diff --git a/html/basic.html b/html/basic.html index 534c4f74..1b85243c 100755 --- a/html/basic.html +++ b/html/basic.html @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
-
Last update 25-Dec-2001
+
Last update 29-Dec-2001

 

MBSE BBS Basic Installation

@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ this error.

Step 2: Running the installation script.

+If you are upgrading, proceed with step 4. If not, follow the next steps +very carefully! The installation script must be run by root. It checks if there is a previous or failed installation on your system. If that's so the script will not run. In other words, you can only run this script once. The script makes @@ -164,7 +166,9 @@ will not be installed again. Now you must start the mbtask daemon by hand by typing /opt/mbse/bin/mbtask. Check the file /opt/mbse/log/mbtask.log for startup problems. You may notice that the program mbcico is started everytime, this is not a problem, it simply doesn't work right -now because you haven't configured anything yet. +now because you haven't configured anything yet. The first time mbtask is +started on your system it will create a lot of new configuration files with +default settings.

 

Step 5: (RedHat) startup problems.

diff --git a/html/dist.html b/html/dist.html index aa6b70c0..d3169bdf 100644 --- a/html/dist.html +++ b/html/dist.html @@ -11,16 +11,18 @@
-
Last update 06-Jun-2001
+
Last update 29-Dec-2001

 

-

Linux Distributions.

+

Unix Distributions.

Which distribution

Linux is available in several distributions, they all have advantages and disadvantages for bbs use. Which distribution to pick is very personal. +Since late 2001 a port to FreeBSD is available, from version 0.33.19 this +port is ready to use. You should also consider the fact if the bbs machine is the same machine on which you do your daily work on or if you use a seperate system for the bbs. I will describe the distributions below for use on dedicated bbs computers, @@ -60,6 +62,17 @@ The installation works on a Debian 2.1 and 2.2 distribution without any problems How to build an optimized Debian system is not tested by me.

 

+

FreeBSD

+

+I test on a FreeBSD 3.2 stable release. Newer releases will not run on the +hardware I have available. (Don't ask me why, they crash during install). +The setup is quite simple, do a small setup (average user), and add some needed packages +from the ports collection such as gcc, mgetty, infozip etc. The test machine +has a 500 MB harddisk, about 250 MB is still free. Note that the older +precompiled mgetty packages may not always have Fidonet support compiled in. +You may need to build mgetty yourself if you have an older FreeBSD distribution. +

 

+

Famous last words...

I don't have the diskspace for all kinds of Linux distributions to install @@ -68,7 +81,7 @@ installed. Also, I don't buy every new distro that's available. If you have a problem with that, just send me the new distro on CD to test by snailmail.

 

-Back Go Back +Back Go Back diff --git a/html/flow.html b/html/flow.html index 270ad113..6548adb9 100644 --- a/html/flow.html +++ b/html/flow.html @@ -6,21 +6,21 @@ -Running a BBS under Linux. +Running a BBS under Unix.

-
Last update 06-Jun-2001
+
Last update 29-Dec-2001

 

-

Running a BBS under Linux.

+

Running a BBS under Unix.

Introduction

Everyone who has been running a (single line) BBS under DOS until now will -need to understand that running a BBS under Linux (or any other multitasking +need to understand that running a BBS under Unix (or any other multitasking os) is completly different of what you are used to. Under DOS things were quite simple, from AUTOEXEC.BAT you started a new .BAT file that would run forever and started all needed programs after each other. @@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ a BBS on a small lan with a fileserver and workstations for each line, are already more used to the idea of running more programs at the same time, and to "signal" what to do next with semafore files.

-The Linux aproach is more or less the same, but there are more differences. +The Unix aproach is more or less the same, but there are more differences. The main difference is that there is no mailer connected with the modem waiting for a call, instead there is a getty process watching your modem(s). Another big difference is that you don't see what's happening, there is no screen @@ -42,16 +42,17 @@ you don't like that, stop now and go back to your old DOS bbs. It's just the way everything is done.

