INSTALLATION AND RUNNING XFBB (for dummies)     (c)OK2PEN
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Needed files
Installation
Connect with radio packet
Port.sys file
Fbb.conf file
xfbbC program
Password.sys file
System files




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As here at the WEB there was not found a comprihensive description how to install the Linux FBB BBS system and descriptions in the FBB manual are not simply understable for everybody and also because some sysop friends asked me how to do it I made this page. Any questions re this item you can mail to: [email protected]
For installation of XFBB BBS system you need to run your computer with Linux operation system. Depending which version of Linux you have you will need to download various additional packages to install XFBB package and connect the XFBB to radio packet net .
The configuration of particular traffic and system files of xfbb supose some knowledge of the DOS or Win FBB systems as they are practicaly same or very similar. The position of these files will be described later.




NEEDED FILES
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First download below mentioned packages:

lesstif-0.93.0-1.i386.rpm(zipped as lesstif.zip)       delivers libXm.so.2

ld.so-1.9.5-13.i386.rpm(zipped as ldso.zip)        delivers ld.so-1.9.5

libc-5.3.12-31.i386.rpm(zipped as libc5.zip)        delivers libc-5.3

libax25-0.0.7-5mdk.i586.rpm(zipped as libax25.zip)         delivers libax25

libax-devel-0.0.7-5mdk.i586.rpm(zipped as libdevel.zip)   supplement for libax25

Then download below XFBB rpm file according to your Linux version:

xfbb-7.03-rh52.i386.rpm(zipped as 70352.zip)
Works with versions of Linux with Kernels 2.0.35-39 but also 2.2.xx
xfbb-7.03-rh61.i386.rpm(zipped as fbb70361.zip)
Works with versions of Linux with Kernels 2.2.xx
xfbb-7.04-2.i386.rpm(zipped as fbb704.zip)
Works with versions of Linux with Kernels 2.2.xx and 2.4.xx but its possible to run with Kernels 2.0.35-39 after reinstalling GLIBC libraries to 2.1 or 2.2 versions
fbbxd704j-src.tgz(zipped as xfbb704j-src.zip)
Latest version of XFBB but as a source code. Must be compiled (do not step "make install"!) but before version 7.04-2 to be installed then only replace proper compiled files for original ones in installed version 7.04-2. Works with versions of Linux with Kernels 2.2.xx and 2.4.xx



INSTALLATION
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If you use Linux with Kernel 2.0.35-39 make just following steps to install xfbb in text mode:

    1. rpm -ivh lesstif-0.93.0-1.i386.rpm
    2. rpm -ivh libax25-0.0.7-5mdk.i586.rpm
    3. rpm -ivh xfbb-7.03-rh52.i386.rpm

If you use Linux with Kernel 2.2.xx make following steps to install xfbb in KDE (or GNOME) environment:

    1.rpm -ivh lesstif-0.93.0-1.i386.rpm
    2.rpm -ivh libax25-0.0.7-5mdk.i586.rpm
    3.rpm -ivh xfbb-7.03-rh61.i386.rpm

If you use Linux with Kernel 2.4.xx make following steps of installations in KDE (or GNOME) environment:

    1. rpm -ivh lesstif-0.93.0-1.i386.rpm
    2. rpm -ivh ld.so-1.9.5-13.i386.rpm
    3. rpm -ivh libc-5.3.12-31.i386.rpm
    4. rpm -ivh libax25-0.0.7-5mdk.i586.rpm
    5. rpm -ivh libax-devel-0.0.7-5mdk.i586.rpm
    and finally
    6. rpm -ivh xfbb-7.04-2.i386.rpm

There will appear an icon of XFBB     on the table of KDE (or GNOME) and following window after clicking that icon.

You can run xfbb also in text mode as a daemon. Then it runs in the "background" and can be accessed by the program xfbbC.

After the installation of the xfbb package there will be created following main directories referring to the xfbb system (files inside the directories will be desribed later):

1. /etc/ax25 containg subdirectory fbb and file fbb.conf
2a. /usr/lib/ax25 containg subdirectories: filter, pg, script, server and tool (for version xfbb 7.04)
2b. /usr/local/fbb (for version xfbb 7.03)
3. /var/ax25 containing subdirectory fbb
The purpose of above mentioned directories will be explained later.

CONNECTING TO THE RADIO PACKET
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One of the needed files for running the system via radio packet is /etc/ax25/axports. This file we have to create (if not created),edit and make configuration of the radio port manually with any text editor.
The file contents of simple rows with following field names and row example:

 # portname  callsign  COMspeed  paclen  window  description
   radio     OK2PEN-15 9600      255     4       VHF port 144.825 MHz

After configuring axports file you have to configure 2 main files for xfbb (similar like in DOS/Win FBB) system. The files are:
/etc/ax25/fbb/port.sys AND /etc/ax25/fbb.conf


PORT.SYS
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This file is "the heart" for the FBB system to be conected to various sources of communication. It contains only 3 small blocks of datas and for conecting the xfbb system to the radio AX25 packet net it could look as exampled below:

