On 04 Oct 2020 at 11:47a, Avon pondered and said...

I'm wanting to be able to use VNC from my windows machine so I can
remote in to the Debian box and do admin stuff from within my home LAN.
I' not thinking this is something I want to be able to do from outside
the home.

There seem to be several web walk through articles for this some more detailed than others. I found this one https://tinyurl.com/yxt6ylmp and this other one https://tinyurl.com/yxfuwd2k which both want me to use
ssh and install xfce.

Well I followed step 1 and 2 of the second short url and ended up with a grey screen when I tried to connect. I then tried a solution on https://tinyurl.com/y3rtpcrd and that sorta worked but seemed hit/miss when I tried to connect to the box VNC would work once then refuse to connect.

I then ran sudo apt purge xxx where xxx was the vnc and xface files.

I then ran nautilus and found some hidden .vnc stuff and removed that from my home dir then also removed a few .xfce files there too that were hidden.

I like the basic Gnome desktop that seems to come with debian but getting a remote (working) VNC session that is reliable is a nightmare for a n00b. At least with a raspberry pi they build in a VNC server into the OS... wish
Debian did the same.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

Avon wrote (2020-10-04):

I like the basic Gnome desktop that seems to come with debian but getting
a remote (working) VNC session that is reliable is a nightmare for a
n00b. At least with a raspberry pi they build in a VNC server into the OS... wish Debian did the same.

Do you want to start a virtual (headless) X server or do you want to connect to the desktop X server that is using the video card/monitor?

---
* Origin: (21:3/102)

On 04 Oct 2020 at 12:57p, Oli pondered and said...

Do you want to start a virtual (headless) X server or do you want to connect to

the desktop X server that is using the video card/monitor?

Ideally the latter... I'm understanding that I could (if it all works)
connect to a different desktop than the one I see with the login/monitor attached but ideally I'd like to be able to just remote connect and see/use
the same desktop I do now.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 10-04-20 12:57, Oli wrote to Avon <=-

Do you want to start a virtual (headless) X server or do you want to connect to the desktop X server that is using the video card/monitor?

What's a good headlexx X server to use nowadays for VNC access? I've got a use case for one.


... In seeking the unattainable, simplicity only gets in the way.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.51
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)

Vk3jed wrote (2020-10-05):

On 10-04-20 12:57, Oli wrote to Avon <=-

Do you want to start a virtual (headless) X server or do you want to
connect to the desktop X server that is using the video
card/monitor?

What's a good headlexx X server to use nowadays for VNC access? I've got
a use case for one.

I don't know what the best solution is. I would try TigerVNC first:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/TigerVNC

---
* Origin: (21:3/102)

Avon wrote (2020-10-05):

On 04 Oct 2020 at 12:57p, Oli pondered and said...

Do you want to start a virtual (headless) X server or do you want to
connect to

the desktop X server that is using the video card/monitor?

Ideally the latter... I'm understanding that I could (if it all works) connect to a different desktop than the one I see with the login/monitor attached but ideally I'd like to be able to just remote connect and
see/use the same desktop I do now.

RealVNC has a deb package. I haven't tried it, but maybe it does work like the RealVNC server on Raspbian. TightVNC has the x0vncserver command and the xorg-extension:

https://packages.debian.org/sid/tigervnc-xorg-extension https://github.com/TigerVNC/tigervnc/issues/394#issuecomment-632053478 https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/TigerVNC#Expose_the_local_display_directly

Maybe it's also possible to autostart the vino vnc server.

I also had some success with x11spice, which is a server for the SPICE protocol.

---
* Origin: (21:3/102)

will be like teamview so traffic is routed via external
servers. If so I think just connecting to a VNC style
server to see my desktop would be preferable.

I thought Teamviewer and AnyDesk would help establish the
initial connection, but then the actual traffic is P2P.

To be honest I don't know what they do. But thanks again for the tip! :)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 05 Oct 2020 at 05:57p, Oli pondered and said...

RealVNC has a deb package. I haven't tried it, but maybe it does work
like the RealVNC server on Raspbian. TightVNC has the x0vncserver
command and the xorg-extension:

I mucked around today with tightvnc and got that working well but it only serves us a virtual desktop and not the view of the logged in user on the box.

I found x11vnc was a solution for me, and at this stage have something
running I think I can work with.. just gotta figure an elegant way of automating startup on boot... have been looking at some examples to do this online but not had joy with it yet... for now I can live with manually
starting it on reboot.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 10-05-20 17:45, Oli wrote to Vk3jed <=-

I don't know what the best solution is. I would try TigerVNC first:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/TigerVNC

OK, have to see if Debian has it (the machine in question runs Debian 9).

Hmm, nope, first check of apt doesn't show it. :/


... We cannot change and survive unless we survive and change.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.51
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)

Avon wrote (2020-10-06):

On 05 Oct 2020 at 05:57p, Oli pondered and said...

