skip specifics until after the inevitable beating I'm
expecting to take for this "idea".

Not sure why you think this idea would result in a "beating".
Strange.



... If it weren't for Edison we'd be using computers by candlelight
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Crazy Idea?
By: DaiTengu to dragon on Wed Oct 07 2020 01:14 pm

I considered making a docker image with Synchronet on it, But really it comes down to configuration. Synchronet is easy to install, but it takes a lot of work to get configured, which isn't something you can just "package"

I have one if you are interested - or if you want to reference the Dockerfile...

http://dev.leenooks.net/bbs/sbbs/-/tree/x86_64

...ëîåï

... Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.

---
þ Synchronet þ Alterant | an SBBS in Docker on Pi!

I wonder what it would take to get package support via apt for Synchronet? Being able to do "apt-get update" for Synchronet and dependencies would go a long way towards what you're saying.

I was also thinking that a baked-in screen editor/file manager would be useful. Perhaps integration with Midnight Commander?

---
þ Synchronet þ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com

I wonder what it would take to get package support via apt for Synchronet? Being able to do "apt-get update" for Synchronet and dependencies would go a long way towards what you're saying.

I was also thinking that a baked-in screen editor/file manager would be useful. Perhaps integration with Midnight Commander?

---
þ Synchronet þ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com

Midnight Commander reminds me of Norton.

$ The Millionaire $

..."I'm board. Time to set up another Synchronet BBS."...

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

On 10/7/2020 10:15 AM, dragon wrote:

Should setting up a board be a little tough, just to weed out the riff-raff? Maybe. But if the goal is to get more people into the hobby, perhaps this idea
has some merit:

A Raspberry Pi image preinstalled with Synchronet...

I'll skip specifics until after the inevitable beating I'm expecting to take for this "idea".

I don't think this would be feasible as I don't think Pi users (like
myself) would be using their machines for something like a BBS, but for
more hardware-centric projects (like the Pi-controlled Stargate model --
yes, there is one).

---
­ Synchronet ­ Omicron Theta/Linxu * Southaven MS * linux.winserver.org

Warp 4 wrote to dragon <=-

A Raspberry Pi image preinstalled with Synchronet...

I don't think this would be feasible as I don't think Pi users
(like myself) would be using their machines for something like a
BBS, but for more hardware-centric projects (like the
Pi-controlled Stargate model -- yes, there is one).

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...



... 2 + 2 = 5 for extremely large values of 2.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Not sure why you think this idea would result in a "beating".
Strange.

Perhaps "beating" was the wrong word. There does seem to be some resistance based on "issues" that could actually be solved.

---
þ Synchronet þ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com

Midnight Commander reminds me of Norton.

$ The Millionaire $

Midnight Commander was designed as a clone of Norton Commander.

---
þ Synchronet þ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: dragon to Gamgee on Thu Oct 08 2020 12:21:20

Perhaps "beating" was the wrong word. There does seem to be some resistance
based on "issues" that could actually be solved.

No resistance here. I'm sure this can be done and any issues dealt with - but there are a lot of different ways to do that. The main problem that I see isn't in creating the image you described, but keeping it up to date in the long run.

Same goes for a .deb package or whatever. Lots of people have tackled it, but it always seems to fizzle out after a while.

Please don't be discouraged. You don't need anyone's permission; why not just go and do it? Come back with questions if you get stuck on anything.

---
echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com
þ Synchronet þ electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

yup.

Here are a few examples:

https://www.ipingthereforeiam.com/bbs/?step=search&all=0&query=raspberry

---
þ Synchronet þ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com

On 10-07-20 11:15, dragon wrote to All <=-

Should setting up a board be a little tough, just to weed out the riff-raff? Maybe. But if the goal is to get more people into the
hobby, perhaps this idea has some merit:

A Raspberry Pi image preinstalled with Synchronet...

I'll skip specifics until after the inevitable beating I'm expecting to take for this "idea".

