HAM Radio 1/HamRadio.cdr/packet/bpq405/changes.bpq

Text File | 1992-03-21 | 11KB | 306 lines

    Recent changes to G8BPQ switching system



Version 3.59 - Sept 90


Fixed possible flow control problem, which could result in program thinking
a session was busy, and therefore waiting in the INT14 handler, before it
had dropped the CTS bit in the virtual MSR. This could cause programs which
handled multiple TNC ports (eg NNA BBS) to hang until a frame was acked.


Added option to suppress all calls to Desqview (DESQVIEW=0 in BPQCFG.TXT).
I have always assumed that it was safe to make the DV 'release timeslice'
call, even when DV is not running. However I have received reports of
strange behavior when running without desqview, so I've added this option,
just in case. If you are using Desqview, make sure you have DESQVIEW=1 in
BPQCFG.TXT, or the system will run very slowly.


Fixed bug in resident mode SYSOP which caused a crash if the ROUTES command
was used.


Modified the 'Round Trip Timer' facility added in version 3.58. The code
now also counts the frames sent to each destination. The RTT and count for
each node with a nonzero count are displayed by giving a NODES command with
a parameter of T (ie N T).


Modified DRSI handler, so that when external clocks are selected (SPEED=0),
the internal clock source is disabled. The transmit clock should by provided
on the RTXC- pin ,and the receive clock on the TRXC- pin. Both clocks should
be at the desired baud rate.


Attempted to make the RX CRC ERRORS count a bit more meaningful by excluding
frames of less than the minimum legal frame size.


FULLDUPLEX mode is now supported on HDLC cards.


A Packet Driver is included, allowing the switch to interface to NOS
(the latest version of KA9Q's TCP/IP package). See NOSBPQ.DOC


Also included are new version of JKISS and JKISSP. These include CWID,
and a change to prevent partial frames being received when using State
Machine DCD. See JKISSCW.DOC



Version 3.59a October 90


This is an interim release. I'm still working on an improved multidropped
kiss system, but I felt that the REJ problem described below is sufficiently
serious to justify this version. Only BPQCODE and BPQCFG are changed - all
other files should be taken from the full 3.59 release.


There was a problem with REJ handling when connected to a station running AX.25
version 1. If the other end missed an ack it would resend the I frame. I
would then send REJ. If the REJ was also missed, the other end would retry
the I frame again, but I never re-sent the REJ. This would result in the link
failing. This could well be one of the reasons people have so much trouble
running BPQ on HF, where AX.25 version 1 is much more common.


Fixed problem where the first I frame is received before the Connect ACK.


Added facility to 'interlock' sets of radio ports, so that no two ports
from a group may transmit at the same time. This may be useful of you
have two ports feeding the same transmitter (eg one on 1200 baud and one
on 2400 baud), or if you have intermod or power supply problems if you
key too many transmitters at the same time. The INTERLOCK parameter in
the PORTS config is used to define which ports are grouped - for example
if ports 1 and 3 have INTERLOCK=1, and ports 2 and 4 have INTERLOCK=2.
then 1 and 2 may transmit simultaneously, but not 1 and 3 (or 2 and 4).


Added 'Switched Carrier' mode to ASYNC driver in NETROM mode. This is
selected by setting FULLDUP=0. RTS is used to indicate this node is
sending, and DCD to inhibit transmission.


The support for multidropped KISS is being rewritten. In this version
it does not work with my JKISSP ROM. It should work with the special
KISS ROMS being produced by KANTRONICS for their range of TNCs. I hope
to have the compatible version of JKISSP (to be called BPQKISS) available
soon. The TYPE=MULTIKISS param is withdrawn, and the KISSOPTIONS param
added to the PORTS section of the config file:


KISSOPTIONS=POLLED,CHECKSUM,ACKMODE

    These select my extended KISS mode.

    POLLED selects multi-dropped mode, where the TNC only
    transmits when requested (Polled) by the PC. This allows
    several TNCs to share an async port without any risk of
    collisions.

    CHECKSUM selects a mode where a checksum byte is appended
    to each data message, and checked by the other end. This
    reduces the risk of data corruption if errors occur on the
    link from PC to TNCs. It may be used on its own, but should
    always be used if POLLED mode is selected.

    ACKMODE enables the transmission of 'ACK required' frames.
    There cause the TNC to send a reply when the frame has been
    transmitted. This will improve link performance by avoiding
    the possibility of a retry being sent before the original
    frame has even left the TNC. This mode should always be used
    if the TNC support it.


Version 4.01 November 90.

This is the first stage of a major revison of the Application Interface.
The work is incomplete, but this version is being released to allow
PacketCluster nodes to operate with the switch.

The software is equivalent to Version 3.59a, with the following changes:

The following features are NO LONGER supported:

    TNCPORT TYPE=PK232/AA4RE, PK232/UFQ and KISS.


An additional application interface is provided, called G8BPQ Host Mode.
This is used by an additional interface program (DEDHOST) to support the
PacketCluster. It may also be used directly by application programs.


