[Dxspider-support] Nubie Questions

[Dave Ward]

Steve:

I have recently gone through the similar exercise to what you are proposing.
Here are my answers to some of your questions.

1. I use Redhat 7.3. Seems to work quite well. We have been operating for about
3 weeks with no problems. I also have an IRLP node at my QTH with Redhat 6.2
for about 18 months with absolutely no problems.

2. My node runs behind a Linksys Router/Firewall/NAT box. I opened 1 telnet
port for users to connect from the Internet.

3. I think the biggest problem will be what is the minimum vintage hardware
required to support the distro you select. I believe the requirements for the
application will be relatively small compared to running the OS.

5. I would be willing to help by passing along what I learned. I found the task
of getting AX25 up and running to be a bit troublesome. All of the information
is in the documentation AX25-HOWTO, Linux-Kernel-HOWTO, etc. but it was a bit
tedious to sort out. Of course in hindsight everything is crystal clear.

Dave
VE3BIP


"Steven H Sawyers (na0ia)" wrote:

> I have been subscribed for a week or so and have been looking around the
> Site, but I have some very basic questions. I am also just barely
> conversant with Linux.
>
> But first I would like to give some info on what I am doing now to better
> frame my questions.
>
> I am currently using BPQ32 on Win 2K OS on an old 486 upgraded to P133 to
> do internet relay to RF for our local packet cluster. The packet cluster in
> on another machine at the other end of the RF link and I am just providing
> a worm hole through the internet. Our local RF links into Iowa have proven
> somewhat unreliable as WB8RZL (he is our packet cluster meister) has lost
> link sites, so we decided to try the internet worm hole and have been
> running for the last 16 months through all the contests. After doing all
> the Win 2K patches it is running fairly reliably if I reboot it every
> month. I have it setting behind a Linksys Firewall/Router on a cable modem,
> and only have one port open to the packet relay machine. Thanks to the
> cable company, I have dynamic IP, so I am using NO-IP as a DNS updater and
> this seems to work flawlessly, as I use one of their DNS names for the
> other end to find me.
>
> We had previously discussed using Linux, and are now getting serious about
> the investigation.
>
> DxSpider intrigues me - I need to learn Perl anyway, and I need to get more
> familiar with Linux along the way.
>
> Now the questions - finally!!
>
> 1. What Linux disto to use? Red Hat 8.0 or Debian or what?
>
> 2. Can I get Dxspider to run behind the firewall with only one or two ports
> and the DNS system I am currently using? Any alternatives that would work
> better?
>
> 3. I have four identical 66 MHz DX2 486 machines I would like to use one of
> these for the permanent link and cluster machine. With four of them, I
> would have redundant hardware for hot backups. We are trying to be as
> reliable as possible. The Contestors are one thing - they only get
> interested for 8 weekends a year, but the DX chasers are constantly there,
> and we like to provide a reliable service. Will one of these machines
> handle the load?
>
> I had a Linux machine up as a firewall before I got the Linksys box. It is
> a 266 Mhz  Pentium and I can equip it with whatever drives I need from my
> computer boneyard. Will this be adequate as a development/testing machine
> or do I need to go to 500 MHz?
>
> 4. Once we get running, is there anyone in Illinios or Indiana or Michigan
> or Kentucky (ie east of us) that would be willing ot let us connect?
>
> 5. Anyone have to time to answer my silly Linux and Dxspider questions as I
> try to bring this up? I have some very knowledgeable locals who can help on
> the generic Linux stuff, but the AX25 side may take some hand holding.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Steve
>
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