(Sorry if this message is a duplicate - my BBS is messed up!)

I know that it's common for BBS sysops to self-host their BBS from their home PC. I don't like to do that, because like most people, I don't have a static IP, and personally I don't like to use a dns service.

So I run my BBS from a remote server, a VPS. It's great, but hosting companies don't let me use port 23 for incoming connections, which is why my BBS is on port 2323. <- That sucks though, because it's way to hard for anyone to remember (besides me) and I think BBSs running on awkward ports look spammy in the BBS world.

I want to stop using port 2323 and use port 23 like a respectable sysop would, but how can I accomplish that on a remote server? I'm obviously not going to pay for a dedicated server for my BBS. (lol - $99/month to run a BBS)

I've been asking hosting companies, like Dreamhost, Godaddy, & Hostinger, but they all have the same answer "No, we won't open port 23 for incoming connections."

Any suggestions? (Thanks in advance!)

--- Mystic BBS/QWK Gate v1.12 A47 2020/11/23 (Linux/64)
* Origin: % disksh0p!bbs % bbs.diskshop.ca % SciNet ftn hq % (77:1/100)

I've been asking hosting companies, like Dreamhost, Godaddy, &
Hostinger, butthey all have the same answer "No, we won't open port 23
for incomingconnections."

Any suggestions? (Thanks in advance!)

I know that ovh.com allows you to install whatever OS you want and all the ports are open.

|15frank |08// |15netsurge
|07disksh0p|08!|07bbs |08% |07bbs.diskshop.ca |08% |07mystic goodness |11SciNet |03ftn hq |08% |07https://scinet-ftn.org

--- Mystic BBS/QWK Gate v1.12 A47 2020/11/23 (Linux/64)
* Origin: % disksh0p!bbs % bbs.diskshop.ca % SciNet ftn hq % (77:1/100)

Re: Web Hosting 4 BBS
By: Shitty to All on Sun Dec 13 2020 05:58 pm

I want to stop using port 2323 and use port 23 like a respectable sysop would, but how can I accomplish that on a remote server? I'm obviously not going to pay for a dedicated server for my BBS. (lol - $99/month to run a BBS)

Maybe AWS? I'm pretty sure they allow anything. You can move your regular port 22 and 23 to odd ports, and have your BBS answer on those ports by creating firewall rules in the AWS console. I was about 50% configured on a AWS powered BBS when I decided to just self host it at home, using a silly dynamic DNS service to redirect to my dynamic IP.

|01bobbobbobbob|09bob|03bob|11bob|03bob|09bob|01bobbobbob |01robrobrobrob|09rob|03rob|11rob|03rob|09rob|01robrobrob
|07




... All turtle thoughts are of turtle.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: Halls of Valhalla =-= Happy Holidays (77:1/200)

On 13 Dec 2020, Shitty said the following...

(Sorry if this message is a duplicate - my BBS is messed up!)

I know that it's common for BBS sysops to self-host their BBS from their homePC. I don't like to do that, because like most people, I don't have
a staticIP, and personally I don't like to use a dns service.

So I run my BBS from a remote server, a VPS. It's great, but hosting companiesdon't let me use port 23 for incoming connections, which is why my BBS is onport 2323. <- That sucks though, because it's way to hard
for anyone toremember (besides me) and I think BBSs running on awkward ports look spammy inthe BBS world.

I use lunanode.com for my VPS. I just spun up a temporary one and did a quick install of Mystic and was able to telnet into port 23.

Their cheapest VPS is $3.50 per month (1GB RAM, 15GB SSD, 1 CPU) with locations in Toronto, Montreal or France.

Sign up for a new account and enter promo code TATDUTS under Billing -> Promotions and we'll both get a $20 credit. ;)

Jay

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2020/11/23 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: Northern Realms (77:1/156)

Shitty wrote to All <=-

I know that it's common for BBS sysops to self-host their BBS
from their home PC. I don't like to do that, because like most
people, I don't have a static IP, and personally I don't like to
use a dns service.

So I run my BBS from a remote server, a VPS. It's great, but
hosting companies don't let me use port 23 for incoming
connections, which is why my BBS is on port 2323. <- That sucks
though, because it's way to hard for anyone to remember (besides
me) and I think BBSs running on awkward ports look spammy in the
BBS world.

I want to stop using port 2323 and use port 23 like a respectable
sysop would, but how can I accomplish that on a remote server?
I'm obviously not going to pay for a dedicated server for my BBS.
(lol - $99/month to run a BBS)

I've been asking hosting companies, like Dreamhost, Godaddy, &
Hostinger, but they all have the same answer "No, we won't open
port 23 for incoming connections."

Any suggestions? (Thanks in advance!)

