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1994-03-12
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Frequently asked Questions on successfully running BFE/Gateway
(Compiled by user submissions to the author and beta testers)
Last updated: 12 March 1994
Q) The BFE gateway system refuses to work for me! Keeps telling me that it
is only available in the enhanced version! What do I do?
A) Purchase the enhanced version, of course. We deliberately separated the
gateway features, because most users will never have a need for it, at
least at the moment anyway. There is a special on upgrading! See the
ORDER.DOC file for more information.
Q) If a user hangs up while in the middle of a UNIX session, what happens?
A) BFE will recognize the fact that the connection has been lost, and
will hand control back to your BBS to allow for proper logoff procedures
to be followed. BFE will send the word "exit" to the UNIX server, in
an attempt to properly log the user off from his remote shell.
Q) I am using Coherent as my UNIX system, and the ANSI terminal emulation is
atrocious when dialing in from remote! Any suggestions?
A) The best configuration to use with Coherent is "unixpc" on the Coherent
side, and ANSI emulation on the remote end.
export TERM=unixpc
Place the above line in your profile or startup script.
Q) Can I perform file transfers through the gateway?
A) Yes. This has been tested using several protocols, including X, Y, and
ZModem. We used Forsberg's RZ/SZ suite on the UNIX side, and had no
problems with any standard terminal implementation of the above. Note
that your mileage may vary with this, as BFE/gateway was not designed to
provide efficient file transfers through port gating. If it works for you,
great, if not, well, FWIW we are looking into making this smoother.
Q) Why can't I get BFE/Gateway to run in local mode, so that I can connect to
the UNIX system as well as my users?
A) Because BFE/Gateway is not a local terminal-emulator, but rather it is
simply geared toward gating serial connections. Use Procomm or an
equivalent terminal package to set up your local terminals. It's much
easier...
Q) I have created a BFE menu which contains several commands which perform
various maintenance functions on my UNIX server. Is there a way to return
to BFE automatically, i.e. without having to have my UNIX scripts send the
RETURN2BFE string across the line? I just want to press the key at the
BFE menu, and return immediately, without having to see any activity on
my UNIX system on the remote end.
A) Use the PASSIVE version of the Transmit2Gateway() function or the type
7, Passive Transmit to Gateway menu type. This will send the command
to your server, and will return immediately to BFE, and let UNIX do the
work for you.
Q) The ANSI emulation under my version of UNIX is terrible!! Can I get
around this?
A) Short of rewriting the termcap database, no. Most ANSI emulators perform
rather inadequately, in our opinion. If you will be running full screen
applications, such as visual shells or full screen editors, your best bet
would be to switch your terminal package into vt220 or another suitable
emulation mode. Of course you will need to let UNIX know what emulation
you are using (try: export TERM=vt220 if using the Korn shell).