Short: DCTelnet - Telnet/BBS client with Zmodem Author: Bruno FREDERIC Uploader: bruno frederic+aminet gmail com Type: comm/tcp Version: 1.9 Architecture: m68k-amigaos >= 2.0 Distribution: Aminet DCTelnet is a Telnet client for Commodore Amiga computers. It is easy to use, lightweight, and reliable. DCTelnet is ideal for accessing Telnet-enabled BBS systems on classic Amiga hardware, and supports file transfers via ZModem. More info/sources : https://github.com/bruno-frederic/dctelnet Note: This release provides recompiled versions of DCTelnet including a 68000-compatible binary for classic Amiga systems (A500, A600, A2000), as well as an optimized 68020 build. DCTelnet was originally written by Zed. As of January 2026, the DCTelnet 1.5/1.6 releases available on Aminet target 68020+ CPUs only. This new release also offers simplified installation, improved documentation and bug fixes. - Help wanted: UI icons To give DCTelnet a more modern look, I'm looking for help to design a new set of toolbar icons. If you have pixel-art or icon design skills, your help would be greatly appreciated. See github issue #6 for details: https://github.com/bruno-frederic/dctelnet/issues/6 - Contact & Discussion: Want to chat, give feedback, or share your ideas about DCTelnet? Join the conversation on the EAB forum thread: https://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=121939 --- v1.9 Changelog Features: - Improved Telnet Support The Telnet protocol engine has been completely reworked and now uses a state machine compliant with RFC 854 and RFC 1143. Telnet commands are correctly recognized even when split across multiple TCP packets. Supported Telnet options now include: BINARY ; SGA (Suppress Go Ahead) ; TTYPE (Terminal Type) ; ECHO & NAWS (Negotiate About Window Size) As part of this redesign, several legacy compatibility options have been removed: Simple Telnet Negotiation ; Strip Colour & CRLF Correction - ReqTools optional at startup DCTelnet no longer requires reqtools.library during startup. The external library is now loaded only when one of these specific functions is used: - Screen Palette settings - Screen Mode Selection (on systems prior to AmigaOS 2.1) This improves compatibility on minimal Amiga setups and reduces external requirements. - XEmulator Library Settings Panel Added a new settings panel to configure XEmulator.library options directly from the DCTelnet user interface. Settings are currently session-only and are not saved between DCTelnet runs. Internal Refactoring: - More robust library opening and closing logic. - Refactored screen, display, windows and console initialization and shutdown code. - Refactored XEmulator.library integration. - Improved maintainability and internal code structure. Bug Fixes: - The "Use XEM Library" menu option is now automatically unchecked when XEmulator.library cannot be opened. - Fixed a progress gauge overflow that could occur during file transfers larger than approximately 4.36 MB. - Fixed several issues occurring when DCTelnet was iconified to Workbench. - DCTelnet can now correctly spawn additional instances regardless of the executable filename. Previously, some functionality only worked when the executable was named exactly "DCTelnet". Libraries & Packaging: - The installer no longer renames an existing phone book in the destination drawer, preventing accidental loss of user settings. Build & Toolchain: - Added a Docker/Podman container running telnetd for testing purposes. --- ## Features - 68000 compatible (no 68020 required) - ZModem upload & download using XPR libraries - Fast and efficient design : DCTelnet access the bsdsocket API directly - Address book with username & password entries - Additional terminal emulations via XEM libraries - User-definable screen modes & fonts - Application can be iconified while running - multiple simultaneous Telnet connections - No MUI, ClassAct or ReAction required - No telser.device required --- ## Requirements - Kickstart / Workbench v2.00 (V36) or higher - A TCP/IP stack: AmiTCP, Miami, UAE bsdsocket.library or compatible --- ## Installation 1. Download the DCTelnet package either from Aminet: https://aminet.net/package/comm/tcp/DCTelnet or from the GitHub releases section: https://github.com/bruno-frederic/dctelnet/releases 2. The DCTelnet archive includes an Installer script. When available, using the *Installer* tool is the recommended installation method. --- ### Manual installation On older AmigaOS versions where the *Installer* tool is not present (for example, pre-3.1.4 systems), DCTelnet can be installed manually. In this case, copy the required files to their respective system directories: - DCTelnet/Devs/ibmcon.device -> DEVS: - Libraries from DCTelnet/Libs -> LIBS: - Fonts from DCTelnet/Fonts -> FONTS: On AmigaOS / Kickstart 2.00 & 2.02, the default versions of reqtools.library and xprzmodem.library fail to load. Replace them with the following compatible versions: - DCTelnet/Libs-r36/reqtools.library -> LIBS: - DCTelnet/Libs-r36/xprzmodem.library -> LIBS: --- ## How to use Please refer to the included DCTelnet.guide documentation for detailed usage instructions. It is in AmigaGuide format and can be opened directly on AmigaOS 3.