# XFBB7.04 /etc/ax25/fbb/port.sys # Configuration for 1 AX25 port and 1 TNC in KISS mode # 1.block: # 2 Fields # No. of Ports No.of TNCs # We have 1 Port for AX25 (more Ports can be for separately for AXIP,for TELNET,etc.) # We have 1 TNC for AX25 (more TNCc can be for separately for AX25,TELNET,NETROM,AXIP,etc.) 1 1 # # 2.block # The number of lines must be same as number of Ports stated in the first block # 4 fields # We have TNC in KISSmode connected to COM1 with speed 9600 Bd between COM and TNC # The Interface No. is 9 which means the TNC is connected to Linux system interface # Com number Interface number Adress(Device) Com Baudspeed 1 9 ***** 9600 # # 3.block # The number of lines besides the line for File-forward must be same as number of TNCs # stated in the first block # 11 fields # TNC NbCh Com MultCh Pacl MaxFr NbFwd MxBloc Min/Evry-Fwd Mode PortDescription 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00/01 ---- File-fwd 1 8 1 radio 250 7 1 10 10/30 XUWY 144.825 user # This says: One TNC enables simultanously 8 connections via COM1 and portname(MultCh) # "radio" (mentioned in axports file) with frame parmeters Paclen 250 MaxFrame 7 and # forwarding simultanously 1 BBS partner sending her my fwds with block maximum sizes 10 kB # and starting calling fwd any of partners BBSs at 10th min of the hours and then each # 30 minutes (means calling at 10th and 40th minute of the hour). # X=AF_AX25 Kernel Linux U=Normal_mode W=Gateway allowed Y=Yapp protocol allowed. # BBS can be called on 144.825 MHz (the last field is only informative). # End of file


FBB.CONF
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This file is almost the same like "init.srv" file in the DOS/Win FBB system. Here it is nothing special to explain. An important thing is at least to change following lines inside this file before putting the BBS into the air:

# Callsign of BBS with full hiearchical information # SSID of BBS # QRA locator of BBS # Qth of BBS (put maximum 20 characters as it is shown in the forward header) # First name of the sysop # Callsign of the sysop # Test mode put test = NO # Time (hour) for housekeeping (cleanup messages) # Hours +/- in relation with UTC # Text for forward header anyhow you CAN change for: fwdheader = [$c] $$:$R The forward header will have then 5 groups of info: No.Group Meaning Max.No.of_Chars Taken_from 1. Received date and GMT time 14 local dirmes.sys file 2. Hiearch.address of the BBS Depends of line length line "Callsign of BBS "Callsign of BBS" line with full hier.inform." 3. My number of the msg 8 local dirmes.sys file 4. References to QTH of the BBS Depends of line length line "Qth of BBS" "QTH of BBS" line 5. BID of the origin BBS 14 but depends on origin Origin BBS BBS system and BID config Example of the fwd header: R:020407/1216Z @:OK2PEN.SP.BRA.SA #:173234 [Sao Jose dos Campos] $:74C0K0PCC01C Group1 -> Group2 -> Group3-> Group4 -> Group5 ->
More detailed samples and explanations you can find in the FBB Manual (download here FBBman.zip).

QUICK START
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The last step to run the XFBB into the radio air is to start it together with the connection of the ttyS0 (COM1) serial port. Below is a simple script file I'll call "fbbstart":

#!/bin/sh # /usr/local/sbin/fbbstart # This file connects kiss interface to COM1 and then starts xfbb in text # Run this script only after you switch on your TNC in KISS mode # mode (as a daemon in the background) # echo "Setting kiss interface to COM1 ..." /usr/sbin/kissattach -i <Linux IPaddress> /dev/ttyS0 radio echo "Done" sleep 1 echo "Starting fbb daemon ..." fbb start echo "Done" sleep 1 # # End of script
With the above script which you put to your run directory, or if you want to start it directly with your Linux, to /etc/rc.d/rc.local file you will start xfbb bbs as a daemon (will run in the background of Linux similary like DOS TSR aplications).

XFBBC PROGRAM
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To enter the FBB from Linux terminal we can run the xfbbC program.
To call this program we need to put parametrs - then command line looks like this:  xfbbC -c -i <callsign> -w <password>
-c means the program is run in the terminal window vt100
-i  is the callsign put into /etc/ax25/fbb/password.sys file
-w is the password put into /etc/ax25/fbb/password.sys file


Example of the xfbbC console screen (here shown in the terminal window)

The password.sys file is normal text file with lines. First line is the password for sysop after the command SYS. The other lines after the first line are lines for configuration of individula users. These lines content 4 fileds.
Field 1 = callsign
Field 2 = Security Code Nbr before using command SYS
Field 3 = Security Code Nbr after using command SYS
Field 4 = password
(Security Code Nbr Table can be seen in /etc/ax25/fbb.conf file)
Below is the example for edition the file password.sys:

