• RA/FD VM

    From doctor wade@21:3/105 to All on Friday, November 25, 2022 09:37:12
    I would like to setup either Win98 or XP Virtualbox VM and run Frontdoor/RA bbs like I ran in the 90's. Is it safe to run older Windows programs in a VM and allow telnet access to the boards? What program do you guys recommend for a fossil to allow the software to accept telnet connections rather than by modem? I run D'Bridge and Maximus under OS/2 in a VM using SIO2k vmodem to answer with vmodem and it works well. Only issue I have is RA is too slow picking up the call and times out. I am hoping that by running a Window VM I can get RA working correctly.
    Thanks!

    ... If at first you don't succeed, blame your parents!

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/24 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: The Lab BBS (21:3/105)
  • From esc@21:4/173 to doctor wade on Friday, November 25, 2022 11:16:11
    I would like to setup either Win98 or XP Virtualbox VM and run Frontdoor/RA bbs like I ran in the 90's. Is it safe to run older Windows programs in a VM and allow telnet access to the boards? What program do you guys recommend for a fossil to allow the software to accept telnet connections rather than by modem? I run D'Bridge and Maximus under OS/2
    in a VM using SIO2k vmodem to answer with vmodem and it works well. Only issue I have is RA is too slow picking up the call and times out. I am hoping that by running a Window VM I can get RA working correctly.
    Thanks!

    I have Windows 7 with GameSrv running in a VM and it works well. I gate all connections to the VM through my actual BBS so that people can't hit the windows stuff directly.

    One thing to consider is using Mystic as a sort of frontend in your host OS. This can help with things like country blocking, ip allow/denylists, and also provide SSH connections.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/11 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: m O N T E R E Y b B S . c O M (21:4/173)
  • From deon@21:2/116 to doctor wade on Saturday, November 26, 2022 09:10:27
    Re: RA/FD VM
    By: doctor wade to All on Fri Nov 25 2022 09:37 am

    Howdy,

    I would like to setup either Win98 or XP Virtualbox VM and run Frontdoor/RA bbs like I ran in the 90's. Is it safe to run older Windows programs in a VM and allow telnet access to the boards? What program do you guys recommend

    Sure, many do.

    and allow telnet access to the boards? What program do you guys recommend for a fossil to allow the software to accept telnet connections rather than by modem? I run D'Bridge and Maximus under OS/2 in a VM using SIO2k vmodem to answer with vmodem and it works well. Only issue I have is RA is too slow picking up the call and times out. I am hoping that by running a Window VM I can get RA working correctly.

    Most folks complain about telnet boards messing up the fossil - but you might be able to control that a bit with something like haproxy in front, and rate limiting connections, etc.

    For fossils, you could either use:
    * RLFOSSIL
    * SVDM
    * Or a regular fossil with something like TCPSER in front.

    If you want to feed directly to that Frontdoor mailer, I support EMSI on Hub 3, and if you are game, you could even feed from clrghouz (via EMSI) - I need to test it more...


    ...лоеп
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
    * Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)
  • From doctor wade@21:3/105 to esc on Friday, November 25, 2022 20:41:34
    I have Windows 7 with GameSrv running in a VM and it works well. I gate all connections to the VM through my actual BBS so that people can't hit the windows stuff directly.

    That sounds like how I have OS/2 setup now. The VM answers the calls so I guess there is no way to get to the Windows host OS? Am I understanding this correctly?

    One thing to consider is using Mystic as a sort of frontend in your host OS. This can help with things like country blocking, ip allow/denylists, and also provide SSH connections.

    Another good idea to research. I have SBBS running on the host machine now. Never thought about using it as a frontend that would pass a telnet or ssh connection to a Windows 95 VM and loading RA. Thanks for your input!

    ... Marriage is one of the chief causes of divorce

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/24 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: The Lab BBS (21:3/105)
  • From doctor wade@21:3/105 to deon on Friday, November 25, 2022 20:51:31
    Most folks complain about telnet boards messing up the fossil - but you might be able to control that a bit with something like haproxy in
    front, and rate limiting connections, etc.

    For fossils, you could either use:
    * RLFOSSIL
    * SVDM
    * Or a regular fossil with something like TCPSER in front.

    If you want to feed directly to that Frontdoor mailer, I support EMSI on Hub 3, and if you are game, you could even feed from clrghouz (via EMSI)
    - I need to test it more...

    Thanks deon! I was going to hit you up for a connection to the Frontdoor mailer if I ever get this working. I have been using Dbridge as a mailer on my OS/2 VM because I could not figure out how to use Frontdoor with Binkp.

