Packet Radio

# 5. Packet Radio

Contents of this section

Software for use in conjunction with, or for facilitating packet radio.

## 5.1 Kernel Based AX.25 networking.

Author

  Alan Cox, GW4PTS, iialan@iifeak.swan.ac.uk and Jonathon Naylor, G4KLX, jsn@cs.nott.ac.uk

Description

  Software that allows the Linux Kernel to perform AX.25 networking.

Status

  ALPHA. Still under development. In a working state.

System requirements

  Linux kernel 1.3.0 or later.

Detail

  Alan's software provides the programmer with a berkeley socket based interface to the AX.25 protocol. AX.25 sockets can opened for either connected, or connectionless modes of operation. Support to allow tcp/ip over AX.25 is provided. The user applications have been written by Jonathon Naylor G4KLX. Jonathon has recently added NetRom support and provided fixes and other enhancements to the code. The software comes in two parts, a kernel patch, and the user programs. The user programs included are:

  axassociate

    to associate a particular AX.25 callsign with a userid on your system.

  axattach

    to convert a serial device into a KISS device.

  axl

    an AX.25 listener designed to start a PMS when it receives an incoming connection. The PMS is still very new.

  axsetcall

    to change the callsign of a port.

  beacon

    generated beacon messages every 30 minutes.

  call

    A linemode AX.25 connection program. Call allows you to make connections to other AX.25 nodes. It provides file transmit and receive capabilities, and newer versions allow YAPP binary file transfers.

  listen

    a packet trace tool for radio links.

  mheard

    a program to display callsign heard on radio ports.

  netromd

    a daemon program to generate netrom routing broadcasts.

  noderest

    a program to restore netrom routing information from a file.

  nodesave

    a program to save netrom routing informtion to a file.

  nrparms

    a program to configure a netrom interface.

  rip98d

    an implementation of the rip98 routing protocol.

Where and How to obtain it.

  There are a number of different versions of the software. You must choose the one that suits your version of Linux kernel. Software for kernel versions older than 1.3.* is available from: sunacm.swan.ac.uk

  More detail on where and how to obtain the software is provided in the AX.25 section of the `Installation, Configuration, Hints and Tricks' chapter below.

Licensing/Copyright

  Most of the software is covered by the GNU Public License, some of the software is Copyright by the Regents of University California Berkeley.

## 5.2 JNOS

Author

  Brandon Allbery, KF8NH, bsa@kf8nh.wariat.org

Description

  Brandon ported JNOS to Linux. His port is currently of the 1.09 (aka 1.08df) release of JNOS. Future versions will probably be based on Doug Crompton's evolution of 1.08df. Brandon suggests that JNOS for Linux is primarily of interest to people with existing DOS-based NOS configurations (especially server/switch configurations) who wish to switch to Linux or to escape the 640K barrier.

Status

  The current version is ALPHA.4. Brandon is still tracking down bugs, as well as evolving new features.

System Requirements.

  Any version of Linux along with ncurses 1.8.1 or 1.8.5 (the latter is preferred). Optionally you will require Linux networking (at least loopback) and slattach (kernels pre-1.1.13 or post-1.1.20 required for this).

Detail

  If you include the Linux networking code in addition to JNOS, you can link the two by a slip link running over a pty, so that Linux can provide services to your radio users. In this way you can easily add servers without having to build them into JNOS itself. Brandon has supplied the following list of known bugs:

  - some servers seem to be causing unexplained exits.
  - PPP is reported not to work in ALPHA.4, although it worked in ALPHA.3.
  - BBS forwarding when convers is compiled in but not configured causes core dumps.
  - the finger server is getting bad filenames.
  - the bbs W command is case-munging filenames.
Where and How to obtain it.

  You can obtain JNOS for Linux ALPHA.4 at: ftp.ucsd.edu ncurses is available on most Linux ftp sites.

