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-=-=-=-=-=-=-

                      "T H E   O F F I C I A L"
                            B B S   F A Q 
                             Version 1.0
                        Copyright (C) - 1994
                   Author/Editor - Claire Walters
                clairew@pluto.njcc.com BBSFAQ@AOL.COM

SUBJECT: Frequently asked questions for, alt.bbs, alt.bbs.allsysop,
         comp.bbs.misc Usenet newsgroups.

PURPOSE: To answer frequently asked questions for those wanting to
         setup a BBS.

                  T A B L E    O F    C O N T E N T S


                  CHAPTER 1 -INTRODUCTION TO THE FAQ 

1.01 - Introduction
     - Why was The Official BBS FAQ written?
     - Where do I send e-mail regarding the BBS FAQ?
1.02 - Disclaimers
1.03 - Copyright Notice
1.04 - Trademark Information
1.05 - Where can I download the BBS FAQ?
     - FTP Site
     - Requesting the BBS FAQ via e-mail
1.06 - Meet the FAQ Writers


             CHAPTER 2 - THE WORLD OF BBSING INSIDE YOUR PC


                     =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
                      COMMERCIAL BBS SOFTWARE
                     =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

DOS BASED SOFTWARE
==================
2.01 - Excalibur BBS 
2.02 - Major BBS
2.03 - Searchlight
2.04 - PC Board
2.05 - TBBS-The Bread Board System 
2.06 - Wildcat! BBS

HOST PROGRAMS FOR MS WINDOWS
=============================
2.07 - Filex
2.08 - Freemail

                  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
                   SHAREWARE/FREEWARE BBS SOFTWARE
                  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

DOS BBS SOFTWARE (shareware/Freeware)
======================================
- Charisma BBS
- DLX BBS
- EISBBS
- Executive Host For Telix
- Falken
- Feathernet Pro
- FidoBBS
- FreeSpeech BBS v3.10a
- Harmony BBS 
- Illusions BBS
- JetBBS
- KBBS
- Maximus v2.01wb 
- Mutant BBS
- Opus CBCS 1.73a 
- Osiris XLT BBS
- Pheonix BBS
- QuickBBS 
- Remote Access
- Renegade
- RoboBoard BBS
- RyBBS
- Sapphire BBS v4.05
- SpitFire v3.4
- SuperBBS
- Synchronet
- TAG BBS 
- Telegard 
- TriBBS
- TurboBoard BBS
- UltraBBS
- VBBS/Virtual BBS  
- Vision-X
- Waffle BBS
- WWIV 


OPEN YOUR WINDOWS TO THE WORLD!
================================
- What is Ghost BBS?
- Power BBS
- Front Line for Windows v3.8


                          =-=-=-=-=-=-=
                            OS/2 Q&A
                          =-=-=-=-=-=-=
- What is OS/2?
- Why not just DOS?
- What are the advantages of OS/2 as a BBS?
- What are the disadvantages of OS/2 as a BBS?
- What BBS software runs in OS/2?

             =-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=
                  OS/2 SHAREWARE/FREEWARE BBS PROGRAMS
             =-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=
- Oblivion/2 2.10
- Kitten
- Lora  v2.33-1
- Magnum v7.00C
- Maximus v2.01wb 
- Virtual BBS  v6.10 (VBBS)

========================
OS/2 COMMERCIAL BBS's 
========================
- OraComm

==============
PC HARDWARE
==============
- What basic hardware setup do I need to start a BBS?
- What hardware is needed to add more phone lines?

==========================
NETWORKING YOUR PC BBS 
==========================
- Introduction
- What is a network?
- What do I need for a network?
- The Topology
- Hop on the bus
- Hitch your dreams to a Star
- The NIC
- The NOS and Network Type
- Novell Netware
- LanTastic
- Windows for WorkGroups
- The New Kid In Town: CoActive
- EtherWave
- How does all this hardware help me?

