Most maintenance tasks are automatic but there are some commands that are useful for a sysop. These are listed below in alphabetical order. The number in brackets following the command name is the permissions level needed to use the command. -
-
announce sysop <text>
-
-
Send an announcement to Sysops only -
-
connect <callsign> Start a connection to another DX Cluster
+
Upto v1.44 it was not possible for the user to set their own filters. From +v1.45 though that has all changed. It is now possible to set filters for just +about anything you wish. If you have just updated from an older version of +DXSpider you will need to update your new filters. You do not need to do +anything with your old filters, they will be renamed as you update.
-
Start a connection process that will culminate in a new connection to the -DX cluster <callsign>. This process creates a new 'client' process which will -use the script in /spider/connect/<callsign> to effect the 'chat' exchange -necessary to traverse the network(s) to logon to the cluster <callsign>. +
There are 3 basic commands involved in setting and manipulating filters. These +are accept, reject and clear. First we will look +generally at filtering. There are a number of things you can filter in the +DXSpider system. They all use the same general mechanism.
-
-
<node_call> All [<msgno> ...] Mark a message as sent
-
-
When you send messages the fact that you have forwarded it to another node -is remembered so that it isn't sent again. When you have a new partner -node and you add their callsign to your /spider/msg/forward.pl file, all -outstanding non-private messages will be forwarded to them. This may well -be ALL the non-private messages. You can prevent this by using these -commmands:- -
catch GB7DJK all -catch GB7DJK 300 301 302 303 -
and to undo what you have just done:- -
uncatch GB7DJK all -uncatch GB7DJK 300 301 302 303 -
which will arrange for them to be forward candidates again. -
-
dbcreate <name> Create a database entry
-
-dbcreate <name> chain <name> [<name>..] Create a chained database entry
-dbcreate <name> remote <node> Create a remote database entry
-
DBCREATE allows you to define a database in the system. It doesn't actually -create anything, just defines it. -
The databases that are created are simple DB_File hash databases, they are -therefore already 'indexed'. -
You can define a local database with the first form of the command eg: -
DBCREATE oblast -
You can also chain databases with the addition of the 'chain' keyword. -This will search each database one after the other. A typical example -is: -
DBCREATE sdx_qsl chain sql_ad -
No checking is done to see if the any of the chained databases exist, in -fact it is usually better to do the above statement first then do each of -the chained databases. -
Databases can exist offsite. To define a database that lives on another -node do: -
DBCREATE buckmaster remote gb7dxc -
Remote databases cannot be chained; however, the last database in a -a chain can be a remote database eg: -
DBCREATE qsl chain gb7dxc -
To see what databases have been defined do: -
DBAVAIL (or it will have been aliased to SHOW/COMMAND) -
It would be normal for you to add an entry into your local Aliases file -to allow people to use the 'SHOW/<dbname>' style syntax. So you would -need to add a line like:- +
In general terms you can create a 'reject' or an 'accept' filter which can have +up to 10 lines in it. You do this using, for example ...
- 's' => [
- ..
- ..
- '^sh\w*/buc', 'dbshow buckmaster', 'dbshow',
- ..
- ..
- ],
+
+accept/spots .....
+reject/spots .....
to allow -
SH/BUCK g1tlh -
to work as they may be used to. -
See DBIMPORT for the importing of existing AK1A format data to databases. -See DBSHOW for generic database enquiry -
-
dbimport <dbname> Import AK1A data into a database
-
-
If you want to import or update data in bulk to a database you can use -this command. It will either create or update entries into an existing -database. For example:- -
DBIMPORT oblast /tmp/OBLAST.FUL -
will import the standard OBLAST database that comes with AK1A into the -oblast database held locally. -
-
dbremove <dbname> Delete a database
-
-
DBREMOVE will completely remove a database entry and also delete any data -file that is associated with it. -
There is no warning, no comeback, no safety net. -
For example: -
DBREMOVE oblast -
will remove the oblast database from the system and it will also remove -the associated datafile. -
I repeat: -
There is no warning, no comeback, no safety net. -
You have been warned. -
-
debug Set the cluster program into debug mode
-
-
Executing this command will only have an effect if you are running the cluster -in debug mode i.e. +
where ..... are the specific commands for that type of filter. There are filters +for spots, wwv, announce, wcy and (for sysops) connects. See each different +accept or reject command reference for more details. +
There is also a command to clear out one or more lines in a filter. They are ...
