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Rob Swindell authoredThis reverts commit b76f4695.
Rob Swindell authoredThis reverts commit b76f4695.
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<title>Features</title>
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<a href="http://www.synchro.net">
<img border="0" src="images/synclogo_fancyred.png" alt="Synchronet BBS - Multinode Bulletin Board Software" width="626" height="86"></a>
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<p><b><a name="top"></a><a href="sysop.html#TOC">Back to Table of Contents</a></b></p>
<h2>Synchronet Features</h2>
<h3>General</h3>
<ul>
<li>Designed from the ground up as a reliable and feature rich multi-node BBS</li>
<li>Up to 250 simultaneous nodes with multi-node chat and external program
(door) support</li>
<li>Sysop inter-node control (remote or local):<br>
Interrupting - hang up on any node<br>
Locking - only sysops can logon a locked node until the
lock is removed<br>
Rerunning - re-executes BBS, reinitializing
configuration, etc.<br>
Downing - shutdown a node from another remote node or
local console</li>
<li>Real-time user database:<br>
Amazingly complete user edit function<br>
Remote changes to online-user data are immediately
effective<br>
Disk image is always current for enhanced system fault
tolerance<br>
Linked free-form data file for every user<br>
International address and phone number support</li>
<li><i><b>RIPscrip</b></i> and <i><b>WIP</b></i> graphical user interfaces and
mouse support!</li>
<li>Online, sysop configurable, chatting artificial intelligence engine<br>
Multiple personalities available for your users to experience</li>
<li>Pay BBS features:<br>
Time credits, user expiration dates, credits, and 900/976 billing</li>
</ul>
<h3>Security</h3>
<ul>
<li><i><b>ARS</b></i> (<i>Access Requirement String</i>) security provides the
most flexible, comprehensive, and user friendly security available in the
BBS software industry</li>
<li>Post/Call ratio, connect rates, time of day, and other user data fields
can be elements of any <i>ARS</i> security field</li>
<li>Impenetrable to remote hackers</li>
<li>100 security levels with 104 sysop configurable flags per user</li>
<li>Sysop can allow or disallow users to choose their own passwords</li>
<li>Sysop can force periodic password changes (uniqueness is also forced)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Customization</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Programmable Command and Menu Structure:<br>Includes free Baja shell/module compiler<br>
Users can select a shell of their choice including emulations of other BBS
packages<br>
Several shells included with Baja source code</p>
</li>
<li><p>The most configurable BBS available today:<br>
Powerful object oriented menu driven configuration program<br>
All menus, text, and colors are sysop configurable without source code<br>
New User Questionnaire is available and customizable<br>
All standard new user questions can be disabled individually<br>
Over 120 <a href="http://customization.html#MessageVariables">message
variables</a> (@-Codes) supported</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Messaging</h3>
<ul>
<li><p>Hierarchical bi-level message areas with an unlimited number of
messages groups and an unlimited number of sub-boards within each group</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>QWK message off-line reader and networking support built-in<br>
Off-line file requests<br>
Off-line new message scan configuration and pointer adjustment<br>
Send <i>FidoNet</i> or Internet NetMail from QWK REP packet<br>
32-bit CRC duplicate message checking<br>
Multiple compression formats supported<br>
File attachments optionally automatically included</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Inter-node message services:<br>
Current node status - user online, action, connect rate, and more<br>
User activity - credited downloads, mail activity, logons, and logoffs<br>
Users can list active nodes and send private messages from any prompt<br>
(even between external programs and the BBS)<br>
Multi-channel multi-node chat with optional channel password protection<br>
Private real-time node to node character by character chat with remote split
screen support<br>
