• Digital Radio Amateur Radio Workstation - anyone else trying this?

    From k9zw@432:1/100 to All on Mon May 17 17:04:13 2021
    NW Digital's DRAWS is pretty interesting I have mine together (it is a Raspberry Pi, a Pi HAT and software) and getting ready to solder cables and fire it up.

    Anyone else looking at this?

    73

    Steve
    K9ZW

    Blog: http://k9zw.wordpress.com

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/64)
    # Origin: SPOT BBS (21:1/224)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Otto Reverse@432:1/100 to k9zw on Tue May 18 12:54:49 2021
    Looks like an interesting project. What are you going to use it for?

    Cheers,
    Doug
    VE1LG

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
    # Origin: Free Speech You Smeg Head (21:1/225)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to k9zw on Tue May 18 10:08:00 2021
    Hello Steve;

    k9zw wrote to All <=-

    NW Digital's DRAWS is pretty interesting I have mine together (it is a Raspberry Pi, a Pi HAT and software) and getting ready to solder cables and fire it up.

    Anyone else looking at this?

    While I have several RPi units (that mainly stay in the original shipping
    box) I've just seen way way too many cases where they simply do not hold up. One guy in 9 land I know went through so many when he tallied up how much
    he kept spending on replacements he finally broke down and got a nice
    dell SFF PC for less than he spend on replacement Pis.

    If they had better fault tollerance that'd be one thing but I really don't
    see them handling much of a load. I use one for as my 44-net router and
    because they don't have much tollerance it also acts as somewhat of a
    circuit breaker against brute force crack attempts. It'll just lock up and die.

    Just been my experiences with them and experiences shared by others. Some
    have great luck with them. For a GO-kit they seem fine.

    ... Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Vk3jed@432:1/101 to N1uro on Wed May 19 10:45:00 2021
    On 05-18-21 10:08, N1uro wrote to k9zw <=-

    While I have several RPi units (that mainly stay in the original
    shipping box) I've just seen way way too many cases where they simply
    do not hold up. One guy in 9 land I know went through so many when he tallied up how much he kept spending on replacements he finally broke
    down and got a nice dell SFF PC for less than he spend on replacement
    Pis.

    I've had pretty good mileage. I know a good power supply is a critical component.

    Just been my experiences with them and experiences shared by others.
    Some have great luck with them. For a GO-kit they seem fine.

    Yeah, I've done pretty well with them.


    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From Vk3jed@432:1/100 to k9zw on Wed May 19 10:40:00 2021
    On 05-17-21 17:04, k9zw wrote to All <=-

    NW Digital's DRAWS is pretty interesting I have mine together (it is a Raspberry Pi, a Pi HAT and software) and getting ready to solder cables and fire it up.


    I haven't heard of that one, what exactly does it do? (I can't google while offline at 40,000 feet ;) ).


    ... Back in the stream that feeds the ocean that feeds the stream.
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    # Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to Vk3jed on Wed May 19 17:01:00 2021
    Vk3jed wrote to k9zw <=-

    I haven't heard of that one, what exactly does it do? (I can't google while offline at 40,000 feet ;) ).

    I'd be curious too as my google search only showed a kit for $150.00USD.
    A bit pricy for Pi stuff! and it did not tell me what it did. Most of the
    pages that came up retured 404 errors.



    ... Free speech costs more
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Vk3jed@432:1/100 to N1uro on Thu May 20 08:03:00 2021
    On 05-19-21 17:01, N1uro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    Vk3jed wrote to k9zw <=-

    I haven't heard of that one, what exactly does it do? (I can't google while offline at 40,000 feet ;) ).

    I'd be curious too as my google search only showed a kit for
    $150.00USD. A bit pricy for Pi stuff! and it did not tell me what it
    did. Most of the pages that came up retured 404 errors.

    That's 2 of us wanting to know. Thanks for doing the Googling for me. I still haven't had time, since being on the ground. :)


    ... STUPIDITY is NOT a HANDICAP! Park elsewhere!
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    # Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From k9zw@432:1/100 to Otto Reverse on Wed May 19 06:49:24 2021
    Looks like an interesting project. What are you going to use it for?

    I'd like to package it up for a portable digital setup to do some US/CDN Islands usislands.org and perhaps some POTA Parks on the Air.