I've never heard of a VPS (assuming Linux) that did such a thing as
blocking ports.

I have VPS's with Linode and FreeRangeCloud, and there are no port restrictions on either. I think they are all that way...



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* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (77:1/114)

Re: Web Hosting 4 BBS
By: Shitty to All on Sun Dec 13 2020 05:58 pm

I've been asking hosting companies, like Dreamhost, Godaddy, & Hostinger, but they all have the same answer "No, we won't open port 23 for incoming connections."
Any suggestions? (Thanks in advance!)

I run my BBS on Hostinger's VPS solution (https://www.hostinger.com/vps-hosting VPS 1 plan) with no issue accessing via port 23.

Actually works great as long as I don't expect their tech support to understand what I'm doing :)

Oh, I did register a domain name and have the DNS hosted somewhere else and one bit of free advice - never register a .US domain name. It's one of 7 or 8 TLDs you can't buy domain privacy on and I get calls from various dev firms all the time.

Hatton

... Don't drink and park; accidents cause people.

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* Origin: CRBBS FTN<>QWK Gateway Site (77:77/10)

Shitty wrote:

(Sorry if this message is a duplicate - my BBS is messed up!)

I know that it's common for BBS sysops to self-host their BBS from their home PC. I don't like to do that, because like most people, I don't have a static IP, and personally I don't like to use a dns service.

So I run my BBS from a remote server, a VPS. It's great, but hosting companies don't let me use port 23 for incoming connections, which is why my BBS is on port 2323. <- That sucks though, because it's way to hard for anyone to remember (besides me) and I think BBSs running on awkward ports look spammy in the BBS world.

I want to stop using port 2323 and use port 23 like a respectable sysop would, but how can I accomplish that on a remote server? I'm obviously not going to pay for a dedicated server for my BBS. (lol - $99/month to run a BBS)

I've been asking hosting companies, like Dreamhost, Godaddy, & Hostinger, but they all have the same answer "No, we won't open port 23 for incoming connections."

Any suggestions? (Thanks in advance!)

First I've heard of it. I'm hosting with DrServer for my BBS right now and
have no problems with port 23. I have used INIZ previously and they were fine also. Check out the companies on lowendbox.com - none of those I've worked
with in the past have had problems with port 23 being open andm surprisingly, most have clean IPs too. Make sure you check against the RBL list if you want to send mail. Send to gmail and hotmail/outlook.com addresses to make sure you can deliver to both.

The downside with hosting is that you may not find someone in your city. I'm
in Plano, TX but my servers is in Dallas. I still advertise as Plano though, that's where I am, and there's not a whole lot of difference in distance.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (77:1/119)

Any suggestions? (Thanks in advance!)

DigitalOcean. I use them for everything. You scope out a VM slice and pay a monthly fee. I have multiple up at any given time just for testing as well.
You get a basic linux server (OS that you select) and you have to start from scratch...from creating users to managing your own firewall and daemons. Very nice :)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/06 (Linux/64)
* Origin: monterey bbs (77:1/128)

Re: Web Hosting 4 BBS
By: Shitty to All on Sun Dec 13 2020 05:58 pm

(Sorry if this message is a duplicate - my BBS is messed up!)

I know that it's common for BBS sysops to self-host their BBS from their hom PC. I don't like to do that, because like most people, I don't have a static IP, and personally I don't like to use a dns service.

So I run my BBS from a remote server, a VPS. It's great, but hosting compani don't let me use port 23 for incoming connections, which is why my BBS is on port 2323. <- That sucks though, because it's way to hard for anyone to remember (besides me) and I think BBSs running on awkward ports look spammy the BBS world.

I want to stop using port 2323 and use port 23 like a respectable sysop woul but how can I accomplish that on a remote server? I'm obviously not going to pay for a dedicated server for my BBS. (lol - $99/month to run a BBS)

I've been asking hosting companies, like Dreamhost, Godaddy, & Hostinger, bu they all have the same answer "No, we won't open port 23 for incoming connections."

Any suggestions? (Thanks in advance!)

If you don't want to spend more money and don't want to use dynamic ddns, using a non-standard port is the best solution -excluding getting a provider that will open that port for you. Have you asked Hetzner?

My first thought was that you should set a gateway server hosted with a proper static IP and use it to forward connections to your non-standard port (ie have gateway.com accept telnet at port 23, and forward the connection to your BBS at port 2323). The problem is you need a properly hosted server to act as a gateway and you are back at square one.

You can always offer SSH over a standard port and inform people that telnet is available at 2323. I donñ't think it is a big deal.

Nothing beats having a dedicated IP though. If you run more than two or three services from a LAN I think it is worth getting.
--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (77:1/114)