RealVNC has a deb package. I haven't tried it, but maybe it does
work like the RealVNC server on Raspbian. TightVNC has the
x0vncserver command and the xorg-extension:

I mucked around today with tightvnc and got that working well but it only serves us a virtual desktop and not the view of the logged in user on the box.

I intended to write "TigerVNC" not "TightVNC". There are to many options for remote desktop sharing in Linux and most of them are not very good (if you compare it with a Windows RDP session). Something is always missing. Most VNC projects also don't have good documentation.

Now distributions are switching from X11 to Wayland – even more fun.. If I understand it correctly Gnome Wayland uses the pipewire audio/video server.


—This message has been written on a Lenovo Yoge Tab 2 8" screen displaying my 1600x1200 RPi LXDE desktop over RealVNC. Super tiny ...

---
* Origin: (21:3/102)

On 06 Oct 2020 at 04:48p, Oli pondered and said...

I intended to write "TigerVNC" not "TightVNC". There are to many options for remote desktop sharing in Linux and most of them are not very good
(if you compare it with a Windows RDP session). Something is always missing. Most VNC projects also don't have good documentation.

I've certainly learned a bit about the different sorts of VNC options out
there now... most create a virtual desktop and it only seems this x11 offers
a real representation of the logged in view of my desktop.

Now distributions are switching from X11 to Wayland – even more fun..
If I understand it correctly Gnome Wayland uses the pipewire audio/video server.

I did get Gnome screen sharing working and could use a VNC client to login,
but I couldn't get the Gnome desktop option to hold a login password... it seems to be a known problem, so sadly it was not an option to keep using that :(

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

Have you tried ssh? I don't mean to be pushy but I think that is just
what you need. :)

I've used Putty to login to a Linux system using a SSH connection and then
got to a command line experience... if that's what you're asking?

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

I've used Putty to login to a Linux system using a SSH connection and then got to a command line experience...

I've tried putty a long time ago and don't use it. I just use ssh from a command prompt. I normally use a command prompt put a desktop terminal would work just as well.

I use a command like "ssh al@trmb.ca" and I get a full screen command prompt just the same as I get on my own box, so it's a familiar shell to work in.

Putty may give you a workable command shell, I'm not sure.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-4
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106.1)

On 10-07-20 10:42, Avon wrote to Al <=-

Have you tried ssh? I don't mean to be pushy but I think that is just
what you need. :)

I've used Putty to login to a Linux system using a SSH connection and
then got to a command line experience... if that's what you're asking?

See, you already have the necessary parts. ;)


... You can't polish a turd, but you can chuck glitter on it.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.51
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)

Earlier polls to your 3/100 from 1/10 look like this

+ 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] outgoing session with alterant.leenooks.net:24554 [101.186.5.106]
- 08 Oct 11:12:57 [26368] rc=0
08 Oct 11:12:57 [26368] session closed, quitting...
- 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] OPT CRAM-MD5-9de2059f5f3aa9fccee1b69de2d7d5ee
+ 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] Remote requests MD mode
- 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] SYS Alterant MailHub
- 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] ZYZ Deon George
- 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] LOC Parkdale, VIC AU
- 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] NDL 115200,TCP,BINKP
- 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] TIME Thu, 8 Oct 2020 09:13:04 +1100
- 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] VER binkd/1.1a-109/Linux binkp/1.1
+ 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] addr: 21:3/0@fsxnet
+ 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] addr: 21:3/100@fsxnet
- 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] OPT EXTCMD GZ BZ2
+ 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] Remote supports EXTCMD mode
+ 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] Remote supports GZ mode
+ 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] Remote supports BZ2 mode
? 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] Warning: remote set UNSECURE session
+ 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] pwd protected session (MD5)
+ 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] sending c:\fsxuse\filebox\chinwag\0D08290E.GAL as 0D08290E.GAL (367)
+ 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] sent: c:\fsxuse\filebox\chinwag\0D08290E.GAL (367, 367.00 CPS, 21:3/100@fsxnet)
+ 08 Oct 11:12:57 [27284] done (to 21:3/100@fsxnet, OK, S/R: 1/0 (367/0
bytes))

