Features

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Synchronet Features

General

Designed from the ground up as a reliable and feature rich multi-node BBS
Up to 250 simultaneous nodes with multi-node chat and external program (door) support
Sysop inter-node control (remote or local):
    Interrupting - hang up on any node
    Locking - only sysops can logon a locked node until the lock is removed
    Rerunning - re-executes BBS, reinitializing configuration, etc.
    Downing - shutdown a node from another remote node or local console
Real-time user database:
    Amazingly complete user edit function
    Remote changes to online-user data are immediately effective
    Disk image is always current for enhanced system fault tolerance
    Linked free-form data file for every user
    International address and phone number support
RIPscrip and WIP graphical user interfaces and mouse support!
Online, sysop configurable, chatting artificial intelligence engine
Multiple personalities available for your users to experience
Pay BBS features:
Time credits, user expiration dates, credits, and 900/976 billing

Security

ARS (Access Requirement String) security provides the most flexible, comprehensive, and user friendly security available in the BBS software industry
Post/Call ratio, connect rates, time of day, and other user data fields can be elements of any ARS security field
Impenetrable to remote hackers
100 security levels with 104 sysop configurable flags per user
Sysop can allow or disallow users to choose their own passwords
Sysop can force periodic password changes (uniqueness is also forced)

Customization

Programmable Command and Menu Structure:
Includes free Baja shell/module compiler
Users can select a shell of their choice including emulations of other BBS packages
Several shells included with Baja source code
The most configurable BBS available today:
Powerful object oriented menu driven configuration program
All menus, text, and colors are sysop configurable without source code
New User Questionnaire is available and customizable
All standard new user questions can be disabled individually
Over 120 message variables (@-Codes) supported

Messaging

Hierarchical bi-level message areas with an unlimited number of messages groups and an unlimited number of sub-boards within each group
QWK message off-line reader and networking support built-in
Off-line file requests
Off-line new message scan configuration and pointer adjustment
Send FidoNet or Internet NetMail from QWK REP packet
32-bit CRC duplicate message checking
Multiple compression formats supported
File attachments optionally automatically included
Inter-node message services:
Current node status - user online, action, connect rate, and more
User activity - credited downloads, mail activity, logons, and logoffs
Users can list active nodes and send private messages from any prompt
(even between external programs and the BBS)
Multi-channel multi-node chat with optional channel password protection
Private real-time node to node character by character chat with remote split screen support
Users can send telegrams, single line messages, or enter private chat from any prompt
User information (gender, age, location, etc) can be included in node status display
Extensive networking capabilities:
Internal QWK network hub and node support with file transfer ability
FidoNet EchoMail and NetMail support
Send/Receive File Requests from within Synchronet
UTI drivers for PostLink Networks (RIME, ILink, etc)
Sub-boards can force real names
Allow/disallow/force private posts and anonymous posts per sub-board
Supports color codes for WWIV, PCBoard, Wildcat, and Celerity
Support for multiple networks of the same or different network technologies with different addresses and tag/origin lines
Duplicate message checking using 32-bit CRC for QWK and Fido Networks

File Transfers

Unlimited external transfer protocols with optional DSZLOG support
Batch uploads, downloads, and bidirectional file transfers
Transfer credit system is completely configurable
File viewing, extraction, and partial downloading of archives
Content rating, multi-disk numberings, and file upload dates can automatically be added to file descriptions
FILE_ID.DIZ and DESC.SDI files can be automatically imported into extended file descriptions
Personal user to user file transfers
Optional batch download file flagging for user convenience
Support for offline directories
Multiple sysop file removal/move/edit search criteria
Directories can be sorted by filename or date, ascending or descending
Complete CD-ROM (single and multi-disk changer) support
Optional forced upload directory can be invisible to users
Optional allowance of blind (unsolicited) batch uploads with automatic DIZ importation
Download events available for adding files/comments just before download (i.e. CD-ROM)

