data directory

The location of the data directory is configurable (in SCFG->System->Advanced Options), but defaults to a sub-directory named data off of the installation directory (e.g. /sbbs/data/).

The Synchronet Data directory contains the run-time data created during the normal operation of the BBS.

Examples include:

1. mail.* - Private email and netmail message base
2. spam.hash - Database of known-SPAM message body hashes (used by the Mail Server)
3. logon.jsonl - List of user logons to the Terminal Server (logon.*.jsonl files are previous days logons)
4. logon.lst - List of user logons to the Terminal Server - legacy format
5. areas.bbs - FidoNet-style message areas (used by SBBSecho)
6. badareas.lst - Unconnected FidoNet-style message areas (used by SBBSecho)
7. echostats.ini - FidoNet-style message area statistics (used by SBBSecho)
8. sbbslist.json - BBS List (used by sbbslist)
9. *.log - Log files created by Synchronet and some utilities (e.g. SBBSecho)
10. *.now - Semaphore files used by Synchronet

Typical sub-directories of the Data directory include:

Where user data is stored.

1. user.tab - user database
2. name.dat - username index
3. <user-number>.sig - user signature
4. <user-number>.* - other user data (e.g. settings) file
5. <user-number>.ini - user configuration settings (used by JS modules)
6. <user-number>.subs - user message-scan configuration and pointers
7. <user-number>.upload - user batch upload queue
8. <user-number>.dnload - user batch download queue
9. <user-number>/*/ - sub-directories for further per-user data storage

Synchronet message-base (SMB) files for configured sub-boards (SCFG->Message Areas) reside here.

1. <internal-code>.shd - message headers
2. <internal-code>.sha - message header allocation (optional)
3. <internal-code>.sid - message indexes
4. <internal-code>.sdt - message data
5. <internal-code>.sda - message data allocation (optional)
6. <internal-code>.sch - message CRC history (for duplicate message body text checking)
7. <internal-code>.ini - message base auxiliary configuration and state information
8. <internal-code>.hash - message hashes (for indexing and duplicate message ID and body text checking)
9. <internal-code>.sfp - SBBSecho FidoNet export pointer (old/deprecated style, replaced with *.ini)
10. <internal-code>.list.sub - Synchronet ListServer subscribers
11. <internal-code>.list.ptr - Synchronet ListServer export pointer (old/deprecated style, replaced with *.ini)
12. <internal-code>.smm - Synchronet Match Maker import pointer

File transfer directory database files reside here.

1. <internal-code>.shd - file headers (metadata about files)
2. <internal-code>.sha - file header allocation
3. <internal-code>.sid - file indexes (filenames and hash values)
4. <internal-code>.sdt - file extended descriptions and aux data
5. <internal-code>.sda - file extended descriptions and aux data allocation
6. <internal-code>.ini - filebase metadata

This directory contains various file transfer:

1. Pre-packed QWK packets (<user-number>.qwk)
2. Uploaded QWK reply packets (<user-number>.rep)
3. Files received via QWK reply packet (<user-number>.in/*)

Various dated activity log files are stored in this directory.

QWK networking files are stored in this directory.

1. <qwk-id>.ptr - QWKnet hub export pointer
2. <qwk-id>.out/* - File to send to QWKnet node or hub
3. <qwk-id>.in/* - Files received from QWKnet node or hub
4. <qwk-id>.avatars.ini - Users avatars received from QWKnet node or hub
5. <qwk-id>.*.bin - Avatar collections received from QWKnet node or hub
6. route.dat - QWKnet route table
7. NODES.DAT - QWKnet node list
8. USERS.DAT - QWKnet user list

FidoNet-style networking files are stored in this directory (<node> is in hexadecimal net/node format).

1. <node>.avatars.ini - Users avatars received from FidoNet-style node
2. <node>.*.bin - Avatar collections received from FidoNet-style

Files placed here can be queried using “special finger requests” to the finger service.

Short text messages are stored here:

1. <user-number>.msg - user-to-user short message (a.k.a. telegram)
2. n<node-number>.msg - node-to-node short message
3. auto.msg - system auto-message

Hierarchy and index files utilized for the text files BBS subsection.

• Directory structure