I've been asked by a few people which terminal to use
and recently having used win9x's internal telnet.exe to look at this bbs
i can understand why *lol* so here is part of a letter i wrote
when asked for recommendations
---------------
Terminal programs I've used
***win9x/2k?***
Hyperterminal (the one that comes with windows often nuff)
(normally refered to as "PE" Private Edition)
pros:
- it's available (usually either installed or on install CD)
- it's free (hey can't beat the price)
- it's relatively stable
- supports Z modem and X modem file transfer protocol
- handles "direct to com port" and "direct to modem drivers" as well as winsock
- small and pretty easy to handle
- it has ansi color support
cons:
- it's not that pretty
- no "real" macros
- low geek status (least here)
- usability for serious work besides bbs's...LOW
*all in all 2/5 points (no idea on help file system, i've not used it)
---
TeraTerm Pro +TtSSH (addin package)+ssh keygen (dos package avail from me)
pro's:
- it's available (me, tucows, multiple other download pages)
- it's free
- it supports ssh 1 (Secure SHell (sorta encrypted telnet)) including forwards
- it can support SSL (or is that sll) well i don't use it but it can do it
with an add in package
- supports Z and X modem
- handles direct to com as well as telnet and ssh
- has macros
- ttssh works pretty well (i've used it a lot)
- can be fit onto a floppy disk including ttssh and ssh key files
- having ssh is useful for many other things like remote secure logins
to ssh servers (i'd never use telnet->ISP over someone elses LAN)
cons:
- not outrageously pretty, but better than HyperTerm(depends on resolution)
- colors in default make at least my bbs look weird (not very..just a bit)
- no internal ssh keygen (needs external one)
- much of setup done in ini file (which on other hand is WELL commented
so it's pretty easy to mess with it)
- the dos(win32console) ssh keygen pack i've put together can be a messy
install
i am in process of simplifying it tho (work in progress)
* all in all 4/5 with points detracted for colours displayed in my bbs
(they are great in isp tho *heh*) and ini file editing sometimes needed
help file system is pretty acceptable, it could be possible to
change colors but i've not looked into it
---
Secure CRT 3.0.1 (i don't have "CRT only" sorry)
pros:
- all setup in menu's
- looks good (both bbs, ssh and telnet)
- all major settings can be done on global or session (host) basis
- all settings can be done in menu's
- has internal ssh keygen(erator) in graphical user interface
- does both ssh1 and ssh2 and port forwards
- supports Zmodem (maybe more) zmodem is all one needs tho
- colors configurable (ANSI)
cons:
- it costs a lot
- script language is messy (no own simplified language) does
ActiveX scripts (like vb script & jscript)
- sometimes locks up from click/keypress combinations on terminal screen
can still close normally and reconnect though so it's not a huge problem
- is a bit large on hdd (4 megs or so)
* all in all 4/5 points added for ease of use and withdrawn for cost and size
---
others worth a look if one wants to go "out there" are:
* Qmodem Pro 2.0 for win9x (commercial and not easy to get) but
supports RIP, Zmodem, Scripts (own language that's pretty easy)
has viewers for graphical files, a pretty good bbs client from end of
"first bbs era", no ssh, although it does do telnet
---
* T2 (terminator 2) __DOS only__ (so far), doesn't do telnet so it's for
dial up bbs's only (which mine isn't) (i am working on getting a
connection with packet (network) driver to Fossil virtual modem) and
thus make it work...this is ___state of the art bbs client soft___ tho
it's more of a workplace/desktop than a pure comm program
has notepad, calculator, fax receive and send, own script language
more settings than one can shake a stick at, QWK (bbs mail and news)
offline reader & replier if i could get this to work with network stack
or get it to work under 95 with network stack
it'd get 4.9/5 cause it's free too, but alas..so far not
it does NOT do ssh, does do RIP (graphics found in some bbs's (not mine)
I've now made T2 do telnet via RLFOSSIl and my NE2K cards packet driver
crynw.. one, works great, some problems getting Zmodem download
but this could be my bbs that has had problems with zmodem earlier too
for dos users this is the ultimate software, it does need some
memory tweaking (has come issues with quarterdeck for one)
but ooh man and wow!!!
---
* qmodemtd for dos and telix for dos, so far i can't get these to handle
the dos network stack, they are not as powerful as T2
not too bad tho cept they cost (have tried them by phone log in to other
bbs's and my isp) no ssh support
* _linux_ telnet
pretty good, not all that pretty though
no ssh support but in linux that can be managed otherways
* linux mtelnet (use minicom as telnet) pretty good but insists on sometimes
loosing tcp connection, so one has to relog in to bbs, which can be annoying
conclusion:
Depending on which operating system one wishes to use there are multiple
choices. If one plans to do ssh as well under M$-Win, i'd say teraterm
or SecureCRT, the latter probably, if one doesn't need to be able to fit it
on a floppy and and if one don't mind paying
If one wants more of a pure bbs program there is qmodem pro win9x
which i haven't tested against my bbs but which i know will work
For the easiest solution telnet.exe in windows or hyperterminal
will do it, but not do it "well", although hyperterminal is better
than telnet.exe .
For Dos if one can make T2 work with network
it is THE ultimate. (and i could)(but it's not fast...max 19200 bps)
For linux i've actually only tried minicom and telnet clients
(the one in my system) so can't really make a judgement
they are both acceptable but not outstanding or even very good
they aren't bad either, middle of the pack pretty much
If one wants to, going to winfiles and tucows will show many
choices,(or simtelnet or linuxberg depending)
words to look for are: (in telnet clients)
ANSI (better still color ANSI) , RIP (prolly won't find it), QWK
Zmodem (Xmodem or Ymodem will do in pinch but Zmodem is better)
and FREE *lol* the unbeatable price *G*
personally i use...
Dostelnet
(win32 console application) (not same as typing telnet in win32)
thin not very good client but fast
win telnet.exe
(not very good)
SecureCRT 3.0.1
very nice
TeraTermPro+TtSSH extension
very nice, but a little messy sometimes, but for portable win32 gui
ssh it's pretty amazing
Qmodem pro 2.0 win9x
(only now i can't cause machine that has it isn't on LAN)
T2 for Dos
OUTSTANDING!!!
so now you are ready to go out there and hit
google or altavista
or if you got an idea above
tucows, winfiles, simtelnet or linuxberg
wlofie
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