now I'm seeing this

+ 08 Oct 21:21:24 [50240] call to 21:3/100@fsxnet
08 Oct 21:21:24 [50240] trying alterant.leenooks.net [2001:8003:4c06:5742:f1d0:3:279:1fd]...
08 Oct 21:21:24 [50240] connected
+ 08 Oct 21:21:24 [50240] outgoing session with alterant.leenooks.net:24554 [2001:8003:4c06:5742:f1d0:3:279:1fd]
- 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] OPT CRAM-MD5-1b9ebcf7573910e9cb8103e72ccc957b CRYPT
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] Remote requests MD mode
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] Remote requests CRYPT mode
- 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] SYS Alterant
- 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] ZYZ Alter Ego
- 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] LOC Parkdale, VIC
- 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] NDL 115200,TCP,BINKP
- 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] TIME Thu Oct 08 2020 19:21:33 GMT+1100 (AEDT)
- 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] VER BinkIT/2.39,JSBinkP/1.123,sbbs3.18c/Linux binkp/1.1
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 3:633/509@fidonet (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 10:1/4@private (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 21:2/116@fsxnet
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 77:3/101@scinet (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 80:774/87@retronet (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 314:314/180@pinet (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 1337:2/101@tqwnet (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 44:61/1@dorenet (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 618:510/2@micronet (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 32:10/1@gamenet (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 432:1/142@vkradio (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 516:1/1@videotex (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 24:24/2@sportnet (n/a or busy)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] addr: 637:1/104@happynet (n/a or busy)
? 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] called 21:3/100@fsxnet, but remote has no such AKA
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] holding 21:3/100@fsxnet (2020/10/08 21:36:25)
+ 08 Oct 21:21:25 [50240] done (to 21:3/100@fsxnet, failed, S/R: 0/0 (0/0 bytes))

one was an IPv4 poll that worked but now the IPv6 polling is failing.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

Re: Re: Somethings Up ;-)
By: Avon to alterego on Thu Oct 08 2020 09:32 pm

Howdy,

Earlier polls to your 3/100 from 1/10 look like this
08 Oct 21:21:24 [50240] trying alterant.leenooks.net [2001:8003:4c06:5742:f1d0:3:279:1fd]...

Bugger - I need to do some DNS name jiggery.

Now that I'm IPv6 enabled I'll need to use 2 different names for the hub and the BBS.

I've reverted the IPv6 name for now, but we should probably change the hub to n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net - that way it'll always point to the right place.

...ëîåï

... God is dead. But don't worry - the Virgin Mary is pregnant again.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

On 08 Oct 2020 at 08:24p, alterego pondered and said...

I've reverted the IPv6 name for now, but we should probably change the
hub to n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net - that way it'll always point to the
right place.

I could set up a CNAME to that if you want, I was thinking we establish some naming convention in the fsxnet.nz domain space for HUBs and promote those addresses to nodes... something like net3.fsxnet.nz or similar.. what do you think?

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 09 Oct 2020, 09:59a, Avon said the following...

I could set up a CNAME to that if you want, I was thinking we establish some naming convention in the fsxnet.nz domain space for HUBs and
promote those addresses to nodes... something like net3.fsxnet.nz or similar.. what do you think?

That's not a bad idea. My only concern, is I have a dynamic IP address. If
you do that for net4, you may just want to point to bbs.castlerockbbs.com, as
I keep that updated as necessary.

I think my IP address has only changed once or twice in the last 3 years, so
it doesn't change often...


---

Black Panther(RCS)
aka Dan Richter
Castle Rock BBS
telnet://bbs.castlerockbbs.com
http://www.castlerockbbs.com
http://github.com/DRPanther
The sparrows are flying again...

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2020/09/27 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Castle Rock BBS - bbs.castlerockbbs.com - (21:1/186)

On 08 Oct 2020 at 03:08p, Black Panther pondered and said...

That's not a bad idea. My only concern, is I have a dynamic IP address.
If you do that for net4, you may just want to point to bbs.castlerockbbs.com, as I keep that updated as necessary.

I think my IP address has only changed once or twice in the last 3
years, so it doesn't change often...

Yeah, that's kinda why I thought a CNAME type alias may be a good move for dynamic domains but I could code any static stuff with ease. I also think for IPv6 we could set static addresses as each person would have one they could
sit on.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

Re: Re: Somethings Up ;-)
By: Avon to alterego on Fri Oct 09 2020 09:59 am

I've reverted the IPv6 name for now, but we should probably change the
hub to n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net - that way it'll always point to the
right place.

I could set up a CNAME to that if you want, I was thinking we establish some naming convention in the fsxnet.nz domain space for HUBs and promote those addresses to nodes... something like net3.fsxnet.nz or similar.. what do you think?

Yeah, sure... The CNAME doesnt help me at all, but does add a cosmetic view and a level of abstraction that could help reduce confusion and impacts.

I've started using nN.zZ.bbs.leenooks.net for nets that I hub for, since I've really seperated out the hub from my BBS. And now that I've starting setting up IPv6 it means I dont have NAT to worry about. (But there is a tranisition impact for those that can do IPv6 as we discovered yesterday).

...ëîåï

... One child is not enough, but two are far too many.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

Re: Re: Somethings Up ;-)
By: alterego to Avon on Fri Oct 09 2020 09:36 am

I've started using nN.zZ.bbs.leenooks.net for nets that I hub for, since I've really seperated out the hub from my BBS. And now that I've starting setting up IPv6 it means I dont have NAT to worry about. (But there is a tranisition impact for those that can do IPv6 as we discovered yesterday).