It would need a set of configuration tools that can ask simple questions and put sane options into a configuration file. I have seen similar in some ham radio projects like AllStar and Pi-Star, where either a text based or web based tool will guide one through the initial setup process.

Is it a good idea? I think it could be an option. The only time I would be annoyed is if a preinstalled image replaced compiling and installing on an existing system, simply because not every situation is conducive to running from a fresh image (e.g. installing on a VPS).


... Dachshund kennel ad: Get a long little doggie.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.51
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (3:633/410)
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

On 10-07-20 13:41, Gamgee wrote to dragon <=-

Not a bad idea, but... I just read echicken's response to you and
that's the answer. It would be quickly outdated.

Yes, it would need to be able to be updated by the user/sysop. Updating is easy, but this sort of system would need to ensure it's as streamlined as can be, managing backing up, as well as doing the actual update.

The real heart of this sort of image will be in the scripts and applications that configure and maintain the system.

As for the mechanics of it, it would be a simple matter to just
use 'dd' to make an image of your RPi disk/stick once you had it
set up the way you wanted.

Yep, that's the standard approach.


... Opportunity: A favourable occasion for grasping a disappointment.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.51
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (3:633/410)
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Gamgee to Warp 4 on Thu Oct 08 2020 09:59 am

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

I wonder how many sysops actually use a Pi for their BBS. I've seen some sysops on Dove-Net talk about it, but I don't think we have any actual hard numbers. I'm not using a Pi for my BBS, and I kinda doubt that I would, because a Pi uses an ARM processor and it would probably be more difficult to get x86 DOS emulation working for DOS doors. Also, I run other stuff on my BBS machine, such as a Plex media server - though I believe Plex can run on a Pi system as well.

Nightfox

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

Please don't be discouraged. You don't need anyone's permission; why not just go and do it? Come back with questions if you get stuck on anything.

---
echicken

I'll probably have to skip ahead to the fizzling. I already having a 70 hour work week, failing health, and far too many irons in the fire as it is. I'll admit that I just wanted to throw this idea "out there" and see if anyone wanted to run with it, with me contributing in some smaller ways.

My real goal was to get more BBSes running to list in my database. :-/

---
þ Synchronet þ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com

Nightfox wrote to Gamgee <=-

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Gamgee to Warp 4 on Thu Oct 08 2020 09:59 am

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

I wonder how many sysops actually use a Pi for their BBS. I've
seen some sysops on Dove-Net talk about it, but I don't think we
have any actual hard numbers. I'm not using a Pi for my BBS, and
I kinda doubt that I would, because a Pi uses an ARM processor
and it would probably be more difficult to get x86 DOS emulation
working for DOS doors.

Yeah, I don't have any hard numbers either, but I know there are a
few in here that do run on Pi's. I wouldn't do it either for the
same reason - difficult to run DOS doors. I know that DosEmu
doesn't run on the Pi, I believe DosBox does but it's clunky to
use with doors I think.

Also, I run other stuff on my BBS machine, such as a Plex media
server - though I believe Plex can run on a Pi system as well.

That's cool. My BBS machine is used only for the BBS.



... If it weren't for Edison we'd be using computers by candlelight
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Gamgee to Warp 4 on Thu Oct 08 2020 09:59 am

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

Do they use a SD card? I'm not sure I would trust its reliablilty. I've had some SD cards to bad pretty quickly.

I could see hooking up an external USB HD, but at that point, wouldn't it just be easier to use a "normal" computer?

BlaZ

---
þ Synchronet þ The Penalty Box | Peoria, IL | pbox.no-ip.org

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: BlaZ to Gamgee on Thu Oct 08 2020 02:37 pm

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

Do they use a SD card? I'm not sure I would trust its reliablilty. I've had some SD cards to bad pretty quickly.

I could see hooking up an external USB HD, but at that point, wouldn't it just be easier to use a "normal" computer?

Still, one advantage to a Raspberry Pi is their small size and low power consumption.