- perl -d cluster.pl
+clear/spots 1
+clear/spots all
It will interrupt the cluster just after the debug command has finished. -
-
Works just like the user command except that sysops can see ALL messages. -
-
disconnect <call> [<call> ...] Disconnect a user or node
-
-
Disconnect any <call> connected locally +
There is clear/xxxx command for each type of filter.
-
export <msgno> <filename> Export a message to a file
-
-
Export a message to a file. This command can only be executed on a local -console with a fully privileged user. The file produced will be in a form -ready to be imported back into the cluster by placing it in the import -directory (/spider/msg/import). -
This command cannot overwrite an existing file. This is to provide some -measure of security. Any files written will owned by the same user as the -main cluster, otherwise you can put the new files anywhere the cluster can -access. For example:- -
EXPORT 2345 /tmp/a -
-
forward/opername <call> Send out information on this <call> to all clusters
-
-
This command sends out any information held in the user file which can -be broadcast in PC41 protocol packets. This information is Name, QTH, Location -and Homenode. PC41s are only sent for the information that is available. -
-
init <node call> Re-initialise a link to an AK1A compatible node
-
-
This command attempts to re-initialise a link to a (usually) AK1A node -that has got confused, usually by a protocol loop of some kind. It may -work - but you usually will be better off simply disconnecting it (or -better, if it is a real AK1A node, doing an RCMD <node> DISC/F <your -node>). -
Best of luck - you will need it. -
-
kill <msgno> [<msgno> ...] Remove or erase a message from the system
-
-kill from <call> Remove all messages from a callsign
-kill to <call> Remove all messages to a callsign
-
You can get rid of any message to or originating from your callsign using -this command. You can remove more than one message at a time. -
As a sysop you can kill any message on the system. -
-
kill full <msgno> [<msgno>] Delete a message from the whole clusterDelete a message (usually a 'bulletin') from the whole cluster system. -
This uses the subject field, so any messages that have exactly the same subject -will be deleted. Beware! -
-
load/aliases Reload the command alias table
-
-
Reload the /spider/cmd/Aliases file after you have editted it. You will need to -do this if you change this file whilst the cluster is running in order for the -changes to take effect. -
-
load/bands Reload the band limits table
-
-
Reload the /spider/data/bands.pl file if you have changed it manually whilst -the cluster is running. -
-
load/cmd_cache Reload the automatic command cache
-
-
Normally, if you change a command file in the cmd or local_cmd tree it will -automatially be picked up by the cluster program. Sometimes it can get confused -if you are doing a lot of moving commands about or delete a command in the -local_cmd tree and want to use the normal one again. Execute this command to -reset everything back to the state it was just after a cluster restart. -
-
load/messages Reload the system messages file
-
-
If you change the /spider/perl/Messages file (usually whilst fiddling/writing ne -commands) you can have them take effect during a cluster session by executing this -command. You need to do this if get something like :- -
unknown message 'xxxx' in lang 'en' -
-
load/prefixes Reload the prefix table
-
-
Reload the /spider/data/prefix_data.pl file if you have changed it manually whilst -the cluster is running. -
-
merge <node> [<no spots>/<no wwv>] Ask for the latest spots and WWV
-
-
MERGE allows you to bring your spot and wwv database up to date. By default -it will request the last 10 spots and 5 WWVs from the node you select. The -node must be connected locally. -
You can request any number of spots or wwv and although they will be appended -to your databases they will not duplicate any that have recently been added -(the last 2 days for spots and last month for WWV data). -
-
msg <cmd> <msgno> [data ...] Alter various message parameters
-
-
Alter message parameters like To, From, Subject, whether private or bulletin -or return receipt (RR) is required or whether to keep this message from timing -out. +
and you can check that your filters have worked by the command ...
