i'm curious about the specs for the bbs_ping_project that Castle Rock BBS posts
packets for on FSX_DAT. what is it used for? how are the posts encoded? ho can

It's an old idea of me, for a BBS List mod. Each sysop, creates each own ANSI flyer and completes a form, with info about his BBS, which then are propagated via echomail (fsxdat). The mod application, collects this data and creates a database with BBS entries.

A visitor, can run the mod and browse BBS entries, read the information the sysop provided and also view the ANSI flyer. The mod is installed in a way that propagates the BBS info every few hours/days, like sending a PING (i am alive) packet to the scene. If a BBS entry is too old, is removed from the database, thus any "alive" BBS has to send these packets constantly to show that is available to users/visitors.

The whole idea, didn't catch with the scene and only a few BBSes are using it. The packets from what i remember are BASE64 encoded, so it's easy to see what's inside them with a BASE64 decoder.

.
:: XQTR :: Another Droid BBS :: andr01d.zapto.org:9999 :: xqtr@gmx.com

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2020/11/23 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: Another Droid BBS # andr01d.zapto.org:9999 (21:1/111)

Re: bbs ping project specs
By: xqtr to Xenos on Wed Mar 22 2023 07:54 pm

It's an old idea of me, for a BBS List mod. Each sysop, creates each own ANSI flyer and completes a form, with info about his BBS, which then are propagated via echomail (fsxdat). The mod application, collects this data and creates a database with BBS entries.

A visitor, can run the mod and browse BBS entries, read the information the sysop provided

The Synchronet BBS List door/script works this way (at least, from my understanding). A sysop can add their BBS entry in that BBS List door, and the data is propogated in the Dove-Net Data message area. Vertrauen (the BBS of Synchronet's developer) uses the BBS list data to publish a list of BBSes.

One thing it doesn't include is an ANSI for each BBS though.

Nightfox
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)

Re: bbs ping project specs
By: Nightfox to xqtr on Wed Mar 22 2023 11:38 am

Re: bbs ping project specs
By: xqtr to Xenos on Wed Mar 22 2023 07:54 pm

It's an old idea of me, for a BBS List mod. Each sysop, creates each own ANSI flyer and completes a form, with info about his BBS, which then are propagated via echomail (fsxdat). The mod application, collects this data and creates a database with BBS entries.

A visitor, can run the mod and browse BBS entries, read the information the sysop provided

The Synchronet BBS List door/script works this way (at least, from my understanding). A sysop can add their BBS entry in that BBS List door, and the data is propogated in the Dove-Net Data message area. Vertrauen (the BBS of Synchronet's developer) uses the BBS list data to publish a list of BBSes.

One thing it doesn't include is an ANSI for each BBS though.

Each BBS's answer screen is captured during daily validation runs (from Vertrauen) however and is visible via both HTTP and the Terminal Server (e.g. Telnet).

The other big difference is that the BBS "alive" indication (verification) is made via connection to its terminal server (e.g. Telnet) TCP port. If such a connection can't be made (from Vertrauen) over too many consecutive days, the BBS is eventually removed from the list automatically. I think this is a better indication that the BBS is reachable than relying on a period "push" (ping) notification from the BBS itself.
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #85:
TLS = Transport Layer Security (successor to SSL)
Norco, CA WX: 54.0øF, 65.0% humidity, 4 mph SSE wind, 0.30 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (21:1/183)

Re: bbs ping project specs
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Wed Mar 22 2023 03:17 pm

It's an old idea of me, for a BBS List mod. Each sysop, creates
each own ANSI flyer and completes a form, with info about his BBS,

The Synchronet BBS List door/script works this way (at least, from
my understanding). A sysop can add their BBS entry in that BBS List
door, and the data is propogated in the Dove-Net Data message area. Vertrauen (the BBS of Synchronet's developer) uses the BBS list data
to publish a list of BBSes.

One thing it doesn't include is an ANSI for each BBS though.

Each BBS's answer screen is captured during daily validation runs (from Vertrauen) however and is visible via both HTTP and the Terminal Server (e.g. Telnet).

Yes, though when xqtr mentioned the sysop creating an ANSI flyer, I think he meant creating an ANSI ad for their BBS.

I've seen the answer screens on the Synchronet BBS list, and I think that's pretty cool though.

Nightfox
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)

Re: bbs ping project specs
By: Nightfox to Digital Man on Wed Mar 22 2023 04:03 pm

Re: bbs ping project specs
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Wed Mar 22 2023 03:17 pm

It's an old idea of me, for a BBS List mod. Each sysop, creates
each own ANSI flyer and completes a form, with info about his BBS,

The Synchronet BBS List door/script works this way (at least, from
my understanding). A sysop can add their BBS entry in that BBS List door, and the data is propogated in the Dove-Net Data message area. Vertrauen (the BBS of Synchronet's developer) uses the BBS list data
to publish a list of BBSes.

One thing it doesn't include is an ANSI for each BBS though.

Each BBS's answer screen is captured during daily validation runs (from Vertrauen) however and is visible via both HTTP and the Terminal Server (e.g. Telnet).

Yes, though when xqtr mentioned the sysop creating an ANSI flyer, I think he meant creating an ANSI ad for their BBS.

Yup, that is a slightly different thing.

I've seen the answer screens on the Synchronet BBS list, and I think that's pretty cool though.

Someday maybe we'll add RIP or Sixel support to that. :-)
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet "Real Fact" #78:
Synchronet Match Maker had at one time over 4000 profiles of men and women Norco, CA WX: 49.8øF, 78.0% humidity, 0 mph ENE wind, 0.29 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (21:1/183)

Re: bbs ping project specs
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Wed Mar 22 2023 05:24 pm

I've seen the answer screens on the Synchronet BBS list, and I think
that's pretty cool though.

Someday maybe we'll add RIP or Sixel support to that. :-)

That would be cool to see. :)

Nightfox
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)

Hello xqtr,

It's an old idea of me, for a BBS List mod. Each sysop, creates
each own ANSI flyer and completes a form, with info about his
BBS, which then are propagated via echomail (fsxdat). The mod
application, collects this data and creates a database with BBS
entries.

A visitor, can run the mod and browse BBS entries, read the
information the sysop provided

hmm. i didn't get xqtr's original message. is there any specs for this bbs ping project? i would try to write a 'plugin' for my maximus.

Regards,
--
dp

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

... Uptime: 1d 10h 48m 47s
--- GoldED/2 1.1.4.7+EMX
* Origin: Roon's BBS - Budapest, HUNGARY (21:4/148)