[FADCA] FPAC Linux test switch working.

[fadca@mailman.qth.net]

bud thompson wrote:
> Chuck and John -
> 
> What great news that you are winning the LINUX FPAC war for us. 
> Charlie N3PPC and I will be ready to try that disk image whenever you
> have one ready - make that Charlie will be ready - I watch!
> 
> For the record:  What all has to be available on a computer for that
> disk image to run?
> 
> bud N0IA

A few more comments on this. As I started to dig into the whole thing
the comms stack in LINUX became clearer, it is more like a modular
structure that you can add modules to, now once you do so you can then
go back and compile those services into the kernel and end up with a
more compact and faster dedicated kernel. 

>From the amateur perspective the base layer is the AX25 layer, and then
you add the other stuff on top of it.

>From LINUX perspective, AX25 is just one more piece that really sets on
the main communications block which is IP.

The neat thing is that much of the Ax25 stuff now comes built into the
OS, I was just checking out RH 9 and the Ax25, NetRom and ROSE modules
are already in there you just have to configure them and start them.

For FPAC you will need to add those pieces but the foundation is already
there. I am just learning how to get it all up and running.  Playing
around with the FPAC disk has been a big help in learning that relation.

Also taking the time to READ the documentation (who ME read docs??)
helps a lot. At times we look at it and it looks daunting because we
are so used to dealing with that other OS that keeps all that stuff
under lock and key and makes it look so simple until something goes
wrong big time and you can NOT see what is under the lock.... B-)

If you are trying to learn LINUX, or AIX or BSD or any Unix, I have
learned to set down and read through the script files that make things
happen, they are BIG eye openers that really give you a clear idea of
what is going on as the machine boots and as processes are spun up or
killed. If there is anything that I find neat about these OS's it is
the fact that all those things are handled in plain language scripts
that are once you get the knack of it pretty easy to track.

This weekend of getting LINUX FPAC working has been a real educational
experience. 

Chuck Hast
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
To paraphrase my flight instructor;
"the only dumb question is the one you DID NOT ask resulting in my going
out and having to identify your bits and pieces in the midst of torn
and twisted metal."


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