I'm still setup to poll/send to alterant.leenooks.net. Should I be changing this to n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net?

Jay

... What do you call a pig that does karate? Pork chop
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: Northern Realms (21:3/110)

Re: Re: HUB domain addressing
By: Avon to Black Panther on Fri Oct 09 2020 10:18 am

Howdy,

Yeah, that's kinda why I thought a CNAME type alias may be a good move for dynamic domains but I could code any static stuff with ease. I also think for IPv6 we could set static addresses as each person would have one they could
sit on.

Technically, my IPv6 address is dynamic.

I think its tied to the MAC address that connects to the network - so it has changed a couple of times as I've rejigged my equipment. (Not recently though, which is why I'm more confident to publicize it more).

I will be changing providers soon that guarantee "me" a static IP (both IPv6 and IPv4) - so naturally when I do that, I want that to be as transparent as possible. SO yes, a CNAME back to what I use means your not involved nor a dependancy in that change.

My static name for hubing networks, going forward will be a semi fido DNS standard, ie: FSX will be nF.zZZ.bbs.leenooks.net (where F and Z are the appropriate net and zone numbers).

On another note, it seems the IPv6 rollout is ramping out (my ISP was quite backwards and concervative, and now I have it), so wondering how many do have an IPv6 address...

...ëîåï

... It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

Re: Re: HUB domain addressing
By: alterego to Avon on Fri Oct 09 2020 12:00 pm

On another note, it seems the IPv6 rollout is ramping out (my ISP was quite backwards and concervative, and now I have it), so wondering how many do have an IPv6 address...

I've got one!

bbs.nrbbs.net = 2607:fea8:ab00:e4f:934f:85c:ad29:d978
bbs.nrbbs.net = 173.33.12.16

Jay

... I wanted to learn how to drive a stick shift but I couldn't find a manual --- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: Northern Realms (21:3/110)

Re: Re: Somethings Up ;-)
By: Warpslide to alterego on Thu Oct 08 2020 09:00 pm

Hey Jay,

I've started using nN.zZ.bbs.leenooks.net for nets that I hub for, since I've really seperated out the hub from my BBS. And now that I've starting setting up IPv6 it means I dont have NAT to worry about. (But there is a tranisition impact for
those that can do IPv6 as we discovered yesterday).

I'm still setup to poll/send to alterant.leenooks.net. Should I be changing this to n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net?

Yes you can.

I am in the middle of drafting an email, but was going to wait sending it until Avon decides on his CNAME idea.

At the end of the day, Avon's CNAME will point to n3.z21.... so by you using that directly, or whatever Avon configures - it will still work.

...ëîåï

... God has Alzheimer's disease; he's forgotten that we exist.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

Re: Re: HUB domain addressing
By: Warpslide to alterego on Thu Oct 08 2020 09:06 pm

I've got one!
bbs.nrbbs.net = 2607:fea8:ab00:e4f:934f:85c:ad29:d978

Cool, I probably already connect to you over IPv6? So if you change to the n3.z21... address, you'll connect directly to my container.

...ëîåï

... No one can guarantee the actions of another. Spock, stardate unknown.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

Re: Re: HUB domain addressing
By: alterego to Warpslide on Fri Oct 09 2020 12:22 pm

Cool, I probably already connect to you over IPv6? So if you change to the n3.z21... address, you'll connect directly to my container.

Looks like we are using IPv6 when you're connecting to me at least:

[inbound success: 21:3/100@fsxnet]
oper = Deon George
AKAs = 21:3/100@fsxnet
caps = 115200,TCP,BINKP
vers = binkd/1.1a-109/Linux
host = 2001:8003:4c06:5742:f1d0:a:1:1
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
info.sys = Alterant MailHub
info.loc = Parkdale, VIC AU
info.time = Fri, 9 Oct 2020 12:22:52 +1100
info.trf = 0 853
localtime = Oct 8 2020 21:22:54
received_files = /home/pi/sbbs/temp/7fbbb60a.fr0

I'll switch over to the new hostname now & run a few polls.

Jay

... What is Forrest Gump's email password? 1Forrest1
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: Northern Realms (21:3/110)

On 09 Oct 2020 at 12:00p, alterego pondered and said...

Technically, my IPv6 address is dynamic.

Oh OK.

I think its tied to the MAC address that connects to the network - so it has changed a couple of times as I've rejigged my equipment. (Not
recently though, which is why I'm more confident to publicize it more).

In my case the tunnel service I am using (as my NZ ISPs are woefully slow at offering IPv6) provisions a block that I can tap into so I set static
addresses within my LAN for different PC then set those as AAAA records for
the DNS. Seems to work OK - so far :)

I will be changing providers soon that guarantee "me" a static IP (both IPv6 and IPv4) - so naturally when I do that, I want that to be as transparent as possible. SO yes, a CNAME back to what I use means your
not involved nor a dependancy in that change.