Programs that must start at specific times (events in DOS), are started from -cron, this is the event scheduler for Linux (and other Unixes). With this +cron, this is the event scheduler for Unix. With this program maintenance can be started, polls created etc. For starting programs when they are needed there is a taskmanager loaded at system bootup. This taskmanager "watches" the semafore directory of the bbs and will start what -is needed. +is needed. It will also watch the mailer outbound to see if there are nodes +to call.

 

Waiting for a call .....

-Under Linux this is done with the mgetty program, this is the +Under Unix this is done with the mgetty program, this is the process that is connected with each modem (or ISDN adapter) and waits for a call. The mgetty program (written by Gert Doering, gert@greenie.muc.de) will detect the call, and find out what or who did make the call. It can detect @@ -65,14 +66,14 @@ installation manuals, but be sure to compile it with Fido and PPP support.

A Human is calling.

-This could be a bbs user. For each user to login to your bbs there must be a +This could be a bbs user. For each user to login to your bbs there is a unix account. They automatic create such an account the first time they login with the bbs account. During the creation of their account the shell that is installed for there account is the mbsebbs binary, so that's the only thing that they get if they call in. When they logout the bbs, or drop carrier etc, the session is ended and mgetty takes over the line again. -Note that they will never can get a Unix shell -unless you install a door in the bbs that calls a shell for them. +Note that they never can get a Unix shell unless you install a door +in the bbs that calls a shell for them.

There are probably more accounts on your system that can callin, mbse is such an account, this is the MBSE BBS maintenance account. This user will @@ -98,8 +99,7 @@ take over from mgetty. It will establish a mail session with the caller and the mail and or files will be exchanged just like any DOS mailer would do. After the call, mbcico will hangup and mgetty will take control of your modem again. If there is any mail received, mbcico will place the semafore mailin -so that another process can take care of the received mail. Mbcico will also -detect some IEMSI terminal programs (Frontdoor), and will start the bbs. +so that another process can take care of the received mail.

 

There is mail in the inbound

@@ -131,7 +131,10 @@ mails too. Note that other crashmails are send anytime. Also note that packed mail and files are not send during ZMH. If a node calls you during ZMH he will get everything that's waiting, including packed mail and files. The task manager (more on that later) calculates the Zone Mail Hour from UTC time, you don't -have to change anything for summer- and wintertime. +have to change anything for summer- and wintertime. The taskmanager knows about +all zone mail hours of all Fidonet zones (1..6). For othernets, zone mail hour +is taken from the setup as default value. The taskmanager will also handle the +mail for nodes with the Txx flag (FSC-0062) on the right times.

 

Daily maintenane

@@ -145,7 +148,7 @@ I have made several scripts for this, daily, weekly and monthly.

Because Linux is a 32 bit os, not bothered with a graphical user interface (unless you install it), it has all the time in the world to serve your -bbs programs. Background programs are build to release time to the Linux os, +bbs programs. Background programs are build to release time to the Unix os, they don't need to run fast because it's background processing. The bbs and the mailer, have a low server load although there is no timerelease build in. Only the bbs has some short moments when it needs a lot of your system, diff --git a/html/images/tty.gif b/html/images/tty.gif index 042d7a56..94b82d04 100644 Binary files a/html/images/tty.gif and b/html/images/tty.gif differ diff --git a/html/images/tty1.gif b/html/images/tty1.gif index 168412ef..09c2e90d 100644 Binary files a/html/images/tty1.gif and b/html/images/tty1.gif differ diff --git a/html/images/tty2.gif b/html/images/tty2.gif index df2e9ee4..c6bc30c8 100644 Binary files a/html/images/tty2.gif and b/html/images/tty2.gif differ diff --git a/html/images/tty3.gif b/html/images/tty3.gif index 19c787f5..90dad9c5 100644 Binary files a/html/images/tty3.gif and b/html/images/tty3.gif differ diff --git a/html/programs/mbtask.html b/html/programs/mbtask.html index 2acc3441..c80e3b63 100644 --- a/html/programs/mbtask.html +++ b/html/programs/mbtask.html @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@

