Nightfox wrote to Rixter <=-

Re: File down loads total on webv4
By: Rixter to echicken on Tue Sep 10 2024 12:41 pm

Guests on my bbs are not allowed to download. Only authenticated users can.

If you want people to be able to freely download files from your BBS
via a web link without having an account on your BBS, you'd need to
allow the guest account to download files. Sometimes it's useful to be able to share files with people that way. For instance, other BBS
sysops might be interested in downloading BBS-related files from your
BBS, and they might not have a user account on your BBS.

Personally I'd have to disagree with that policy. I don't even offer a
web interface, but web/telnet would be the same for me - as in : If you
want a file from my BBS, create a user account and get it. Otherwise...
get it from somewhere else.



... Gone crazy, be back later, please leave message.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Re: File down loads total on webv4
By: Gamgee to Nightfox on Tue Sep 10 2024 19:31:00

Personally I'd have to disagree with that policy. I don't even offer a web interface, but web/telnet would be the same for me - as in : If you want a file from my BBS, create a user account and get it. Otherwise...

Why though? Are you concerned about your upload bandwidth? Are you validating users manually to make sure they're not FBI agents? Do you think you're gaining repeat visitors by forcing sign-ups?

I'm sure there are valid reasons why you might want to restrict certain downloads to members, but it doesn't make sense as a blanket policy. For the most part it seems like PTSD from the modem days or the early broadband age.

Maybe I'm posting on some other forum on the web and I want to share a direct download link to a file on my system, and I want it to be a convenient download for someone who doesn't want/need an account on my board. I don't care who downloads it or how many times.

It also doesn't need to be a system-wide thing. Guests can download from some areas but not others. It really depends on the files and who the sysop wants to share them with.

echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com
---
þ Synchronet þ electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com

echicken wrote to Gamgee <=-

Re: Re: File down loads total on webv4
By: Gamgee to Nightfox on Tue Sep 10 2024 19:31:00

Personally I'd have to disagree with that policy. I don't even offer a web interface, but web/telnet would be the same for me - as in : If you want a file from my BBS, create a user account and get it. Otherwise...

Why though? Are you concerned about your upload bandwidth? Are you validating users manually to make sure they're not FBI agents? Do you think you're gaining repeat visitors by forcing sign-ups?

Great questions, and my answer is "no" to all of those. I hadn't
thought about that enough, seemingly; especially the last question.

I'm sure there are valid reasons why you might want to restrict certain downloads to members, but it doesn't make sense as a blanket policy.
For the most part it seems like PTSD from the modem days or the early broadband age.

Your reply actually made me stop and think this through more than I had.
I think you're correct - it does seem like a carry-over from modem days.

Maybe I'm posting on some other forum on the web and I want to share a direct download link to a file on my system, and I want it to be a convenient download for someone who doesn't want/need an account on my board. I don't care who downloads it or how many times.

Absolutely, although in my case, with no web interface, that particular example (a direct download link) wouldn't really apply. Now I am re-evaluating that choice... haha. Probably won't change that though.

It also doesn't need to be a system-wide thing. Guests can download
from some areas but not others. It really depends on the files and who
the sysop wants to share them with.

Great point, and likely something I will modify on my system.

Thanks for making me think harder about this, appreciate your insights.



... Honk if you love BBSing!
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Re: File down loads total on webv4
By: Gamgee to echicken on Wed Sep 11 2024 07:40:00

Absolutely, although in my case, with no web interface, that particular example (a direct download link) wouldn't really apply. Now I am

In your case - and generally in the case of ssh/rlogin/telnet - it doesn't really matter. Unless the registration process is cumbersome or asks for a lot of personal info, there isn't much need for a guest account. I don't have one on my system (except for web access).

think you're correct - it does seem like a carry-over from modem days.

On the flip side, I often look at stuff like time limits, file credits, upload/download ratios, message posts per day, etc. as holdovers from that time and I tend to disregard these features. Truth is they uses even today. A sysop may want to stop leeching, encourage activity, limit spam, keep nodes open so they don't have to configure 100 nodes in every old door game, and so on.