Licensing/Copyright

  Brandon's modifications to JNOS are public domain. Most of the pre-existing NOS code is copyrighted and restricted to non-commercial use by the various contributors from Phil Karn on.

Contributed by:

  Brandon Allbery, KF8NH

## 5.3 TNOS

Author

  Brian A. Lantz, brian@lantz.com

Description

  TNOS is a NOS derivative that is being actively supported and which is avialable for both DOS and Linux. It features enhancements not found in other NOS versions.

Status

  The current version is 1.14 and is stable.

System Requirements

  Kernel networking slip support if you want to link the normal Linux network facilities with TNOS. A kiss tnc.

Detail

  Brian maintains a World Wide Web server which contains up to date information on TNOS, you can find it at www.lantz.com .

Where and how to obtain it

  The current version of TNOS is always available from: www.lantz.com , sunsite.unc.edu , or ftp.ucsd.edu .

Licensing/Copyright etc.

  Free for use by amateur radio operators and educational oraganisations

## 5.4 N0ARY Packet BBS for UN*X

Author

  Bob Arasmith, N0ARY, ported to Linux (and others) by Bob Proulx, KF0UW, rwp@fc.hp.com

Description

  A packet bbs implemented under UN*X.

Status

  ALPHA. Bob is running version ARY-0.9 on both Linux and HP-UX. The next version from N0ARY which is called 4.0 is in alpha test/development release. Bob has not been able to bring this online yet and is still running 0.9+kf0uw mods. Bob has about half it working with Alan Cox's AX.25 kernel which would be the desirable combination.

System Requirements.

  Linux installation, C Compiler, plus HAM radio TNC hardware.

Detail

  This bbs has an excellent packet user interface. It has a compatible set of commands with the RLI bbs so users will be familiar with it immediately. It then extends the command set to be a very nice natural language style interface (e.g "list at allus about KPC-3"). Many csh style bang commands are supported. Also included is a mail interface to provide a packet to internet gateway.

  Currently you need to customize the source code for your installation so you need some C programming proficiency.

Where and How to obtain it.

  For a Linux version or for Linux information send mail to `rwp@fc.hp.com`. For a SunOS version contact `bob@arasmith.com`. This code is not packaged for distribution yet since it is not past the alpha stage of development.

Licensing/Copyright

  Copyright by Bob Arasmith, N0ARY, but freely redistributable.

Contributed by:

  Bob Proulx, kf0uw, rwp@fc.hp.com

## 5.5 MBL/RLI message to NNTP and email converter.

Author

  SM0OHI, pme@it.kth.se

Description

  Software that will convert incoming MBL/RLI messages into either NNTP or RFC-822 formatted mail messages.

Status

  Development, not yet released.

System requirements

  Unknown.

Detail

  This software would be ideally suited to those who want to establish a mail and news gateway between conventional tcp/ip networks and the amateur radio mail network.

Where and How to obtain it.

  Not yet availale.

Licensing/Copyright

  Unknown.

Contributed by:

  SM0OHI

## 5.6 Packet Cluster Node software

Author

  Franta Bendl, DJ0ZY, and Bernhard ("Ben") Buettner, DL6RAI, root@dl6rai.muc.de

Description

  A PacketCluster like system running on Linux.

Status

  Released in March 1995.

System Requirements

  Linux Kernel version 1.1.50 or greater with Alan Cox's AX.25 version 025 driver, TCP/IP networking, SysV IPC. Also needs Perl and KISS TNC hardware on serial device.

Detail

  PacketCluster nodes have been available for about six years. The original software was written by Dick Newell, AK1A, and is running under DOS. clx is a system which clones a PacketCluster node. To the outside user commands and features are mostly identical, remote PacketCluster nodes, which can be networked, don't see the difference between a generic PacketCluster node and clx. So it fits well into an established network of PacketCluster nodes.

  clx is not a user application, it is network node software. As such it is not of much use for the individual amateur. SysOPs of PacketCluster nodes with some experience on both PacketCluster and Linux will find this application interesting.

