jonathan@pitt.UUCP (Jonathan S. Eunice) (04/18/88)
A week or two ago I posted a question: I need to have people call my Macintosh and read or write files while I am not there. I would like a small amount of security, so that the caller must type a passwords, say, and even then not be able to browse the entire system, delete files, etc., but security is not a big issue. (Using 2400b Hayes-compatible modem, Mac+, 1M mem, 80M disk.) I suspect that a BBS program is what I need to use. Suggestions on which one (PD hopefully) and where to get it (Compuserve, FTP prefered) gratefully accepted, as are "you want to do it another way" comments. Perhaps there is an easier solution using something like Red Ryder? And the answers are... Clark Anderson (ultra!anderson@Apple.com) writes: If you want a full-featured BBS system, try Red Ryder Host, published by Freesoft. This is 1st rate software. If you want to set up a sort of "mini BBS", get Red Ryder 10.3, and use the Host mode. The Host mode allows you set up a limited version of the BBS, with some security. Mike Maughmer (mmaughme@polyslo.UUCP) writes: There are two BBS programs that I can think of right off hand. One is a PD BBS called WWIV. It was ported over to the Mac from the IBM PC world, and works quite well. (But doesn't really use the Mac user interface. It's more IBMish that Macish.) The other is RedRyder Host, which is not PD. (It runs about $80. Which is really no biggie if your clients/customers will be ofsetting your expenses.) There is a slight problem with each one of them. This problem involves the interface cable. If I remember correctly, your carrier detect from the modem must be connected to pin 3 on the Mac serial port, or the modem won't drop carrier when the caller disconnects. (I set up a fully functional RedRyder Host BBS and then found out that it doesn't hang up after a caller chooses to log off.) Of course, this is no big deal if you can rewire the cable, or have someone else around who can do so. Oh. Another problem with WWIV BBS is that you have to use ResEdit to set up some of the BBS attributes. It's a pain in the butt. Paul Meyer (pem@cadnetix.COM) writes: The minimal level of what you want can be done with a combination of procedure files and the "host mode" in Red Ryder version 10.3. (RR10 is available from Mac Warehouse for ~$50 or from the publishers for ~$80. Either way you get a free GEnie subscription (the support for RR is all online on GEnie.)) Something more sophisticated could be done with Red Ryder Host, which is a BBS program. I'm very unsure, but since I've seen what was the latest version of RRH available for download on GEnie (in the Freesoft forum) I believe it's shareware. Fred Wamsley (alcmist@lll-crg.arpa) writes: Red Ryder has a "host mode" in which it will respond to a *small* set of commands to uplaod and download files. The manual gives an example of how to add password checking. Ron Beloin (cornell!batcomputer!beloin) writes: Take a loook at Red Ryder 9.4 (shareware) or 10.3 (commercial). It has host modes that will do what you want, as I understand it. There are examples in the docs. Passwords are possible also, using the programming language to branch after receiving a string. Ron. John O'Malley (j.cc.purdue.edu!ajq) writes: Programming in Red Ryder isn't difficult. You could do it even with the last shareware version, which is 9.4, and the last shareware manual, written for version 8.0. Granted, it'll probably be more difficult to do having to write it all out yourself than if you were to buy a BBS program. Check MacConnection. I remember seeing a listing for some BBS software in there at one time for around $35. Carlos A. Albuerne (carlos@cunixc.columbia.edu) writes: I'd looked into Red Ryder which, at version 9.4 or so, has what you're looking for although you do have to explicitly request files by names. Something like Red Ryder Host, Mouse Exchange or other BBS (there's even a cheap BASIC BBS out there) will provide better security and list available files for you. On the strength of the recommendations for Red Ryder and Red Ryder Host, I will be trying those (in that order). I probably need to allow callers to list the available files, which Carlos Albuerne says I'll need the Host program for. We shall see. Thanks to all who responded. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jonathan S. Eunice ARPA: jonathan@vax.cs.pittsburgh.edu University of Pittsburgh UUCP: jonathan@pitt Computer Science BITNET: jonathan@pittvms (412) 624-8843