External Programs/Doors

Unlimited number of external programs
Multi-user or single user programs
Programs that use DOS I/O (don't use COM port directly) supported
12 door file formats supported for an incredible level of compatibility including:
DOOR.SYS, PCBOARD.SYS, USERS.SYS, CHAIN.TXT, DORINFO#.DEF, EXITINFO.BBS, SFDOORS.DAT, TRIBBS.SYS, CALLINFO.BBS, DOORFILE.SR, and UTIDOOR.TXT
Supports native WWIV color code expansion
Free Software Development Kit (SDK) available for program development
Comes with multiplayer Synchronet Blackjack game (with C source code)
No batch file editing/programming necessary!
Configurable credit cost on a per program basis
Separate access requirements to see the program and execute
Multiple Timed and Fixed Events:
    Logon and logoff events
    New user events
    Upload events (integrity testing, adding of comments, virus scan, etc.)
    Node and system daily events
    Timed events with support for forced exclusive execution

Version 3 Features

General

All "nodes" run in a single multi-threaded process
- Minimal resource requirements and improved performance
- DOS Windows are automatically opened/closed for external DOS programs/doors
- It's never been easier to run a 10+ node system (with DOS door support) on one computer
Professional GUI Synchronet Control Panel (SBBSCTRL) to monitor all clients and servers simultaneously
- Replaces old-style "Waiting for call" screen
- Launch configuration and editor dialogs directly
- New Sysop Availability toggle button (replaces v2.3 Scroll-Lock function)
GUI User Editor
Local and Remote Node Control/Spying
Optionally plays sysop's choice of .WAV file on user connect/disconnect (Windows only)

Internet

Supports Telnet logins only (no more direct-dial user support)
- No third-party FOSSIL/Telnet driver (SIO/VMODEM, NetModem, COM/IP) required
- Full FOSSIL/DOS/WWIV/XSDK program/door support (easy setup!)
- Outbound Telnet module included for external MUDs/BBSs
- Automatically detects and logs client IP and hostname
- Optional auto-logon via IP address (requires V exemption)
Integrated FTP server
- Supports Anonymous (Guest) logins
- Virtual directory structure mimics BBS filebase hierarchy
- User security settings enforced
- Supports long/mixed-case filenames
- Dynamically generates index (description) files
- Supports blind upload and sysop directories
- QWK/QWKnet packet uploads and downloads
- Upload description support
- Transfers included in BBS and user upload/download statistics
- Time/Credit system enforced
- Custom login/hello/goodbye messages
- Optional connect/disconnect sounds (.WAV files)
- File aliases supported
        Put links in your FTP root directory to often access files
        Link to files on your local hard disk or your BBS filebase
        Use general alias names to point to often-changing versioned filenames
- Complete access to local file systems for remote sysops
Integrated Mail (POP3/SMTP) server
- Check BBS mailbox using standard Internet mail clients (Eudora, Outlook)
- SPAM Filters supported: RBL, RSS, DUL
- Configurable alias list
- Optionally receive mail by user number (1@yourbbs.com)
- Optional inbound/outbound sounds (.WAV files)
- Optional DNS/MX record lookup (no SMTP Relay Server required)
Outbound Telnet/RLogin gateway function to run external MUDs, BBSs, and TWGS
- Includes any-time ^] menu to see who is on the BBS, send messages, etc.
IP/hostname filter/trashcan files (ip.can/host.can) for all Internet servers/services

Online Programs

16-bit DOS Door Support
- Windows 95/98/ME FOSSIL/DOS Interrupt driver (sbbsexec.vxd)
- Windows NT/2000 FOSSIL/DOS Interrupt driver (sbbsexec.dll)
32-bit/Socket Door Support
- Duplicate socket handle passed in DOOR32.SYS drop file (new standard)
- Duplicate socket handle passed on command line via %H specifier
- Support for external programs written with 32-bit XSDK (v3+)
Most popular DOS doors fully supported
- Users can be ;INTERrupted while running ANY external program
- Non-exclusive events do not take any nodes off-line
- No more hassling with baud rates and initialization strings
- DCDWATCH no longer necessary to support WWIV/DOS externals

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Copyright © 2006 by Rob Swindell

Synchronet BBS Software (Synchronet) Version 3 is comprised of several documentation,
library, executable, and source code files, all of which are covered by the
GNU General Public License with the exception of the following portions covered by
the GNU Lesser General Public License: SMBLIB and XSDK.

Synchronet Version 2 (for DOS and OS/2) and its source code was released to the
Public Domain by Digital Dynamics in 1997 and remains Public Domain software today.
Synchronet Version 3 is not Public Domain software.

http://www.synchro.net

For the complete Copyright Information please read the Copyright Document .