  Here are some of the features of CLX:

  - It is fully compatible with the internal PCxx protocol and from a users' point of view. It allows multitasking and different priorities for different things.
  - The software detects looping DX spots without generating endless messages. clx filters out such duplicate information. We have implemented a concept which allows us to connect the network at multiple points, which would formerly have been called a "Cluster Loop". clx knows of so-called "active" and "passive" links. The outcome is that more DX information is seen by clx.
  - An interface to call your external programs (even dialog programs).
  - clx uses modern programming concepts like shared memory for common data, lex & yacc to implement command language, shared libraries to keep binaries small (this is still on our wish list), remote procedure calls for inter process communication. It is strictly modularized with its own dedicated process for every major task.
  - Comprises the following modules:
    con_ctl

      interfaces AX.25 kernel code and provides a socket for local users.

    rcv_ctl

      manages receive spooling.

    snd_ctl

      manages transmit spooling.

    rm_disp

      receive message dispatcher, forwards messages to other processes.

    usr_req

      user database requests, forks a process for every database task to make it run in the background. The background process later sends the results directly to send_ctl.

    mb_ctl

      mailbox control. The mailbox keeps messages in a file system, header information is stored in the database.

    usr_ctl

      user administration (logins, logouts, logbook).

    usc_mng

      manages external user commands and command extensions.

    iu_com

      inter user communication (talk, conference).

    send_ctl

      transmit spooling, handling priorities.

    icl_com

      inter node communication (processing and generating PCxx messages).

    clx_ctl

      system administration, installing shared memory pages.

    int_com

      manages internal program communications.

  - The following is the only application program which can be run on the console:
    loc_usr

      allows console operator(s) to log in like a normal user.

  Future enhance planned are:

  - A console monitor to watch ongoing activities
  - Speed optimization
  - An internal clx protocol
  - An additional command shell for experienced users

Where and How to obtain it:

  You can obtain clx from ftp.uni-erlangen.de or ftp.ucsd.edu

  There are five files that make up the package:

  - 00index
  - clx_105.tgz
  - install.clx
  - README_1.06
  - upd_106.tgz

Licensing/Copyright

  clx is available for non-commercial use, but the authors want to keep track of who is using their product, so before you can actually use the software you have to ask for an encrypted callsign string to be placed in the configuration file. You must send mail to `<clx_us@dl6rai.muc.de>` to organise this.

Contributed by:

  Bernhard ("Ben") Buettner, DL6RAI

## 5.7 Single floppy disk AX.25 router.

Author

  Alan Cox, GW4PTS, iialan@iifeak.swan.ac.uk

Description

  A single floppy disk version of linux with enough software to allow a PC to act as an AX.25/IP router.

Status

  Development, not yet released.

System requirements.

  As for any Linux system a 386SX class PC or better.

Detail

  No detail yet.

Where and How to obtain it.

  Not yet available.

Licensing/Copyright

  Unknown/Undecided.

## 5.8 TNT.

Author

  Mark Wahl, DL4YBG, DL4YBG @ DB0BLO.#.DEU.EU, wahlm@zelator.de

Description

  A Hostmode terminal program for TNC's that support the WA8DED hostmode protocol.

Status

  Version 0.8 is reportedly stable.

System requirements

  TNC supporting WA8DED hostmode protocol, serial line.

Detail

  TNT is a full featured hostmode terminal program. Compiling it on Linux is as difficult as untarring the source and typing `make'. It provides both a `dumb' terminal and X11 version. It comes with some comprehensive documentation which describes its features in some detail. Its main features are:

  Multiple sessions:

    TNT supports multiple packet radio connections on virtual screens that you can switch between. Each session window provides split screen (seperate transmit and receive text) operation with a status line. Commands can be entered in either a command session, or in any terminal session using a command key. Each of the virtual screens can be larger than the physical screen and can be scrolled around.