That's a digression, but it's to say I need to stop and ponder my reasons for these thing sometimes too - and it can be an interesting exercise.

echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com
---
þ Synchronet þ electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com

Re: Re: File down loads total on webv4
By: Gamgee to Nightfox on Tue Sep 10 2024 07:31 pm

If you want people to be able to freely download files from your BBS via
a web link without having an account on your BBS, you'd need to allow the
guest account to download files. Sometimes it's useful to be able to

Personally I'd have to disagree with that policy. I don't even offer a web interface, but web/telnet would be the same for me - as in : If you want a file from my BBS, create a user account and get it. Otherwise... get it from somewhere else.

To each their own. Sometimes other sysops have asked if anyone has a particular file, and I've offered a web link so they can download it. Often the link is used without them creating an account.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Personally I'd have to disagree with that policy. I don't even offer a
web interface, but web/telnet would be the same for me - as in : If you
want a file from my BBS, create a user account and get it. Otherwise...
get it from somewhere else.

I used to let anonymous users grab files here but the problem with doing
that is that it also opens up your file areas to those "virus scanner" and
"web safety" scammers who will flag your IPA if they find any files that
are compressed. As many DOS executables were compressed when compiled, or
by pklite or some such afterwards, it is a good way to get yourself blacklisted.

So, I agree, they need an account.


* SLMR 2.1a * He does the work of 3 Men...Moe, Larry & Curly
---
þ Synchronet þ CAPCITY2 * capcity2.synchro.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/Rlogin/HTTP

echicken wrote to Gamgee <=-

Re: Re: File down loads total on webv4
By: Gamgee to echicken on Wed Sep 11 2024 07:40:00

Absolutely, although in my case, with no web interface, that particular example (a direct download link) wouldn't really apply. Now I am

In your case - and generally in the case of ssh/rlogin/telnet - it
doesn't really matter. Unless the registration process is cumbersome or asks for a lot of personal info, there isn't much need for a guest account. I don't have one on my system (except for web access).

Yes, I agree. My registration is not cumbersome, but I do offer the
Guest account in case somebody might just want to look around before
deciding they'd like to join. They can see (most) everything, but are restricted from actually doing some things, like downloading or posting
on networked message areas.

think you're correct - it does seem like a carry-over from modem days.

On the flip side, I often look at stuff like time limits, file credits, upload/download ratios, message posts per day, etc. as holdovers from
that time and I tend to disregard these features. Truth is they uses
even today. A sysop may want to stop leeching, encourage activity,
limit spam, keep nodes open so they don't have to configure 100 nodes
in every old door game, and so on.

Again I agree, and on the surface those things sure do seem like old-days-carryovers. Bandwidth, ratios, and even time limits are not
really a factor anymore. I have them set to not interfere. But yes,
they can sometimes be useful for specific policies/desires.

That's a digression, but it's to say I need to stop and ponder my
reasons for these thing sometimes too - and it can be an interesting exercise.

Absolutely right. It's good to discuss seemingly mundane
options/choices, as sometimes things are not as they may first appear.
Thanks again for the good conversation.



... I'll be unstoppable when I get started.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Nightfox wrote to Gamgee <=-

Re: Re: File down loads total on webv4
By: Gamgee to Nightfox on Tue Sep 10 2024 07:31 pm

If you want people to be able to freely download files from your BBS via
a web link without having an account on your BBS, you'd need to allow the
guest account to download files. Sometimes it's useful to be able to

Personally I'd have to disagree with that policy. I don't even offer a web interface, but web/telnet would be the same for me - as in : If you want a file from my BBS, create a user account and get it. Otherwise... get it from somewhere else.

To each their own. Sometimes other sysops have asked if anyone has a particular file, and I've offered a web link so they can download it. Often the link is used without them creating an account.

Absolutely agree on that. I have just chosen to not have the web
interface as it simplifies a lot of things, and to me at least, more accurately portrays what a BBS is. For *me*, it's not something that
should be reached via the web.