- MSG TO <msgno> <call> - change TO callsign to <call>
- MSG FRom <msgno> <call> - change FROM callsign to <call>
- MSG PRrivate <msgno> - set private flag
- MSG NOPRrivate <msgno> - unset private flag
- MSG RR <msgno> - set RR flag
- MSG NORR <msgno> - unset RR flag
- MSG KEep <msgno> - set the keep flag (message won't be deleted ever)
- MSG NOKEep <msgno> - unset the keep flag
- MSG SUbject <msgno> <new> - change the subject to <new>
- MSG WAittime <msgno> - remove any waitting time for this message
- MSG NOREad <msgno> - mark message as unread
- MSG REad <msgno> - mark message as read
- MSG QUeue - queue any outstanding bulletins
- MSG QUeue 1 - queue any outstanding private messages
+
+show/filter
You can look at the status of a message by using:- -
STAT/MSG <msgno> -
This will display more information on the message than DIR does. -
-
pc <call> <text> Send text (eg PC Protocol) to <call>
-
-
Send some arbitrary text to a locally connected callsign. No processing is done on -the text. This command allows you to send PC Protocol to unstick things if problems -arise (messages get stuck etc). eg:- -
pc gb7djk PC33^GB7TLH^GB7DJK^400^ -
You can also use in the same way as a talk command to a connected user but -without any processing, added of "from <blah> to <blah>" or whatever. -
pc G1TLH Try doing that properly!!! -
-
ping <node> Send a ping command to another cluster node
-
-
This command is used to estimate the quality of the link to another cluster. -The time returned is the length of time taken for a PC51 to go to another -cluster and be returned. -
Any visible cluster node can be PINGed. -
-
rcmd <node call> <cmd> Send a command to another DX cluster
-
-
This command allows you to send nearly any command to another DX Cluster -node that is connected to the system. -
Whether you get any output is dependant on a) whether the other system knows -that the node callsign of this cluster is in fact a node b) whether the -other system is allowing RCMDs from this node and c) whether you have -permission to send this command at all. -
-
read <msgno> Read a message on the system
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-
As a sysop you may read any message on the system -
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set/debug <name>Add a debug level to the debug set
-
-
You can remove this level with unset/debug <name> -
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set/isolate <node call> Isolate a node from the rest of the network
-
-
Connect a node to your system in such a way that you are a full protocol -member of its network and can see all spots on it, but nothing either leaks -out from it nor goes back into from the rest of the nodes connected to you. -
You can potentially connect several nodes in this way. -
You can see which nodes are isolated with the show/isolate (1) command. -
You can remove the isolation with the command unset/isolate. -
-
set/sys_location <lat & long>Set your cluster latitude and longitude
-
In order to get accurate headings and such like you must tell the system -what your latitude and longitude is. If you have not yet done a SET/QRA -then this command will set your QRA locator for you. For example:- -
SET/LOCATION 52 22 N 0 57 E +
For now we are going to use spots for the examples, but you can apply the same +principles to all types of filter.
-
set/lockout <call>Stop a callsign connecting to the cluster
+
There are two main types of filter, accept or reject. You +can use either to achieve the result you want dependent on your own preference +and which is more simple to do. It is pointless writing 8 lines of reject +filters when 1 accept filter would do the same thing! Each filter has 10 +lines (of any length) which are tried in order. If a line matches then the +action you have specified is taken (ie reject means ignore it and accept +means take it)
-
You can show who is locked out with the show/lockout (9) command. -
To allow the user to connect again, use the command unset/lockout -
-
set/node <call> [<call> ...]Make the callsign an AK1A cluster
-
-
Tell the system that the call(s) are to be treated as AK1A cluster and -fed PC Protocol rather normal user commands. -
From version 1.41 you can also set the following types of cluster +
If you specify reject filters, then any lines that arrive that match the filter +will be dumped but all else will be accepted. If you use an accept filter, +then ONLY the lines in the filter will be accepted and all else will be dumped. +For example if you have a single line accept filter ...
