Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!killer!convex!uunet!munnari!vuwcomp!dsiramd!csnz!paul
From: paul@csnz.nz (Paul Gillingwater)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Packet Switching (X.25) and BBS
Keywords: X.25, BBS
Message-ID: <62@csnz.nz>
Date: 19 Sep 88 10:28:50 GMT
Reply-To: paul@csnz.co.nz (Paul Gillingwater)
Organization: Computer Sciences of New Zealand, Wellington, NZ
Lines: 35

I'm planning to set up a UNIX based BBS on a 386 box, and I'd like some
advice on various aspects.

1) New Zealand supports a nation-wide CCITT X.25 network.  I have two options
   for providing access (I think):  either direct dial-up to an auto-answer
   modem (by-passing the X.25), or through the Packet Switch network.

2) If I use the Packet Switch network, there seem to be two options: either
   lease a PAD with asynchronous ports, and hardwire each port to a getty
   on the UNIX box, or find BBS software that can support a direct X.25
   connection.  Does anyone know how this can be done?

3) I understand that classic BBS usage requires character-based connection,
   so that the BBS can support interactive editing and word-wrap.  X.25
   however is more suited for line-based usage, sending a packet for each
   line that is transmitted.  Clearly, character mode connections are much
   less efficient - is there any BBS software that will cope elegantly with
   line-based interaction?   Will this impinge upon, e.g. ZMODEM transfers?

4) Which flavour of UNIX is better suited for X.25 or BBS work - Xenix/386
   or the MicroPort?  I'm a SCO Xenix user at present.

5) I believe there are plug-in cards with multiple modems available that
   support multi-user BBS under DOS - will these work under UNIX, and
   more importantly, will they work with a 20 MHz 386 bus?

Thanks in anticipation....  e-mail and I will summarize...




-- 
Paul Gillingwater  UUCP: {alberta,ubc-vision}!calgary!vuwcomp!dsiramd!csnz!paul
Computer Sciences New Zealand Ltd.   	ACSnet: paul@csnz.co.nz		 
Magic Tower BBS (24 hrs) NZ +64 4 753-561 (V21/V23/V22/V22bis/B103/B212A)