Re: Using Linux to get Apples surfing?

["brad" <mrbrad@(remove)ll.net>]

ok...i've re-read the below...i don't program...i basically understand that
the reply below was in the lang of english..but that is about all  i'm sure
of

basically....i was hoping that a) a hd would appear with a linux version 1.2
kernal more or less that had a o/s that i could run a package called
worldgroup for unix on....

.this was major bbs worldgroup bbs project that put that package on
unix.....it lasted an eyeblink...and they abandoned the software...so thus
my problem on why it only seems to be able to run on an old linux 1.2
kernal....and of course me and my knowledge of linux is basically i see it
as a mis-spelling of linx...ie a cat..


so i'm just a dumb sysop that wanted to install what i thought was a linux
1.2 kernal version of linux via a cd on my ms dos box..and viola install and
wipe out hd and 'poof' the linux o/s appears...into computer...install linux
1.2 o/s at a command prompt stating....1) install o/s or 2) guit

once o/s linux version 1.2 is completed installed..then viola i then am able
to test my wg for unix package...to see if it actually works...etc etc

guite frankly ...the project now looks considerably less likely to test..and
i may just assume it works rather then turn into a linux guru to test this
pkg

thanks for the help..but frankly re-reading your reply..i just an't smart
enough


as for the tpro 4.2f port.... maybe there is no port limitation of 256 ..i
may have got that from the wg install... but i am fairly sure...that was the
author of this port to unix intent was to make a trpo 4.2f apple // bbs
multinode..back in the day...but just taking tpro as it exists and running
with it on unix ...

and i DID have the apple //s actually 2 apple // gs upgrades..with transwarp
gs's (one a 14mhz that ran 24/7 10 yrs with no problem) serially on the
worldgroup bbs and dialout option i had...so i had a lot of people get on to
my bbs to play majormud or whatever on the wg side..but the bottleneck was 1
user per 1 gs at a time to get on the fv/metal or tpro apple bbs's...

so if i ever did get the beast up again...i thought just a copy of my tpro
setup by using this unix port the user would see something like on a menu...

1) tpro 4.2f RPG BBS (single node on orig apple //gs setup)

2) tpro 4.2f RPG BBS (unix port..multi-node...exact copy)

you get the drift..that way if someone wanted the experience of an old apple
// bbs and the 1st 1 line gs was being swamped (i used to have 400-500 calls
a day on the wg bbs majormud don't ya know) then

the person could at least have the option to try out the unix more or less
identical version...ie multinode

thanks for your help..but basically i guess i need a hd of linux 1.2
installed and ready to go and idiot proof..before i tackle this test...the
wg install prob will be a bear all by itself

thanks again....