* On AmigaOS 2.*, the AmigaGuide tool is required (available on Aminet: https://aminet.net/package/text/hyper/aguide34). In this case, update the "Default Tool" of the DCTelnet.guide icon to: SYS:Utilities/AmigaGuide --- ## Known Bugs ### Character display issues and font selection If, after connecting to a BBS, some characters appear incorrect or garbled, this is usually related to the selected terminal font. Make sure the font matches the character set expected by the remote system. Many PC-based BBSes require an ANSI-compatible font to properly display line art and ANSI graphics. In such cases, select the bundled HyperANSI font. On Amiga-based BBSes, graphics are often designed for the classic Topaz font. This is the case, for example, on Retro 32 BBS. Important: After switching the terminal font, quit DCTelnet and restart it before reconnecting. This avoids the display issue described below and ensures correct rendering. ### Connection stuck after changing display settings (fonts, XEM, screen mode) or iconifying the application (fixed in v1.8) After iconifying the application or changing certain display-related settings (such as the terminal font, disabling the toolbar, enabling the XEM library, or switching the screen mode), the current connection and any future connections may appear successful, but no output is displayed. The status remains *Connected*, while the terminal window no longer shows any data. This issue has existed since DCTelnet 1.1 and occurs when used with certain versions of "bsdsocket.library", notably UAE bsdsocket.library 4.1 (WinUAE) and Amiberry's built-in library. The problem happens because "ibmcon.device" incorrectly releases an internal system signal (bit 31). Since v1.8, DCTelnet prevents this signal from being used, avoiding the connection freeze. Workaround before v1.8: After modifying any of these settings, quit DCTelnet and restart it. Greetings to Marius (aka Firestone on EAB forum) for his help reporting this bug and testing DCTelnet across different configurations. ### Address Book Profile may not be saved correctly (fixed in v1.8) This bug has been present at least since the original version 1.1 release (December 1997). Before v1.8, changes made in the Address Book Profile were not saved correctly when navigating between fields with the mouse. Workaround before v1.8: When editing an Address Book Profile: - Press [Enter] after typing text in each field. - Or move to the next field using [Tab], then press [Enter] before leaving the profile window. ### On AmigaOS / Kickstart 2.00 & 2.02 (fixed in v1.8) The xprzmodem.library bundled with DCTelnet since v1.1 fails to load on these OS versions. Starting with v1.8, a compatible version of the library is included in the "Libs-r36" directory. --- ## Build environment As of June 2026: - IDE: VS Code (on Windows) - Docker/Podman running a telnetd container for testing - Compiler: VBCC and GNU Make on Windows, using my custom toolchain : https://github.com/bruno-frederic/vbcc-bin/tree/Bruno_toolchain - The project can also be built with SAS/C v6.58 under AmigaOS 3.2 ### Source code All source code referenced below, including DCTelnet 1.5 / 1.6 and its required third-party libraries, is publicly available on Aminet. - Based on the DCTelnet 1.5 / 1.6 sources: https://aminet.net/package/comm/tcp/dct16_src The required third-party source code dependencies are also included: - ReqTools 2.9 from https://aminet.net/package/util/libs/ReqToolsDev - XPRZModem 3.1 library and sources from "comm/misc/xprz31.lha" package on Aminet CD 2 - Xem 2.0 from https://aminet.net/package/comm/term/XEM2_0 --- ## Credits - DCTelnet was originally written by Zed. - new 68000-compatible build by Bruno FREDERIC - ReqTools is Copyright © Nico François and Magnus Holmgren --- ## License The original DCTelnet code by Zed was released without an explicit license and remains all rights reserved. See "LICENSE" file for details.