FidoNet is a worldwide computer network that is used for communication between bulletin board systems (BBSes). It uses a store-and-forward system to exchange private (email) and public (forum) messages between the BBSes in the network, as well as other files and protocols in some cases.
Hand-compiled list of Fido BBS systems, June 1984. This document formed the basis of the first nodelists.
A bulletin board system (BBS), also called a computer bulletin board service (CBBS), was a computer server running software that allowed users to connect to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, the user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging messages with other users through public message boards and sometimes via direct chatting. In the early 1980s, message networks such as FidoNet were developed to provide services such as NetMail, which is similar to internet-based email.
Ward Christensen holds an expansion card from the original CBBS S-100 host machine.
The 300 baud Smartmodem led to an initial wave of early BBS systems.
Amiga 3000 running a two-line BBS
BBS ANSI Login Screen example