If/when you go static I can add A and AAAA records in and that would be nice. But yeah, not know enough about zone records to be too dangerous - I figured
a CNAME back to something you can manage is the best option for now..

My static name for hubing networks, going forward will be a semi fido DNS standard, ie: FSX will be nF.zZZ.bbs.leenooks.net (where F and Z are the appropriate net and zone numbers).

OK

On another note, it seems the IPv6 rollout is ramping out (my ISP was quite backwards and concervative, and now I have it), so wondering how many do have an IPv6 address...

More than you would expect, I seem to get a few polling in / and can poll
them outbound also using it, which is cool.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 09 Oct 2020 at 09:59a, Avon pondered and said...

I could set up a CNAME to that if you want, I was thinking we establish some naming convention in the fsxnet.nz domain space for HUBs and
promote those addresses to nodes... something like net3.fsxnet.nz or similar.. what do you think?

So, just pondering a naming convention.

net1.fsxnet.nz

hub1.fsxnet.nz

..then I'm all tapped out - ha!

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 09 Oct 2020, 03:48p, Avon said the following...

So, just pondering a naming convention.

net1.fsxnet.nz

I think this would be the best choice.

Just my opinion. :)


---

Black Panther(RCS)
aka Dan Richter
Castle Rock BBS
telnet://bbs.castlerockbbs.com
http://www.castlerockbbs.com
http://github.com/DRPanther
The sparrows are flying again...

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2020/09/27 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Castle Rock BBS - bbs.castlerockbbs.com - (21:1/186)

Re: Re: Hub Domain Addressing
By: Avon to All on Fri Oct 09 2020 03:48 pm

So, just pondering a naming convention.
net1.fsxnet.nz
hub1.fsxnet.nz
..then I'm all tapped out - ha!

This is 6, or is it half a dozen? :)

As I tell all the women I meet - I'm easy, still doesnt get me anywhere though .... ?

...ëîåï

... I don't have any solution, but I certainly admire the problem.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

On 09 Oct 2020 at 02:26p, alterego pondered and said...

This is 6, or is it half a dozen? :)

As I tell all the women I meet - I'm easy, still doesnt get me anywhere though .... ?

Hahah.. yeah hardly exhaustive eh ? :)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 08 Oct 2020 at 09:09p, Black Panther pondered and said...

net1.fsxnet.nz

I think this would be the best choice.

me too, OK thanks Dan and Deon ..

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

Avon wrote (2020-10-09):

On 08 Oct 2020 at 08:24p, alterego pondered and said...

I've reverted the IPv6 name for now, but we should probably change
the hub to n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net - that way it'll always point to
the right place.

I could set up a CNAME to that if you want, I was thinking we establish some naming convention in the fsxnet.nz domain space for HUBs and promote those addresses to nodes... something like net3.fsxnet.nz or similar..
what do you think?

Would it make things easier or more reliable? Isn't it just an additional layer and potential point of failure? What about SRV records?

But what do I care, I'm connecting to the .onion address over Tor anyway ;)

---
* Origin: (21:3/102)

alterego wrote (2020-10-09):

I'm still setup to poll/send to alterant.leenooks.net. Should I be
changing this to n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net?

Yes you can.

I am in the middle of drafting an email, but was going to wait sending it until Avon decides on his CNAME idea.

At the end of the day, Avon's CNAME will point to n3.z21.... so by you using that directly, or whatever Avon configures - it will still work.

I usually use whatever address is in the nodelist. Why not use A and AAAA on the same domain?

---
* Origin: (21:3/102)

Re: Somethings Up ;-)
By: Oli to alterego on Fri Oct 09 2020 11:21 am

I usually use whatever address is in the nodelist. Why not use A and AAAA on the same domain?

It does - well... it puts to a host that has both those records.

I'll get Avon to update it in the nodelist.

...ëîåï

... I'm famous. That's my job.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

Re: Re: HUB domain addressing
By: Avon to alterego on Fri Oct 09 2020 03:36 pm

On another note, it seems the IPv6 rollout is ramping out (my ISP
was quite backwards and concervative, and now I have it), so
wondering how many do have an IPv6 address...

More than you would expect, I seem to get a few polling in / and can poll them outbound also using it, which is cool.

After being tntroduced in December 1995 (24 years ago) it's finally happening! ;)

Jay

... Police were called to a daycare where a toddler was resisting a rest
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: Northern Realms (21:3/110)

On 09 Oct 2020 at 05:18p, Warpslide pondered and said...

was quite backwards and concervative, and now I have it), so
wondering how many do have an IPv6 address...

More than you would expect, I seem to get a few polling in / and can them outbound also using it, which is cool.