-
Last update 12-Nov-2001
+
Last update 29-Dec-2001

 

mbtask - MBSE BBS Taskmanager

@@ -28,18 +28,18 @@ This deamon keeps track of all client actions, does the logging for the clients, does database locking, authorizes clients, set/resets users "do not disturb flags", sends and receives chat messages, -keeps track of Zone Mail Hour and the BBS open/close status. Communication -between mbsed and the client programs is done via Unix +keeps track of Zone Mail Hour, the status of the mail and files in the outbound, +and the BBS open/close status. +Communication between mbsed and the client programs is done via Unix Datagram sockets. The protocol used to communicate between mbtask and the clients is explained later. This daemon also watches the semafore directory for some special files. It also starts programs when they are needed. The very first time mbtask is started it creates a default config.data and task.data, -the main configuration and task configuration files +the main configuration and task configuration files. +Then it calls mbsetup init to build the default databases. mbtask should be started at system boot so the bbs system will start working. The init script that is installed on your system will do that. -This program is introduced with MBSE BBS v0.33.16 -and replaces the run_inout and mailer scripts that were called by cron every minute.

After startup and initalization mbtask runs internally once per second forever. If there is nothing to do then this time will slowly increase upto 5 seconds. This time will be reset @@ -60,12 +60,19 @@ But before any program is started a number of things are checked: will shutdown and power off, that's why it's fatal and there is no way back.

  • The status of the bbs will be checked, is it open or closed. If it is closed, no jobs will be started. -
  • The Zone Mail Hour is checked. If ZMH begins the semafore's zmh is created and - a outbound scan is forced. - If ZMH ends the semafore zmh is removed a new outbound scan is forced. +
  • The Zone Mail Hour is checked. If ZMH begins the semafore's zmh is + created. + If ZMH ends the semafore zmh is removed.
  • Each twenty seconds a ping is send to the IP addresses defined with mbsetup to check if the internet can be reached. If both ping addresses fail, it is assumed that - the internet can't be reached. Note: this is for future use! + the internet can't be reached. After a status change, the outbound will be + scanned. +
  • Scan the mailer outbound for work. This builds a list of nodes with mail + in the outbound and sets the necessary flags on nodes who may be called. + It will also set a time when something will change for a node, ie. a zone + mail hour is reached, or a mail window for a node with Txx flags is + reached. Internally this scheduler runs at the UTC clock because Fidonet + has all times defined in UTC. Each new minute the timestamp of semafore mbtask.last is updated so that you can check that mbtask is running. Also each minute is checked if the system configuration files are @@ -119,7 +126,7 @@ of the bbs structure.

    Security.

    -mbtaskmbtask is installed setuid root. This is needed to initialize a raw socket for the ping function. After that is done the privilege drops to user mbse before the child process is created and the rest of the initialisation is done. @@ -240,7 +247,7 @@ Reply: 100:1,n; n: 0=Ok, 1=Do not disturb, 2=Buffer full -CKCH:2,channel,user; Kill user chatmode (for Sysops and moderators). - Group G, Global commands. + Group G, Global commands. Command: GNOP:0; No OPerations. Reply: 100:0; Ok. @@ -313,8 +320,8 @@ are retrieved from /etc/mtab which is the actual mountstatus. This is used by the mbmon program to get a "live" view of your filesystems.

     

    -Index Back to index  -Main Back to Main index +IndexBack to index  +MainBack to Main index

    • diff --git a/html/setup/taskmgr.html b/html/setup/taskmgr.html index 2f3ec58e..7f85852d 100644 --- a/html/setup/taskmgr.html +++ b/html/setup/taskmgr.html @@ -1,67 +1,72 @@ - - - - - - - - -MBSE BBS Setup - Task Manager. - - - -
    -
    Last update 07-Jul-2001
    -

     

    - -

    MBSE BBS Setup - Task Manager.

