[Dxspider-support] AX25 heartburn

Thu Feb 21 17:56:40 GMT 2002

John and Mike,

I am also about to get Linux AX.25 setup for use with DXspider.  I had
it running several years ago using ax25-utils, however there are
several changes in the current software.

ax25-utils-2.1.42a is only for use with much older kernels than you
will find with RH 7.2. (i.e., it was written for kernel 2.1.42).  2.2
and 2.4 kernels should not use this.  Instead you should be using
libax25, ax25-tools and (optionally) ax25-apps.

You may have been using an older version of the AX25-HOWTO.  The newer
version 2.0, dated 19 September 2001 (Jeff Tranter has taken over from
Terry Dawson as maintainer) covers the use of AX25 with modern kernels. 
I would expect that it would be available from Red Hat (I know Debian
has it in their HOWTO package), but if not, you can get it from
http://www.linuxdoc.org.

There is a mailing list pretty much devoted to Linux AX25 issues (send
a message to majordomo at vger.kernel.org with the words "subscribe
linux-hams", on a line in the message body, omitting the quotes).

Also you can find some good setup info at N8UR's website,
http://www.febo.com.

73, Bob N7XY

On Thu, Feb 21, 2002 at 09:16:37AM -0700, Mike Lewis wrote:
> John,
> 
> I don't have any insights for you, but I am about to try to do this myself,
> and I am supposing from your email that I have about an equivalent amount of
> Linux experience as you do, so I am adding my voice to yours as another very
> interested party in how to make this work. I was running my cluster under
> Win98, but could not seem to solve some problems I was having over the RF
> links, so I am hoping to get the system running over a 2m link as well. I
> have a PK-232, and MFJ-1270, and even a borrowed KPC-3 at my disposal. As
> soon as I get a system lined up with Linux on it I will be ready to jump
> into the muck with AX.25 issues. I await any replies to your email with
> great anticipation,
> 
> 73 de KE0MF
> 
> Mike Lewis aka 'ML'
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Spigel W1AN [mailto:jms at 99main.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2002 8:00 PM
> To: dxspider-support at dxcluster.org
> Subject: [Dxspider-support] AX25 heartburn
> 
> 
> I have Spider up and running with Redhat 7.2 (2/17/02 download) and
> telnet access tested locally for users to log in with callsigns. It
> automatically boots up. I am not having any luck getting the AX25
> configuration to work.  I presently have a PK88 tnc plugged into
> physical COM2 preset for standard KISS at 4800 baud. The mouse is on
> COM1. The plan is to switch to a dual port KPC4 unit with one 1200 port
> as a link to the cluster and the other for users. For now I will be
> happy to get the PK88 working.
> 
> The AX25 how-to files on the web may be leaving out some details that I
> am already supposed to know and have completed. I am new to Linux.
> For example: 
> I don't know if I need to configure the serial port, COM2. How is it
> done? With setserial? What about IRQ's and
> addresses?  Is an ifconfig string needed? How is this done? When do I
> need MKISS? Only for dual port modems? I am also confused by the many
> device names such as cua0 and ttyS0. Which do I use for a serial port? I
> can'r seem to find any info defining devices, just a list. I am using
> ax25-utils-2_1_42a_i386.rpm.
> 
> Here are my ax25 files:
> 
> ax25d.config
> "john" is sysop:
> 
> 
> #/etc/ax25/ax25d.conf
> #
> # ax25d Configuration File.
> #
> # AX.25 Ports begin with a '['.
> 
> [W1AAA via radio]
> NOCALL * * * * * L
> default 4 6 4 600 * 10 - john /spider/src/client client %u ax25
> 
> *****************************************************************
> axports: 
> 
> # /etc/ax25/axports
> #
> # The format of this file is:
> #
> # name callsign speed paclen window description
> #
> radio   W1AAA   4800    255     2       145.750 MHz (1200  bps)
> *****************************************************************
> ax25start:
> Some entries are from suggestions from others
> 
> #/etc/rc.d/ax25start
> #
> #Startup AX25 and misc stuff
> echo "Start listening for ax25 port (radio)"
> #
> #Turn off monitor blanking
> /usr/bin/setterm -blank 0
> #
> # this sets the port baud rate???
> stty 4800 < /dev/ttyS1
> #
> #Fire up ax25 interface name "radio" on com2. Is this device supposed to
> #be /ttys1? /tnc? /cua1?
> /usr/sbin/kissattach -m 256 -v /dev/ttyS1 radio 192.168.0.50
> /usr/sbin/ax25d -l
> sleep 3
> # set kissparms
> /usr/sbin/kissparms -p radio -t 350
> sleep 3
> #beacon including callsign"
> /usr/sbin/beacon -t 10 radio "YCCC DX cluster -- Connect to W1AAA"
> ****************************************************************
> 
> The response on bootup I get:
> 
> kissattach: 0.0.6
> axconfig: port radio not active
> ax25d: no AX25 port configured
> axconfig: port radio not active
> kissparms: no AX.25 ports configured
> beacon: no AX.25 ports defined
> 
> [FAILED]
> ****************************************************************
> 
> I know I am missing something? And is this simpler than I think?
> I am determined to get this system up and running!
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> John W1AN
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Dxspider-support mailing list
> Dxspider-support at dxcluster.org
> http://www.tobit.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/dxspider-support

-- 
Bob Nielsen, N7XY                          nielsen at oz.net
Bainbridge Island, WA                      http://www.oz.net/~nielsen
IOTA NA-065, USI WA-028S 