    ... I don't have the time for a hobby. I have a computer.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/24 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: The Lab BBS (21:3/105)
  • From deon@21:2/116 to doctor wade on Saturday, November 26, 2022 14:42:04
    Re: Re: RA/FD VM
    By: doctor wade to deon on Fri Nov 25 2022 08:51 pm

    Howdy,

    Thanks deon! I was going to hit you up for a connection to the Frontdoor mailer if I ever get this working. I have been using Dbridge as a mailer on my OS/2 VM because I could not figure out how to use Frontdoor with Binkp.

    Cool. If you end up using DBridge, then I cant use you as a tester to clrghouz :( Dbridge's EMSI is slightly different to the other mailers, and I need to code for that (just havent got around to it). But if you use FrontDoor, or Portal of Power then it works just fine. I havent tried BinkleyTerm, couldnt figure out how to get it to work (but I must admit I didnt spend much time on it).

    Let me know when you are ready.


    ...лоеп
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
    * Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)
  • From Al@21:4/106 to deon on Friday, November 25, 2022 20:49:20
    If you want to feed directly to that Frontdoor mailer, I support EMSI on Hub 3 and if you are game, you could even feed from clrghouz (via EMSI) - I need to test it more...

    I just polled with EMSI to your node and it looked successful. When I package and send this message that'll be a good test.. :)

    If you like you can poll my EMSI node on port 2030.

    --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106)
  • From Al@21:4/106 to deon on Friday, November 25, 2022 20:56:38
    I just polled with EMSI to your node and it looked successful. When I package and send this message that'll be a good test.. :)

    If you like you can poll my EMSI node on port 2030.

    When I sent that message it connected OK but it seemed to send that file over and over again. I hope it didn't make a mess in your inbound.

    I have toggled hydra mode off and will try again now.

    --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106)
  • From Al@21:4/106 to Al on Friday, November 25, 2022 21:03:06
    I have toggled hydra mode off and will try again now.

    Zmodem also failed. Looking at the logs it might be a password failure.

    I'll talk to you about that in netmail and maybe we can do some testing.

    --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106)
  • From esc@21:4/173 to doctor wade on Friday, November 25, 2022 22:07:02
    That sounds like how I have OS/2 setup now. The VM answers the calls so
    I guess there is no way to get to the Windows host OS? Am I
    understanding this correctly?

    Sorta - I have my actual BBS listening to the wider internet for incoming connections. It's hosted on linux. Separately, I run GameSrv in a Windows 7 VM and I gate connections to the Windows 7 VM through the BBS. It's seamless to users but it allows me to offer dos and windows doors on my BBS with 100% compatibility.

    Another good idea to research. I have SBBS running on the host machine now. Never thought about using it as a frontend that would pass a telnet or ssh connection to a Windows 95 VM and loading RA. Thanks for your input!

    Thanks - yeah, this has worked pretty well for me in the past. In fact, I used Mystic as a frontend for a Daydream BBS once upon a time, because Mystic did a good job at things like automatic IP blocking, country blocking, handling SSH, etc.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/11 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: m O N T E R E Y b B S . c O M (21:4/173)
  • From deon@21:2/116 to Al on Sunday, November 27, 2022 07:25:38
    Re: RA/FD VM
    By: Al to deon on Fri Nov 25 2022 08:49 pm

    Hey Al,

    I just polled with EMSI to your node and it looked successful. When I package and send this message that'll be a good test.. :)

    If you like you can poll my EMSI node on port 2030.

    Ahh, you would have polled Hub 3 directly - so yes that should be working fine - Spectre feeds from it.

    I'll poll you with clrghouz though on port 2030, and see how that goes :)

    (I'll setup clrghouz to take external connections so that folks can break it for me - I'll announce that here when its ready ...)


    ...лоеп
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
    * Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)
  • From Al@21:4/106 to deon on Saturday, November 26, 2022 12:54:14
    I just polled with EMSI to your node and it looked successful. When I
    package and send this message that'll be a good test.. :)

    If you like you can poll my EMSI node on port 2030.

    Ahh, you would have polled Hub 3 directly - so yes that should be working fine
    - Spectre feeds from it.

    That could be.. I didn't know there was a difference.. :)

    I'll poll you with clrghouz though on port 2030, and see how that goes :)

    Great, let me know.. :)

    (I'll setup clrghouz to take external connections so that folks can break it for me - I'll announce that here when its ready ...)

    BBBS will expect the same passwords and what not regardless if you poll binkp or EMSI..