    Decided I am NOT dragging my Flex-6600M and a Laptop out for that sort of activation.

    You can check out my DRAWS progress at k9zw.wordpress.com put Draws in the little search box way at the bottom

    73

    Steve
    K9ZW

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/64)
    # Origin: SPOT BBS (21:1/224)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From k9zw@432:1/100 to N1uro on Wed May 19 07:01:33 2021
    While I have several RPi units (that mainly stay in the original shipping box) I've just seen way way too many cases where they simply do not hold up. One guy in 9 land I know went through so many when he tallied up how much he kept spending on replacements he finally broke down and got a
    nice dell SFF PC for less than he spend on replacement Pis.

    Any idea what the mode of failure has been?

    I've broke two - hamfisted one trying to get it back out of a poorly designed case. It still works but I broke the camera connector, Another one I think succumbed to static losing its WiFi chip which again is more Operator Error than anything else.

    But I've also run a Pi Based VPN as backup for about five years, and have
    lots of other projects that have worked long term.

    It does pay to note that not all RPis are equal, as there are a number of builders. Since the whole RPi project orbits around an accessible prince
    point perhaps the economization of a manufacturer looking to save product
    costs might not work out so well?

    Certainly would think twice about using one for a mission-critical purpose. There are upgraded versions and other SBC that might be more appropriate.

    Another of my RPi projects migrated the same way as this guy's did, but
    because of difficulties with the RPi supporting certain SSD hardware (current draw appears to exceed what the RPi will allow) so the project moved to a deskbook running Win10.

    73

    Steve
    K9ZW

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/64)
    # Origin: SPOT BBS (21:1/224)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to k9zw on Wed May 19 21:39:00 2021
    k9zw wrote to N1uro <=-

    Any idea what the mode of failure has been?

    Most of them has to do with the fact that they insist on booting an SD Card.
    SD Cards, while being made a tad better, still are the weakest link in a Pi. They contain an extremely thin piece of aluminum which tends to warp due to
    the heat the Pis generate and that's like getting a dig in a hard drive's platters. Others are that they sometimes overheat and burn out.

    One of their biggest downfalls is the fact that what they have for onboard
    ram is *it*. It'd be nice if it was simple to upgrade ram in those things.

    I've broke two - hamfisted one trying to get it back out of a poorly designed case. It still works but I broke the camera connector,
    Another one I think succumbed to static losing its WiFi chip which
    again is more Operator Error than anything else.

    Personally, I have a 1B I've run for years. So far it's been "OK". Locks
    up often from not having enough ram. Died once when the SD Card warped. Fortunately, my 'do-image' script backed it up prior to it dying.

    But I've also run a Pi Based VPN as backup for about five years, and
    have lots of other projects that have worked long term.

    If you wish to count AmprNet connectivity as a VPN then I parallel you. It's also my testbed for URONode on a Pi. Not what I suggest but it is what it is.

    It does pay to note that not all RPis are equal, as there are a number
    of builders. Since the whole RPi project orbits around an accessible prince point perhaps the economization of a manufacturer looking to
    save product costs might not work out so well?

    As I tell others, especially those looking to get onto packet:
    RPis are circuit test cards NOT replacement CPUs. You would _never_ see
    Google run on Pis, nor Bing, or any other service... because they're not
    meant for the punishment. Packet is a server (if you're running a node/bbs/ dxc/etc.

    Certainly would think twice about using one for a mission-critical purpose. There are upgraded versions and other SBC that might be more appropriate.

    You can easily get Dell SFF cases with iCore5's at 3KGhz speed for under $100.00. It's actually what I'm on now - an Optiplex3010 SFF. It does so much for so little. I paid $0.00 for it. Better price than any Pi config :)

    Another of my RPi projects migrated the same way as this guy's did, but because of difficulties with the RPi supporting certain SSD hardware (current draw appears to exceed what the RPi will allow) so the project moved to a deskbook running Win10.

    I'm using Devuan Linux, 8Gb ram, 4 BBS, XMPP server, DX Cluster, Convers, Mail, apache... I could go on. Windows would never handle it even on this system.

    73

    ... Kidnapped - By Caesar Quick
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to Vk3jed on Wed May 19 21:41:00 2021
    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    That's 2 of us wanting to know. Thanks for doing the Googling for me.

