Telnet - List of Telnet Servers

Telnet is a legacy, text-based network protocol used to establish interactive sessions with remote systems over TCP/IP. For many years, Telnet was a common way to access university information services, bulletin board systems (BBS), MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons), and other interactive text applications. Today, Telnet is largely considered obsolete for general remote access because it sends traffic in clear text and provides no encryption.

This page is maintained as a historical and educational reference. Many of the systems listed below were once publicly accessible via Telnet and are still referenced in online communities. However, availability is not guaranteed. In addition, modern web browsers typically do not support opening Telnet sessions from links, and many networks block outbound Telnet (TCP port 23) by default.

If you are attempting to connect to a Telnet service, you will usually need (1) a local Telnet client, (2) a network path that allows outbound traffic to the required TCP port, and (3) a host that is actively running a Telnet service. Even then, many hobby and community services may be intermittent or may have moved to other access methods.

Why These “Telnet Links” Often Do Not Work Today

Historically, it was common to publish a clickable telnet:// URL. In modern environments, these often appear “broken” for reasons unrelated to the website hosting the list.

Common causes include:

Browser limitations: most modern browsers do not launch Telnet sessions from telnet:// links.
Network filtering: many ISPs, corporate firewalls, and cloud networks block outbound Telnet (commonly TCP/23) due to security concerns.
Service availability: many public Telnet servers were operated by individuals, universities, or small communities and may have been shut down, moved, or migrated to SSH or web access.

Security note: Telnet traffic is unencrypted. Do not use Telnet for sensitive information or credentials. For secure remote access and administration, SSH is the modern standard.

For educational or testing use, Telnet can still be helpful when used intentionally on known-safe systems, and when you understand the risks and constraints above.

Historically Notable Telnet Servers (Miscellaneous)

The following entries are presented as a historical list of Telnet-accessible services. Availability may be intermittent or unavailable. These are provided in a copy/paste format rather than clickable Telnet links to avoid false expectations from modern browsers and SEO link checkers.

rainmaker.wunderground.com — weather via Telnet (historical)
india.colorado.edu:13 — time service (historical)
telehack.com:23 — Telehack (text-based environment; availability varies)
freechess.org:5000 — Free Internet Chess Server (availability varies)
towel.blinkenlights.nl:23 — Star Wars ASCII animation (often blocked or intermittent)
towel.blinkenlights.nl:666 — BOFH excuse server (often blocked or intermittent)
mtrek.com:1701 — Star Trek themed game (historical / availability varies)
xmltrek.com:1701 — Star Trek themed game variant (historical / availability varies)

If you want to attempt a connection from a system with a Telnet client installed, you would typically use:

telnet telehack.com 23
telnet freechess.org 5000

In many environments, you may find that the connection fails due to network policy or because the remote service is no longer active.

Historically Notable Telnet Servers (MUDs, Talkers, and BBS Systems)

Telnet was widely used by MUDs and BBS systems for decades. Many communities still exist, but access methods and hostnames frequently change. The entries below are included as a reference list; current status is not guaranteed.

bbs.archaicbinary.net:23 — Archaic Binary
ateraan.com:4002 — New Worlds - Ateraan
avalon-rpg.com:23 — Avalon: The Legend Lives
aardmud.org:4000 — Aardwolf MUD
bbs.armageddonbbs.com:23 — Armageddon BBS (historical listing)
52.88.68.92:1234 — Cuban Bar
TextMMOde.com:23 — Sands of Time / Deep Space MMO
legendofthereddragon.ca:23 — Legend of the Red Dragon (Canada)
lord.stabs.org:23 — Legend of the Red Dragon
thehatshop.mudhosting.net:3000 — Hallowed Halls
eclipse.cs.pdx.edu:7680 — New Moon
batmud.bat.org:23 — BatMUD
forgottenkingdoms.org:4000 — Forgotten Kingdoms
mush.shelteringcolorado.com:2601 — Sheltering Sky: Colorado by Night
igormud.org:1701 — Igor MUD
zombiemud.org:23 — Zombie MUD
achaea.com:23 — Achaea, Dreams of Divine Lands
gcomm.com:23 — Galacticomm BBS
1984.ws:23 — 1984

If you are using a Telnet client and your network permits outbound access, a typical connection attempt looks like:

telnet aardmud.org 4000
telnet achaea.com 23

Directories and Listings (More Likely to Be Current)

Because individual Telnet servers frequently change, directories are often more useful than static lists. These sites may provide more current information about active BBS and MUD services.

Synchronet BBS directory:
http://synchro.net/sbbslist.html

The Mud Connector (MUD and MOO listings):
http://www.mudconnect.com/

Note: directories may list multiple access methods (Telnet, SSH, web clients). When available, prefer secure access methods such as SSH over Telnet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why don’t Telnet links open when I click them?
Most modern browsers do not support launching Telnet sessions from telnet:// links. You typically need a local Telnet client and a network that allows outbound Telnet traffic.

Is Telnet still used today?
Telnet is still used in limited situations for diagnostics, lab environments, and legacy systems. For remote administration and secure access, SSH is the standard replacement.

Why do Telnet connections fail even when the hostname resolves?
DNS resolution only confirms the hostname exists. The Telnet service may be offline, moved to a different port, blocked by a firewall, or disabled by the host.

Is Telnet safe to use?
Telnet is not encrypted. Avoid sending credentials or sensitive data. Prefer secure alternatives (SSH, HTTPS) whenever possible.

How do I test whether a TCP port is reachable?
You can test reachability with tools such as a Telnet client, or other TCP connectivity tests, but results depend on your local network policies and the remote host’s configuration.

Integration and Protocol Solutions

Telnet is a legacy protocol. In industrial and building automation environments, modern integration and diagnostics typically rely on protocols designed for structured data exchange and operational control. Chipkin specializes in protocol integration, gateway solutions, and diagnostic tooling for these systems.

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