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-<H2><A NAME="s6">6. Databases</A></H2>
+<H2><A NAME="s6">6.</A> <A HREF="adminmanual.html#toc6">Information, files and useful programs</A></H2>
-<P>Spider allows the creation of local or remote databases. It supports
-chained databases, allowing several different databases to be scanned
-with one simple command. Importing of databases is limited at present
-to the standard AK1A databases such as OBLAST and the DB0SDX QSL
-database but will expand with time.
-<P>
-<H2><A NAME="ss6.1">6.1 Creating databases</A>
+<H2><A NAME="ss6.1">6.1</A> <A HREF="adminmanual.html#toc6.1">MOTD</A>
+</H2>
+
+<P>One of the more important things a cluster sysop needs to do is to get
+information to his users. The simplest way to do this is to have a banner
+that is sent to the user on login. This is know as a "message of the day"
+or "motd". To set this up, simply create a file in /spider/data called motd
+and edit it to say whatever you want. It is purely a text file and will be
+sent automatically to anyone logging in to the cluster.</P>
+
+<H2><A NAME="ss6.2">6.2</A> <A HREF="adminmanual.html#toc6.2">MOTD_NOR</A>
+</H2>
+
+<P>This message of the day file lives in the same directory as the standard
+motd file but is only sent to non-registered users. Once registered they
+will receive the same message as any other user.</P>
+
+<H2><A NAME="ss6.3">6.3</A> <A HREF="adminmanual.html#toc6.3">Downtime message</A>
</H2>
-<P>Creating a database could not be more simple. All the commands are
-sent from the cluster prompt as the <EM>sysop</EM> user.
-<P>To create a database you use the command <EM>dbcreate</EM>. It can
-be used in 3 different ways like so ..
+<P>If for any reason the cluster is down, maybe for upgrade or maintenance but
+the machine is still running, a message can be sent to the user advising them
+of the fact. This message lives in the /spider/data directory and is called
+"offline". Simply create the file and edit it to say whatever you wish.
+This file will be sent to a user attempting to log into the cluster when
+DXSpider is not actually running.</P>
+
+<H2><A NAME="ss6.4">6.4</A> <A HREF="adminmanual.html#toc6.4">Other text messages</A>
+</H2>
+
+<P>You can set other text messages to be read by the user if they input the file
+name. This could be for news items or maybe information for new users.
+To set this up, make a directory under /spider called <EM>packclus</EM>.
+Under this directory you can create files called <EM>news</EM> or <EM>newuser</EM>
+for example. In fact you can create files with any names you like. These can
+be listed by the user with the command ....</P>
<P>
<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
<PRE>
-dbcreate <name>
+show/files
</PRE>
</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
-<P>To simply create a database locally, you just tell the command the
-name of the database. This does not create the actual database, it
-simply defines it to say that it exists.
+</P>
+<P>They can be read by the user by typing the command ....</P>
<P>
<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
<PRE>
-dbcreate <name> chain <name> [<name>...]
+type news
</PRE>
</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
-<P>This creates a chained database entry. The first database will be
-scanned, then the second, the third etc...
+</P>
+<P>If the file they want to read is called <EM>news</EM>. You could also set
+an alias for this in the Alias file to allow them just to type <EM>news</EM></P>
+
+<P>You can also store other information in this directory, either directly or
+nested under directories. One use for this would be to store DX bulletins
+such as the OPDX bulletins. These can be listed and read by the user.
+To keep things tidy, make a directory under /spider/packclus called
+<EM>bulletin</EM>. Now copy any OPDX or similar bulletins into it. These
+can be listed by the user in the same way as above using the <EM>show/files</EM>
+command with an extension for the bulletin directory you have just created,
+like this ....</P>
<P>
<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
<PRE>
-dbcreate <name> remote <name>
+show/files bulletin
</PRE>
</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
-<P>This creates a remote entry. the first name field is the database
-name at the remote node, then the remote switch, then the actual
-node_call of the remote node, for example...
+</P>
+
+<P>An example would look like this ....</P>
<P>
<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
<PRE>
-dbcreate buckmaster remote gb7dxc
+sh/files
+bulletin DIR 20-Dec-1999 1715Z news 1602 14-Dec-1999 1330Z
</PRE>
</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
-<P>Remote databases cannot be chained, however, the last database in a
-chain can be a remote database.
+</P>
+<P>You can see that in the files area (basically the packclus directory) there is a
+file called <EM>news</EM> and a directory called <EM>bulletin</EM>. You can
+also see that dates they were created. In the case of the file <EM>news</EM>,
+you can also see the time it was last modified, a good clue as to whether the
+file has been updated since you last read it. To read the file called
+<EM>news</EM> you would simply issue the command ....</P>
<P>
-<H2><A NAME="ss6.2">6.2 Importing databases</A>
-</H2>
-
-<P>The only databases that Spider can currently import are the standard
-AK1A databases such as OBLAST or the DB0SDX qsl and address database.