After being tntroduced in December 1995 (24 years ago) it's finally happening! ;)

I know, about time huh? :)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 09 Oct 2020 at 02:26p, alterego pondered and said...

By: Avon to All on Fri Oct 09 2020 03:48 pm

So, just pondering a naming convention.
net1.fsxnet.nz

I'm working on this now.

Just wondering what are your thoughts about provisioning for a separate IPv4 and IPv6 address to give folks the option of forcing a poll using a domain
they know will point only to IPv4 or IPv6?

Seems like a good option to offer.

I've set

net1.fsxnet.nz to point to both my A and AAAA records and was thinking of something like

ipv4.net1.fsxnet.nz
ipv6.net1.fsxnet.nz

or similar. What do you think?

It may be overkill but I have found in the past when wanting to offer folks
who wish to ensure they hit a A or AAAA record only, it's a nice thing to be able to do for them.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 09 Oct 2020 at 09:07a, Oli pondered and said...

I could set up a CNAME to that if you want, I was thinking we establis some naming convention in the fsxnet.nz domain space for HUBs and prom those addresses to nodes... something like net3.fsxnet.nz or similar.. what do you think?

Would it make things easier or more reliable? Isn't it just an
additional layer
and potential point of failure? What about SRV records?

Well good question. I'm coming at this from the POV that it's standardizing
the information we can give new nodes such that if they are polling fsxNet
NET 1 instead of polling agency.bbs.nz they use net1.fsxnet.nz and certainly cosmetically and perhaps more intuitively seems a better thing to be typing
in to the domain field.

Where we have HUBs that don't have static IPv4 or IPv6 addresses then the option to have a CNAME seemed like a way to offer a standardized fsxNet
net domain name to poll without needing to know it's error404 or leenooks
etc.

SRV records I know little of but if there's a good way to use them I'm all
ears :)

But what do I care, I'm connecting to the .onion address over Tor anyway

indeed :) I'm not sure if there's a need for me to do any DNS stuff in the fsxnet.nz domain space for this that would help? If there is, lemme know.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 10 Oct 2020 at 01:19p, Avon pondered and said...

I'm working on this now.

Further to this

[snip]

On 09 Oct 2020 at 12:21p, alterego pondered and said...

I'm still setup to poll/send to alterant.leenooks.net. Should I be

changing this to n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net?

Yes you can.
I am in the middle of drafting an email, but was going to wait sending
it until
Avon decides on his CNAME idea.
At the end of the day, Avon's CNAME will point to n3.z21.... so by you using that directly, or whatever Avon configures - it will still work.

[snip]

I have set net3.fsxnet.nz to CNAME to this new schema you have set at your
end. If you do have any specific v4 or v6 addresses I can point to down the track let me know so I can set a A or AAAA record for it :)

Let's see if this works (I'll change the HUB soon and test poll you) and if
so I will update some of the fsx docs..

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

Re: Re: Hub Domain Addressing
By: Avon to alterego on Sat Oct 10 2020 01:19 pm

Howdy,

Just wondering what are your thoughts about provisioning for a separate IPv4 and IPv6 address to give folks the option of forcing a
poll using a domain
they know will point only to IPv4 or IPv6?

Seems like a good option to offer.

Is this a problem needing a fix?

It would introduce more points of management that I'm not keen on. As I say, technically I'm dynamic IPs until I change suppliers, and i'm a few weeks away from doing that. So if my IP changes I've already got enough moving parts that I need to fix, so not really looking for more (if it isnt a problem).

If IPv4 folks cant connect to me because I'm resolving v4 and v6 addresses, then sure, I can make a v4 hostname - but not sure it will be ever needed. I was v4 only for a while, and I've never had problems getting to websites (for example), which I know resolve to both v4 and v6 addresses.

net1.fsxnet.nz to point to both my A and AAAA records and was thinking of something like
ipv4.net1.fsxnet.nz
ipv6.net1.fsxnet.nz
or similar. What do you think?

There are advantages to this naming convention - as you can then delegate out that part of your zone. EG: For those with dynamic IPs, I'm assuming you wont have an API so that folks can dyndns update their A/AAAA record? But they could delegate that out to cloudflare (for example), and use cloudflares API to do those dyndns updates.

Actually, I'm wondering if Synchronet can do that as well - since DM provides a dynamic DNS service for synchro.net

...ëîåï

... HE has not a single redeeming defect.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

Dan, Todd, Ruben

On 10 Oct 2020 at 01:43p, Avon pondered and said...