========================
CD-ROMS & YOUR PC BBS
========================
- How do I add a CD-ROM to my BBS?
- Can I have more than one CD-Rom for my users to access?  
- Do I need any special software to run a CD-rom(s)?
- Books & other resources when using a Cd-rom on your BBS

=======================
BBS ADD-ONS/UTILITIES
=======================
- What is RIPScript?
- What is a fossil driver?
- What do I need to offer fax services to my users?
- Front-End Mailers

ANSII & the PC BBS
--------------------
- No outline provided yet

FILE CHECKING PROGRAMS
-----------------------
- When users upload files, what utilities are avilable to check for 
  viruses & duplicates?

QWK MAIL
---------
- What is QWK mail?
- The BBS software I chose did not include QWK mail capabilties, how
  do I add QWK mail to my BBS?
- What QWK mail software is available?


BBS DOORS 
----------
- What is a BBS door?
- What doors are available?
- How do I install a door?
- Notes of Multi-line systems
- Notes on DOORWAY


             CHAPTER 3 - SYSOPING WITH MACINTOSH/APPLE 


================
INTRODUCTION
================
3.00 - Where can I get a copy of the Macintosh BBS FAQ?

==========================
COMMERCIAL BBS SOFTWARE
==========================
3.01 - NOVALINK PRO 
3.02 - FIRSTCLASS
3.03 - TELEFINDER
3.04 - Commercial Software comparison chart

===========================================
SHAREWARE/FREEWARE MACINTOSH BBS SOFTWARE
============================================
3.05 - HERMES II
3.06 - MANSION
3.07 - PUBLIC ADDRESS v0.9b9
3.08 - SECOND SIGHT
3.09 - Hi BBS

==================================
HARDWARE NEEDED TO RUN A MAC BBS
==================================

WHAT HARDWARE IS NEEDED TO RUN A MACINTOSH BBS?
------------------------------------------------
3.10 - The Basics
3.11 - A Minimum Machine
3.12 - Hard drives and accessing information.
3.13 - Accelerating your Macintosh BBS
3.14 - CD ROMS and your BBS 

SETTING UP PHONE LINES ON A MACINTOSH
---------------------------------------
3.15 - Serial ports on a Mac
3.16 - Multiport cards for expanding the number of lines
3.17 - SCSI interfaces for expansion
3.18 - Other connection types for the Macintosh

MODEMS & THE MACINTOSH BBS
----------------------------
3.19 - Modems 
3.20 - Carrier detect and the Macintosh
3.21 - Hardware handshaking and the Macintosh
3.22 - High speed modems

==================================
THE MACINTOSH & PUBLIC NETWORKS
==================================
3.23 - NOVAWORLD
3.24 - THE ONENET NETWORK
3.25 - FIDONET ON THE MACINTOSH

====================================================
COMPRESSION OF FILES TO SAVE DISK SPACE ON YOUR MAC
=====================================================
3.26 - Why compress files?
3.27 - Stuffit format
3.28 - Compact Pro Format
3.29 - Binhex
3.30 - Zip format

================================
RIDING A MAC ON THE INTERNET
================================
- Not provided at the time of this release



                  CHAPTER 4 - UNIX AT YOUR SERVICE


4.01 - What's a Unix? 
4.02 - The Pro's & Cons of a Unix BBS
4.03 - What factors should I consider when starting BBS on UNIX?


==================================
SHAREWARE/FREEWARE BBS SOFTWARE
==================================

What shareware BBSes are available for Unix? 
-----------------------------------------------
4.04 - Citadel/UX
4.05 - DOC
4.06 - PANDA
4.07 - UBBS 1.01 (Linux)
4.08 - UniBoard 1.12
4.09 - XBBS 7.21
4.10 - Magpie
4.11 - UnixBBS

================================
COMMERCIAL UNIX BBS SOFTWARE 
================================
- TEAMate BBS

=================
UNIX HARDWARE
=================
- What would I need to start a small dial-up BBS to run
  on a UNIX box?
- What hardware & software do I need to network my Unix BBS?