The STATS display has been restructured to fit on a 25 line screen,
and a count of NODES List entries included.


Version 4.02 December 90.

The BPQHOST interface has been extended to allow monitoring and the
transmission of KISS-like frames

A feature has been added to allow a station to remain connected for long
periods (Primarily for Cluster systems). Setting bit 7 (40h) of APPLFLAGS
enables this feature, which sends a message (of two nulls) after 11 mins
of inactivity.

Monitoring has been added to the DEDHOST driver.

Basic validation is done on received NODES, to try to stop spread of corrupt
NODES lists.


Version 4.02a December 90.

Fixed 'keep connected' code - it only worked if user connected to node, then
to the application.

Resets current active route to a destination if a NODES broadcast is received
for the best route, and the system is currently using a poorer one.


Vesion 4.03 February 1991


I have still not completed the external drivers for use with TNC2, PK Host,
and KISS modes. This version still includes TNC2 support, but those needing
to use the PK232 or KISS application interfaces will have to stick with
version 3.59a. I hope to have all the new drivers working very soon.



Allows the interrupt number used by BPQHOST interface to be varied
(HOSTINTERRUPT parameter in BPQCFG.TXT). I suggest you leave it at 127
unless you have a good reason to change it. One good reason is that is
seems to clash with BTRIEVE.

DEDHOST driver modified for compatiblity with ARES/DATA systems. Whilst
I was doing this change, the authors of ARES issued a version (1.5) modified
to get round the bugs and restrictions in my old driver. As some of these
bugs are now fixed, I have found that my latest version works best if definded
to ARES as a DRSI interface, rather than BPQ. It's still not perfect -
hopefully one or other of us will fix it before the next release.

Allows the interrupt number used by DEDHOST to be configured.

Includes new version of multidropped KISS code.

New PORTS param NODESPACLEN to allow control of size of each frame of the
NODES broadcast.

Tail timer for HDLC cards extended to allow extra time for the last chars
to clear the scrambler of modems such as the G3RUH.

The NODES display includes an indication if the node is another BPQ system,
and if it is also running 4.03 and above, to display the hop count to it.

The NOS packet driver interface routine has been modified to work with
the new node interface. It is now called NODEDRV4.COM.


Version 4.03a  March 91


Fixes minor error in display of hop count in NODES T display.

DEDHOST driver modified to allow monitoring to work with AA4RE BBS.

Documentation on use of AA4RE with DEDHOST Driver added.



Version 4.04   July 91


The TNC2 support routine for BPQ Host mode is still not ready, so the TNC2
mode is still in.


Bug in L3ONLY processing fixed.

Fixed possible TX Seq Error on KISS port.

Added count of REJ frames received, and frames discarded because they were
out of sequence. This gives an indication of whether MAXFRAME is too large
(or even too small).

Optional port param added to extended ROUTES. R * n displays only stats for
port n.

Fixed possible hangup when 'unchoke' frame lost in network.


The retry count was not being cleared when an I Frame ACKed something,
possibly leading to premature link failure.


Data Engine version fixed to work with 2 x 32k RAM chips, and to allow
update of Digi'ed routes via the internal SYSOP mode.


Documentation Correction 30/8/91

I forgot to document another change in 404. The NETROM mode async driver
now checks CTS when running with FULLDUP=0. This is to allow operation over
a half duplex telephone-type modem. For normal operation you should link
RTS to CTS (pins 4 and 5 on a 25way) at the PC end of the cable. Note that if
you are running a link between two units (rather than to a NETROM-type diode
matrix) you should normally run with FULLDUP=1.


Versions 4.04a-h

Various changes to sort out problems with Data Engine version:

    Restart from battery-backed ROUTES and NODES is now OK.
    WARMSTART command added.
    Loss of buffers fixed.

Added % retry figure to extended ROUTES stats display.

Fixed problems caused by having no TNCPORTS defined, and trying
to use other INT14 drivers (eg COMBIOS)

Added Polled KISS Slave Mode, so a PC can share a serial port with a number
of Polled KISS TNC's

Added Port TYPE=EXTERNAL, to allow users to write their own drivers for
new comms cards.


Version 4.05


Internal TNC2 application support removed (except in Data Engine). A new
driver, BPQHTNC2.COM replaces it.

Parameter added to DEDHOST to suppress PacketCluster 'Autotimer' messages.

Stations heard list included (MHEARD command).

REJ handling changed to try to stop multiple repeat transmissions.

Parameter added to disable the *** LINKED function. This is required for
some gateway systems, but can be abused. I suggest it is disabled
unless required by a gateway application.

Facility added to route transmitted frames to a different port. This is
for a 'Single transmitter, Multiple receivers' environment. If parameter
TXPORT=n is added to a port, all frames for that port will be sent on port n.

Support added for hardware interrupts 8-15.

Support added for Baycom USCC-Karte. Ports A and B are the 1200 baud ports.
Port C is the TTL port, and port D the G3RUH compatible 9600 baud port.

The documention on the various external application drivers has been merged
into file DRIVERS.DOC.

SOFTDCD should now work on HDLC cards.