🚀 go-pugleaf

Mark Kern writes
>What products exist on the Next to make it suitable for a multi-line  
>dialup BBS?  How much would it cost for the modem hardware?  Are there  
>good programming
>tools for programming such a BBS?  If so, I am very interested in buying  
>a Next computer.
> 
> Markus

As others have pointed out, the operating system is perfect.  Create an
anonymous account with very limited privs, or a restricted shell for 
requesting an account and then assign real accounts after you have verified 
them.  A NeXT can have more features than BBS's could ever dream to have.  
Set up SLIP, feed nntp(news) or smtp(mail), etc...

Considering hardware.  I've had thoughts of setting up a BBS on my NeXT for
some time.  However, I've been looking for similiar information.  What I've
gathered is that I would need is a terminal server to connect the modems.  A
terminal server does the communications between EtherNet and the modems.  I
havn't found anyone in the NeXT publications, magazines, etc.. that I've
looked selling such a beast.  However, any company involved with networking
should have one.  I've been meaning to call CISCO for pricing and info, but
I've been limited on cash and scared of the price they might quote.  CISCO
is one of many companies making routers, gateways and such.

If you find more info, I'd be interested to hear.

++jerry(); // jscoggin@netcom.netcom.com