Setting Up a Bulletin Board Service
Setting Up a Bulletin Board Service
Setting Up a Bulletin Board Service
If it came down to it, each System Operator would have their own reason for wanting to become a SysOp. But, the most common reasons would probably be: It's fun, it's challenging, and it's educational. Before you go out and spend a month's salary on a computer and a modem, you will need to know all about offering and managing a BBS service. From there, you will need to decide or define what your BBS will focus on, content wise, including your role as a SysOp. For the purpose of clarification, a System or Systems Operator (SysOp) is a multi-user computer system administrator, such as a Bulletin Board System (BBS), an online service virtual community (or eGroup), or any other Internet-based network service.
Planning For Your BBS
While some people get right into it and have no problems getting started, most people
will tell you that it takes a little hard work if you want to have a successful BBS. Even though several of the SysOps have problems with getting started and having everything work in "synch", one of the major issues that many SysOps face is their own personal egos and pride.
If you forget everything else that is written here, then please remember this:
Nearly 95% of the BBS's that fail within their first year of operation do so because the SysOp cannot deal with negative remarks, comments, suggestions, or feedback stemming from the general public.
Another tidbit of information that you should be aware of is:
If your BBS does not offend someone, then you probably will not find anyone who likes it either. As absurd as this may sound, this is true with almost any business. If you have people for your BBS service, then someone will surely be against it. One would hope that a major objective of any BBS is to connect with people, not technology.
You will need to determine what your BBS content will be about as well as which audience, niche, or demographic it will serve. For instance, will your service be a collaborative newsgroup (e.g., Usenet, Novell GroupWise, or Listserv, Telnet, Microsoft Exchange, Citadel, etc.), shared knowledge base / discussions, non-profit or for-profit, corporate or small business information, hobbyist, games, technical, literary, forum, political (i.e., election campaigns, legislative, candidate debates, archives, etc.) or a social networking BBS? From a network engineering perspectivean Internet application protocol, such as Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP), is used for transporting Usenet news articles (i.e., Netnews) between news servers and end user client applications.
Furthermore, will your BBS be publicly accessible to everyone or private / membership driven only open to a select few? Will you allow uploading and downloading of files, photos, etc. via P2P file sharing, an FTP or BitTorrent (applications and protocols) clients? What about membership payments, ecommerce, or donations to help defray your BBS' operating expenses? Will you allow messaging such as IM, chat, and/or email? Will you and your members access a password protected network? You will need to know: What software you will use and the cost of said software? What will your online mission statement, privacy policy, disclaimer, and terms of service be? What time limits will you set? Will you offer members bonuses for how much time they spend online at your BBS? Often times, many of these queries are overlooked; these are important items that you will need to be firmly grounded when operating your own BBS.
Here are some key guidelines that you should follow or even adhere to when deciding how you will set up your BBS:
1. Keep your files in order and organized. If you have 5 files on IBM PCs, then put them one right after the other; don't spread them out around the BBS. If you devote 5 files to IBM PCs, then you should also devote 5 files to Apple / Macintosh, etc. Tag or categorize these files as well.
2. Write your BBS policy prior to setting up the BBS. Post your policies on your BBS so that your users will know what the rules and regulations are.
3. You should keep your commands / shortcuts simple and easy to understand.
4. Search Engine Optimize (SEO) and monetize your BBS just as you would do with any other website or blog. You want traffic, link popularity, and most of all page rank!
Choosing BBS (or Internet Forum) Software
You should use one simple rule when choosing software:
Look at the BBS software from the user's point of view, not as a SysOp. Make sure that understand what the software does and how it works.
When choosing software, make sure that it is user friendly with a very easy to use Graphical User Interface (GUI). For example, if you are providing a Chat BBS, then find out what kind of software you members are likely to use and of course will like. To save money, make sure that your software is robust and scalable as your BBS grows in size membership wise, data transfer, traffic, and as the needs of your audience changes.
The following features and benefits are those you should consider before selecting the right BBS software:
Advanced User-Access Levels
Backup & Disaster Recovery
Business Continuity Planning (BCP)
Chat
Doors (Games, Email, etc.)
Downloading Ability
Easy-To-Use Menus
Firewall & Internet Security
Good File Management System
Good Messaging System
Good Password Protection
Good Security Features (Including Encryption)
Good User/Sysop Relations
Insurance
Multi-Line Ability
Multiple Protocols
Networking Ability
Online Help
Online Questionnaires
Online Time Counter(s)
Public & Private Messages
Remote SysOp Capability
Storage (DAS, NAS, SAN)
Upload/Download Stats
Usage Logs
Web Traffic & SEO Metrics (Analytics)
You will want to get copies of shareware BBS programs or you can research BBS companies and ask for information about and demos of their products. Choose the BBS software BEFORE you choose a server, PC, modem, and other hardware. By doing so, you will be able to not only select the correct but you will also have a better perspective about which hardware your operation will require.
Selecting Your Computer (PC), Server & Other Hardware
Most IBMs and their compatibles are capable of running a BBS system. These are good because they are fairly inexpensive along with parts and accessories. White Box PCs and Servers are always a great alternative or you can build your own computer PC and/or server from scratch. If you go this route, then make sure that you purchase a hardware maintenance and support package. Note that there are computers solely dedicated to Bulletin Board Services. If you are planning to offer a BBS for a certain type of non-IBM compatible computer (e.g., Amiga), then you probably should have that type of computer. If you have an Amiga computer for an Amiga BBS, then you can offer Amiga programs and updates for your end users to download. Whichever PC you decide on thus becomes the dedicated computer for your BBS.
Make certain that you have enough hard-disk space and adequate memory for your application programs and files. Set the appropriate RAID Level(s) for you server(s). For instance, should you plan on running a "one-line-message-only" BBS with no files, then you will only need approximately 15 megabytes of hard-disk space. On the other hand, if you plan to operate a robust BBS with all of the bells and whistles (i.e., doors, bulletins, multiple lines, file exchange, and more), then consider have at least between 125MB to 175MB of disk space on hand.
As for modems (i.e., modulator-demodulator), find out from a BBS SysOp, Network Engineer, or Network Administrator in your area which modem he or she recommends for your service. Ask about modem speed, baud rate, and performance. In addition, you can use a wireless modem (Broadband / Cable or DSL) with built-n wireless router for greater and faster connection speeds; consider performing a modem speed test. Based upon the information you obtain, you will be in a better position to make a very wise and economical purchasing decision.
In conclusion, BBS Telephony usually consisted of a single telephone line connection during the late 1970's and mid 1990's; an additional line would cost the BBS provider more money for the additional line(s) as well as long distance charges. With today's wireless and VOIP technology, multiple lines can be configured with relative ease and nominal costs; some of you may recall the RJ-11 modem port.
According to Wikipedia, "Originally BBSes were accessed only over a phone line using a modem, but by the early 1990s some BBSes allowed access via a Telnet, packet switched network, or packet radio connection. Early BBSes were often a local phenomenon, as one had to dial into a BBS with a phone line and would have to pay additional long distance charges for a BBS out of the local calling area. As the use of the Internet became more widespread in the mid to late 1990s, traditional BBSes rapidly faded in popularity. Today, Internet forums occupy much of the same social and technological space as BBSes did, and the term BBS is often used to refer to any online forum or message board."
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