Just some info if anyone is interested on putting up a Synchronet BBS with Dosemu onto a rPi4.

Decided to write this little help file for anyone who may be wanting to put up a Synchronet BBS up on a
Raspberry Pi 4B.

First, the instructions on the Synchronet wiki for Raspberry Pi installation are good and got me real close
to getting a working system up. Unfortunately, the instructions were a bit outdated for my setup.


The output of uname for my setup is as follows:

$ uname -a
Linux rPi4-pi 6.18.50+rpt-rpi-v8 #1 SMP PREEMPT Debian 1:6.18.50-1+rpt1 (2026-09-11) aarch64 GNU/Linux

For this setup I attempted following the instructions on the wiki page. It ended in a failed
compile as the make looked for 'archive.h' which it could not find. Rather than try to find a way
to ensure the files it needed were actually there, I thought, 'The newer Raspberry OSes are just
a modification of a Debian Linux release, but, close to being an Ubuntu release' I figured I would follow
the Unix/Linux installation page instructions, which was exactly what I needed to do.

DOSEMU On a Raspberry Pi 4 with 64 Bit OS

Again, here, the wiki at https://wiki.synchro.net/howto:raspbian_install was a great place to
start, but, did not enable me to get a working DOSEMU setup. To get one up and working, I had to
modify what is stated in the wiki. Most of what follows is duplicated from the wiki:

First, add the public key

$ sudo curl -sS 'https:/keyserver.ubuntu.ccom/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xebe1b5ded2ad45d6' | gpg --dearmor > /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/ubuntu-dosemu2-ppa.gpg

This step seems to be a challenge for some people so you may have to break it into a couple of steps
(this is what I used)

$ curl -sS 'https://keyserver.ubuntu.com/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xebe1b5ded2ad45d6' | gpg --dearmor > /tmp/dosemupgp.txt
$ sudo mv /tmp/dosemupgp.txt /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/ubuntu-dosemu2-ppa.gpg

Second, create a source file

$ sudo echo "deb https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/dosemu2/ppa/ubuntu kinetic main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dosemu2

(This caused issues with my setup as the newer apt program was looking for a different
extension and format for the file. I ended up creating a file named dosemu.sources in
my home directory using the following format and doing a 'sudo' copy:

Use your favorite text editor to create-

Types: deb
URIs: https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/dosemu2/ppa/ubuntu
Suites: noble
Components: main
Signed-By: /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/ubuntu-dosemu2-ppa.gpg

Notice - I used the noble Suite, rather than suggested kinetic Suite. The kinetic Suite gave me 'unsigned'
errors when doing an update, so I selected the noble Suite. The resolute and stonking Suites also gave me
errors. I did not try questing Suite.

Then I just copied the file -

$ sudo cp ~/dosemu2.sources /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dosemu2.sources

The rest just follows the wiki.)

Next, run apt update to make sure there are no issues

$ sudo apt update

Then install the DosEMU2 files

$ apt install dosemu2

A number of files will be installed.

(I will not include the Nelgin configuration instructions, as the wiki covers this.)

---
þ Synchronet þ Bayou Blog BBS, Escatawpa, MS * bamboo.ddns.net

Re: Synchronet and DOSEMU2 on Raspberry Pi 4
By: John Richards to All on Mon Nov 02 2026 05:35 am

Just some info if anyone is interested on putting up a
Synchronet BBS with Dosemu onto a rPi4.

Decided to write this little help file for anyone who may be wanting
to put up a Synchronet BBS up on a Raspberry Pi 4B.

First, the instructions on the Synchronet wiki for Raspberry Pi
installation are good and got me real close to getting a working
system up. Unfortunately, the instructions were a bit outdated
for my setup.

hey, thanks for this. not many people nowadays share the knowledge.


--
https://i.imgur.com/MNKA5U0.png
President of BBS Sysop's Union +++ https://bbses.info/union
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Synchronet and DOSEMU2 on Raspberry Pi 4
By: John Richards to All on Mon Nov 02 2026 05:35:44

Just some info if anyone is interested on putting up a Synchronet BBS with Dosemu onto a rPi4.

Super

First, the instructions on the Synchronet wiki for Raspberry Pi installation are good and got me real close
to getting a working system up. Unfortunately, the instructions were a bit outdated for my setup.

Why not just update the instructions on the wiki then? That's why it's a wiki, so people can update it.

(I will not include the Nelgin configuration instructions, as the wiki covers this.)

Glad my instructions work still :)

---
þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com

Re: Synchronet and DOSEMU2 on Raspberry Pi 4
By: John Richards to All on Mon Nov 02 2026 05:35 am

For this setup I attempted following the instructions on the wiki page. It ended in a failed
compile as the make looked for 'archive.h' which it could not find. Rather

It sounds like you missed the libarchive-dev package, listed on https://wiki.synchro.net/install:nix:prerequisites
--
digital man (rob)

This Is Spinal Tap quote #29:
I find lost luggage. I locate mandolin strings in the middle of Austin!
Norco, CA WX: 71.5øF, 44.0% humidity, 1 mph SE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

nelgin wrote to John Richards <=-

Re: Synchronet and DOSEMU2 on Raspberry Pi 4
By: John Richards to All on Mon Nov 02 2026 05:35:44

Just some info if anyone is interested on putting up a Synchronet BBS with Dosemu onto a rPi4.

Super

First, the instructions on the Synchronet wiki for Raspberry Pi installation are good and got me real close
to getting a working system up. Unfortunately, the instructions were a bit outdated for my setup.

Why not just update the instructions on the wiki then? That's why it's
a wiki, so people can update it.

I will, as soon as I figure out my way around the wiki better. Have been just playing
around with all this, but, am wanting to do a bit more, so teaching myself what I need to know. Retirement is getting way too boring. LOL.

(I will not include the Nelgin configuration instructions, as the wiki covers this.)

Glad my instructions work still :)

In your dosemu tar file, the readme refers to a file named scfg.txt, but,
the package contains no such file. It has a ".scfg.txt.un~", I imagine a VIM undo file,
but can't do anything with it.

---
= Synchronet = End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com

... DalekDOS v(overflow): (I)Obey (V)ision impaired (E)xterminate
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
þ Synchronet þ Bayou Blog BBS, Escatawpa, MS * bamboo.ddns.net

Re: Synchronet and DOSEMU2 on
By: John Richards to nelgin on Mon Nov 02 2026 19:54:51

what I need to know. Retirement is getting way too boring. LOL.

Nobody likes a bragger ;)

In your dosemu tar file, the readme refers to a file named scfg.txt, but, the package contains no such file. It has a ".scfg.txt.un~", I imagine a VIM undo file,
but can't do anything with it.

Err. Let me take a look.

Version 1.2 03/03/2026 remove scfg.txt since example exists in
readme.txt

I should have removed it out of the file list and deleted the undelete files. I'll do that.

---
þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com