-This will be added to with time.
-<P>To import such a database, first put the file somewhere useful like /tmp
-and then issue the following command ...
+<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
+<PRE>
+type news
+</PRE>
+</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
+</P>
+<P>To look what is in the bulletin directory you issue the command ....</P>
<P>
<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
<PRE>
-dbimport oblast /tmp/OBLAST.FUL
+show/files bulletin
+opdx390 21381 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx390.1 1670 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx390.2 2193 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx391 25045 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx392 35969 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx393 15023 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx394 33429 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx394.1 3116 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx395 24319 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx396 32647 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx396.1 5537 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx396.2 6242 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx397 18433 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx398 19961 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx399 17719 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx400 19600 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx401 27738 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx402 18698 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx403 24994 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx404 15685 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx405 13984 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx405.1 4166 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx406 28934 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx407 24153 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+opdx408 15081 29-Nov-1999 1621Z opdx409 23234 29-Nov-1999 1621Z
+Press Enter to continue, A to abort (16 lines) >
</PRE>
</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
-<P>This will update the existing local oblast database or create it if
-it does not exist.
+</P>
+<P>You can now read any file in this directory using the type command, like this ....</P>
<P>
-<H2><A NAME="ss6.3">6.3 Checking available databases</A>
+<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
+<PRE>
+type bulletin/opdx391
+Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 391
+The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
+DX Bulletin No. 391
+BID: $OPDX.391
+January 11, 1999
+Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
+Provided by BARF-80 BBS Cleveland, Ohio
+Online at 440-237-8208 28.8k-1200 Baud 8/N/1 (New Area Code!)
+Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX
+Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, K1XN & Golist, WB2RAJ/WB2YQH
+& The 59(9) DXReport, W3UR & The Daily DX, K3TEJ, KN4UG, W4DC, NC6J, N6HR,
+Press Enter to continue, A to abort (508 lines) >
+</PRE>
+</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
+</P>
+<P>The page length will of course depend on what you have it set to!</P>
+
+<H2><A NAME="ss6.5">6.5</A> <A HREF="adminmanual.html#toc6.5">The Aliases file</A>
</H2>
-<P>Once a database is created, you will want to check that it has been
-added. To do this use the <EM>dbavail</EM> command. This will
-output the available databases. For example ...
+<P>You will find a file in /spider/cmd/ called Aliases. This is the file that
+controls what a user gets when issuing a command. It is also possible to
+create your own aliases for databases and files you create locally.</P>
+
+<P>You should not alter the original file in /spider/cmd/ but create a new file
+with the same name in /spider/local_cmd. This means that any new Aliases files
+that is downloaded will not overwrite your self created Aliases and also that
+you do not override any new Aliases with your copy in /spider/local_cmd/. You
+must remember that any files you store in /spider/local/ or /spider/local_cmd
+override the originals if the same lines are used in both files.</P>
+
+<P>The best way of dealing with all this then is to only put your own locally
+created Aliases in the copy in /spider/local_cmd. The example below is
+currently in use at GB7MBC.</P>
<P>
<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
<PRE>
-dbavail
-DB Name Location Chain
-qsl Local
-buck GB7ADX
-hftest GB7DXM
-G0VGS de GB7MBC 3-Feb-2001 1925Z >
+
+#
+# Local Aliases File
+#
+
+package CmdAlias;
+
+%alias = (
+ 'n' => [
+ '^news$', 'type news', 'type',
+ ],
+ 's' => [
+ '^sh\w*/buck$', 'show/qrz', 'show',
+ '^sh\w*/hftest$', 'dbshow hftest', 'dbshow',
+ '^sh\w*/qsl$', 'dbshow qsl', 'dbshow',
+ '^sh\w*/vhf$', 'dbshow vhf', 'dbshow',
+ '^sh\w*/vhftest$', 'dbshow vhftest', 'dbshow',
+ ],
+)
</PRE>
</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
-<P>
-<H2><A NAME="ss6.4">6.4 Looking up databases</A>
+</P>
+
+<P>Each alphabetical section should be preceded by the initial letter and the section
+should be wrapped in square brackets as you can see. The syntax is straightforward.
+The first section on each line is the new command that will be allowed once the
+alias is included. The second section is the command it is replacing and the last
+section is the actual command that is being used.</P>
+
+<P>The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that in the first section, the new
+alias command has a '^' at the start and a '$' at the end. Basically these force
+a perfect match on the alias. The '^' says match the beginning exactly and the
+'$' says match the end exactly. This prevents unwanted and unintentional matches
+with similar commands.</P>
+
+<P>I have 3 different types of alias in this file. At the top is an alias for 'news'.
