Baslinux mailing list

[sindi keesan <keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org>]

On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 3aoo-cvfd AT dea.spamcon.org wrote:

> sindi keesan wrote:
> > You cannot use the same inittab for dumb terminal
> > and telnet server modes via serial cable.
>
> You can use the same inittab if you use two different
> serial ports: one for the dumb terminal, one for TCP/IP.

I don't have that many unused ports.  I plugged an external modem into the 
other one.  But I do get your point.

> > In all cases you need to set the port/line, speed,
> > and in the case of kermit tell it you are not using
> > a modem.  Other com programs also need to be told
> > it is a direct connection.  Steven likes commo.
>
> Steven likes commo because it is relatively small and
> works well as a dumb terminal.  commo also uploads and
> downloads (which not all terminal programs can do).

In theory kermit can do that but I don't know how over this sort of 
connection.  It is easy when dialed in directly.  kermit -is from the 
sending end and the other automatically receives.


> > Is there some way to switch back and forth using
> > command-line instead of inittab to start and end
> > agetty, rather than editing inittab and rebooting
> > to switch from dumb terminal to serial network mode?
>
> Perhaps.  Try executing agetty directly (with the same
> parameters shown in /etc/inittab).
Just type out that line?

> > Or can I kill the agetty before setting up serial
> > network with ppp?).
>
> You can kill it, but it will immediately be reborn.
> If you look in /etc/inittab, you will see that agetty
> is launched with the respawn setting.  This means the
> getty restarts automatically when terminated

If I don't use inittab but type it out CLI do I omit respawn so I can kill 
it?


> > pppd local crtscts /dev/ttyS0 11500 192.168.1.1:192.168.1.2
>
> That line is wrong.
> I suggest you use the line in /root/netsetup.

115200.  Any other errors?  You used clark:lois.

> > I don't know if it was necessary but I also did
> > ifconfig ppp0 192.168.1.1 and the same for .2
>
> It's not necessary.
>
> > Steven could you write this up as a FAQ?
>
> The most important bits are already in /root/netsetup
>
> > The part about securetty was not in netsetup,
>
> It's not needed.  Editing /etc/securetty is something
> you do on a server.  BasicLinux was designed to be a
> client, not a server.  I realize that some people are
> using BasicLinux as a server, but that is not a normal
> function of the distribution.  In fact, using BasicLinux
> as a server is very insecure (particularly if you run it
> as root).

I am not worried about this.  Is it any more insecure than going online 
with the server as root in the first place on a dialup connection?
This is handy so that two people can go online at the same time on one 
phone line.  We could also do this with an ethernet connection (we have 
one 25' cable if we want to be in different rooms).

How would I fix things so user could do more, including write to a file?

> > or the fact that you cannot telnet with the same
> > inittab that you need for dumb terminal.
>
> The inittab is not at issue.  Your problem was that you
> were trying to use a serial port for two different things.
> You would get the same effect if you put a modem and mouse
> on the same port.

I got the same effect one with dumb terminal and mouse on the same port.
You cannot telnet if inittab is set to use the same ttySx that you are 
trying to use with pppd.