Nightfox

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

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Nightfox to BlaZ on Thu Oct 08 2020 07:33 pm

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: BlaZ to Gamgee on Thu Oct 08 2020 02:37 pm

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

Do they use a SD card? I'm not sure I would trust its reliablilty. I've had some SD cards to bad pretty quickly.

I could see hooking up an external USB HD, but at that point, wouldn't it just be easier to use a "normal" computer?

Still, one advantage to a Raspberry Pi is their small size and low power consumption.

And low cost in comparison to a "normal" computer.

digital man

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #71:
SSH = Secure Shell
Norco, CA WX: 65.2øF, 77.0% humidity, 4 mph NNW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: BlaZ to Gamgee on Thu Oct 08 2020 02:37 pm

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

Do they use a SD card? I'm not sure I would trust its reliablilty. I've had some SD cards to bad pretty quickly.

I could see hooking up an external USB HD, but at that point, wouldn't it just be easier to use a "normal" computer?

Yeah, when I did this, I had an external USB hard drive attached just in case. In other stuff, I rebuilt my Synchronet/Linux system under the latest CentOS. Funny how all teh configuration utilities are working correcting when ESC is pressed vs running under RHEL 8.x :(

---
þ Synchronet þ Omicron Theta/X * Southaven MS * linux.winserver.org

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Nightfox to BlaZ on Thu Oct 08 2020 07:33 pm

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

Do they use a SD card? I'm not sure I would trust its reliablilty. I've had some SD cards to bad pretty quickly.

I could see hooking up an external USB HD, but at that point, wouldn't it just be easier to use a "normal" computer?

Still, one advantage to a Raspberry Pi is their small size and low power consumption.

This is very true.

---
þ Synchronet þ Omicron Theta/X * Southaven MS * linux.winserver.org

I'm not using a Pi for my BBS, and I kinda doubt
that I would, because a Pi uses an ARM processor and it would probably
be more difficult to get x86 DOS emulation working for DOS doors.

While I'm running ours off a VPS, not all BBSes are implemented for the
doors.

Hatton


... 2 + 2 = 5 for extremely large values of 2.
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Three Corners and Beyond! http://3corners.us

BlaZ wrote to Gamgee <=-

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Gamgee to Warp 4 on Thu Oct 08 2020 09:59 am

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

Do they use a SD card? I'm not sure I would trust its reliablilty.

I could see hooking up an external USB HD, but at that point, wouldn't
it just be easier to use a "normal" computer?

Yes, the base O/S defaults to running on a SD card. USB drive mounts are
also an option.

As far as why - RPi's start at between $30 to $40 USD and run off a 2.1A
Micro USB power supply. For a headless Linux box that does nothing but
cath and toss simple INet traffic they're an excellent soltuion.

The one I co-Sysop runs on a VPS but that's for Internet reasons (I don't
want BBS trafic coming to my house or the house of my co-Sysop). We
actually spent more than a RPi would run us (single core VPS at $60/yr).

Hatton


... Gone crazy, be back later, please leave message.
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Three Corners and Beyond! http://3corners.us

I wonder how many sysops actually use a Pi for their BBS.

I don't know much about a Raspberry Pi, but a pineapple upside
down cheesecake sounds awfully good. <G>

Daryl

... Amnesia and Deja-Vu: You forgot this happened before.
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net

BlaZ wrote to Gamgee <=-

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Gamgee to Warp 4 on Thu Oct 08 2020 09:59 am

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

Do they use a SD card? I'm not sure I would trust its
reliablilty. I've had some SD cards to bad pretty quickly.

Not really sure. I imagine that some do use an SD card. Perhaps
they proactively replace the SD at specified intervals to avoid
failure.

I could see hooking up an external USB HD, but at that point,
wouldn't it just be easier to use a "normal" computer?

Not necessarily. As others have already pointed out, there are
many reasons that some people prefer to use a Pi... space/size,
power consumption, they are very quiet, etc.

I don't use one for my BBS, but do have one running 24x7. It does
things like regularly check/update my dynamic DNS/IP, it allows me
to use a screen session to stay idling in some IRC channels,
provides a local storage function for nightly automated backups
from the BBS, and some other stuff. It runs with an attached
(USB) 500GB laptop hard drive, no SD card to worry about.


