AX25-UTIL and the Linux Kernel
Karl Larsen
4 July 1999
In 1996 I first started using the ax25-utils because I had
just retired and had time to enjoy learning Linux and thus Unix. I
recall having problems then because development was happening faster
than the ax25-HOWTO could be written. In January 1997 I wrote a
manual on how to set up Linux with the then current system. That was
when the "stable" kernel 2.0.27 and ax25-utils-2.0.12c.tar.gz were
new and I had got both working well in my Slackware system. The
purpose of the manual was to freeze time and discuss JUST the
software above. The HOWTO was required to discuss all parts of this
new software and it was already becoming outdated. The manual still
sits on the server ftp.ucsd.edu and I receive e-mail or telephone
calls about this even this year. It never gets outdated since it
talks to just the software above.
Of course nothing stands still in the Linux world and since
1996 to the present day the ax25-utils are evolving along with the
kernel and the libraries in new Linux systems. But as of today the
main stream Linux system is way ahead of the few people who are
working to modify the ax25-utils so they work properly with the new
2.2.? kernel and the latest GNU library. As of today there have been
some who have managed to get something working with their new kernel
but many, many more who have given up.
Today I was cussed at by one person who has contributed much
to the ax25-utils because he said, I do nothing but whine about
things not working. He thinks either shut up or fix something. I'm
not a programmer so there is nothing, in his opinion for me to do but
shut up.
Also today I discovered that to compile the latest effort at
a ax25-utils-2.2.5.tar.gz by Craig Small you must have the X11R6
development package loaded or it will not compile. Today I learned
how to get the ax25 devices into the Red Hat kernel without ruining
the other features of Red Hat. This leads to re-installing Red Hat
twice today!
It turns out that Craig Small has not got everything working
yet with his alpha version of ax25-utils. It doesn't make "node"
software. The netromd does not work properly. It is too early for me
to upgrade to Red Hat 6 AND have my bbs. It's a hard world because I
really like the KDE and GNOME GUI features.
Not being a capable compiler or contributer to the ax25-utils
makes me feel today that it's just too early to try and get Red Hat 6
to work with the ax25-utils. I will try again when the software is
tested by experts and a new ax25-HOWTO is published that explains how
to use the new software.
So I will wait for those events to unfold and then try it
again. I hope someday to get my bbs back up and working. It is fun
and I'll miss it. But I can't wait for the ax25-util software. It is
now well behind the kernel and the huge changes in the compiler
libraries are why. In a year it will all be stable again. I will be
using Cheapbytes Red Hat 9 by then...:-)
I printed the book Maximum RPM and have been reading it. Someday I
may be capable of writing a proper rpm file. It's an interesting concept
that goes well beyond the tar way of doing things.
Best wishes
- Karl F. Larsen, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (505) 524-3303 -