    --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106)
  • From deon@21:2/116 to Al on Sunday, November 27, 2022 17:21:16
    Re: RA/FD VM
    By: Al to deon on Fri Nov 25 2022 08:56 pm

    Howdy,

    When I sent that message it connected OK but it seemed to send that file over and over again. I hope it didn't make a mess in your inbound.

    I have toggled hydra mode off and will try again now.

    No biggie - I'm not home either, so I'll check it when I get some time over the next day or so...

    Probably a password thing. Hub 3 is using qico or ifcico, depending on which port you polled. (Which depends on whether it is raw or "telnet"...)


    ...лоеп
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
    * Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)
  • From Roon@21:4/148 to deon on Sunday, November 27, 2022 21:20:11
    Hello deon,

    26 Nov 22 09:10, you wrote to doctor wade:

    I would like to setup either Win98 or XP Virtualbox VM and run
    Frontdoor/RA bbs like I ran in the 90's. Is it safe to run older
    Windows programs in a VM and allow telnet access to the boards?
    What program do you guys recommend

    Sure, many do.

    and allow telnet access to the boards? What program do you guys
    recommend for a fossil to allow the software to accept telnet
    connections rather than by modem? I run D'Bridge and Maximus under
    OS/2 in a VM using SIO2k vmodem to answer with vmodem and it works
    well. Only issue I have is RA is too slow picking up the call and
    times out. I am hoping that by running a Window VM I can get RA
    working correctly.

    why don't you run RA under OS/2 as well? it has great DOS :)

    Most folks complain about telnet boards messing up the fossil - but
    you might be able to control that a bit with something like haproxy in front, and rate limiting connections, etc.

    For fossils, you could either use:
    * RLFOSSIL
    * SVDM
    * Or a regular fossil with something like TCPSER in front.

    If you want to feed directly to that Frontdoor mailer, I support EMSI
    on Hub 3, and if you are game, you could even feed from clrghouz (via
    EMSI) - I need to test it more...

    i have EMSI as well on my telnet port (1212) :)

    Regards,
    --
    dp

    telnet://bbs.roonsbbs.hu:1212 <<=-

    ... 10:46pm up 9 days, 17:08:29, load: 83 processes, 287 threads.
    --- GoldED/2 1.1.4.7+EMX
    * Origin: Roon's BBS - Budapest, HUNGARY (21:4/148)
  • From deon@21:2/116 to Al on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 21:22:49
    Re: RA/FD VM
    By: Al to deon on Fri Nov 25 2022 08:49 pm

    Hey Al,

    If you like you can poll my EMSI node on port 2030.

    So I was playing tonight, and successfully polled you :)

    [10:13:07] : SC-:+ Creating connection to [trmb.ca:2030]
    [10:13:07] : SC-:+ Connection host [104.246.155.40] on port [2030]
    [10:13:07] : P--: - Trying EMSI
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Got EMSI_REQ
    [10:13:10] : P--: - Starting EMSI
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Got EMSI_ACK
    [10:13:10] : PE-:- Received EMSI_DAT
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote AKA [21:4/106.0@fsxnet]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: ? AKA is UNKNOWN [1:153/757]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: ? AKA is UNKNOWN [1:153/0]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: ? AKA is UNKNOWN [25:25/31]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Link Codes [8N1]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: = Remote wants ZMODEM
    [10:13:10] : PE-: = Node accepts ARC mail bundle (ARC)
    [10:13:10] : PE-: = Node supports other forms of compressed mail (XMA) [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Mailer Code [110]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Mailer [BBBS/Li6]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Mailer Version [4.10 Toy-6]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Mailer Serial Number [#1827]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote System [The Rusty MailBox]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Location [Penticton, BC Canada]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Operator [Alan Ianson]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Phone Number [-Unpublished-]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Flags [XX,CM,IBN,ITN:2030]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - We have 0b mail, 0b files
    [10:13:10] : PE-: = Using [ZModem-1k]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: = Options: ZModem-1k/LST/BAD
    [10:13:13] : P--: Total: 21:4/106.0@fsxnet - 0:00:05 online, (0) 0b sent, (0) 0b received - Successful
    [10:13:13] : JAP:Connection ended: 104.246.155.40

    I've set clrghouz on port 60789 for EMSI and 24583 BINKPS/24584 BINKP.

    Good to know that my EMSI implementation is working with BBBS :)


    ...лоеп
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
    * Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)
  • From Al@21:4/106 to deon on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 03:08:40
    If you like you can poll my EMSI node on port 2030.

