Below is a list of all the applications and files that are needed to set up a working ax.25 system. The Applications are all in the /usr/sbin/ directory and the Configuration files are in the /etc/ax25/ directory. Note: Kissattach is used only if you have TNC's in the Kiss Mode.
There are several names that a ax25-util user must invent. Since this paper uses the files of k5di, a listing of those names can be made.
It's a good idea to make a list like this on paper before you start to change things. It is easy to put the wrong name in a control file.Name Call-sign Alias Other ax0 k5di-9 ax25 9600 baud ax1 k5di-10 ax25 1200 baud Netrom k5di-1 #CRUCE Real Netrom netnod k5di-4 CRUCES Node node-list netbbs k5di-3 LCBBS BBS node-list netdx k5di-5 LCDX DX-Cluster
Kissattach is an application that connects the kernel to the TNC, sets the tcp/ip address up, sets the speed of the connection, and is given the serial port to use.
Axports is a file that defines the name of the ax.25 ports and tells kissattach what call-sign, baud-rate and window size to use. Below is an example of a 2 TNC system.
# /etc/ax25/axports # Be very careful with the speed setting. This is the speed in # bits/second that data passes from the computer to the TNC, and has # nothing to do with the radio baud rate! # # The format of this file is: # # name call-sign speed paclen window description # ax0 K5DI-9 9600 255 3 445.1 (9600 bps) ax1 K5DI-10 9600 255 1 145.07 (1200 bps)
AX25D is the application that reads the ax25d.conf Configuration file and answers calls made to the system. Below is a sample ax25d.conf that has no Netrom defined. In fact all it will do is answer calls to k5di-9 and k5di-10. When it answers it starts the node application and logs the caller in.
The next step is to get ax25d to answer a call to the alias CRUCES as well as the call-sign. This is easy to do and is shown below:# /etc/ax25/ax25d.conf # # AX25D Configuration File. # # AX.25 ports begin with a '['. # [k5di-4 VIA ax0] default * * * * * 0 - root /usr/sbin/node node [k5di-4 VIA ax1] default * * * * * 0 - root /usr/sbin/node node #
# /etc/ax25/ax25d.conf # # AX25D Configuration File. # # AX.25 ports begin with a '['. # [CRUCES VIA ax0] default * * * * * 0 - root /usr/sbin/node node [k5di-4 VIA ax0] default * * * * * 0 - root /usr/sbin/node node [CRUCES VIA ax1] default * * * * * 0 - root /usr/sbin/node node [k5di-4 VIA ax1] default * * * * * 0 - root /usr/sbin/node node #
If you have trouble, as root kill ax25d if it is running and then at the prompt type ax25d &. As ax25d loads the ax25d.conf file it will print out any errors it finds. This print out is very accurate and tells you which row in the file is wrong.
A connect from any adjacent node to k5di-4 or CRUCES will connect to the k5di node. But Netrom is not transmitting a node listing for CRUCES or k5di-4. This is done by changing some Netrom Configuration files.