... I.R.S.: We've got what it takes to take what you've got!
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Gamgee to Warp 4 on Thu Oct 08 2020 09:59 am

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

Do they use a SD card? I'm not sure I would trust its reliablilty. I've had some SD cards to bad pretty quickly.

I could see hooking up an external USB HD, but at that point, wouldn't it just be easier to use a "normal" computer?

BlaZ

I have an instance of sbbs running on a rpi 3B+ w/128gig ssd that has an uptime of 219 days. I do have an external hd but I haven't had it connected for about 100 days.

---
þ Synchronet þ The Realm of Dispair telnet ephram.synchro.net 2323 ssh 2222 web 82

While I'm running ours off a VPS, not all BBSes are implemented for the doors.

There's also DoorParty, BBSLink, etc., as well as the included JS doors.

---
þ Synchronet þ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com

I have an instance of sbbs running on a rpi 3B+ w/128gig ssd that has an uptime of 219 days. I do have an external hd but I haven't had it connected for about 100 days.

Once I started using higher quality SD cards, I too have very dependable Pi's.

---
þ Synchronet þ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com

I have an instance of sbbs running on a rpi 3B+ w/128gig ssd that has an uptime of 219 days. I do have an external hd but I haven't had it connected for about 100 days.

Once I started using higher quality SD cards, I too have very dependable Pi's.

... now, as the pi 4 goes; it runs too hot, even with a li'l case fan :/

I would not recommend using the rpi4 for sbbs (or any long uptime services) unless you get a big cooling fan!

---
þ Synchronet þ The Realm of Dispair telnet ephram.synchro.net 2323 ssh 2222 web 82

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Gamgee to BlaZ on Fri Oct 09 2020 07:42 am

I don't use one for my BBS, but do have one running 24x7. It does
things like regularly check/update my dynamic DNS/IP, it allows me
to use a screen session to stay idling in some IRC channels,
provides a local storage function for nightly automated backups
from the BBS, and some other stuff. It runs with an attached
(USB) 500GB laptop hard drive, no SD card to worry about.

I'm thinking of setting one up as a BBS access terminal hooked to my TV. Should be able to get SyncTERM going along with all the old DOS terminal programs I like using. And any data corruption wouldn't matter much.

BlaZ

---
þ Synchronet þ The Penalty Box | Peoria, IL | pbox.no-ip.org

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Mortifis to dragon on Fri Oct 09 2020 06:56 pm

Howdy,

I would not recommend using the rpi4 for sbbs (or any long uptime services) unless you get a big cooling fan!

I run two instances of SBBS on a PI4 - and mine sits happily at 53'C...

How hot is yours?

...ëîåï

... Screw up your courage! You've screwed up everything else.

---
þ Synchronet þ Alterant | an SBBS in Docker on Pi!

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Mortifis to dragon on Fri Oct 09 2020 06:56 pm

Howdy,

I would not recommend using the rpi4 for sbbs (or any long uptime services) unless you get a big cooling fan!

I run two instances of SBBS on a PI4 - and mine sits happily at 53'C...

How hot is yours?

Mine idles at 54'C with a tiny 5v, the cpu seems to throttle despite the specs saying it gets throttled at 80'C. I get great performance improvements when I use an old yet larger cpu fan.

~Mortifs

---
þ Synchronet þ The Realm of Dispair telnet ephram.synchro.net 2323 ssh 2222 web 82

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Mortifis to alterego on Sat Oct 10 2020 02:33 pm

53'C...

How hot is yours?

Mine idles at 54'C with a tiny 5v, the cpu seems to throttle despite the specs saying it gets throttled at 80'C. I get great performance improvements when I use an old yet larger cpu fan.

that seems kinda hot.
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Mortifis to alterego on Sat Oct 10 2020 02:33 pm

53'C...

How hot is yours?