I have set net3.fsxnet.nz to CNAME to this new schema you have set at
your end. If you do have any specific v4 or v6 addresses I can point to down the track let me know so I can set a A or AAAA record for it :)

I've also set up

net2.fsxnet.nz to point to the error404 domain

net4.fsxnet.nz to point to the castlerock domain

net5.fsxnet.nz to point to the rdfig domain

if anyone has static or feels they want to risk assigning a v4 or v6 address
to their net fsxnet.nz addresses please let me know.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

Re: Re: Hub Domain Addressing
By: Avon to alterego on Sat Oct 10 2020 01:43 pm

Howdy,

I have set net3.fsxnet.nz to CNAME to this new schema you have set at your end. If you do have any specific v4 or v6 addresses I can point to down the track let me know so I can set a A or AAAA record for it
:)

Looks good from here:

net3.fsxnet.nz is an alias for n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net.
n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net is an alias for fidohub.leenooks.net. fidohub.leenooks.net has address 101.186.5.106
fidohub.leenooks.net has IPv6 address 2001:8003:4c06:5742:f1d0:a:1:1

...ëîåï

... An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

On 10 Oct 2020 at 11:44a, alterego pondered and said...

Is this a problem needing a fix?

It's not a problem that's true. I've seen the odd request in the past so has set things up for Agency and the Fido HUB for some nodes wanting surety over
v4 polling vs v6 polling.

It would introduce more points of management that I'm not keen on. As I say, technically I'm dynamic IPs until I change suppliers, and i'm a few weeks away from doing that. So if my IP changes I've already got enough moving parts that I need to fix, so not really looking for more (if it isnt a problem).

Yep all good. I'll stand down on that aspect for now. I agree with your thoughts.

ipv4.net1.fsxnet.nz
ipv6.net1.fsxnet.nz
or similar. What do you think?

There are advantages to this naming convention - as you can then
delegate out that part of your zone. EG: For those with dynamic IPs, I'm assuming you wont have an API so that folks can dyndns update their
A/AAAA record? But they could delegate that out to cloudflare (for example), and use cloudflares API to do those dyndns updates.

Actually, I'm wondering if Synchronet can do that as well - since DM provides a dynamic DNS service for synchro.net

I'd like to offer a dynamic DNS service for fsxnet.nz so that nodes with
custom subdomains using dynamic IP could reliably retain a fsxnet domain presence. I just need to understand the how and if of that possibility. Yeah the fact DM is able to do this does intrigue me. That said it's another thing in the ever expanding TO-DO list :)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 10 Oct 2020 at 11:48a, alterego pondered and said...

net3.fsxnet.nz is an alias for n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net. n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net is an alias for fidohub.leenooks.net. fidohub.leenooks.net has address 101.186.5.106
fidohub.leenooks.net has IPv6 address 2001:8003:4c06:5742:f1d0:a:1:1

Looks good from here:

Cool, we'll that didn't seemed to hurt as much as I thought it might :)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 10 Oct 2020 at 11:48a, alterego pondered and said...

Looks good from here:

net3.fsxnet.nz is an alias for n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net. n3.z21.bbs.leenooks.net is an alias for fidohub.leenooks.net. fidohub.leenooks.net has address 101.186.5.106
fidohub.leenooks.net has IPv6 address 2001:8003:4c06:5742:f1d0:a:1:1

I changed the Mystic HUB over to poll you using the new domain, also seems
fine :)

14:00:32 1-Polling 21:3/100 on slot 1 via BINKP
14:00:32 1-Connecting to net3.fsxnet.nz on port 24553
14:00:32 1-Using address 101.186.5.106
14:00:32 1-Connected by IPV4 SSL to 101.186.5.106
14:00:32 1-System Alterant MailHub
14:00:32 1-SysOp Deon George
14:00:32 1-Location Parkdale, VIC AU
14:00:32 1-Info NDL 115200,TCP,BINKP
14:00:32 1-Info TIME Sat, 10 Oct 2020 12:00:43 +1100
14:00:32 1-Mailer binkd/1.1a-109/Linux binkp/1.1
14:00:33 1-Info TRF 0 0
14:00:33 1-Session ended (0 sent, 0 rcvd, 0 skip)
14:00:35 Polled 1 systems

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

Re: Re: Hub Domain Addressing
By: Avon to alterego on Sat Oct 10 2020 02:01 pm

Howdy,

I changed the Mystic HUB over to poll you using the new domain, also seems fine :)
14:00:32 1-Connected by IPV4 SSL to 101.186.5.106

Hmmm.. surprised you came in over IPv4 - I thought you had IPv6?

I know you can setup "preferences" to use one over the other that might be in play here...

But yay it still works :)

...ëîåï

... Sow your wild oats on Saturday night, then on Sunday pray for crop failure --- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

On 10 Oct 2020 at 12:16p, alterego pondered and said...

Hmmm.. surprised you came in over IPv4 - I thought you had IPv6?

I know you can setup "preferences" to use one over the other that might
be in play here...

