Hi, I've been building out my BBS as quickly as possible, and think I may have come across an issue that I'm hoping someone else may have figured out.

I'm trying to install and configure DoorMUD to work with SynchroNet Linux via dosemu. Between the two documents that were Google's top search results, one bieng the linux-dosemu docuent under /sbbs/doccs, and a Sysop's log of how to set this up. Unfortunately, I am either getting stuck at an early step of either documentation.

Current status:
- DoorMUD is installed to /sbbs/xtrn/dmud, with the DOS version of DoorMUD expanded in that directory.
- DOSemu is configured and able to open a C: drive to DR-DOS 7.03

The next step in the documentation is to run dmud in -loacl mode. Problem is, doing that results in a blank screen, and hangs DOSEmu
From the BBS side, if I open DoorMUD from within the xtrn section, I get an error that "DOS programs are unavailable on this node".

The first thing I verified was scfg / servers / terminal services / DOS program support / YES

Does anyone have more up-to-date instructions on installing/configuring SynchroNet Linux to run DoorMUD? This is a game I have enjoyed on standalone MUD servers across the Interent until Telnet was obsoleted.

Thans in advance for any help anyone can offer, and secondly if anyone has any current contact regarding registration, as I'd like to get the Pro support and dive into customization straight away.
- Brian Davidson/Winzlo
--
Brian Davidson <Winzlo>
The Down-Lo BBS - Telnet/SSH: bbs.winzlo.com
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Re: SynchroNet Linux + DosEmu + DoorMUD?
By: Winzlo to All on Thu Apr 02 2026 02:53 am

From the BBS side, if I open DoorMUD from within the xtrn section, I get an error that "DOS programs are unavailable on this node".

Set SCFG->Servers->Terminal Server->DOS Program Support to "Yes".
--
digital man (rob)

Sling Blade quote #7:
Karl: I don't reckon the Good Lord would send anybody like you to Hades.
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Re: SynchroNet Linux + DosEmu + DoorMUD?
By: Winzlo to All on Thu Apr 02 2026 02:53 am

The first thing I verified was scfg / servers / terminal services / DOS program support / YES

This was the obvious setting. Toggling this either way made no difference, though I've left it set to Yes because that's the behavior I expect (but am not seeing). I'm on 3.21e but this happened on 3.21d as well - thought the upgrade could have fixed something, but not in this instance.
--
Brian Davidson <Winzlo>
The Down-Lo BBS - Telnet/SSH: bbs.winzlo.com
---
þ Synchronet þ The Down-Lo BBS * Telnet/SSH: bbs.winzlo.com * https://winzlo.com/
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
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Re: SynchroNet Linux + DosEmu + DoorMUD?
By: Winzlo to Digital Man on Thu Apr 02 2026 10:50 pm

Re: SynchroNet Linux + DosEmu + DoorMUD?
By: Winzlo to All on Thu Apr 02 2026 02:53 am

The first thing I verified was scfg / servers / terminal services / DOS program support / YES

This was the obvious setting. Toggling this either way made no difference, though I've left it set to Yes because that's the behavior I expect (but am not seeing). I'm on 3.21e but this happened on 3.21d as well - thought the upgrade could have fixed something, but not in this instance.

It appears you also need to set these appropriately in the [bbs] section of sbbs.ini:

; To setup the dosemu cmd path and ini:
UseDOSemu = false
DOSemuPath = /usr/bin/dosemu.bin
; leave off dir path to use ctrl dir
DOSemuConfPath = dosemu.conf

as documented here: https://wiki.synchro.net/howto:dosemu
--
digital man (rob)

Steven Wright quote #3:
Half the people you know are below average.
Norco, CA WX: 70.5øF, 20.0% humidity, 9 mph NW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
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Re: SynchroNet Linux + DosEmu + DoorMUD?
By: Digital Man to Winzlo on Fri Apr 03 2026 10:49 am

It appears you also need to set these appropriately in the [bbs] section of sbbs.ini:

; To setup the dosemu cmd path and ini:
UseDOSemu = false
DOSemuPath = /usr/bin/dosemu.bin
; leave off dir path to use ctrl dir
DOSemuConfPath = dosemu.conf

It also looks like trying to do this on a Proxmox LXC is no bueno. I either run into display issues or illegal instruction issues, even trying to get FreeDOS installed.

So, my next goal is to spin up an actual VM and transition /sbbs over there, maintaining UID/GID uniformity, and all the packages I needed to build both dosemu2 as well as synchronet. I have seen it run if I hack together a long command-line, but not if I expect it to bring me to a C:\> prompt or run any other utility without spiking the CPU.

I prefer not run a door server VM. If I have to spin up a net ne wVM, might as well give the BBS everything it needs right off the top.

Now, if anyone has any other radical options that would allow me to leave it where it is, and specifically covers the dosemu2 portion of the setup (compile, install, OS setup, config for door use), that would be very helpful. The Synchronet wiki does a grat job with the post-dosemu part, and I'd be fine if there was an Ubuntu pacakge for dosemu2 and dosemu2-freedos, but there are not.

Sorry for rambling, I've been up 24 hours straight working on this and 1 other issue. Time to catch some Z's. :)

---
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