Mine idles at 54'C with a tiny 5v, the cpu seems to throttle despite the specs saying it gets throttled at 80'C. I get great performance improvements when I use an old yet larger cpu fan.

that seems kinda hot.

ya. I did some reading before I picked up the rpi4 and is seems to be a thing. my 3b+ idles at 42'C in the same space without a fan. I don't think it's an issue for the rpi4 as long as you have either full ventilation or an above rpi spec fan ie: an older style cpu fan. cool little device otherwise, I like the dual monitor; one to a large monitor/tv, the other to a 7" touchscreen, etc

---
þ Synchronet þ The Realm of Dispair telnet ephram.synchro.net 2323 ssh 2222 web 82

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: MRO to Mortifis on Sat Oct 10 2020 12:53 pm

Mine idles at 54'C with a tiny 5v, the cpu seems to throttle despite
the specs saying it gets throttled at 80'C.

that seems kinda hot.

From what I've see, the operating range for most Pi boards can go up to 80-85C

Hatton

... Pros are those who do their jobs well, even when they don't feel like it.

---
þ Synchronet þ Three Corners and Beyond! http://3corners.us

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: BlaZ to Gamgee on Thu Oct 08 2020 02:37 pm

Do they use a SD card? I'm not sure I would trust its reliablilty. I've had some SD cards to bad pretty quickly.

I could see hooking up an external USB HD, but at that point, wouldn't it just be easier to use a "normal" computer?

BlaZ

BlaZ,

I've been in the process of setting my BBS up to run on a RPi4 and I'm hoping to launch it this month. For me, the Pi is the perfect platform, as it doesn't take as much space, power, and $$$ as a traditional PC, but it does have some drawbacks, as you've mentioned. Here's how I have tackled them or plan to:

1.) the SD card - I completely agree with your comment, so I actually only use the SD card to boot the Pi. The BBS and binaries actually are hosted off Network storage on my Synology NAS. This gives me a lot of flexibility, as the actual service is hosted on RAID-protect volumes, have hourly snapshots, and full backups of volumes, shares, etc. In the event that the memory card fries, I just prep another, pop it the Pi4, boot and restore my /etc directory.

2.) x86 legacy doors - Synchronet is infinitely flexible in that it can door directly or forward to external hosts. While I have no legacy doors and will mostly run the JS ports, I would like to eventually add traditional tradewars. When that happens, can either host TW2002 in a docker container on my aforementioned Synology, use an external door game hosting group, or leverage some free cloud compute cycles (checkout the free offerings from Google Cloud). While DOSEMU isn't compatible with the PI, there's always qemu to emulate x86 hardware. I've played around it and the performance isn't that bad; however, you have to contend with all the mayhem of sharing files in a DOS-era and will most likely have to setup some sort of hellscape LAN (TCP/IP in DOS) to get multinode capable doors to function.

-WitNik

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

On 10/7/2020 8:15 AM, dragon wrote:

Should setting up a board be a little tough, just to weed out the riff-raff? Maybe. But if the goal is to get more people into the hobby, perhaps this idea
has some merit:

A Raspberry Pi image preinstalled with Synchronet...

I'll skip specifics until after the inevitable beating I'm expecting to take for this "idea".

Decent idea, but a cross platform docker image might be a faster path to "done" in that space...

--
Michael J. Ryan
tracker1 +o Roughneck BBS

---
­ Synchronet ­ Roughneck BBS - coming back 2/2/20

On 10/7/2020 12:47 PM, dragon wrote:

I wonder what it would take to get package support via apt for Synchronet? Being able to do "apt-get update" for Synchronet and dependencies would go a long way towards what you're saying.

I was also thinking that a baked-in screen editor/file manager would be useful.
Perhaps integration with Midnight Commander?

Which apt repo? Debian? Ubuntu? .. what about a PPK? How about an
appImage, flatpak or snap?

The issue isn't just the executable, there's a lot of bespoke
configurations that go along with the executables.

--
Michael J. Ryan
tracker1 +o Roughneck BBS

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­ Synchronet ­ Roughneck BBS - coming back 2/2/20

On 10/8/2020 12:27 PM, Nightfox wrote:

Many people run their BBS's on a Pi...

