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Making sure a modem works with Unix

This is a guide to making sure you have your modem setup and correctly configured for communications.

Check the /usr/lib/uucp/Devices has an entry for the devices you have installed: e.g.

     ACU tty1A00 - 38400 atdialMT
This is a Multitech modem on tty1A00 running at 38400 baud. Do not use variable speed baud rates e.g. 1200-2400

If you are using a generic hayes modem then set the last field to hayes2400 instead of atdialMT

If you are running TCP/IP over UUCP then refer to the Unix/OSR 5 manual pages for configuring that.

There are two ways of talking to the modem, one is via the Dialers file (in /usr/lib/uucp) and the other is via an atdialer.

The Dialers files is only really of use for the basic minimum configuration and should be avoided. There are two lines in the Dialers file for each modem type, the one with the & is used when the port is enabled and after a call takes place, the other is used to place the call e.g. for a generic hayes modem:

hayes2400 =,-,	"" ATQ0E0T&D3X4S2=043\r\c OK\r ATDT\T\r\c CONNECT
&hayes2400 =,-,	"" +++\dATQ0H OK\r ATE0&D2X4S2=128 OK\r ATS0=1Q1\r
Adjust the modem commands as you see fit.

With atdialer's, you can use one of the pre-configured entries in /usr/lib/uucp or roll your own with /usr/lib/uucp/make.dialer. The make.dialer program gives you the appropriate help commands as it goes along.

Notes on atdialMT:

Use the atdialMT dialer you should check:

   /etc/default/atdialMT

and make sure:

        MDM_SETUP=ATZ
        STTY=CTSFLOW RTSFLOW

is present and there is only ONE connect speed specified. This should be the speed the port is set to in /etc/ttys (or /etc/inittab).

With the modems set the following within their CMOS:

      at&d3 at&c1  atx4  at$sb19200  atm0   ats0=1
(Note: the $sb setting should be the port speed)

Once the Devices file is set you should check to see what sites this machine can talk to in the Systems file (/usr/lib/uucp/Systems)

bdsedin Any ACU  38400 01315589261 "" \r ogin:--ogin: nuucp 
vsolpd Any ACU  38400 01315587447  ogin:--ogin: nuucp ord: uucp
bdsedin Any ACU  38400 01315563480 "" \r ogin:--ogin: nuucp

There should be at least one entry for the remote site you are calling. Make sure the phone number and times to call are correct. Check the chat script to set login names and passwords.

OSR 5 sites mainly have a login name of nuucp with a password of uucp.

Note: With OSR 5 machines you will have to run the passwd nuucp command to set the password it is not set automatically. While we have used nuucp/uucp for most sites you can change this combination if you require, just alter the Systems and Permissions files accordingly.

Along with the Systems file, you need to configure Permissions (also in /usr/lib/uucp), making sure that the sitenames and login names have the appropriate settings:

MACHINE=bdsedin LOGNAME=nuucp \
	COMMANDS=rmail:rnews:uucp:lp \
	READ=/usr/spool/uucppublic:/usr/tmp \
	WRITE=/usr/spool/uucppublic:/usr/tmp \
	SENDFILES=yes REQUEST=yes 

Make sure there is a MACHINE and LOGNAME entry for the sites. If either site will be using remote printing over UUCP then you must ensure that lp is added to the COMMANDS entry.

General:

Make sure a line:

  MODEM=/dev/tty1A00 ; export MODEM 

is present in /etc/profile and is set to the correct port for the modem. This is used by xc and electronic ordering.

/etc/default/swhelp

swhelp is the command used to allow support staff access to your system if you do not have dial-in phone lines. By default swhelp assumes you have a 19200 baud modem that can dial out directly. If you need to prefix the number with a 9, 41, etc. or the modem runs at a different speed you will need to alter /etc/default/swhelp e.g.

Dial prefix: then set PREFIX=code
Speed: set SPEED=xxxx

PREFIX=9,
SPEED=2400

Dial-in login:

Make sure the correct speed token is in:

/etc/inittab  

for the speed you are expecting dial in activity. If you are not sure of the token to use look in /etc/gettydefs.

Note: On Unix machines you MUST also change the appropriate entry in the init file contained in /etc/conf/init.d

Testing:

Check you can send and receive mail

If the site will be using cross updating then:

Set /etc/call_info, use the template in /usr/utilities/call_info.sam as a guide.

Add /usr/utilities/x_check to root's crontab to run at xx mins past ever hour

Add BUT COMMENT OUT /usr/utilities/x_send to root's crontab to run approx 3 times during the day

Check cron is running (when changes are made via crontab cron under Xenix can stop running).

Make sure branch number is set in master.dev and within the vet system

Switch logging on