Users can send telegrams, single line messages, or enter private chat from any
prompt<br>
User information (gender, age, location, etc) can be included in node status
display</p>
</li>
<li><p>Extensive networking capabilities:<br>
Internal QWK network hub and node support with file transfer ability<br>
<i>FidoNet</i> EchoMail and NetMail support<br>
Send/Receive File Requests from within Synchronet<br>
UTI drivers for <i>PostLink</i> Networks (RIME, ILink, etc)<br>
Sub-boards can force real names<br>
Allow/disallow/force private posts and anonymous posts per sub-board<br>
Supports color codes for <i>WWIV</i>, <i>PCBoard</i>, <i>Wildcat</i>, and <i>Celerity</i><br>
Support for multiple networks of the same or different network technologies
with different addresses and tag/origin lines<br>
Duplicate message checking using 32-bit CRC for QWK and <i>Fido</i> Networks</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>File Transfers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Unlimited external transfer protocols with optional DSZLOG support</li>
<li>Batch uploads, downloads, and bidirectional file transfers</li>
<li>Transfer credit system is completely configurable</li>
<li>File viewing, extraction, and partial downloading of archives</li>
<li>Content rating, multi-disk numberings, and file upload dates can
automatically be added to file descriptions</li>
<li><i><b>FILE_ID.DIZ </b></i>and <i><b>DESC.SDI</b></i> files can be
automatically imported into extended file descriptions</li>
<li>Personal user to user file transfers</li>
<li>Optional batch download file flagging for user convenience</li>
<li>Support for offline directories</li>
<li>Multiple sysop file removal/move/edit search criteria</li>
<li>Directories can be sorted by filename or date, ascending or descending</li> <li>Complete CD-ROM (single and multi-disk changer) support</li>
<li>Optional forced upload directory can be invisible to users</li>
<li>Optional allowance of blind (unsolicited) batch uploads with automatic DIZ
importation</li>
<li>Download events available for adding files/comments just before download
(i.e. CD-ROM)</li>
</ul>
<h3>External Programs/Doors</h3>
<ul>
<li>Unlimited number of external programs</li>
<li>Multi-user or single user programs</li>
<li>Programs that use DOS I/O (don't use COM port directly) supported</li>
<li>12 door file formats supported for an incredible level of compatibility
including: <b><i> </i></b> <b><i><br>
DOOR.SYS</i></b>, <i><b>PCBOARD.SYS</b></i>, <i><b>USERS.SYS</b></i>, <i><b>CHAIN.TXT</b></i>,
<b><i>DORINFO#.DEF</i></b>, <i><b>EXITINFO.BBS</b></i>, <i><b>SFDOORS.DAT</b></i>,
<i><b>TRIBBS.SYS</b>,</i> <b><i>CALLINFO.BBS</i></b>, <i><b>DOORFILE.SR</b></i>,
and <i><b>UTIDOOR.TXT</b></i></li>
<li>Supports native <i><b>WWIV</b></i> color code expansion</li>
<li>Free Software Development Kit (SDK) available for program development</li>
<li>Comes with multiplayer Synchronet Blackjack game (with C source code)</li>
<li>No batch file editing/programming necessary!</li>
<li>Configurable credit cost on a per program basis</li>
<li>Separate access requirements to see the program and execute</li>
<li>Multiple Timed and Fixed Events:<br>
Logon and logoff events<br>
New user events<br>
Upload events (integrity testing, adding of comments,
virus scan, etc.)<br>
Node and system daily events<br>
Timed events with support for forced exclusive execution</li>
</ul>
<h2><b><font color="#FF0000">Version 3 Features</font></b>
</h2>
<p><b>General</b>
</p>
<ul>
<li>All "nodes" run in a single multi-threaded process<br>
- Minimal resource requirements and improved performance<br>
- DOS Windows are automatically opened/closed for external DOS
programs/doors<br>
- It's never been easier to run a 10+ node system (with DOS door
support) on one computer</li>
<li>Professional GUI <i>Synchronet Control Panel</i> (SBBSCTRL) to monitor all
clients and servers simultaneously<br>
- Replaces old-style "<i>Waiting for call</i>" screen<br>
- Launch configuration and editor dialogs directly<br>
- New Sysop Availability toggle button (replaces v2.3 Scroll-Lock
function)</li>
<li>GUI User Editor</li>
<li>Local and Remote Node Control/Spying</li>
<li>Optionally plays sysop's choice of <i><b>.WAV</b></i> file on user
connect/disconnect <i>(Windows only)</i></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<b>Internet</b></h3>