    Not a problem. I'm still curious to know. I've heard abot NPR but that's
    still a work in progress and it's design is such that there's a central point of failure.

    I still haven't had time, since being on the ground. :)

    You're grounded?!? Were you sent to your room too? <G>

    ... Cases of fetishists with IQ's over 150 have beem documented."--Scully
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to k9zw on Wed May 19 21:48:00 2021
    k9zw wrote to Otto Reverse <=-

    You can check out my DRAWS progress at k9zw.wordpress.com put Draws in the little search box way at the bottom

    What exactly is DRAWS? I don't like going on any wordpress site becuase crackers easily embed things such as ransomware in them.

    ... Joseph to Mary: "What do you mean, 'It's a GIRL?'"
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Vk3jed@432:1/100 to N1uro on Thu May 20 18:46:00 2021
    On 05-19-21 21:41, N1uro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    That's 2 of us wanting to know. Thanks for doing the Googling for me.

    Not a problem. I'm still curious to know. I've heard abot NPR but
    that's still a work in progress and it's design is such that there's a central point of failure.

    Yes, I didn't like the hub and spoke model they used for NPR.

    I still haven't had time, since being on the ground. :)

    You're grounded?!? Were you sent to your room too? <G>

    No, I just conducted myself and kept my potential down. ;)

    ... Cases of fetishists with IQ's over 150 have beem
    documented."--Scully --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52

    ;)


    ... "Hello, World!" 17 Errors, 31 Warnings....
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    # Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to Vk3jed on Thu May 20 07:31:00 2021
    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    Yes, I didn't like the hub and spoke model they used for NPR.

    Our packet group was supposed to get a demo of it. One guy even offered to
    buy me a hub & spoke to play with! I sort of took that as an insult as I can easily get my own if I were that interested in it. When you consider for
    spoke B to get to spoke D it has to travel through Hub A it just didn't make sense. Granted, the speeds were supposed to be superior however my take is;
    if you can get digital radios to talk that fast on NPR why not through regular packet like they do in say Germany? They've been doing far more above 115,200 baud for ions. Our 1200 is child's play to them and not even something they wish to visit via the internet. You know it's bad then!

    No, I just conducted myself and kept my potential down. ;)

    They make little blue pills to raise your potential <G>

    ... Zonker Harris *HAS* to be related to Al Gore.
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Otto Reverse@432:1/100 to k9zw on Thu May 20 14:33:08 2021
    I'd like to package it up for a portable digital setup to do some US/CDN Islands usislands.org and perhaps some POTA Parks on the Air.

    Decided I am NOT dragging my Flex-6600M and a Laptop out for that sort of activation.

    What radio will you pair it with?

    Cheers,
    Doug
    VE1LG

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
    # Origin: Free Speech You Smeg Head (21:1/225)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From k9zw@432:1/100 to Otto Reverse on Thu May 20 17:57:05 2021
    On 20 May 2021, Otto Reverse said the following...

    What radio will you pair it with?

    Slightly undecided - thinking one of old ones. Likely either a TenTec
    Jupiter or an SGC SG-2020

    Could also finish off one of the Phaser kits for a single band alternative.

    73

    Steve
    K9ZW

    Blog: http://k9zw.wordpress.com

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/64)
    # Origin: SPOT BBS (21:1/224)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Vk3jed@432:1/100 to N1uro on Fri May 21 09:13:00 2021
    On 05-20-21 07:31, N1uro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    Yes, I didn't like the hub and spoke model they used for NPR.

    Our packet group was supposed to get a demo of it. One guy even offered
    to buy me a hub & spoke to play with! I sort of took that as an insult
    as I can easily get my own if I were that interested in it. When you consider for spoke B to get to spoke D it has to travel through Hub A
    it just didn't make sense. Granted, the speeds were supposed to be superior however my take is; if you can get digital radios to talk that fast on NPR why not through regular packet like they do in say Germany? They've been doing far more above 115,200 baud for ions. Our 1200 is child's play to them and not even something they wish to visit via the internet. You know it's bad then!

    Yes, the EU hams have been doing high speed AX.25 for decades. Impressive work there, but it never took off.