I wonder how many sysops actually use a Pi for their BBS. I've seen some sysops on Dove-Net talk about it, but I don't think we have any actual hard numbers. I'm not using a Pi for my BBS, and I kinda doubt that I would, because a Pi uses an ARM processor and it would probably be more difficult to get x86 DOS emulation working for DOS doors. Also, I run other stuff on my BBS machine, such as a Plex media server - though I believe Plex can run on a Pi system as well.

Considering DoorParty (and I think two others), wouldn't really need to
have local doors.

That reminds me... TM, if you want to run DOS based doors with
"Synchronet Pro" on "Computer Pro" that'll require a "Synchronet Pro
Online" upgrade and will be $500/month. If you'd simply prefer to use "Synchronet Enterprise Online" that will be a $2000 setup fee and
$750/month and fully online. As a bonus, it includes the 45
minutes/month of premiere support.

--
Michael J. Ryan
tracker1 +o Roughneck BBS

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­ Synchronet ­ Roughneck BBS - coming back 2/2/20

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Mortifis to alterego on Sat Oct 10 2020 02:33 pm

Mine idles at 54'C with a tiny 5v, the cpu seems to throttle despite the specs saying it gets throttled at 80'C. I get great
performance improvements when I use an old yet larger cpu fan.

How do you know it throttles?

I've not noticed any change in performance that would indicate that the CPU was being throttled.

...ëîåï

... The Coarse Golfer: One who has to shout 'Fore' when he puts.

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þ Synchronet þ Alterant | an SBBS in Docker on Pi!

Re: Re: Crazy Idea?
By: Mortifis to alterego on Sat Oct 10 2020 02:33 pm

Mine idles at 54'C with a tiny 5v, the cpu seems to throttle despite the specs saying it gets throttled at 80'C. I get great
performance improvements when I use an old yet larger cpu fan.

How do you know it throttles?

I've not noticed any change in performance that would indicate that the CPU was being throttled.

...ëîåï

having the desktop temp/cpu widgets active and looking at xtop ... just visual observations ... certain 'apps' take cpu to 100% and the temp shoots up to 80'C+ ... like I say ... only if I don't have a big ass fan sucking the heat out ... perhaps I have a rotten pi 4 but this thing definitely needs a big fan

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þ Synchronet þ The Realm of Dispair telnet ephram.synchro.net 2323 ssh 2222 web 82

On 10/10/2020 6:21 PM, Tracker1 wrote:

On 10/7/2020 12:47 PM, dragon wrote:

I wonder what it would take to get package support via apt for
Synchronet?
Being able to do "apt-get update" for Synchronet and dependencies
would go a
long way towards what you're saying.

I was also thinking that a baked-in screen editor/file manager would
be useful.
Perhaps integration with Midnight Commander?

Which apt repo? Debian? Ubuntu? .. what about a PPK? How about an appImage, flatpak or snap?

The issue isn't just the executable, there's a lot of bespoke
configurations that go along with the executables.

Raspian/Debian. We're talking Raspberry Pi.

This would be a MOSTLY preconfigured system. I was asking about apt in
the context of upgrades to Synchronet.

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­ Synchronet ­ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com

On 10/10/2020 9:43 PM, Mortifis wrote:

having the desktop temp/cpu widgets active and looking at xtop ... just visual
observations ... certain 'apps' take cpu to 100% and the temp shoots up to 80'C+ ... like I say ... only if I don't have a big ass fan sucking the heat out ... perhaps I have a rotten pi 4 but this thing definitely needs a big fan

With the rPI 4, you should have at least a good heat sync... the Argon
cases are good, but even the canakit setup will work okay. What you can
do is underclock/undervolt slightly if you don't want to do that to keep thermals in better check, but this will bring it closer to RPI 3 speeds.

--
Michael J. Ryan
tracker1 +o Roughneck BBS

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­ Synchronet ­ Roughneck BBS - coming back 2/2/20