# /etc/ax25/fbb/password.sys file # 1.line is the password for sysop after making command SYS from the prompt of the BBS 1234567890 # 2.line and next lines make password and security permissions for individual callsigns ok2xyz 123 1023 qwerty #this can be the sysop ok1abc 16 0 foolish #this can be normal user # # End of password.sys
In version 7.04 there is a script /usr/sbin/bbs made by Jose HI8GN where you edit just the last row i.e.:
after -i <your callsign in passwd.sys> instead of F6FBB
after -w <your password in passwd.sys> instead of thisJean-PaulPassword

SYSTEM FILES
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System and traffic files in the xfbb system are the same or very similar to the DOS/Win FBB files. The position of these files are as shown below and they are located automatically with the installation:
Directory(with path)       Files                      Corresp.file in DOS/Win FBB
                                                      if it has different name
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.03 and 7.04 version
/etc/ax25                        fbb.conf             init.srv
/etc/ax25/fbb                    bbs.sys
                                 beacon1.sys
                                 beacon2.sys
                                 cron.sys
                                 forward.sys
                                 langue.sys
                                 m_filter.sys
                                 memo.sys
                                 passwd.sys
                                 port.sys
                                 protect.sys
                                 redist.sys
                                 reject.sys
                                 swapp.sys
                                 themes.sys
/etc/ax25/fbb/fwd                7pfbb.sys            files here without suffix sys
                                 amsat.sys
                                 redbbs.sys
                                 <fwdpartnerbbs>.sys
/etc/ax25/fbb/lang               same files like in DOS/Win FBB dir fbb/system/lang
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.03 and 7.04 version
/var/ax25/fbb                    ERROR.SYS            some files in dir fbb and
                                 connect.wav          some in dir fbb/system
                                 dirmes.new
                                 direms.old
                                 dirmes.sys
                                 etat.sys
                                 fbb.xbm
                                 heard.bin
                                 inf.sys
                                 options.sys
                                 statis.dat
                                 syscall.wav
                                 themes.dat
                                 wfbid.sys
                                 yapplbl.dat
/var/ax25/fbb/7pl/7pfbb          captured 7pl msgs which are waiting for completion and
                                 decodification
/var/ax25/fbb/binmail            no comment               same as fbb/binmail
var/ax25/fbb/docs                some xfbb docs and samples
var/ax25/fbb/fbbdos/redist       no comment
var/ax25/fbb/fbbdos/yapp/7pfbb   completed and decoded captured 7pl msgs
var/ax25/fbb/log                 xfbb.log
                                 fbblog.<no.>
var/ax25/fbb/mail                no comment               same like fbb/mail
var/ax25/fbb/newtext             no comment
var/ax25/fbb/oldmail             no comment               same like fbb/oldmail
var/ax25/fbb/res                 epurmess.res
                                 epurwp.res
                                 satupdat.res
var/ax25/fbb/bk                  dirmes.bak
                                 inf.bak
                                 satel.bak
                                 wfbid.bak
                                 wp.bak
                                 yapplbl.bak
/var/ax25/fbb/sat                amsat.txt
                                 satel.bak
                                 satel.dat
                                 satupdat
/var/ax25/fbb/wp                 wp.old
                                 wp.sys
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
xfbb 7.03 version
/usr/local/fbb                   7pfbb (script controlling dispatch and distribution
                                        of 7pl msgs
                                 clr_usr
                                 epurmess                 epurmess.exe
                                 epurwp                   epurwp.exe
                                 fbb.xbm  (icon)
                                 fbb_view
                                 fbb_zm
                                 icom
                                 maintinf
                                 syscall.wav
                                 xfbb
                                 xfbb.sh
                                 xfbbC
                                 xfbbX
                                 xfbb_cl
                                 xfbbd
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
xfbb 7.03 and 7.04 version
/usr/lib/fbb/filter              c_filter
                                 con_filt.psw
                                 m_filter
                                 m_filter.fwd
/usr/lib/fbb/pg                  7plserv
/usr/lib/fbb/script/end_session
/usr/lib/fbb/script/error_return
/usr/lib/fbb/script/maintenance
/usr/lib/fbb/script/rerun
/usr/lib/fbb/script/reset
/usr/lib/fbb/script/sig_segv
/usr/lib/fbb/script/stop_system
/usr/lib/fbb/server              reqdir
/usr/lib/fbb/tool                (files in this dir are in 7.03 ver.in dir /usr/local/fbb)
                                 7pfbb
                                 7plus
                                 autoresp
                                 autoresp.msg
                                 clr_user
                                 epurmess
                                 epurwp
                                 fbb_view
                                 fbb_zm
                                 icom
                                 maintinf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
xfbb 7.04 version
/usr/sbin                        @fbb -> /etc/rc.d/init.d/rc.fbb(v 7.04) or xfbbd(v 7.03)
                                 fbbX
                                 fbbgetconf
                                 xfbb
                                 xfbbC
                                 xfbbX
                                 xfbb_cl
                                 xfbbd
                                 xfbbg
                                 bbs
                                 lnxfbb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the end of basic installation and configuration of XFBB system.
Best 73 de Libor OK2PEN


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