    -

    - -

    Introduction

    -

    -The task manager is the daemon which controls the MBSE BBS. It watches semafore's and spawns -programs in the background. The behaviour is setup in this screen. -

    - -

    Edit Task Manager

    -

    -

    -Mailout   Action for semafore mailout.
-Mailin    Action for semafore mailin.
-Newnews   Action for semafore newnews.
-Index 1   Nodelist compiler 1 for semafore mbindex.
-Index 2   Nodelist compiler 2 for semafore mbindex.
-Index 3   Nodelist compiler 3 for semafore mbindex.
-Msglink   Action for semafore msglink.
-Reqindex  Action for semafore reqindex.
-ISP conn  Not in use yet!
-ISP disc  Not in use yet!
-Ping #1   IP address of node to ping to check the internet.
-Ping #2   IP address of second node to ping to check the internet.
-ISP blks  Set to true if you have internet dialup and if it blocks normal dial.
-Max Load  Max system load until processing is suspended.
-ZMH start Start of Zone Mail Hour in UTC time.
-ZMH end   End of Zone Mail Hour in UTC time.
-Debug     Enable debug logging.
-Max POTS  Maximum simultaneous outgoing calls (for now ISDN + POTS + TCP/IP).
-Max ISDN  Not in use yet!
-Max TCP   Not in use yet!
-
    -

    -Default are the original MBSE commands filled in, but you could also call -shell scripts. As you can see, the task manager is not yet finished. -

    -The two IP addresses to ping need to be IP addresses, not hostnames. This is the -most reliable way to check the connection. You should enter the IP addresses of -the nameservers of your own ISP here. One of these will always be up, so if one -of these can be reached, the internet connection is assumed to be alive. -

    - -

    - -Back Back to index  -Home Back to main index -

    - - - + + + + + + + + +MBSE BBS Setup - Task Manager. + + + +
    +
    Last update 29-Dec-2001
    +

     

    + +

    MBSE BBS Setup - Task Manager.

    +

    + +

    Introduction

    +

    +The task manager is the daemon which controls the MBSE BBS. It watches semafore's and spawns +programs in the background. It also watches the outbound to see if there are +nodes to call. +The behaviour is setup in this screen. +

    + +

    Edit Task Manager

    +

    +

    +Mailout   Action for semafore mailout.
+Mailin    Action for semafore mailin.
+Newnews   Action for semafore newnews.
+Index 1   Nodelist compiler 1 for semafore mbindex.
+Index 2   Nodelist compiler 2 for semafore mbindex.
+Index 3   Nodelist compiler 3 for semafore mbindex.
+Msglink   Action for semafore msglink.
+Reqindex  Action for semafore reqindex.
+ISP conn  Not in use yet!
+ISP disc  Not in use yet!
+Ping #1   IP address of node to ping to check the internet.
+Ping #2   IP address of second node to ping to check the internet.
+ISP blks  Set to true if you have internet dialup and it blocks normal dial.
+Max Load  Max system load until processing is suspended.
+ZMH start Start of Zone Mail Hour in UTC time.
+ZMH end   End of Zone Mail Hour in UTC time.
+Debug     Enable debug logging.
+Max POTS  Maximum simultaneous outgoing calls over analogue modems.
+Max ISDN  Maximum simultaneous outgoing calls over ISDN channels.
+Max TCP   Maximum simultaneous outgoing calls over the internet.
+
    +

    +Default are the original MBSE commands filled in, but you could also call +shell scripts. +

    +The two IP addresses to ping need to be IP addresses, not hostnames. This is the +most reliable way to check the connection. You should enter the IP addresses of +the nameservers of your own ISP here. One of these will always be up, so if one +of these can be reached, the internet connection is assumed to be alive. The +status of the internet connection is used to decide if it is allowed (and +possible) to call TCP/IP nodes. Calling these nodes is not depending on ZMH +unless the destination is not a CM node. +

    + +

    + +Back Back to index  +Home Back to main index +

    + + + diff --git a/html/setup/ttyinfo.html b/html/setup/ttyinfo.html index 4bd62e2b..fd84d178 100644 --- a/html/setup/ttyinfo.html +++ b/html/setup/ttyinfo.html @@ -1,73 +1,73 @@ - - - - - - - - -MBSE BBS Setup - TTY Lines. - - - -
    -
    Last update 29-Jan-2001
    -

     

    - -

    MBSE BBS Setup - TTY Lines.