    So I was playing tonight, and successfully polled you :)

    [10:13:07] : SC-:+ Creating connection to [trmb.ca:2030]
    [10:13:07] : SC-:+ Connection host [104.246.155.40] on port [2030]
    [10:13:07] : P--: - Trying EMSI
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Got EMSI_REQ
    [10:13:10] : P--: - Starting EMSI
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Got EMSI_ACK
    [10:13:10] : PE-:- Received EMSI_DAT
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote AKA [21:4/106.0@fsxnet]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: ? AKA is UNKNOWN [1:153/757]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: ? AKA is UNKNOWN [1:153/0]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: ? AKA is UNKNOWN [25:25/31]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Link Codes [8N1]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: = Remote wants ZMODEM
    [10:13:10] : PE-: = Node accepts ARC mail bundle (ARC)
    [10:13:10] : PE-: = Node supports other forms of compressed mail (XMA) [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Mailer Code [110]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Mailer [BBBS/Li6]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Mailer Version [4.10 Toy-6]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Mailer Serial Number [#1827]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote System [The Rusty MailBox]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Location [Penticton, BC Canada]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Operator [Alan Ianson]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Phone Number [-Unpublished-]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - Remote Flags [XX,CM,IBN,ITN:2030]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: - We have 0b mail, 0b files
    [10:13:10] : PE-: = Using [ZModem-1k]
    [10:13:10] : PE-: = Options: ZModem-1k/LST/BAD
    [10:13:13] : P--: Total: 21:4/106.0@fsxnet - 0:00:05 online, (0) 0b sent, (0) 0b received - Successful
    [10:13:13] : JAP:Connection ended: 104.246.155.40

    I've set clrghouz on port 60789 for EMSI and 24583 BINKPS/24584 BINKP.

    Excellent! I'll have a go..

    Good to know that my EMSI implementation is working with BBBS :)

    That is good to know. I haven't tested much against other nodes (aside from BBBS) but BBBS tends to be standards complient, so I think it'll work as
    intended.

    --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106)
  • From Al@21:4/106 to deon on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 03:19:58
    I've set clrghouz on port 60789 for EMSI and 24583 BINKPS/24584 BINKP.

    When I poll on that port I don't get 21:3/100, so the poll fails..

    221129 03:12 Calling Mutura HUB/Linucus BBS, net3.fsxnet.nz#60789
    221129 03:12 CONNECT 38400/TELNET
    221129 03:12 EMSI mail session
    221129 03:12 Clearing Houz, 21:3/2744.0
    221129 03:12 SysOp: Deon George
    221129 03:12 From: Parkdale VIC AU
    221129 03:12 Using: Clearing Houz 55a2a67b/#000000
    221129 03:12 Flags: XA
    221129 03:12 Phone: -Unpublished-
    221129 03:12 Speed: 38400
    221129 03:12 Tranx: 6385788B / 6385E90B
    221129 03:12 Remote is not what we wanted (21:3/100.0)

    --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106)
  • From deon@21:2/116 to Al on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 06:13:03
    Re: RA/FD VM
    By: Al to deon on Tue Nov 29 2022 03:19 am

    Hey Al,

    When I poll on that port I don't get 21:3/100, so the poll fails..

    221129 03:12 Remote is not what we wanted (21:3/100.0)

    Yup, that's expected at the moment, it's hasnt replaced 21:3/100 - but that is my goal. There are a few more things that I want to fix before I flip it.

    It is set up as another hub, so it can feed mail to you (from 3/2744) - I just need to complete the web interface, so folks can self register and configure the echos and file areas. (I havent written areafix yet - but you'll be able to configure that via the web ui first.)


    ...лоеп
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
    * Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)
  • From deon@21:2/116 to Al on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 06:19:16
    Re: RA/FD VM
    By: Al to deon on Tue Nov 29 2022 03:08 am

    Howdy,

    That is good to know. I haven't tested much against other nodes (aside from BBBS) but BBBS tends to be standards complient, so I think it'll work as intended.

    The standard is pretty "loose" though :(

    Does BBBS work fine with D'Bridge? D'Bridge responds slightly differently which means unfortunatly I need to do some more work to support it.


    ...лоеп
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
    * Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)
  • From Al@21:4/106 to deon on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 15:38:20
    That is good to know. I haven't tested much against other nodes (aside from >> BBBS) but BBBS tends to be standards complient, so I think it'll work as
    intended.

    The standard is pretty "loose" though :(

    That could make things more difficult.

    Does BBBS work fine with D'Bridge? D'Bridge responds slightly differently which means unfortunatly I need to do some more work to support it.

    I haven't tried with a dbridge EMSI node, so I'm not sure.

    I have tried with MBSE (EMSI) and that doesn't seem to work and the same with FD. I haven't given up on those, but no success so far.

    --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106)