+
-set/spider
-set/dxnet
-set/clx
-set/arcluster
+accept/spots on vhf and (by_zone 14,15,16 or call_zone 14,15,16)
-To see what your nodes are set to, use the show/nodes command.
-
-
7.31 set/obscount (9)
-
-
-set/obscount <count> <node call> Set the 'pump-up' obscelence counter
+
then you will ONLY get VHF spots from or to CQ zones +14, 15 and 16.
-
From version 1.35 onwards neighbouring nodes are pinged at regular intervals (see -SET/PINGINTERVAL), usually 300 seconds or 5 minutes. There is a 'pump-up' -counter which is decremented on every outgoing ping and then reset to -the 'obscount' value on every incoming ping. The default value of this -parameter is 2. -
What this means is that a neighbouring node will be pinged twice at -(default) 300 second intervals and if no reply has been heard just before -what would be the third attempt, that node is disconnected. -
If a ping is heard then the obscount is reset to the full value. Using -default values, if a node has not responded to a ping within 15 minutes, -it is disconnected. +
If you set a reject filter like this ...
-
set/pinginterval <time> <node call> Set the ping time to neighbouring nodes
+
+
+reject/spots on hf/cw
+
+Then you will get everything EXCEPT HF CW spots. You could make this +single filter even more flexible. For example, if you are interested in IOTA +and will work it even on CW even though normally you are not interested in +CW, then you could say ...
-
As from version 1.35 all neighbouring nodes are pinged at regular intervals -in order to determine the rolling quality of the link and, in future, to -affect routing decisions. The default interval is 300 secs or 5 minutes. -
You can use this command to set a different interval. Please don't. -
But if you do the value you enter is treated as minutes up 60 and seconds -for numbers greater than that. -
This is used also to help determine when a link is down at the far end -(as certain cluster software doesn't always notice), see SET/OBSCOUNT -for more information. +
+
+reject/spots on hf/cw and not info iota
+
+But in that case you might only be interested in iota and say:-
-
set/privilege <n> <call> [<call> ...] Set the privilege level on a call
+
+
+accept/spots not on hf/cw or info iota
+
+which achieves exactly the same thing. You should choose one or the other +until you are comfortable with the way it works. You can mix them if you +wish (actually you can have an accept AND a reject on the same line) but +don't attempt this until you are sure you know what you are doing!
-
Set the privilege level on a callsign. The privilege levels that pertain -to commands are as default:- +
You can arrange your filter lines into logical units, either for your own +understanding or simply convenience. Here is an example ...
- 0 - normal user
- 1 - allow remote nodes normal user RCMDs
- 5 - various privileged commands (including shutdown, but not disc-
- connect), the normal level for another node.
- 8 - more privileged commands (including disconnect)
- 9 - local sysop privilege. DO NOT SET ANY REMOTE USER OR NODE TO THIS
- LEVEL.
+reject/spots 1 on hf/cw
+reject/spots 2 on 50000/1400000 not (by_zone 14,15,16 or call_zone 14,15,16)
If you are a sysop and you come in as a normal user on a remote connection -your privilege will automatically be set to 0. +
What this does is to ignore all HF CW spots and also rejects any spots on VHF +which don't either originate or spot someone in Europe.
-
set/password <callsign> <string> Set a users password
+
This is an example where you would use a line number (1 and 2 in this case), if +you leave the digit out, the system assumes '1'. Digits '0'-'9' are available. +This make it easier to see just what filters you have set. It also makes it +more simple to remove individual filters, during a contest for example.