  Data capture, file transfer and logging:

    A number of options are available for logging received text to files. You can log transmit, receive or both to a log file. You can overwrite or append received data to existing files. You can use the `autobin' protocol to transmit or receive binary files.

  Remote Shell operation:

    You can provide a shell to remote users so that they can access other programs on your computer. You can also run a program and direct its input/output to a channel so that users can use it.

  Redirection of devices to a channel:

    TNT allows you to redirect input/output from a channel to a device, a modem for example.

  Umlaut conversion:

    TNT provides umlaut conversion if necessary.

  Remote mode:

    Remote users can issue command themselves if allowed to do so.

  Socket mode:

    You can configure tnt so that it opens a socket for users to telnet to that allows them operation just as you have from the console. This is useful where your linux machine is on an ethernet and you want other terminal on the net to have use of your radio.

Where and How to obtain it.

  The software is available by anonymous ftp from: ftp.funet.fi . This site is mirrored at a number of places so you will probably find it at other places as well.

Licensing/Copyright

  GNU Public License. Freely redistributable, no warranty.

Contributed by:

  Steffen Weinreich, DL5ZBG.

## 5.9 IPIP encapsulation daemon.

Name

  Mike Westerhof's IPIP encapsulation daemon.

Author

  Mike Westerhof KA9WSB (original code), then Bdale Garbee N3EUA (port to BSD), then Ron Atkinson N8FOW and John Paul Morrison (port to Linux), then Bdale rolled it all back together again.

Description

  A daemon that will allow you to use your linux machine as an IPIP encapsulating gateway.

Status

  Ron is running this code himself, and the other version have been run quite successfully.

System requirements

  KISS TNC, any version of Linux supporting RAW sockets.

Detail

  If you've ever used an internet gateway from your amateur packet radio you have probably been connected by an encapsulation gateway of some descpription. Most run KA9Q's NOS and DOS, but others run Unix and this daemon. It allows you to encapsulate IP within IP, so that you can 'tunnel' IP connections over the Internet. The software allows you to connect a KISS TNC to your linux machine and to have all datagrams received on it carried across the Internet to a similar gateway. Bdale has installation instructions in the package.

Where and How to obtain it.

  This software is available from the col.hp.com ftp site.

Licensing/Copyright etc.

  Freely distributable, though Bdale asks that if you use the code and like it you might send him a QSL card or a postcard.

Contributed by:

  Ron Atkinson, N8FOW, and Bdale Garbee, N3EUA

## 5.10 AXIP encapsulation daemon.

Name

  Mike Westerhof's AXIP encapsulation daemon.

Author

  Mike Westerhof KA9WSB, ported to Linux by Ron Atkinson N8FOW.

Description

  A daemon that will allow you to use your linux machine as an AXIP encapsul ating gateway.

Status

  Not properly tested, but assumed to work ok.

System requirements

  KISS TNC, any version of Linux supporting RAW sockets.

Detail

  This daemon is the partner to the IPIP encapsulation daemon. It allows you to encapsulate AX.25 frames in IP to carry them across the Internet. This is useful for linking AX.25 networks in remote areas. Ron has supplied a `Makefile` for linux, and with it the software compiled without errors on my system running a recent version kernel. Ron has also written some `README` files which give you the detail necessary to compile the system and the original documentation describes how to configure it.

Where and How to obtain it.

  This software is available in the sunsite.unc.edu ham apps directory .

Licensing/Copyright etc.

  Freely distributable so long as the original copyright notice is not removed.

Contributed by:

  Ron Atkinson, N8FOW

## 5.11 Ping-Pong Convers Server

Name

  Fred Baumgartens Convers Server for Linux.

Author

  Fred Baumgarten, DC6IQ, <dc6iq@insu1.etec.uni-karlsruhe.de>

Description

  This is a version of the convers server that allows multiple users to simultaneously chat with each other in a round-table style conversation. It is compatible with the NOS convers servers, but provides extra facilities such as saving/restoring of Personal Text and Chanel Topics.