    No, I just conducted myself and kept my potential down. ;)

    They make little blue pills to raise your potential <G>

    Haha, sometimes you don't want a lightning rod, when things get too charged - *ZAP* :P


    ... Given my druthers, I'd druther not.
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    # Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to Vk3jed on Fri May 21 07:01:00 2021
    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    Yes, the EU hams have been doing high speed AX.25 for decades.
    Impressive work there, but it never took off.

    ax.25 is such a horrible protocol to begin with! It's MTU is only 256 bytes which is almost nothing. Add netrom, and now your MTU is 236 bytes... just horrible! Even at faster speeds, it's just a rapid fire of frames, a
    plethra of packets, a disaster of data <G> On another note, it is flexible enough that you can push quite a bit under it.

    Haha, sometimes you don't want a lightning rod, when things get too charged - *ZAP* :P

    LOL! True that :)

    ... Just to have it is enough
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to Vk3jed on Fri May 21 07:33:00 2021
    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    I've had pretty good mileage. I know a good power supply is a critical component.

    Most of my RPi's are in the original shipping boxes - I find that's the
    best place for them. When a site such as Google runs 100% on them, perhaps maybe I'll consider them. Then again like Google I mainly run servers. Test cards just don't cut it... and the ax.25 stack on the newer kernels is very broken - takes way too long to compile new kernels.

    Yeah, I've done pretty well with them.

    Personally I have "ok" luck with the one I have in use, but I limit any writing to the SD card as much as possible. It's helped stretch out the
    life.

    I gave one to a guy who's 80 and refuses to retain how to debug when it
    goes to sleep. I keep answering the same questions for him almost daily
    for 10 years now. Makes the whole hobby very UN fun.

    ... You are then attempting to bribe me. Data
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Otto Reverse@432:1/100 to k9zw on Fri May 21 16:51:07 2021
    Slightly undecided - thinking one of old ones. Likely either a TenTec Jupiter or an SGC SG-2020

    Never laid eyes on either, but that SG-2020 looks interesting. You can do a
    lot with 20 watts and digital modes.

    Cheers,
    Doug
    VE1LG

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
    # Origin: Free Speech You Smeg Head (21:1/225)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Vk3jed@432:1/100 to N1uro on Sat May 22 21:01:00 2021
    On 05-21-21 07:01, N1uro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    Yes, the EU hams have been doing high speed AX.25 for decades.
    Impressive work there, but it never took off.

    ax.25 is such a horrible protocol to begin with! It's MTU is only 256 bytes which is almost nothing. Add netrom, and now your MTU is 236 bytes... just horrible! Even at faster speeds, it's just a rapid fire
    of frames, a plethra of packets, a disaster of data <G> On another
    note, it is flexible enough that you can push quite a bit under it.

    Yeah the small MTU is a pain, but yeah it has its uses. :)

    Haha, sometimes you don't want a lightning rod, when things get too charged - *ZAP* :P

    LOL! True that :)

    Yeah not good. ;)


    ... Windows 95 repair kit: A copy of OS/2 Warp.
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    # Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Vk3jed@432:1/100 to N1uro on Sat May 22 21:04:00 2021
    On 05-21-21 07:33, N1uro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    I've had pretty good mileage. I know a good power supply is a critical component.

    Most of my RPi's are in the original shipping boxes - I find that's the best place for them. When a site such as Google runs 100% on them,
    perhaps maybe I'll consider them. Then again like Google I mainly run servers. Test cards just don't cut it... and the ax.25 stack on the
    newer kernels is very broken - takes way too long to compile new
    kernels.

    I use the Pis for low load applications, even BBSs. ;) I'll have your spares. ;)

    Yeah, I've done pretty well with them.

    Personally I have "ok" luck with the one I have in use, but I limit any writing to the SD card as much as possible. It's helped stretch out the life.

    Yeah that helps. The one the BBSs run on has a read only SD card. Writing is only done to the attached 500GB SSD. :)

    I gave one to a guy who's 80 and refuses to retain how to debug when it goes to sleep. I keep answering the same questions for him almost daily for 10 years now. Makes the whole hobby very UN fun.

    Hmm, that's a pain.


    ... Don't Panic! It's only ones and zeros.
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    # Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From k9zw@432:1/100 to Vk3jed on Sat May 22 08:22:29 2021
    Personally I have "ok" luck with the one I have in use, but I limit a writing to the SD card as much as possible. It's helped stretch out t life.

