Installation directory

The installation directory is the parent directory of your entire BBS. All of the directories are created in here.

Discussion

The Synchronet BBS system and all the associated tools will default to a path of /sbbs without further configuration. Because of this, it is easiest if this is either a symlink to or the actual directory where Synchronet is installed. In the recommended configuration where there is a user created specifically to run the BBS, it is best if Synchronet is installed to the home directory of that user and a symlink is created pointing to that home directory. For example:

useradd -m -n sbbs will create a user and group each named “sbbs” and create a home directory for it.
ln -s ~sbbs / will create a symlink from /sbbs to the home directory of the sbbs user (most likely /home/sbbs).

Common Errors

mkdir: cannot create directory `/sbbs': Permission denied
ln: creating symbolic link `/home/~sbbs' to `~sbbs': Permission denied
useradd: unable to lock password file

You do not have permissions to perform the specified action.

Generally, only root can add users and modify the / directory. If you are the administrator, prefix the command line with sudo ie: sudo mkdir /sbbs
Ask your system administrator to create a new directory/symlink/user for you.
Use a subdirectory of your home directory to install Synchronet.

-bash: useradd: command not found

There are a few possibliities here:

You do not have the correct search path.
- System administration tools generally live in /usr/sbin or /usb/bin which is not in the default paths for normal users. You can specify the full path /usr/sbin/useradd -m -n sbbs or modify your PATH as needed.
Your operating system does not include a useradd utility.
- Check your documentation for the correct way to add a new user.
You do not have permissions to add/delete users.
- Generally, only root can add users. If you are the administrator, prefix the command line with sudo