                  CHAPTER 5 - BBSing WITH AMIGA

================================
AMIGA COMMERCIAL BBS SOFTWARE
================================
5.01 - AmiExpress
5.02 - BBX
5.03 - CNet Amiga 
5.04 - DLG Pro. v1.0 
5.05 - Excelsior! BBS 
5.06 - MEBBS
5.07 - XENOLINK 1.90

=========================================
AMIGA SHAREWARE/FREEWARE BBS SOFTWARE
=========================================
- 4D-BBS
- ABBS  Software 
- AXsh
- CITADEL
- Reccoon
- TransAmiga 
- Max's BBS v1.52

================
AMIGA HARDWARE
================

WHAT IS THE BASIC HARDWARE I WOULD NEED TO SETUP AN AMIGA BBS?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
- Introduction
- Commodore Amiga on the inside.
- Know your needs when setting up a BBS, or your company's needs.
- An explanation of Amiga systems.
- Pro's & Con's about Amiga hardware when running a BBS.

=======================
INTERNET AMIGA STYLE
=======================
- No Outline provided


           CHAPTER 6 - SYSOPS SURFING THE SUPER HIGHWAY

I want to provide Internet access on my BBS... 

(Topics to be covered) 
- Who do I contact to get Internet on my BBS? 
  - How much does it cost?
- Are there different type of internet connections? If so, what are
  my options?
- What is TCP/IP, SLIP, UUCP, ISDN, leased lines?
- What type of software do I need to have an Internet connection?
- Satelite Services
- Turn your PC into a Usenet Site


     CHAPTER 7 - NET IT UP - GETTING YOUR BBS ON AN ECHO NETWORK

7.01 - Why network?
7.02 - What is an echo net?
7.03 - Where do I find information?
7.04 - Do echo networks charge?
7.05 - What are the differences between networking technologies?
7.06 - What do I have to do to join?
7.07 - Do I have to get rid of my cats to join Fidonet?
7.08 - Do the echo nets have e-mail?
7.09 - How can I start my own net?
7.10 - How will my users interact with the nets?
7.11 - How can I avoid becoming merely a "net outlet?"
7.12 - How can I start my own net?
7.13 - What are some of the network that are out there?


                 CHAPTER 8 -SETTING UP FILE LIBRARIES 

Q: Where can I get an assorted selection of shareware/freeware files
   to start up the file libraries on my BBS?

8.01 - Shareware vendors
8.02 - Encouraging your users to upload


              CHAPTER 9 - LEGAL ISSUES FACING THE BBS SYSOP 

9.1  - Introduction

9.2  - The Legal Risks

       Civil Lawsuits
       Criminal Liability

9.3  - The Major Issues and Some Suggestions
           
     - 9.3.1  Negligence
     - 9.3.2  Breach of Contract
     - 9.3.3  Viruses
     - 9.3.4  Public Messages and Defamation
     - 9.3.5  E-mail, Privacy, and ECPA
     - 9.3.6  Encryption
     - 9.3.7  Copyright Infringement
     - 9.3.8  Obscene Material, Child Pornography and Indecent Speech
     - 9.3.9  Regulated Activities 
     - 9.3.10 Taxes

9.4 Limiting Liability Through Disclaimers

9.5 Incorporation

9.6 Closing Thoughts and Some Legal Resources


                  CHAPTER 10 - DECISIONS OF A SYSOP 

10.01 - So you want to be a sysop?
10.02 - How much do I charge my users?
      - What is TABS?
      - Accepting credit cards as payment from your users.
10.03 - Can I make money running a BBS?
10.04 - Building your online commmunity.
10.05 - Books & other helpful sources for sysops

=========
Modems 
=========
10.06 - Carrier Detected

=========
CD-ROMS
=========
10.07 - Takin' a spin through the CD-Rom showroom

---------------- END OF TABLE OF CONTENTS  --------------------