Synchronet v3.21e-Win32 (install) has been released (Mar-2026).

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howto:door:index [2021/11/24 11:07] – [Supported External Program Types] FOSSIL doors are supported with Linux-DOSEMU digital manhowto:door:index [2026/03/10 19:44] (current) – [FOSSIL Driver] Updated Windows section, removing references to Win9x/VXD, including link to NTVDM FAQ digital man
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 BBS "doors" are external online programs, often games, that may be installed on a BBS system for its remote terminal users to use interactively. Doors are usually 16-bit DOS programs from "back in the day" and can be challenging to get working on the computers and operating systems of today. A little patience and the use of pages like this one can usually get them working however. BBS "doors" are external online programs, often games, that may be installed on a BBS system for its remote terminal users to use interactively. Doors are usually 16-bit DOS programs from "back in the day" and can be challenging to get working on the computers and operating systems of today. A little patience and the use of pages like this one can usually get them working however.
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 ==== Supported External Program Types ==== ==== Supported External Program Types ====
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 | TCP/IP Socket      | Native TCP/IP BBS doors and external editors          | DoorMUD, PimpWars/Win32, Darkness/Win32, SBJ/SBL v3.x  | DOOR32.SYS and XTRN.DAT   | Windows and *nix | | TCP/IP Socket      | Native TCP/IP BBS doors and external editors          | DoorMUD, PimpWars/Win32, Darkness/Win32, SBJ/SBL v3.x  | DOOR32.SYS and XTRN.DAT   | Windows and *nix |
 | Standard           | Native stdio/console programs (traditionally, UNIX)         | PimpWars/Linux, Lord/X, "scfg -d", cmd.exe, bash, pico | DOOR32.SYS | Windows and *nix | | Standard           | Native stdio/console programs (traditionally, UNIX)         | PimpWars/Linux, Lord/X, "scfg -d", cmd.exe, bash, pico | DOOR32.SYS | Windows and *nix |
 +
 +==== Supported Drop File Types ====
 +Synchronet can create and read-back a variety of drop file types based on the requirements of the door program:
 +
 +^ Software ^ Write File(s)                 ^ Read File(s)     ^
 +| Mystic        | ''DOOR32.SYS''                        |                  |
 +| GAP (original)| ''DOOR.SYS'' (31 lines)                | ''DOOR.SYS'': Flags, SecLevel, ExpireDate, FileDLed, KBsDLed |
 +| GAP (extended)| ''DOOR.SYS'' (52 lines)                | ''DOOR.SYS'': Flags, SecLevel, ExpireDate, FileDLed, KBsDLed, MinuteCredits |
 +| WWIV | ''CHAIN.TXT''                         |                  |
 +| PCBoard 15.x | ''PCBOARD.SYS'' and ''USERS.SYS''     | ''USERS.SYS'': SecLevel and ExpireDate |
 +| QuickBBS | ''DORINFO#.DEF'' and ''EXITINFO.BBS'' | ''EXITINFO.BBS'': Flags and SecLevel |
 +| Wildcat! 2.x | ''CALLINFO.BBS''                      |                  |
 +| SpitFire | ''SFDOORS.DAT''                       |                  |
 +| TriBBS | ''TRIBBS.SYS''                        |                  |
 +| Solar Realms | ''DOORFILE.SR''                       |                  |
 +| Synchronet  | ''XTRN.DAT''         | ''MODUSER.DAT'': Credits, SecLevel, Flags, ExpireDate, MinuteCredits  |
  
 === CIOXTRN === === CIOXTRN ===
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 The 16-bit DOS component of the Synchronet FOSSIL driver for Windows (all flavors) is called ''DOSXTRN.EXE'' and it is located in the Synchronet ''[[dir:exec]]'' directory. This program [[:faq:win#win64|will not work]] with 64-bit versions of Windows since Microsoft does not include a DOS virtual machine (NTVDM) with those versions of Windows. The 16-bit DOS component of the Synchronet FOSSIL driver for Windows (all flavors) is called ''DOSXTRN.EXE'' and it is located in the Synchronet ''[[dir:exec]]'' directory. This program [[:faq:win#win64|will not work]] with 64-bit versions of Windows since Microsoft does not include a DOS virtual machine (NTVDM) with those versions of Windows.
  
-=== Windows 9x === +=== Windows === 
-The kernel component of the Synchronet FOSSIL driver for Microsoft Windows 95-based operating systems (**no longer supported**) is called ''sbbsexec.vxd'' and it is loaded when needed by Synchronet automatically. This FOSSIL driver is not actively maintained but has worked well for many sysops and their BBSes for many years. This FOSSIL driver implements the FOSSIL interface only (i.e. does not emulate a physical UART or COM port), so the doors must support and be configured to use FOSSIL interrupts for input and output. +The kernel component of the Synchronet FOSSIL driver for Microsoft Windows NT-based operating systems is called ''[[faq:win#sbbsexecdll|sbbsexec.dll]]'' and it is loaded when needed by Synchronet automatically if/when [[faq:win#win64|NTVDM]] is enabled((NTVDM is normally only available 32-bit/x86 editions of Windows)).
- +
-=== Windows NT === +
-The kernel component of the Synchronet FOSSIL driver for Microsoft Windows NT-based operating systems (this includes XP, Vista, and Windows 7/8/10) is called ''[[faq:win#sbbsexecdll|sbbsexec.dll]]'' and it is loaded when needed by Synchronet automatically.+
  
 This FOSSIL driver is also a //virtual UART// driver so that external DOS programs that require COM/UART access for input and output (i.e. do not support FOSSIL), can still be used on the BBS. When supported, doors should be configured to use a FOSSIL interface instead of COM/UART for input and output (for better performance and compatibility). This FOSSIL driver is also a //virtual UART// driver so that external DOS programs that require COM/UART access for input and output (i.e. do not support FOSSIL), can still be used on the BBS. When supported, doors should be configured to use a FOSSIL interface instead of COM/UART for input and output (for better performance and compatibility).
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 ===== Configuration ===== ===== Configuration =====
  
-Add the program in SCFG [[util:SCFG:external programs:Online Programs]] under ''%%Available Online Programs...%%'' in a new or existing Online Program Section.+Add the program in SCFG [[util:SCFG:external programs:Online Programs]] under ''%%Online Programs...%%'' in a new or existing Online Program Section.
  
 The most critical [[util:SCFG]] configuration options for successful installation of an online program (door) are: The most critical [[util:SCFG]] configuration options for successful installation of an online program (door) are:
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   * [[:howto:|How-To Pages]]   * [[:howto:|How-To Pages]]
   * [[:howto:cioxtrn]]   * [[:howto:cioxtrn]]
 +  * [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcHJZZmXcXRtJjqCr9_W4eA|Door Game Review Videos]]
 +  * [[https://if50.substack.com/p/1991-trade-wars-2002|Trade Wars 2002]]
  
 {{tag>door fossil uart}} {{tag>door fossil uart}}
  

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