How to Access BBSes in Linux Using Telnet – Guide
Relive the good old days by connecting to a Bulletin Board System using Telnet on Linux. In the 1980s and early 1990s, the most popular way to go online in the United States was through Bulletin Board Systems or BBSes. Although they are not as numerous as they were in the mid-1990s, there are still hobbyists working these systems around the world. And you can access them from Linux, without modem dialup.
What are BBSes?
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is an online system that allows users to communicate with each other. In the 1980s and 1990s, before Internet access was widely available, computer users called them using modems through phone lines. They got that name because they were like community bulletin boards where people could post messages. BBSes were popular because most minors didn’t charge access fees, unlike the big online services at the time like CompuServe. In the United States, local calls were usually free, which also encouraged the few people who had modems to use them. Many hobby BBSes were run by their “sysops”, or system operators, outside of their homes on their PCs as a hobby, although commercials did exist. Even hobby BBS sysops encouraged donations or charged access fees because the hardware, software and various phone the lines were expensive. BBSes were the forerunners of modern web forums, as their most popular use was discussion forums. They also offered games, software downloads, and real-time chat. They were even linked to a network called FidoNet, allowing users to send messages to users on other systems. Many people switched from BBSes to the internet, but they never left. A longer look at the heyday of BBS culture through the eyes of its users is Jason Scott’s “BBS: The Documentary,” which you can watch in its entirety on YouTube. One of the best known features from the BBS era are multiplayer games, also known as “door games”. The term comes from the way these games run as external programs from the BBS server software and connect through a “port” to the application. Of these, the RPG “Legend of the Red Dragon” was a staple of PC bulletin boards.
finding a bulletin board
You can still access BBSes over the Internet on Linux using telnet. The use of telnet is usually discouraged due to security concerns, but it is usually the only way to access modern bulletin boards. If you haven’t installed telnet, use your package manager. Now you will have to find a BBS to login. There are telnet BBSes directories online. The biggest one is Telnet BBS Guide, which, as the name suggests, lists Telnet-accessible BBSes.
Connecting to BBSes with Telnet
A good option is Particles BBS, which boasts: “We’re so old, we’re retro!” And they are sincere: the system works on a Commodore 128! To access it, just type: particles telnetbbs.dyndns.org 6400 With these forums, if you don’t have an account, you will have to make one. In this frame, just type “New” and then you will be guided through the account creation process, such as choosing a username and password. Since telnet sends passwords clear, choose one you don’t use elsewhere. Or better yet, use SSH if your card supports it. Now that you are signed up, the real fun begins. The BBS will present its main menu as soon as you login. There are discussion forums where you can find messages left by other users. Another PC-based BBS to try is Level 29, which calls itself “the official RetroBattleStations.com BBS”. To access it, type: telnet bbs.fozztexx.com The BBS Black flag is a pirate-themed board that showcases much of the fantasy ANSI artwork from the BBS community. To access it, type: telnet blackflag.acid.org
Relive the BBS Era on Linux
Although the height of the BBS may have passed a long time ago, you can get an idea of what it was like to use a BBS in telnet, since most people up their modems and landlines for a long time. A lot of the things we do on the Internet, including messaging and games, people did on bulletin boards in the 80s and early 90s. Retro enthusiasts are keeping the old technology alive. Logging into BBSes is not the only way to use the modern Linux system for retro purposes. The Linux-based Raspberry Pi and Arduino have proven to be popular for many retro tech projects.
Final note
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