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  • TCPSER 1.0rc8 Available

    From Jim Brain@brain@jbrain.com to comp.sys.cbm,comp.sys.ti,alt.folklore.computers,comp.sys.apple2 on Wednesday, November 03, 2004 09:07:43
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Followups set to comp.sys.cbm

    TCPSER is a utility that turns a PC/workstation Serial port into an
    emulated Hayes(tm) compatible modem, with the phone connection replaced
    by TCP/IP.

    Both inbound and outbound "calls" are supported, and the EIA232 DCD
    signal is properly emulated to allow TCPSER's use with Bulletin Board
    Systems.

    The utility runs under Windows (via cygwin) or *NIX (source is POSIX C,
    and might be portable to other systems with a reasonable POSIX
    subsystem, though I make no guarantees).

    A short list of features:
    o One instance can support multiple serial ports.
    o Each serial port is bridged to the same TCP/IP listen port. This
    allows a single TCP/IP port to be routed to the first available "modem"
    port, which is very useful for multi-line BBS support
    o Different text files can be sent for connect, answer, busy, and/or
    no-answer conditions. files can differ between local and remote connections
    o Support for almost all Hayes normal and extended commands.
    Proprietary commands fail fail gracefully, enabling existing init
    strings to be used without errors
    o As of rc8, direct connect operation is supported (for games that
    required the phone connection to be present when the modems went off-hook)
    o Properly emulates Hayes commands interpreter
    a/ executes last command
    you can turn responses on or off, text or numeric
    atdt without a number takes phone off-hook
    atdl dials last number
    ath1 takes modem off-hook
    etc.
    o Rudimentary support for phone book. Also called aliasing, this can be
    used to simply map longhostname.com to 555-1212, or it can be used to icrcumvent older modem applications that only allow numeric data entry: 5551212 -> machine.host.com
    o Understands and interprets Telnet NVT commands. Thus, this program
    can be used to "dial" a telnet service. (Though, you need to set your
    TERMinal after logging in)
    o When not connected to a telnet service, TCPSER is 8-bit clean, meaning
    it can successfully be used to transfer files across the Internet.

    TCPSER is being used by a number of folks to bring up vintage "telnet"
    BBS systems on older 8-bit computing platforms. Others are using it as
    a low-cost way to put older computing systems on the Internet.

    I encourage folks to try TCPSER and put your vintage/retro computing
    platform online. Existing users, I encourage you to upgrade to RC8 as
    soon as possible.

    For those interested in more information on bringing a "retro" BBS up on
    the Internet, please visit www.telbbs.com

    TCPSER is available at http://www.jbrain.com/pub/linux/serial/ and is
    released under the GPL.

    Jim Brain

    Note:

    Existing null-modem cables can be used with TCPSER, though TCPSER uses
    the DTR line on the PC/workstation to emulate the DCD modem signal. Null
    modem cables normally tie DCD and DSR together. If proper DCD support
    is required and DSR must be high on the target platform, a small cable modification that disconnects DSR from DCD and bridges to DTR may be
    required. On target systems that float DSR high, simply pulling the DSR
    pin on the null modem cable end that attaches to the target computer
    will suffice.


    --
    Jim Brain, Brain Innovations
    brain@jbrain.com http://www.jbrain.com
    Dabbling in WWW, Embedded Systems, Old CBM computers, and Good Times!
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