    Yeah that helps. The one the BBSs run on has a read only SD card. Writing is only done to the attached 500GB SSD. :)

    My SSD experiments have been largely good, but did find that larger SSDs and non-sata3 ones troublesome.

    I have one setup as a radio station eNotebook where my station building notes all end up at.

    73

    Steve
    K9ZW

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Windows/64)
    # Origin: SPOT BBS (21:1/224)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to Vk3jed on Sat May 22 12:42:00 2021
    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    Yeah the small MTU is a pain, but yeah it has its uses. :)

    One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how versitile the flexnet protocol is for ax.25! It adds so much more that NetRom fails to deliver... and with ZERO additional protocol overhead! Just today, I had to reroute a flexnet
    link then figured that I'd have to recode ALL the IP routing for the various points involved.... WRONG!

    I didn't have to redo a single thing! FlexNet acted as somewhat of a BGP router and the IP magically took the new paths without me having to recode a single
    IP route! Had this been NetRom it would have been a total nightmare and
    a half. As proof, I used to have a 1200 baud RF path to W1EDH from my qth
    but now I'm not getting any audio from EDH, I am getting signal. EDH
    had a direct IP path here but now the only working IP path for it is to
    K1YON. Since FlexNet auto reroutes when a new path comes online, now
    the path from EDH goes:
    *** W1EDH (0-14) T=156

    *** route: N1URO-2 N1URO-1 K1YON-2 W1EDH-1
    and without rerouting IP:
    n1uro-15@n1uro.ampr.org:/uronode6: p w1edh
    Ping engaged, hit <ENTER> to abort.
    ICMP Echo request sent to: 44.88.8.1
    ICMP Echo reply received from: 44.88.8.1
    Ping completed in: 1494ms (ttl=63)
    n1uro-15@n1uro.ampr.org:/uronode6:
    (btw; URONode has the ability to present ANSI color if you give yourself
    the color flags <G>)
    For 4 hops, at 1200 baud half duplex, that's not at all bad! It'd at least
    be 1 full second longer had NetRom been in play.

    One of these days I need to add IPv6 there :)

    ... XMS: Xtraordinarily Meaningless Specification
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to Vk3jed on Sat May 22 12:47:00 2021
    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    I use the Pis for low load applications, even BBSs. ;) I'll have your spares. ;)

    You got guts! I would *never* run a BBS on a Pi. Too many read/writes.
    Before I run my monthly CloneZilla backups, I do a mirror image of my
    SDCard so that also gets grabbed by CloneZilla. I have a very simple script that does it I call do-image. Here it is if you wish it:

    #! /bin/sh
    echo -n "What size in do you want (ex: 4M): "; read answer1
    echo -n "Input device or file with path: "; read answer2
    echo -n "Output device or file with path: "; read answer3
    sleep 1
    echo "preparing: dd bs=$answer1 if=$answer2 of=$answer3 is this correct?"
    sleep 3
    echo -n "This will take a L O N G while... "
    /bin/dd bs=$answer1 if=$answer2 of=$answer3
    echo "backup/restore done."

    It uses DD... makes bootable backups. You can use it on almost any sort of drive you wish to mirror really... and reverse things to do a restore.
    Just make the input device the source and Output device the destination.
    I've had to restore my SDCard a couple times already when I've made a dumb
    typo <G>

    Yeah that helps. The one the BBSs run on has a read only SD card.
    Writing is only done to the attached 500GB SSD. :)

    I tried using an external drive in a USB case... didn't fly well at all.
    I just gave up on the RPi units for anything remotely server related.

    Hmm, that's a pain.

    Very much so. Makes me sometimes feel as if my assistance really isn't appreciated.

    ... JOIN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR A FUNDAMENTALIST-FREE AMERICA
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Gamgee@432:1/100 to N1uro on Sat May 22 16:29:00 2021
    N1uro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    I use the Pis for low load applications, even BBSs. ;) I'll have your spares. ;)

    You got guts! I would *never* run a BBS on a Pi. Too many
    read/writes. Before I run my monthly CloneZilla backups, I do a
    mirror image of my SDCard so that also gets grabbed by
    CloneZilla.

