TBBS 2.2 - Connecting TBBS to the Internet

Contact:   eSoft, Inc. (Makers of TBBS)
           15200 E. Girard Ave., Suite 3000
           Aurora, CO  80014
           (303) 699-6565      Voice
           (303) 699-6872      Fax
           (303) 699-8222      BBS
           support@esoft.com   E-Mail

CONNECTING TBBS TO THE INTERNET
-------------------------------

A DESCRIPTION OF AVAILABLE AND SOON-TO-BE-AVAILABLE
TECHNOLOGIES FOR TBBS/INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

INTRODUCTION

With the tremendous growth of the worldwide Internet metanetwork, we are often 
asked what is possible with TBBS/Internet connectivity, and what is required 
to make it happen.  The purpose of this document is to present the various 
options available now and in the near future to allow such connectivity.


E-MAIL AND NEWSGROUP SUPPORT

The most basic level of Internet support, and one of the most popular, is that 
of e-mail and newsgroups.

Internet e-mail has particular appeal, since with it, you can send electronic 
mail to virtually any electronic mailbox in the world.  Many such mailboxes 
are directly connected to the Internet (such as university and government 
computing centers) while others (such as CompuServe, MCI Mail, FidoNet, etc.) 
have gateway services to and from the Internet.  Adding Internet e-mail to a 
TBBS system gives you and your users considerable e-mail "reach."

Support for Internet e-mail is currently provided by the Personal Internet 
Mail Processor (PIMP).  PIMP is written by Jack Rickard, editor of Boardwatch 
Magazine.  Sales and support are handled by Boardwatch directly.  At this 
time, eSoft neither sells nor provides technical support for PIMP.

As the only third-party option module available, PIMP's level of integration 
with the BBS software is superior to virtually all other BBS-specific Internet 
e-mail packages.  PIMP includes a built-in UUCICO, which uses a line on TBBS 
to dial a UUCP host provider to exchange mail.  All import and export of 
e-mail occurs in real time, without the need for TBBS to come offline.  No 
additional PCs, LANs, etc. are required.

Internet addressing is provided by the unmodified TBBS system, which is 
suitable for all but the largest and most uncommon Internet addresses.  For 
extremely long Internet addresses, a traditional message body alternate 
address entry method is also supported.  TBBS user names and/or IDs are 
automatically mapped into an Internet e-mail address without the need to have 
users enter special "e-mail names" to send or receive Internet e-mail.

PIMP also supports automatic UUENCODE/UUDECODE functionality, to and from 
TBBS' own file enclosure mechanism.  Overlength messages (those too large to 
fit in TBBS' message base as-is) are automatically translated to an ASCII text 
file enclosure.  

Additional information on PIMP can be obtained directly from Boardwatch 
Magazine.  They can be reached at the following:

        Boardwatch Magazine
        8500 W. Bowles Ave.
        Suite 210
        Littleton, CO  80123
        USA
        Voice:  +1-303-973-6038
        Fax:    +1-303-973-3731
        BBS:    +1-303-973-4222
        E-Mail: gary.funk@boardwatch.com

PIMP also provides support for Usenet newsgroups.  It uses TBBS' topic style 
message structure to organize and present newsgroups in a hierarchical 
fashion, much like that of Usenet newsgroups themselves.


TELNET LOGIN

eSoft currently has a number of customers who offer telnet logins to their 
TBBS systems through the Internet.  

Currently, this functionality requires a router and terminal server.  The 
Internet "hose" (SLIP dial-up, PPP dial-up, 56k leased, T1 leased, etc.) comes 
into the router, which connects to the terminal server through an Ethernet 
connection.  The terminal server's ports are then attached to TBBS through 
DigiBoard ports familiar with TBBS sysops.  Within TBBS, the line is treated 
much like a hard-wired port. 

Although terminal servers often require special tuning (adjustment of 
settings) to work optimally, our customers using this methodology are pleased 
with the results.  

Except in very specialized cases, this type of setup provides only inbound 
telnet connectivity.  No other types of connections (ftp, SMTP/NNTP, outbound 
telnet, etc.) are provided.  For many applications, logins via telnet are all 
that's required, and this solution can be obtained today.

Routers, terminal servers, and technical information about this type of 
connection can usually be obtained from Internet service providers, or from 
your organization's networking staff (in cases where you already have Internet 
connectivity online elsewhere in your organization).  


COMING SOON -- THE IPAD

eSoft is currently hard at work in a product to allow superior connectivity to 
the Internet.  The product does not at this time have a firm name; our working 
name for it (which you may already have heard about) is IPAD: the Internet 
Protocol Adapter.

Many of you saw a very early prototype of the IPAD demonstrated at ONE BBSCON 
in August, 1993 in Colorado Springs.  We were the only BBS vendor on the show 
floor showing a working model of this functionality.  Having the IPAD at the 
show created quite a demand for the product.  We have been working diligently 
since then to turn our working prototype into a reliable, salable product.

When it's released, the IPAD will allow you to attach your TBBS directly to 
the Internet, and provide the same types of services currently limited to 
complex, expensive UNIX-based solutions, and online services such as Delphi.  

The IPAD will provide:

        - Incoming telnet (remote logins to your system via Internet).

