Subj : BBS Software Timeout Values
To   : All
From : Dennis Scott
Date : Sun Mar 19 2023 07:20:49

I posted this message on a local board but it really needed to be posted here I think, so...

Many Sysops are wondering why there is not more users connecting to their BBS's and staying around for a while. Here's why I think people are not hanging around:

I've been on several BBS recently and they have a very strick timeout, maybe 2
minutes so you really can't 'hangout' on a BBS when there is not enough time to
go get a cup of coffee or research something on the internet and switch back
over to the BBS. The other day I switched screens to spellcheck something and when I came back the BBS had kicked me off.

That timeout is what kills people, well me anyhow, from hanging around to be available to chat etc.

Now that most people use telnet, etc to connect, what is the purpose of such short timeouts?

Every BBS that I logon to, I always check to see who else is online and the only one I ever see is _maybe_ the Sysop - usually 10 nodes setting there idol...

Sysops, I suggest if you want a timeout at all, put a 30 minute or hour timeout, then watch to see if anything bad happens. Adjust as necessary.

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Dennis
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