    On an RPi-4 (and I think the 3B+ also), an SD card is not required at
    all. I have a 4 that boots and runs from a 500GB SSD housed in an
    (externally powered) enclosure connected to the Pi with USB3. It runs
    24x7 doing various things for me (not running the BBS), such as my DDNS updater, automated system-status emails, and distributed computing (the
    BOINC projects). Works very well and is fast. Again, it does not even
    have an SD card installed in it, and boots/operates from the SSD.



    ... All the easy problems have been solved.
    === MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
    # Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (21:2/138)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to Gamgee on Sat May 22 20:50:00 2021
    Hello Gamgee;

    On an RPi-4 (and I think the 3B+ also), an SD card is not required at
    all. I have a 4 that boots and runs from a 500GB SSD housed in an (externally powered) enclosure connected to the Pi with USB3. It runs 24x7 doing various things for me (not running the BBS), such as my DDNS updater, automated system-status emails, and distributed computing (the BOINC projects). Works very well and is fast. Again, it does not even have an SD card installed in it, and boots/operates from the SSD.

    I haven't looked at the 4's. When they first came out there was a flood of reports of them catching fire - and I don't care to make smores indoors <G>
    At least they realized one of their faults. What about ram expansion for the
    4?

    ... MAC: It does less, It costs more, It's that simple.
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Vk3jed@432:1/100 to k9zw on Sun May 23 11:50:00 2021
    On 05-22-21 08:22, k9zw wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    My SSD experiments have been largely good, but did find that larger
    SSDs and non-sata3 ones troublesome.

    That Pi is a Banana Pi, which may be a bit beefier in the USB department too. The SSD runs well.

    I have one setup as a radio station eNotebook where my station building notes all end up at.

    Nice. :)


    ... Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. But the transition is troublesome.
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    # Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Vk3jed@432:1/100 to N1uro on Sun May 23 11:51:00 2021
    On 05-22-21 12:42, N1uro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    Yeah the small MTU is a pain, but yeah it has its uses. :)

    One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how versitile the flexnet protocol is for ax.25! It adds so much more that NetRom fails to deliver... and with ZERO additional protocol overhead! Just today, I
    had to reroute a flexnet link then figured that I'd have to recode ALL
    the IP routing for the various points involved.... WRONG!

    <snip> Now that is nice! :)

    One of these days I need to add IPv6 there :)

    Yep. ;)

    ... XMS: Xtraordinarily Meaningless Specification

    Sure is nowadays! :D


    ... Can you hear me?
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    # Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Vk3jed@432:1/100 to N1uro on Sun May 23 11:55:00 2021
    On 05-22-21 12:47, N1uro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    I use the Pis for low load applications, even BBSs. ;) I'll have your spares. ;)

    You got guts! I would *never* run a BBS on a Pi. Too many read/writes. Before I run my monthly CloneZilla backups, I do a mirror image of my SDCard so that also gets grabbed by CloneZilla. I have a very simple script that does it I call do-image. Here it is if you wish it:

    The SSD takes the writes. I used to do a 6 monthly SD replacement cycle, but now leave the SD read only, and do all the writes on the SSD (or RAM disk).

    #! /bin/sh
    echo -n "What size in do you want (ex: 4M): "; read answer1
    echo -n "Input device or file with path: "; read answer2
    echo -n "Output device or file with path: "; read answer3
    sleep 1
    echo "preparing: dd bs=$answer1 if=$answer2 of=$answer3 is this
    correct?" sleep 3
    echo -n "This will take a L O N G while... "
    /bin/dd bs=$answer1 if=$answer2 of=$answer3
    echo "backup/restore done."

    Nice. :)

    It uses DD... makes bootable backups. You can use it on almost any sort
    of drive you wish to mirror really... and reverse things to do a
    restore. Just make the input device the source and Output device the destination. I've had to restore my SDCard a couple times already when I've made a dumb typo <G>

    Yeah, dd is my friend too. ;)

    Yeah that helps. The one the BBSs run on has a read only SD card.
    Writing is only done to the attached 500GB SSD. :)

    I tried using an external drive in a USB case... didn't fly well at
    all. I just gave up on the RPi units for anything remotely server
    related.

    Yeah, mine's working well, though I am running on a Banana Pi, not the Raspberry flavour. :)

    Hmm, that's a pain.

