
Software title: LBBS
Latest version: 0.1.8 BETA

The purpose of writing this is to be able to allow Amateurs to
EXPERIMENT with the BBS network/system and also make up a sensible
SMTP/NNTP<>BBS gateway package.

If you don't like it (or some part of it) no one is making you run it,
I do not wish to receive moan mails as they'll simply get ignored.  I will
however listen to constructive criticism (the judgement between moan and
criticism is reserved by me).

Before someone asks can it be or is it GPLed, the current answer is no.
Once I am happy the system is stable and working, only then will I persu
register it as GPL.  This will be the first point anyone wishing to port
it will be able to do so.

The code has been written from scratch and so not based on anything except
the forwarding specifications I've been able to cobble together, the rest
will be from my arrogance in the way I think it's done (or rather should
be done). :-)


Here is a preliminary list of features (which is probably not complete):

  o MBL, FBB batching, FBB compressed, FBB type 1 compressed
     forwarding with restart facility implemented, deferring, and rejection.
  o Able to use various Linux transport mechanism including TCP kernel,
     AX.25 kernel (tested on AX.25 v0.28/v0.28b/v0.29/v0.30), WAMPES
     N/ROM, AX25 or TCP.
  o Simple dialer, to allow connections through AX.25 or N/ROM nodes.
  o White Pages
  o Transient handling of type A (ACK messages), (need to whip up a quick
      filter prog to handle them correctly at the end point).
  o SMTP/NNTP<>BBS gatewaying implemented heavily to the extent that the
      user front end will be accessing the netnews spool to retrieve
      articles.  Hence the is no internal spooling mechanism, but enough
      indexing to make the user front end simple to put in later, and fool
      them info thinking it's a *normal* BBS.
  o Message filter mechanism, this should provide the most versatility with
      the system to add your own experiments/code.
  o Field swapping (like SWAPP.SYS in FBB).
  o Multiuser/connect (Like the OS :-) there is no real limit to the number
      except that of in OS regarding system resources.
  

o  Supported
-  Not entirely supported, or is disabled in this version

I have no interest in re-writing the news spooling mech's which have already
been implemented in Cnews/INN.  I currently run Cnews and have no idea what
minor changes would be needed to made to make it work with INN, so INN
support will not be immediately available.


ToDo:

  o An end user interface.
  o Many of the standard BBS system servers.
  o Alpha test the continuous, bi-directional, interleaved, compressed
      forwarding protocol.
  o What's so special about type 'NTS' message in America?  Add support for
      this.
  o Loadsa filters programs need to be put together to aid the system.
  o Some more informative doc's, complete the quick install script, a
      slow install script, he he he.
  o GPL it.
  o Add a superficial limit to the number of maximum number users allowed
       at one time.
  o Passwords or some other Authentication mechanism (or rather both!).
  o Lots more :-(


Author:

   2 Barrington Road,
     Olton,
     Solihull,
     West Midlands,
     B92 8DP.
     (England)

     +44 121 706 6681


   dlm@frink.demon.co.uk || G7LED@G7LED.GB7MIP.#29.GBR.EU

