With the TCP/IP module all TCP/IP services available under Windows 95
can be done also via AX.25. You should have some basic ideas of TCP/IP
and Windows 95. If so, the installation is quite simple.
Before you start with this module please be sure that FlexNet is installed
and running ok. That is: you can do "normal" packet radio QSO's
with your terminal program. The installation of the TCP/IP module is done
completely under Windows 95 and resembles the installation of an ethernet
adapter:
- Copy all files of the archive FLEXIP95.LZH to the FlexNet subdirectory.
- Go to: "Control Panel -> Network -> Add -> Adapter
-> Have Disk"
- Instead of "A:" use the FlexNet directory e.g. "c:\pcflex".
You will see an entry
"FlexNet IP -> AX.25".
- Select this entry and choose "OK". Now you have a virtual
"adapter" on which the TCP/IP protocol can be installed as described
in the Microsoft documentation:
- Go to: "Control Panel -> Network-> Add -> protocols
-> Microsoft -> TCP/IP"
You can now configure TCP/IP; a binding to a client or server is not
necessary. When you exit this menu you will be asked to reboot. After doing
this your installation is complete.
WARNING: POSSIBLE SECURITY LEAKAGE!
If you bind TCP/IP to "Server for
Microsoft Network" and you are not behind a Firewall, somebody might
get access to all services exported by your computer. This is NOT a deficiency
of FlexNet, it is a deficiency of Microsofts network protocols, which are
not designed to be run over a publically accessible radio network!
Routes are beeing defined in the "FlexNet Control Center".
This is a simple job if you "ping" the target before. Any unresolved
address resolution will show up as an "unknown" entry in the
routing list. Just double click the entry and complete it with the appropriate
AX.25 path. Note that FlexNet will not broadcast ARP requests for
unresolved destinations! Incoming routes (e.g. when you have been pinged
by another station) are automatically learned and permanently stored. For
the presence, the mode "Virtual Circuit with TCP Compression"
works only with other FlexNet targets (and presumably only within pure
FlexNet networks).
We do NOT encourage you to use the "Datagram" mode as it uses
UI frames that have to pass the entire distance between two partners for
a retry in case of a lossy link. If possible use the "Virtual Circuit"
mode; this is also the default.
The control button "permanent" will be necessary only in a
few situations. When active, it locks the route and mode for a given IP
destination so the system cannot switch to another route even if that would
be the better choice.
If you change your network node or FlexNet channel, the redefinition
of your targets is easily done with drag&drop operations from the "AX.25
tree view" menu. You can move complete trees within this view by a
single click, so be careful.
On the very first start you will be asked the callsign of the IP stack.
The SSID no. 10 is commonly used. Of course you shouldn't choose an SSID
that is normally in use for "plain" AX.25 connects.
Be careful with the "Default Route". All packets for unknown
targets will be sent there. If you are close to an IP router you can use
this one as the default. Don't choose stations that share a digipeater
input with other users as your default route. This will double the traffic
and is therefore strongly discouraged!
It is always a good idea to dispense from using the default route and
add new routes via the "IP routes" window when needed.
To complete the installation you need to define a nameserver. This nameserver
shouldn't be too far away to receive the results within a reasonable time.
Alternatively you can manually define the relation of names to IP addresses.
This is done in the "HOSTS" file that is located in
the WINDOWS subdirectory; this will speed up DNS requests considerably.
This documentation should cover most questions related to AX.25 configuration.
It is not intended to solve problems you may have with the operating system.
The matter of choice for these problems is to read the system documentation
and/or to use the hotlines Microsoft offers ($$$). As this project also
addresses radio amateurs who are new to TCP/IP, we are preparing a more
detailed documentation. Watch out for it later in these pages.
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