• QWK Network

    From Sys64738@TXNET1 to All on Saturday, January 08, 2022 21:20:53
    Anyone set up a Mystic BBS as a hub for a QWK network? Looking for documentation. Finding plenty on how to set it up as a node, but nothing about setting it up as a hub.

    Thanks.
    SYS64738

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    ■ Synchronet ■ TEXNet
  • From Zip@SCBBS to Sys64738 on Sunday, January 09, 2022 10:47:00
    Hello Sys64738!

    On 08 Jan 2022, Sys64738 said the following...
    Anyone set up a Mystic BBS as a hub for a QWK network? Looking for documentation. Finding plenty on how to set it up as a node, but nothing setting it up as a hub.

    Sorry, I haven't seen any docs on that either, although I have noticed that user accounts can be flagged as "Qwk Account" in the user editor under "6:FLAGS".

    There's also a "qwknetwork" menu which should be shown to QWK users on login (menu name configurable under Configuration --> General Settings --> QWK Net Menu), but I believe that is merely for each QWK user's configuration of archive format and last read pointers (if the user wants to perform a "rescan" or change some settings); it would prevent the user from using the BBS as a "normal" user.

    The actual QWK transfers would probably use FTP, so the built-in FTP server (Servers --> Configure Servers --> FTP) would need to be enabled and functional as well, and the firewall openings on the system and the router's port forwarding configured accordingly.

    Passive FTP is more or less a must; clients usually don't allow return traffic on/to "random" port numbers, and/or can't ask the router they're behind to open desired ports for them, so each FTP data connection needs to be initiated by/from the client and always directed to the BBS, which is expected to be able to open ports, as it is the "server". So if Passive Port is set to 60000 and Max Allowed is set to 10, I believe ports 60000 through 60000+10 = 60010 would all need to be forwarded to the BBS in the router's port forwarding configuration.

    I believe the QWK node polling would issue a "RETR <server QWK name>.qwk" FTP command to poll for mail, where the <server QWK name> should be as per
    Networking --> QWK General Settings --> QWK Packet ID. There is also a Networking --> QWK Networks --> <your QWK network> --> Packet ID setting, but I think that one is only used if *you* are a node, polling a hub, so it probably doesn't apply when you are a hub.

    When it comes to creating the actual message areas (message bases), you would need to select <your QWK network> under the QWK Network setting, and issue a unique QWK Base ID number for each area.

    And of course make sure that ACS settings (List ACS, Read ACS and Post ACS) are "reachable" for the QWK user (that the user has a sufficiently high access level).

    That's what I can come up with at the moment -- please let me know how it
    goes. :)

    Best regards
    Zip

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/24 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Star Collision BBS, Uppsala, Sweden
  • From Sys64738@TXNET1 to Zip on Sunday, January 09, 2022 13:53:43
    Re: QWK Network
    By: Zip to Sys64738 on Sun Jan 09 2022 10:47:00

    That's what I can come up with at the moment -- please let me know how it goes. :)

    That gives me a good place to start from. Thanks!
    SYS64738

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  • From Zip@SCBBS to Sys64738 on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 10:00:00
    Hello Sys64738!

    On 09 Jan 2022, Sys64738 said the following...
    That's what I can come up with at the moment -- please let me know how goes. :)

    That gives me a good place to start from. Thanks!

    You're very welcome!

    Best regards
    Zip

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/24 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Star Collision BBS, Uppsala, Sweden