-
The password for a user can only be set by a full sysop. The string -can contain any characters but any spaces are removed (you can type in -spaces - but they won't appear in the password). You can see the -result with STAT/USER. The password is the usual 30 character baycom -type password. +
You will notice in the above example that the second line has brackets. Look +at the line logically. You can see there are 2 separate sections to it. We +are saying reject spots that are VHF or above APART from those in +zones 14, 15 and 16 (either spotted there or originated there). If you did +not have the brackets to separate the 2 sections, then Spider would read it +logically from the front and see a different expression entirely ...
-
set/sys_qra <locator> Set your cluster QRA locator
-
-
show/program Show the locations of all the included program modules
+
+
+(on 50000/1400000 and by_zone 14,15,16) or call_zone 14,15,16
+
+The simple way to remember this is, if you use OR - use brackets. Whilst we are +here CASE is not important. 'And BY_Zone' is just the same as 'and by_zone'. +
As mentioned earlier, setting several filters can be more flexible than +simply setting one complex one. Doing it in this way means that if you want +to alter your filter you can just redefine or remove one or more lines of it or +one line. For example ...
-
Show the name and location where every program module was load from. This -is useful for checking where you think you have loaded a .pm file from. +
+
+reject/spots 1 on hf/ssb
+
+would redefine our earlier example, or
-
shutdownShutdown the cluster
+
+
+clear/spots 1
+
+To remove all the filter lines in the spot filter ...
-
Shutdown the cluster and disconnect all the users. If you have Spider -set to respawn in /etc/inittab it will of course restart. +
+
+clear/spots all
+
+-
stat/db <dbname> Show the status of a database
+
You can filter in several different ways. The options are listed in the +various helpfiles for accept, reject and filter.
-
Show the internal status of a database descriptor. -
Depending on your privilege level you will see more or less information. -This command is unlikely to be of much use to anyone other than a sysop. -
-
stat/channel <callsign> Show the status of a channel on the cluster
+
Sometimes all that is needed is a general rule for node connects. This can +be done with a node_default filter. This rule will always be followed, even +if the link is isolated, unless another filter is set specifically. Default +rules can be set for nodes and users. They can be set for spots, announces, +WWV and WCY. They can also be used for hops. An example might look like +this ...
-
Show the internal status of the channel object either for the channel that -you are on or else for the callsign that you asked for. -
Only the fields that are defined (in perl term) will be displayed. +
+
+accept/spot node_default by_zone 14,15,16,20,33
+set/hops node_default spot 50
+
+This filter is for spots only, you could set others for announce, WWV and WCY. +This filter would work for ALL nodes unless a specific filter is written to +override it for a particular node. You can also set a user_default should +you require. It is important to note that default filters should be +considered to be "connected". By this I mean that should you override the +default filter for spots, you need to add a rule for the hops for spots also.
-
stat/msg <msgno> Show the status of a message
+
Once you are happy with the results you get, you may like to experiment.
-
This command shows the internal status of a message and includes information -such as to whom it has been forwarded, its size, origin etc etc. -
-
stat/user <callsign> Show the full status of a user
+
The previous example that filters hf/cw spots and accepts vhf/uhf spots from EU +can be written with a mixed filter, for example ...
-
Shows the full contents of a user record including all the secret flags -and stuff. -
Only the fields that are defined (in perl term) will be displayed. +
+
+rej/spot on hf/cw
+acc/spot on 0/30000
+acc/spot 2 on 50000/1400000 and (by_zone 14,15,16 or call_zone 14,15,16)
+
+Note that the first filter has not been specified with a number. This will +automatically be assumed to be number 1. In this case, we have said reject all +HF spots in the CW section of the bands but accept all others at HF. Also +accept anything in VHF and above spotted in or by operators in the zones +14, 15 and 16. Each filter slot actually has a 'reject' slot and +an 'accept' slot. The reject slot is executed BEFORE the accept slot.
+
It was mentioned earlier that after a reject test that doesn't match, the default +for following tests is 'accept', the reverse is true for 'accept'. In the example +what happens is that the reject is executed first, any non hf/cw spot is passed +to the accept line, which lets through everything else on HF. The next filter line +lets through just VHF/UHF spots from EU.