Hi. I'm using a hardware device to run a dos-based BBS over the internet using a terminal server (Lantronix MSS-100) But, As i have serial ports on my router, I was wondering if there was a package available instead. I seem to remember some time ago, someone wrote something similar to run on a Linux box. The difficult part is getting DTE/DSR toggled correctly so that the bbs software correctly "answers" the call.
Any suggestions?
If I understand the configuration correctly, you'll need a "null modem" serial cable to eliminate the Lantonics device. You'll connect the DOS and OpenWrt devices with it. You should find the DOS machine at /dev/ttyS0 or similar.
minicom - to test...you could SSH (with keys) or Wireguard (then SSH) to access the console via minicom.
But are you intending somehow to expose the BBS to the Internet in some other method?
I currently use a null modem cable to connect the lantronix mss-11 to the bbs computer. The Lantronix device then emulates a modem, redirecting incoming and outgoing "call" via telnet.
For instance, my modem program in telix "dials" an internet bbs by going:
ATDT www.example.com
When an incoming "caller" to the lantronix device (On the telnet side) happens, the device will produce the proper modem response "Ring"
I know at one point terminal server packages were available (On linux) that did the same thing, but i dont rememebr the names.
And you have the ports, protocol, etc. that online connection occurs on, correct?
The software doesn't exist on the router yet, so none of that matters. As far as the Lantronix, yes, its a self-contained telnet server. connects via Ethernet to the router and serial to the BBS computer.
Google ser2net.
As for tracking the pins, it shouldn't really be required (depending on BBS sw I guess) since you could have had a FidoNet mailer sitting in front of the BBS, then the connection would always be established once it was passed over from mailer to BBS ?
Drawback is, if someone kills their connection, they would still be logged on, since BBS wouldn't know they've disconnected.
You will need a special RS-232 cable if the BBS expects to see CD (Carrier Detect) or RI (Ringing Indicator) go active as from a real modem. Those pins are not driven by a regular null modem cable.
For a test you can use picocom etc to open the port and connect from a local ssh session. If that works then ser2net should work for you.
Another important thing a BBS will do is hang up on users who are idle for too long, so the line is available for someone else. I don't know if ser2net supports a signal from RS-232 to close the telnet connection.
I think you understand now, that inquiry matters.