Before you install
Choose the right package
ProBoard v4 comes in two packages. Use the one that matches your copy of Windows:
- x64 for 64-bit Windows.
- Win32 for 32-bit Windows.
The package is a zip file named like PBv4-20261102-x64.zip, with a SHA256SUMS.txt file beside it. To check that the download is intact, compare the zip's SHA-256 checksum with the line in that file. Do not mix the two kinds on one system: plug-ins (.P3X files) built for Win32 and for x64 are not interchangeable.
Add the download location for the packages here.
Visual C++ runtime
ProBoard's programs are built to run without extra Microsoft components. If a program does not start on a clean copy of Windows and the message mentions VCRUNTIME140.dll or MSVCP140.dll, install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (version 14, which covers Visual Studio 2017 through 2026) that matches your package:
- x64 package:
https://aka.ms/vc14/vc_redist.x64.exe - Win32 package:
https://aka.ms/vc14/vc_redist.x86.exe
Ports and firewall
PBDispatch listens on the ports for every service you turn on. Only the services you enable open a port. Open the matching ports in Windows Firewall, and forward them in your router if callers come from the Internet; those are separate steps from ProBoard's own settings.
| Service | Port | Protocol | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telnet | 23 | TCP | Always on. The in-browser terminal shares this listener. |
| SSH | 22 | TCP | Off until you enable it in PBConfig. Stop Windows OpenSSH Server first if it owns port 22. |
| RLogin | 513 | TCP | Optional. |
| Web (PBWeb) | 80 | TCP | HTTP only for now. |
| FTP (PBFtp) | 21 | TCP | Plus passive data ports 50100 to 50200. |
| NNTP | 119 | TCP | Plain or STARTTLS. |
| NNTP over TLS | 563 | TCP | The simplest choice for PBMessages. |
| BinkP and EMSI mail | 24554 | TCP | FidoNet-style mail. |
| Inter-BBS who is online | 11 | UDP | Only if inter-BBS messaging is on. |
| Inter-BBS messages | 18 | TCP | Same. |
| Inter-BBS finger | 79 | TCP | Optional, off by default. |
| PBLink QWK hub | 21 and 50000 to 50040 | TCP | Only if you run a hub. It can share port 21 with PBFtp. |
Two services cannot use the same port on the same protocol. PBConfig refuses to save a clash on its Services screen. After you change a port, a session limit or an on/off switch, restart PBDispatch.
To open a port from an administrator command prompt, for example Telnet:
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="ProBoard Telnet TCP 23" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=23
Your board also makes outgoing connections for the features you use, such as program updates and the BBS list (HTTPS to the ProBoard web site), IRC, QWK polling and mail polling. Outgoing connections are normally allowed without any change.
Before you start
- If you already have a ProBoard system, make a copy of its whole folder first. The installer makes its own backup, but a copy of the folder is cheap insurance.
- Close the old BBS and every node before installing over it. Windows will not replace a program that is running.
- Decide where ProBoard will live. The installer suggests
C:\ProBoard. Choose a short path without unusual characters.