[FADCA] FPAC Linux test switch working.

[fadca@mailman.qth.net]

Bill Sinbine wrote:
> At 11:00 AM 3/7/2004 -0500, you wrote:
> That depends on the install.
> 

You are most correct on this one, I was not fully thinking


> To answer your other post the floppy is made to expand into the
> memory and no hard drive is needed. This way would make a second box
> needed for the bbs. 
> 

Ideally we would have a whole system on HD, but right now I am
concentrating on getting a floppy based switch up and running
getting familiar with the layout of the switch.

> If you were to change how the program on the floppy expands to put it
> on 
> the hard drive then you would have to see if it had everything needed
> to install a bbs with it. Any ideas on this Chuck?

We really do not want to try to put a BBS on that floppy, I do not
think there is anywhere near the space needed to do so. We really
want to do this on a HD.

This is where we can use some helping hands, some people to start
looking at the whole thing and we try to get the different bits
and pieces up and working one by one.


> There is a LOT of files zipped up on that one little floppy. It has
> everything linux that you need to run the fpac program on it...

And that is probably about all...
> 
> If the floppy doesn't have everything that is needed to run a bbs
> also then you would have to install linux on the HD and then install
> both fpac and fbb on the HD.

Yes this is where you are going a full (well all needed to do both
the BBS and switch) install.

> 
> Something to think about.
> How about a CD with everything needed to run fpac and fbb in a simple
> plug it in & install all in one ??

This is what I would like to get to, I wish I knew how to do such
installs, it would boot and ask the usual stuff, in this case we do
not need to have it ask about language support and all that crap, just
do the partitioning and get a name and Ip address install the needed
packages and then ask for the addresses, callsigns and port assignments
create the basic files and indeed you could take it one more step and
have it ask you the neighbor switches and address, for the routing
table, once done you pull the CD and reboot, if you have answered
all the questions correctly a switch should come on line.

You could have the same thing for a BBS, in fact you could have a
tree that would allow you to do a one or both install. Say you do
not need a switch, but you need a BBS so you would select that one
only, or in the case where you just need a switch.

> The fbb for a remote site can be the demon version which would be a
> lot smaller and not need as many linux files to run...

Yes indeed this would be a excellent selection for a remote unattended
BBS. I guess I have to many hours in front of a BBS console to feel
comfortable about a remote one, but hey whatever floats your boat...


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