Status

  In use of a number of popular convers servers, appears very stable.

System requirements.

  Linux, GNU make, C compiler.

Detail.

  Complete installation instructions are included in the `INSTALL` file that is included in the distribution.

Where and How to obtain it.

  A distribution of this software is available in the sunsite.unc.edu ham apps directory . The home of the software is at insu1.etec.uni-karlsruhe.de ftp server

Licensing/Copyright etc.

  Presumably copyright Fred Baumgarten (not specifically stated), but some portions appear to be free for non-commercial use and copying provided the copyright notices stay intact.

## 5.12 AX.25 digipeater for Linux

Name

  axdigi

Author

  Craig Small vk2xlz <csmall@acacia.itd.uts.edu.au>

Description

  Allows Linux to digipeat across different ax.25 ports

Status

  Beta release

System requirements

  Requires Alan Cox AX.25 kernel support

Detail.

  Allows frames to come in one port and out another using normal ax.25 digipeater methods. Changes the digipeater callsign to the correct one for the correct return port.

Where and How to obtain it.

  sunsite.unc.edu ftp.ucsd.edu

Licensing/Copyright etc.

  GNU GPL

Contributed by:

  Craig Small vk2xlz <csmall@acacia.itd.uts.edu.au>

## 5.13 Gracilis PacketTwin kernel driver

Name

  Gracilis PacketTwin kernel driver

Author

  Craig Small vk2xlz <csmall@acacia.itd.uts.edu.au>

Description

  Device driver for Gracilis PackeTwin cards.

Status

  Alpha test - needs some more work before it is properly released.

System requirements.

  Gracilis PackeTwin card, Alan Cox's AX.25 kernel software.

Detail.

  Provides kernel based driver support for the Gracilis PackeTwin card using the kernel AX.25 code.

Where and How to obtain it.

  Currently available only by email from the author.

Licensing/Copyright etc.

  Restricted use by alpha testers only, general GPL release is some months off.

Contributed by:

  Craig Small vk2xlz <csmall@acacia.itd.uts.edu.au>

## 5.14 RSPF Daemon

Name

  RSPF - Radio Shortest Path First routing daemon for Linux

Author

  Craig Small vk2xlz <csmall@acacia.itd.uts.edu.au>

Description

  An implementation of the Radio Shortest path First routing protocol for linux. The daemon supports version 2.2 of the protocol which corrects a lot of bugs and problems that were present in version 2.1.

Status

  Alpha test - running. Current version is 0.03

System requirements.

  Requires Alan Cox's kernel based AX.25 code.

Detail

  This program will allow Linux to become an RSPF router. It hopefully addresses some of the quirks of RSPF v2.1, the version in NOS. It will also allow remote/local queries via a tcp session.

Where and How to obtain it.

  Alpha versions are available from sunsite.unc.edu , ftp.ucsd.edu or from the author.

Licensing/Copyright

  Will be covered by the GPL when formally released.

Contributed by:

  Craig Small vk2xlz <csmall@acacia.itd.uts.edu.au>

## 5.15 Z8530 SCC driver.

Name

  generic Z8530 SCC device driver.

Author

  Joerg Reuter, <DL1BKE@melaten.ihf.rwth-aachen.de>

Description

  A device driver to allow you to use a range of 8530 based SCC cards under Linux.

Status

  stable

System requirements.

  a modern Linux kernel

Detail

  The Zilog Z8530 SCC provides Synchronous/Asynchronous, HDLC, NRZI encoding and other capabilities. There are a number of peripheral cards that use the Z850 as the basis of their design. The driver is generic enough to be pushed into service for just about any sort of 8530 card. The `README` file that comes with the package provides detail on installation and configuration.

Where and How to obtain it:

  The driver can be obtained from: ftp.ucsd.edu for kernel versions older than 1.3.*. Kernel version 1.3.* supports the driver in the standard distribution.

Licensing/Copyright

  Gnu Public License.

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