<ul>
<li>Supports Telnet logins only (no more direct-dial user support)<br>
- No third-party FOSSIL/Telnet driver (SIO/VMODEM, NetModem, COM/IP)
required<br>
- Full FOSSIL/DOS/WWIV/XSDK program/door support (easy setup!)<br>
- Outbound Telnet module included for external MUDs/BBSs<br>
- Automatically detects and logs client IP and hostname<br>
- Optional auto-logon via IP address (requires V exemption)</li>
<li>Integrated FTP server<br>
- Supports Anonymous (Guest) logins<br>
- Virtual directory structure mimics BBS filebase hierarchy<br>
- User security settings enforced<br>
- Supports long/mixed-case filenames<br> - Dynamically generates index (description) files<br>
- Supports blind upload and sysop directories<br>
- QWK/QWKnet packet uploads and downloads<br>
- Upload description support<br>
- Transfers included in BBS and user upload/download statistics<br>
- Time/Credit system enforced<br>
- Custom login/hello/goodbye messages<br>
- Optional connect/disconnect sounds (.WAV files)<br>
- File aliases supported<br>
Put links in your FTP root
directory to often access files<br>
Link to files on your local hard
disk or your BBS filebase<br>
Use general alias names to point
to often-changing versioned filenames<br>
- Complete access to local file systems for remote sysops</li>
<li>Integrated Mail (POP3/SMTP) server<br>
- Check BBS mailbox using standard Internet mail clients (Eudora,
Outlook)<br>
- SPAM Filters supported: RBL, RSS, DUL<br>
- Configurable alias list<br>
- Optionally receive mail by user number (1@yourbbs.com)<br>
- Optional inbound/outbound sounds (.WAV files)<br>
- Optional DNS/MX record lookup (no SMTP Relay Server required)</li>
<li>Outbound Telnet/RLogin gateway function to run external MUDs, BBSs, and
TWGS<br>
- Includes any-time ^] menu to see who is on the BBS, send messages,
etc.</li>
<li>IP/hostname filter/trashcan files (ip.can/host.can) for all Internet
servers/services</li>
</ul>
<h3>Online Programs</h3>
<ul>
<li>16-bit DOS Door Support<br>
- Windows 95/98/ME FOSSIL/DOS Interrupt driver (sbbsexec.vxd)<br>
- Windows NT/2000 FOSSIL/DOS Interrupt driver (sbbsexec.dll)</li>
<li>32-bit/Socket Door Support<br>
- Duplicate socket handle passed in <b><i>DOOR32.SYS</i></b> drop
file (new standard)<br>
- Duplicate socket handle passed on command line via %H specifier<br>
- Support for external programs written with 32-bit XSDK (v3+)</li>
<li><p>Most popular DOS doors fully supported<br>
- Users can be ;INTERrupted while running ANY external program<br>
- Non-exclusive events do not take any nodes off-line<br>
- No more hassling with baud rates and initialization strings<br>
- DCDWATCH no longer necessary to support WWIV/DOS externals</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="#top"><b>Back to Top</b></a></p>
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<hr>
<p><b><a href="http://www.synchro.net/copyright.html">Copyright</a> 2006 by </b> <a href="http://www.synchro.net/author.htm"><b>Rob Swindell</b><br>
</a>
<a href="http://www.synchro.net"><font size="2"><br>
Synchronet BBS Software</font></a> <font size="2"> (Synchronet)
Version 3 is comprised of several documentation,<br>
library, executable, and <a href="http://www.synchro.net/source.html">source code</a>
files, all of which are covered by the<a href="http://www.fsf.org/copyleft/gpl.html">
<br>
GNU General Public License</a> with the exception of the following portions
covered by<br>
the <a href="http://www.fsf.org/copyleft/lesser.html">GNU Lesser General Public License</a>:
SMBLIB and XSDK.<br>
<br>
Synchronet Version 2 (for DOS and OS/2) and its source code was released to the<a href="http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/categories.html#PublicDomainSoftware">
<br>
Public Domain</a> by <a href="ftp://vert.synchro.net/main/sbbs/manifest.txt">Digital Dynamics</a>
in 1997 and remains Public Domain software today.<br>Synchronet Version 3 is not Public Domain software.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2"><a href="http://www.synchro.net">http://www.synchro.net</a>
</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2">For the complete Copyright Information please
read the <a href="http://www.synchro.net/copyright.html">Copyright Document</a>
.</font></p>
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