        - Incoming ftp server (allows remote users to get and send
          files to and from your system).

        - SMTP/NNTP mail transport.  PIMP will still be required for
          import and export of mail to and from TBBS.

        - Finger server (allows you to setup a finger database to 
          handle user identification, remote help, etc.).

        - Domain name server (allows the IPAD to be integrated 
          into the Internet DNS addressing system and keep itself
          up to date).

        - Full outbound terminal client suite including:

                - Outbound telnet (TBBS users can connect to other
                  Internet systems).

                - Outbound ftp (TBBS users can ftp files from other
                  Internet systems).

                - Outbound finger (TBBS users can finger other 
                  Internet systems).

                - Outbound ping (TBBS users can "ping" -- test 
                  connections to -- other Internet systems).

One of the more interesting aspects of the IPAD's services is its unique 
presentation to users when it's acting as an incoming ftp server.  The IPAD's 
ftp server uses a TBBS .FAR file directory structure.  An ftp "DIR" command 
will display full BBS-style directories, complete with file descriptions, much 
like a user logged into TBBS directly.  An ftp "CD" command allows a remote 
user to change .DIR files within the .FAR structure.  This presentation is 
totally unique within the Internet, and is a much more user-accessible method 
than the spartan, description-free presentation of all other ftp servers.

The IPAD will initially support a maximum of 32 simultaneous connections to 
your TBBS system.  Future versions of the IPAD will likely accommodate more 
connections.

In its initial release, the IPAD will require dedicated serial connections to 
TBBS.  The IPAD will be installed on a secondary PC, which, like TBBS, will 
require DigiBoard (or compatible) multiport serial cards.  These ports are 
then connected to ports on TBBS through null modem adapters.  These 
connections are used for both inbound and outbound user connections (telnet 
and ftp sessions).

If you wish to provide ftp server functions (Internet users can ftp files from 
your TBBS system), then you will also need a LAN connection to TBBS.  In most 
cases this will take the form of a simple peer-to-peer LAN, such as LANtastic 
or Novell NetWare Lite, but could also be a full-blown LAN (such as regular 
NetWare).

eSoft is planning direct support for LAN logins in a future version of TBBS.  
At that time, serial port connections between the IPAD and TBBS will no longer 
be necessary.  Until then, a TBBS 64-line system could support up to 32 lines 
maximum with a fully configured IPAD (32 lines incoming, 32 lines connected to 
the IPAD).  When LAN session support is added to TBBS, you will be able to 
run TBBS' full capacity for incoming lines since no serial connections to the 
IPAD will be necessary.


CONNECTING THE IPAD TO THE INTERNET

The IPAD will support a variety of connectivity options.  All require a
dedicated TCP/IP connection to the Internet, with your own unique IP address.  
These connections can be obtained from common sources of Internet services.

At the low-end of the spectrum you can connect it through inexpensive SLIP or 
PPP dial-up connections.  Although you can use this type of connection, its 
very low capacity will make it very undesirable for all but the smallest BBSs.  
SLIP/PPP connections are made through conventional modems, usually to a 
maximum of 14.4 kbps carrier rates, which could support no more than two 
average telnet sessions (one session being more realistic due to the overhead 
of mail transmission).  Since SLIP/PPP connections are dial-up in nature, and 
a constant connection is necessary, the IPAD will support automated scripted 
logins to establish the session.  

If your Internet provider supports it, you could also use an ISDN adapter and 
ISDN digital telephone service to provide a SLIP/PPP connection to the 
Internet.  The additional capacity of an ISDN line can support up to five 
average telnet sessions in most cases.

Most sysops will likely start with a 56k leased line (also known as a DS0 
line).  The IPAD will support a synchronous serial port, to which you can 
attach 56k leased service.  This type of service can support up to five 
average telnet sessions before degradation occurs.  

Ideally, sysops will choose a T1 leased line for the IPAD.  A T1 (also known 
as a DS1 line) is equivalent to 24 DS0 lines (56k leased).  With a T1 line, 
you will have enough bandwidth available to the IPAD to support its maximum 
number of sessions, as well as mail transmission, without degradation due to 
bandwidth limitations.  The cost of a T1 line can be considerable, however.  
The IPAD will support a T1 interface card directly, which will be sold by 
eSoft for use with the IPAD.

For organizations that already have Internet connections coming into their 
sites, you can also connect the IPAD to a router through an Ethernet 
connection directly.


IPAD AVAILABILITY

eSoft expects to ship the IPAD by late summer or early fall, 1994.  We will 
provide more specific date information when it is available.

We will begin testing the IPAD at eSoft, most likely in May, 1994.  At that 
time, via the IPAD, our support and demonstration BBS will be available via 
Internet for telnet logins.  Eventually eSoft technical help notes and more 
will also be available via ftp.  

This document will be updated as more current information becomes available.


TBBS0074
Rev. 4/94B

Copyright (C) 1994 eSoft, Inc., All Rights Reserved.  Permission granted to
distribute this file in its entirety, without modification, to any interested
party.  Any other use requires the written permission of eSoft, Inc.

IMPORTANT:  The information herein is subject to change without notice.
Please call or write to confirm factual information of importance to you or
your organization.
