[FADCA] Linux FPAC

[Chuck Hast]

On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 11:34:55 -0500, Charles S Schuman
<k4gbb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> DOS FPAC has two features that have not been activated or carried over
> into the Linux version.
> 1. There are NO seperate Info msg texts for each port.

I will crawl out of mapping hell for a few minuts to reply here.
Indeed there are
none, but the mechanisim is there to provide it, I was looking at it there other
day and I think I have some notes for it. 

> 2. Linux treats Alias like the TNC ROSE switch does. DOS defines them as
> an ssid of the FPAC switch.

This is good and bad, good in that you are not limited to the amount of SSID's
that are available (Indeed if I recall not all 15 are available on the DOS box)
But bad in that if you do not know the name of the alias you can not connect to
it. I also still have some problems with using non-callsigns as a
target connection
but I am not going to have a sleepless night over it, indeed I have
done so my self
and once I got over my initial internal conflict it was no big
deal.... B-} Just got to
make sure the thing ID's correctly just in case the powers that be
decide to apply
the law to the letter...

> 
> I don't believe that eather is a problem, but it could impact the
> Sysop/LAN needs.

Each one will have to weight what works and what does not.... Remember
we have the SOURCE code here and a load of tools. If we can people 
interested in working on the apps and code we could come up with better
working network. 
> 
> John, wb4moz, and I both agree.. We will end up with a mixture of Linux
> and DOS nodes. Change for the sake of change is Not a good thing. Sysops
>   will have to look at the two systems and decide which will best fill the
> bill.
> 

I agree here, you use the device or code that meets the need, if a DOS box
will work at a given place it stays that way. If a Linux box provides added
utility, the switchop can move to it, indeed I would go they way I did the
other day, bring up a box test it, then move a site to Linux if it
fits the need.
If not, it stays as is. I like the fact that Linux appears to share more data
across the network, it also shows more of what is out there, but more work
needs to be done on the statistics part, all of it is there, it just needs to be
pulled out and presented properly.

Indeed I would like to see something like the Linux TOP application for a
switch, a screen that would show you changes as the take place on the
switch. All of the hooks are there we just need to figure out how to write
it. That is the neat part, the hooks are there and available for us to work
with, now if I can just get these maps done so I can get me self some free
time again I will feel link a real person.

At this point in time, I have a pretty good idea of what 4 wireless data
providers look like in Hillsborough County, 3 are not bad but one really is
not good, being polite.


-- 
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."