+This is a file I have created in the /spider/packclus/ directory where I can inform
+users of new developments or points of interest. In it's initial form a user would
+have to use the command <EM>type news</EM>. The alias allows them to simply type
+<EM>news</EM> to get the info. Second is an alias for the <EM>show/qrz</EM>
+command so that those users used to the original <EM>show/buck</EM> command in
+AK1A will not get an error, and the rest of the lines are for locally created
+databases so that a user can type <EM>show/hftest</EM> instead of having to use
+the command <EM>dbshow hftest</EM> which is not as intuitive.</P>
+
+<P>This file is just an example and you should edit it to your own requirements.
+Once created, simply issue the command <EM>load/alias</EM> at the cluster
+prompt as the sysop user and the aliases should be available.</P>
+
+
+<H2><A NAME="ss6.6">6.6</A> <A HREF="adminmanual.html#toc6.6">Console.pl</A>
</H2>
-<P>To look for information in a defined database, simply use the <EM>dbshow</EM>
-command, for example ...
+<P>In later versions of Spider a simple console program is provided for the sysop.
+This has a type ahead buffer with line editing facilities and colour for spots,
+announces etc. To use this program, simply use console.pl instead of client.</P>
+
+<P>To edit the colours, copy /spider/perl/Console.pl to /spider/local and edit the
+file with your favourite editor.</P>
+
+<H2><A NAME="ss6.7">6.7</A> <A HREF="adminmanual.html#toc6.7">Updating kepler data</A>
+</H2>
+
+<P>Spider has a powerful and flexible show/satellite command. In order for
+this to be accurate, the kepler data has to be updated regularly. In
+general, this data is available as an email or via cluster mail.
+Updating it is simple. First you need to export the mail message as a
+file. You do this with the <EM>export</EM> command from the cluster prompt
+as the sysop. For example ...</P>
<P>
<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
<PRE>
-dbshow buckmaster G0YLM
+export 5467 /spider/perl/keps.in
</PRE>
</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
-<P>will show the information for the callsign G0YLM from the buckmaster
-database if it exists. To make things more standard for the users
-you can add an entry in the Aliases file so that it looks like a standard
-<EM>show</EM> command like this ...
+</P>
+
+<P>would export message number 5467 as a file called keps.in in the
+/spider/perl directory.</P>
+
+<P>Now login to a VT as sysop and cd /spider/perl. There is a command in
+the perl directory called <EM>convkeps.pl</EM>. All we need to do now is
+convert the file like so ...</P>
<P>
<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
<PRE>
-'^sh\w*/buc', 'dbshow buckmaster', 'dbshow',
+./convkeps.pl keps.in
</PRE>
</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
-<P>Now you can simply use show/buckmaster or an abreviation.
+</P>
+
+<P>Now go back to the cluster and issue the command ...</P>
<P>
-<H2><A NAME="ss6.5">6.5 Removing databases</A>
+<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
+<PRE>
+load/keps
+</PRE>
+</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
+</P>
+
+<P>That is it! the kepler data has been updated.</P>
+
+<H2><A NAME="ss6.8">6.8</A> <A HREF="adminmanual.html#toc6.8">The QRZ callbook</A>
</H2>
-<P>To delete an existing database you use the <EM>dbremove</EM> command.
-For example ...
+<P>The command <EM>sh/qrz</EM> will only work once you have followed a few
+simple steps. First you need to get a user ID and password from qrz.com.
+Simply go to the site and create one. Secondly you need to copy the file
+/spider/perl/Internet.pm to /spider/local and alter it to match your user
+ID and password. You also at this point need to set $allow=1 to complete
+the setup. Many thanks to Fred Lloyd, the proprieter of
+<A HREF="http://www.qrz.com">qrz.com</A> for allowing this access.</P>
+
+<H2><A NAME="ss6.9">6.9</A> <A HREF="adminmanual.html#toc6.9">Connecting logging programs</A>
+</H2>
+
+<P>There appear to be very few logging programs out there that support telnet
+especially the popular ones like LogEQF, Turbolog etc. This can make it
+difficult to connect to your own cluster!
+The way to do it is to make the logging program think it has a TNC attached
+to a com port on the logging PC and 'push' a linux login out to it.
+This is achieved very simply by the use of <EM>agetty</EM>.</P>
+
+<P>All that is required is to add a line in /etc/inittab to have the client
+ready for a connection on the com port of your choice. Remember that in
+Linux, the com ports start at ttyS0 for com1, ttyS1 for com2 etc.</P>
<P>
<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
<PRE>
-dbremove oblast
+c4:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -L 9600 ttyS1
</PRE>
</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
-<P>would remove the oblast database and its associated datafile from the
-system. There are no warnings or recovery possible from this command.
-If you remove a database it ceases to exist and would have to be created
-from scratch if you still required it.
-<P>
+</P>
+
+<P>Add this after the standard runlevel lines in /etc/inittab. The above
+line works on ttyS1 (com2). Now as root, issue the command <EM>telinit q</EM>
+and it should be ready for connection. All that is required is a 3 wire
+serial lead (tx, rx and signal ground). Tell you logging program to use
+8n1 at 9600 baud and you should see a Linux login prompt. Login as normal
+and then telnet from there to the cluster.</P>
+
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