brad
former sysop lost-gonzo.com


"The Wizard of Oz" <wizard@emeraldcity.gov> wrote in message
pan.2004.09.05.19.07.52.70706@emeraldcity.gov">news:pan.2004.09.05.19.07.52.70706@emeraldcity.gov...
> Hopefully my comments will help.
>
> On Sun, 05 Sep 2004 00:27:45 -0500, brad wrote:
>
> > this is a side linux question (hey..i have apple //s on this network to
> > ...and eventually they all ..hopefully again ....will be accessable via
the
> > inet re: www.lost-gonzo.com  still down
>
> Interesting project.
>
> > anyway....you linux guru's i have an obscure bbs pkg for linux that runs
on
> > linux 1.2....kernal....but all i see is .source type archives that
require a
> > compiler...can someone point me to a link ..that i can just download
said
> > package ...unzip it and burn it to a cd and then just do a dummy
> > install....? i've tried the newer packages..this particular obscure bbs
pkg
> > became abandonware prob about the time of 1.3..thus why i need something
a
> > 'dumb' non linux user can just install as an o/s w/o having a lot of
> > experience and thus just install this pkg..viola
>
> What sort of compiler? There are lots available. C and C++ are certainly
> available. Others like Fortran, ADA, and COBOL may or may not be included.
>
> In terms of installation there are a few ways to go. The first is to
> create and run an install script. The second is if you want to restrict
> the installation to RedHat category distributions. This would be to use
> the rpm package. Next would be for Debian class distributions. They have
> something called a .deb file. In essence all these solutions do the same
> thing. They take some files, possibly manipulate them in some way, and
> then put the result in the proper place. You should have at least an
> intermediate level of knowledge of Linux before attempting this.
>
> Installing an OS may be a little more difficult. Something you may want
> to do would be to have a bootable CD (something like Knoppix - use Google
> to find it). The only things on the hard drive would be data and
> configuration files. The programs and utilities would be on the CD.
>
> > thanks
> >
> > just need a link...plenty of links to the junk but it all assumes i know
> > what i'm doing...and the newer packages (kernals) don't work
>
> Best thing to do is pick up some Linux magazines, attend *NIX user groups
> for about a year, ask questions, read relevant HowTos (step by step guides
> on how to get certain things to work), use Google a lot, and play around
> with Linux.
>
> > anyway
> > back to apple // question here..
> >
> > i've had apple // bbs pkgs in the past hitched up to the internet via a
web
> > server and rlogin etc (tpro 4.2f RPG BBS and fv/metal 4.0xev BBS..and
> > applenet dos 3.3 bbs etc)..and a simple serial connection..so people
could
> > get into my old apple //gs's from the inet 1 user at a time locking up
said
> > 1 gs computer at a time
>
> Cool...
>
> > i tripped over a package with source etc of a guy who PORTED believe it
or
> > not the tpro 4.2f RPG bbs to UNIX...(and i thought i did not have a
life)
> >
> > my guestion is....this port while just standard with no hooks...could i
take
> > it and
> >
> > 1) add ansi menus etc rather then text menus it uses? ..maybe even
proterm?
>
> There are ANSI file editors available. Look at Sourceforge or Freshmeat
> and look up various keywords. Proterm files are a little more difficult
> because (as I remember) Proterm did not always handle them gracefully.
>
> >  2) and add a www front end (or graphics) to such an already ported
apple //
> > bbs to run off menu commands from said web page.....ie make it a web
based
> > front end...as long as he already has the hooks there bbs and client
> > wise?..in other words ..graphic www page would act as a menu
> > command...perhaps even add www pages to parts of the unix version port
of
> > tpro 4.2f rpg game areas as well?
>
> There are better ways to do it. Run an NNTP program (news server like
> this one). Run a telnet server and a restricted shell for Apple//
> machines. ssh would be better but I don't know of an ssh client for the
> Apple//. Run Apache (or a smaller server) for access to the web. Find a
> multi-user program to access the message databases for the graphic end.
> You may want to look at what is out there already. Deja news and Google
> are good examples of what you want to do. If you restrict your NNTP server
> to local groups then you have a well documented alternative to a BBS. It
> does the same thing, but with standard software.
>
> > 3) and lastly.... his unix version etc would allow 256 users or some
> > such...on the modified unix port of tpro 4.2f rpg..so it would be
possible
> > to setup his port of it  to look EXACTLY like the orig tpro 4.2f from
back
> > in the day...to the end user...but it would allow more then 1 user at a
time
> > like a current bbs...in other words..it would be multiline and people
would
> > get the experience of an apple // bbs from back ..even menu for menu
..if
> > you wanted to set it up this way..like back ..in the day rather then
just 1
> > user at a time hogging up the 1 gs running the standard bbs...like i
used to
> > run it as a slave door in orig form on my a gs
>
> 256 users is a limitation of the software. Linux itself can handle MANY
> more simultaneous users than that. I have to ask if you intend access by
> dial-up (them dialing into your machine), the internet (you have a high
> speed line available to you), or both?
>
> > anyway...was just a thought if i ever get the www.lost-gonzo.com back
> > up...the tpro 4.2f RPG BBS is essentially a RPG game with the bbs built
> > around it...so for historical purposes and ease of access...might be an
> > interesting project...and if the hooks are there for bbs and game
> > commands..i'd think it would just be a matter of a unix or linux type to
> > tweak the menus...the hard part etc seems to be already done...ie the
port
>
> Sounds like it's a little more than a tweak. The menus are the easy part.
>
> > anyway thanks for any links to a 'installable" idiotproof  linux kernal
1.2
> > stuff and your help or suggestions on this other tpro angle... (and you
guys
> > thought this was not gonna be apple // related at all..huh...linux
thread
> > and all)
>
> In the long term you may want to look at updating the software to run on
> the newer kernels.
>
> > brad
> > former sysop lost-gonzo.com
> >
> > (move to lovely mankato, minnesota...i need sysop help....)
>
> If you have the time there is a *NIX user group across the border in
> Winnipeg. The meeting is going to be on the 14'th. I'm sure there is a
> group closer to home but I don't have that information.
>
> Later
> Mike
>
> P.S. The reaction of our group to Gno/Me was "Gee, you can put *NIX on
> ANYTHING", and "Sure. The original UNIX only ran in four K.".