Yep it is, just tried IPv6 and got this

20:46:53 Poll BINKP node via address lookup: 21:3/100
20:46:53 1-Polling 21:3/100 on slot 1 via BINKP
20:46:53 1-Connecting to net3.fsxnet.nz on port 24553
20:46:53 1-Using address 2001:8003:4C06:5742:F1D0:000A:0001:0001
20:46:59 1-Unable to connect
20:47:00 Polled 1 systems

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 10-10-20 13:37, Avon wrote to Oli <=-

Where we have HUBs that don't have static IPv4 or IPv6 addresses then
the option to have a CNAME seemed like a way to offer a standardized fsxNet net domain name to poll without needing to know it's error404 or leenooks etc.

Hmm, we actually have hubs with dynamic IPs? Another challenge (though not a big one these days). :)

SRV records I know little of but if there's a good way to use them I'm
all ears :)

SRV records are good for those hosts that use non standard ports for binkp connections. DNS aware mailers do support SRV records, and the script that I use to generate my zone files puts in SRV records where they are needed.


... I photocopied a mirror. Now I have an extra photocopy machine.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.51
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)

On 10-10-20 13:19, Avon wrote to alterego <=-

I've set

net1.fsxnet.nz to point to both my A and AAAA records and was thinking
of something like

ipv4.net1.fsxnet.nz
ipv6.net1.fsxnet.nz

or similar. What do you think?

It might be helpful for some. DNS records cost nothing, so why not? ;)


... Classically speaking, all musicians end up baroque.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.51
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)

Avon wrote (2020-10-10):

On 09 Oct 2020 at 09:07a, Oli pondered and said...

I could set up a CNAME to that if you want, I was thinking we
establis some naming convention in the fsxnet.nz domain space
for HUBs and prom those addresses to nodes... something like
net3.fsxnet.nz or similar.. what do you think?

Would it make things easier or more reliable? Isn't it just an
additional layer
and potential point of failure? What about SRV records?

Well good question. I'm coming at this from the POV that it's
standardizing the information we can give new nodes such that if they are polling fsxNet NET 1 instead of polling agency.bbs.nz they use net1.fsxnet.nz and certainly cosmetically and perhaps more intuitively seems a better thing to be typing in to the domain field.

Where we have HUBs that don't have static IPv4 or IPv6 addresses then the option to have a CNAME seemed like a way to offer a standardized fsxNet
net domain name to poll without needing to know it's error404 or leenooks etc.

We have the nodelist and "DNS Distributed Nodelist" (FTS-5004). To me it looks like a solution in search of a problem. Redundant information that might confuse people even more. Maybe it's easier to remember the domain if I want to ping my hub, but for my FTN setup I never put a domain in the config anywhere.

Don't forget to put the new domain in the TLS cert, in case some polling node uses strict verification ;)
(but I think most accept a self-signed cert anyway)

Anyone is free to use or not use the new CNAMEs and it's entirely optional, so I don't have a strong argument against it :).

SRV records I know little of but if there's a good way to use them I'm all ears :)

I have to check again if SRV records are really supported in binkd or some other software.

But what do I care, I'm connecting to the .onion address over Tor
anyway

indeed :) I'm not sure if there's a need for me to do any DNS stuff in the fsxnet.nz domain space for this that would help? If there is, lemme know.

I haven't thought about it, but it also works fine without any DNS. We could think about putting the .onion address in the DNS, but at the moment I have no idea in which form and how to use it (with any software).

---
* Origin: (21:3/102)

Re: Re: Hub Domain Addressing
By: Avon to alterego on Sat Oct 10 2020 08:47 pm

Howdy,

Yep it is, just tried IPv6 and got this
20:46:53 1-Using address 2001:8003:4C06:5742:F1D0:000A:0001:0001
20:46:59 1-Unable to connect

Ahh, thanks.

Need to enable nginx to use the IPv6 address, so rebuilding my container as we speak.

...ëîåï

... This tagline is SHAREWARE! To register, send me $10
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

Re: Re: DNS Ideas
By: Vk3jed to Avon on Sat Oct 10 2020 07:22 pm

Hmm, we actually have hubs with dynamic IPs? Another challenge (though not a big one these days). :)

What's the challenge?

I run quite a few services that are at the end of a dynamic IPs, and been doing it for donkeys.

...ëîåï

... A damn good funeral is still one of our best and cheapest acts of theatre --- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

On 10-10-20 21:32, alterego wrote to Vk3jed <=-

What's the challenge?

I run quite a few services that are at the end of a dynamic IPs, and
been doing it for donkeys.

Yeah these days, a lot less, but there's still the chance of DDNS breakage, and if the connection goes down when there's sessions in progress, they won't complete. With a static IP, there's a chance of sessions recovering when the connection comes back up.

But as you imply, all these issues are relatively trivial nowadays.


... Morality consists in suspecting other people of not being legally married. === MultiMail/Win v0.51
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)

I can verify SSH is up and running on 2024 as I am connected that way with
the latest cryptlib (3.4.5) running on my Pi & Linux/64 machines. Looks like Agency is getting back to normal now ;)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)