... ...and we had to chisel taglines into the walls of the cave.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Re: File down loads total on webv4
By: Gamgee to Nightfox on Wed Sep 11 2024 05:02 pm

Absolutely agree on that. I have just chosen to not have the web interface as it simplifies a lot of things, and to me at least, more accurately portrays what a BBS is. For *me*, it's not something that should be reached via the web.

I feel like the web interface doesn't take anything away from what a BBS is. It's there if people want to use it though. The same applies to the news server, NNTP/POP server, etc.. I think those servers are pretty cool, as a way of extending the capabilities of the BBS, without taking anything away from what the BBS is.

We also have other modern stuff these days, such as door games that can connect to a remote BBS (or other site) to store information, which enables things like a shared one-liner wall that can be accessed from multiple BBSes, game scores that could be stored in one place and accessed from multiple BBSes, etc. Synchronet also has the capability to send messages to users on other Synchronet BBSes - I think that's cool, though I haven't used it a whole lot.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

I only ask for a name and a city and a state. I do not want an email. I just like to have a way of identifying someone. Guests can see everything but interact with nothing. I never guest on another bbs. I like this information. I find the comments fascinating. Thanks.
telnet://ricksbbs.synchro.net:23
http://ricksbbs.synchro.net:8080
Madison,NC

---
þ Synchronet þ Ricks BBS - RICKSBBS.SYNCHRO.NET

Nightfox wrote to Gamgee <=-

Re: Re: File down loads total on webv4
By: Gamgee to Nightfox on Wed Sep 11 2024 05:02 pm

Absolutely agree on that. I have just chosen to not have the web interface as it simplifies a lot of things, and to me at least, more accurately portrays what a BBS is. For *me*, it's not something that should be reached via the web.

I feel like the web interface doesn't take anything away from what a
BBS is. It's there if people want to use it though. The same applies
to the news server, NNTP/POP server, etc.. I think those servers are pretty cool, as a way of extending the capabilities of the BBS, without taking anything away from what the BBS is.

I think the various servers are very cool also, but I don't see them as options that I would want to include in my BBS. I'm
old-skool/traditional, perhaps overly so.

We also have other modern stuff these days, such as door games that can connect to a remote BBS (or other site) to store information, which enables things like a shared one-liner wall that can be accessed from multiple BBSes, game scores that could be stored in one place and
accessed from multiple BBSes, etc. Synchronet also has the capability
to send messages to users on other Synchronet BBSes - I think that's
cool, though I haven't used it a whole lot.

Again... I have no argument with these things, I just choose to not
include them. As you said earlier in the thread - to each his own. ;-)



... If it weren't for Edison we'd be using computers by candlelight
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Rixter wrote to Gamgee <=-

I only ask for a name and a city and a state. I do not want an email. I just like to have a way of identifying someone. Guests can see

Since you (once again) forgot how to quote any of the message that
you're replying to, I wanted to let you know that this is the last
message of yours with no quoting that I'll reply to.

It seems strange to me that you sometimes know how to do it, and many
times do not.


... Pros are those who do their jobs well, even when they don't feel like it. --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Since you (once again) forgot how to quote any of the message that
you're replying to, I wanted to let you know that this is the last
message of yours with no quoting that I'll reply to.

It seems strange to me that you sometimes know how to do it, and many
times do not.

... Pros are those who do their jobs well, even when they don't feel like it. --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
¨ Synchronet ¨ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

It depends on the pain level and medication I think. I just forget to sometimes. Thanks though and take care. I am glad we had this time together. Goodbye.

telnet://ricksbbs.synchro.net:23
http://ricksbbs.synchro.net:8080
Madison,NC

---
þ Synchronet þ Ricks BBS - RICKSBBS.SYNCHRO.NET

Re: Re: File down loads total on webv4
By: Gamgee to Nightfox on Wed Sep 11 2024 17:02:00

...to me at least, more accurately portrays what a BBS is. For *me*, it's not something that should be reached via the web.

ÛÛÛÛÛÛ
ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ
ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛ±±±±±±±±ÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ
ÛÛ±±±±±±±±ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛ±±±±±±±±ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛ±±±±±±±±ÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ
ÛÛ±±±±±±±±ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛ±±±±±±±±ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛ±±±± ±±ÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ
ÛÛ±±±±±±±±ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛ
ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ

---
þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com