    Very much so. Makes me sometimes feel as if my assistance really isn't appreciated.

    :(

    ... JOIN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR A FUNDAMENTALIST-FREE AMERICA

    Good luck with that. :/


    ... I have a 9600bps modem and 1.5bps fingers.
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    # Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From deon@432:1/100 to N1uro on Sun May 23 13:45:24 2021
    Re: RPis
    By: N1uro to Vk3jed on Sat May 22 2021 12:47 pm

    I use the Pis for low load applications, even BBSs. ;) I'll have your spares. ;)
    You got guts! I would *never* run a BBS on a Pi. Too many read/writes.

    Wow, I'm surprised by your issues.

    I've been using PI's for many years now - started on the P1 (connected to the TV as plex clients, powered by the TV) and now have P4's.

    My main BBS ran on a PI3 for a good two years without any issues (on an SD card). The Net 3 hub as well - for the last 18 months or so.

    I've never had an SD card fail - I've had them for many years.

    (I lie, my P4 got really hot one day, because the fan failed - and it started getting I/O errors - but cooling it down seemed to fix it.)

    Now my P4's run ESXi with 3 VMs - with a BBS in docker that floats between the 3 VMs. Additionly its running on an M2 Sata - which is just a USB device. With USB booting now (which I started using on the P4s), I'm only using the SD card as a backup device.

    I'm very happy with the Pis.

    ...δεσ∩
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
    # Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From Vk3jed@432:1/101 to deon on Sun May 23 18:48:00 2021
    On 05-23-21 13:45, deon wrote to N1uro <=-

    I've been using PI's for many years now - started on the P1 (connected
    to the TV as plex clients, powered by the TV) and now have P4's.

    I've had mostly good experiences, though my Pi 1B did die (was the Pi itself, not the SD).

    My main BBS ran on a PI3 for a good two years without any issues (on an
    SD card). The Net 3 hub as well - for the last 18 months or so.

    I've never had an SD card fail - I've had them for many years.

    I have had one fail after heavy R/W use.

    I'm very happy with the Pis.

    Me too. :)

    Replying from the VKRadio side of the gateway for a change. ;)


    ... Freedom of the press is limited to those who have one.
    === MultiMail/Win v0.52
    --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
    * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (432:1/101)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to Vk3jed on Sun May 23 09:09:00 2021
    Hello Tony;

    Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

    <snip> Now that is nice! :)

    Yes it is, especially when everyone I spoke with told me that it could never
    be done. I love a good challenge :)

    ... XMS: Xtraordinarily Meaningless Specification
    Sure is nowadays! :D

    Unless you run DOSEmu or DOSBox.

    ... Can you hear me?

    Eh?.. did you say something? <G>

    ... Dyslexics Have More Nuf.
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)
  • From N1uro@432:1/100 to deon on Sun May 23 09:17:00 2021
    Hello deon;

    deon wrote to N1uro <=-

    Wow, I'm surprised by your issues.

    I wasn't just talking about mine, which in reality have been quite few but those of others who use them and have had poor luck with them.

    I've never had an SD card fail - I've had them for many years.

    I had one fail, but I was also logging every little thing that happened on it. SD Cards almost 10 years ago did not like that.

    (I lie, my P4 got really hot one day, because the fan failed - and it started getting I/O errors - but cooling it down seemed to fix it.)

    Sounds as if you got a little luck there and saved it before things became
    more permanent.

    Now my P4's run ESXi with 3 VMs - with a BBS in docker that floats
    between the 3 VMs. Additionly its running on an M2 Sata - which is just
    a USB device. With USB booting now (which I started using on the P4s),
    I'm only using the SD card as a backup device.

    I'm very happy with the Pis.

    I haven't touched a 4 yet. Mainly I get them to make a distro with my stuff pre-installed for those who aren't familiar with installing things. Pi3 was my last one. Now there's multiple issues with Linux's ham protocol stack.
    We've submitted patches but they keep rejecting them claiming our patches aren't required - yet they've helped fix many MANY guys who use the native kernel protocol stack.

    ... I route, therefor you exist.
    --- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
    # Origin: Carnage - risen from the dead now on SBBS (21:4/107)
    * Origin: Ham Inter-network Echomail Gateway. (432:1/100.0)