    -

    - -

    Introduction.

    -

    -For each line your bbs has you must setup a tty line. This also includes -console lines (for local login), network lines for internet and lan connections -and X-terminal connections, ISDN lines, and Analogue modem lines. If a call -comes in over a tty you didn't define, that call is refused. So if you are -directly connected to the internet, and have only 5 network tty's defined, -then maximum 5 users are allowed to telnet to your bbs via the internet. -

    -One thing about the portspeed, this is only needed for devices connected to -serial ports such as modems and external ISDN adapters. For network tty's and -internal ISDN cards this should be set to zero. If you set it to some other value, -things still word but you will get error messages in the logs. -

    -A note about the EMSI flags, this must match your modem capabilities, if -not dialout will not work correct. It is used to see which line to use to call -a certain node. If you add the X75 flag on an analogue line, your system will try to -call ISDN nodes using an analogue modem. So these are not your nodelist flags as they -may represent combined ISDN and analogue flags but the flags that belong to a modem. -

     

    - -

    Setup a line.

    -

    -

    -Comment      A description for this line.
-TTY device   The tty device name without /dev/
-Phone nr.    The phone number on this line.
-Line Speed   The maximum line speed for this line.
-Fido Flags   The EMSI flags for this line, include your modem flags here!
-Line Type    Can be POTS, ISDN, Network and Local.
-Available    Is this line available for use.
-Auth. log    Not in use yet.
-Honor ZMH    Deny users during ZMH on this line.
-Deleted      If this line must be deleted.
-Callout      Allow calling other systems from this line.
-Portspeed    The "locked" modemspeed, 0 to 4000000 baud, only for serial ports.
-Modemtype    The modem connected to this line.
-EMSI name    The EMSI name presented for this (modem) line.
-
    -

     

    - -

    Some examples.

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    - -Back Back to index  -Home Back to main index -

    - - - + + + + + + + + +MBSE BBS Setup - TTY Lines. + + + +
    +
    Last update 29-Dec-2001
    +

     

    + +

    MBSE BBS Setup - TTY Lines.

    +

    + +

    Introduction.

    +

    +For each line your bbs has you must setup a tty line. This also includes +console lines (for local login), network lines for internet and lan connections +and X-terminal connections, ISDN lines, and Analogue modem lines. If a call +comes in over a tty you didn't define, that call is refused. So if you are +directly connected to the internet, and have only 5 network tty's defined, +then maximum 5 users are allowed to telnet to your bbs via the internet. +

    +One thing about the portspeed, this is only needed for devices connected to +serial ports such as modems and external ISDN adapters. For network tty's and +internal ISDN cards this should be set to zero. If you set it to some other value, +things still word but you will get error messages in the logs. +

    +A note about the EMSI flags, this must match your modem capabilities, if +not dialout will not work correct. It is used to see which line to use to call +a certain node. If you add the X75 flag on an analogue line, your system will try to +call ISDN nodes using an analogue modem. So these are not your nodelist flags as they +may represent combined ISDN and analogue flags but the flags that belong to a modem. +

     

    + +

    Setup a line.

    +

    +

    +Comment      A description for this line.
+TTY device   The tty device name without /dev/
+Phone nr.    The phone number on this line.
+Line Speed   The maximum line speed for this line.
+Fido Flags   The EMSI flags for this line, include your modem flags here!
+Line Type    Can be POTS, ISDN, Network and Local.
+Available    Is this line available for use.
+Auth. log    Not in use yet.
+Honor ZMH    Deny users during ZMH on this line.
+Deleted      If this line must be deleted.
+Callout      Allow calling other systems from this line.
+Portspeed    The "locked" modemspeed, 0 to 4000000 baud, only for serial ports.
+Modemtype    The modem connected to this line.
+EMSI name    The EMSI name presented for this (modem) line.
+
    +

     

    + +

    Some examples.

    +

    +Overview of tty ports

    +A analogue modem port at COM1

    +A ISDN channel

    +A network (internet telnet) port

    + +BackBack to index  +HomeBack to main index +

    + + +