For an agency starting a new BBS, even a hard drive as small as 100 megabytes will suffice, although storing files for users to download requires a larger drive. It allow users to insert a telephone line into the computer to communicate with other computers. Although the BBS feasibly could share a phone line with an office telephone, this might confuse callers and would require running the BBS only after business hours. To get the most mileage from a BBS, a separate analog1 phone line works best. It allows computer users to call 24 hours a day without interfering with other incoming calls.
Shareware allows users to obtain the software free for a trial period.
If they like the software, they must register it, which requires paying a nominal fee to the person who developed it. Though much less expensive than commercial software, shareware often works as well or better. The best way to select BBS software is to talk to other people who run bulletin boards in the area. To find these system operators, or SysOps as they are called, agency personnel can check the technology section of the local newspaper and talk to managers of computer stores. Often, the best way to find a system operator is through an existing computer bulletin board.