Linux FPAC mini-HOWTO

Bernard Pidoux, F6BVP, f6bvp at amsat dot org

V1.1.2, 2007-01-26

Packet radio is a way of connecting computers via Amateur Radio. This mini-HOWTO covers the installation and configuration of an Amateur Radio packet switch. (FPAC version 3.27) under Linux operating system with kernel 2.6. The reader will be guided step by step through the process of configuring a FPAC node capable of connecting to other nodes via the Internet. The user will be responsible for the radio interface configuration.. If your Linux box is setup with a radio device, FPAC can provide inter connections between local packet-radio networks and remote nodes using AX.25 PLP (ROSE) protocol. A network of FPAC nodes can transparently interconnect many applications such as BBS stations for bulletin or message forwarding, DX spots, Terminal Chat connections, etc.. For a complete description of FPAC software, consult FPAC HOWTO.

1. Introduction

2. How to configure a Linux 2.6 kernel with AX25 modules

3. How to install AX25 libraries

4. How to install AX25 tools

5. How to install AX25 apps

6. A script for various directories and file rights setup

7. How to configure ax25ipd

8. How to install and configure FPAC 3.27

9. AX25 startup scripts

10.1 Router Configuration

10.2 Interfacing FPAC with application programs

11. HOWTO

12. Getting Help

1. Introduction

FPAC for Linux was written by Jean-Paul, F6FBB. An earlier FPAC version , written for DOS, was coded in assembly language by Antoine, F6DWJ, in collaboration with Rémy, F6ABJ. FPAC is based on the W2VY implementation of ROSE in assembly language and "C" for packet radio Terminal Node controler TNC2. Jean-Paul also wrote the FPAC HOWTO which covers the operation and setup of the FPAC node.

The purpose of this document is to assist the reader in the setup of an Amateur Radio Packet node. The process is based on my own experience using Mandrake Linux distributions.

With Linux 2.2 kernels, the last available being 2.2.26, AX25 applications are quite stable. They operate a packet radio system for weeks without needing intervention. However, you may want to use more recent Linux kernels which contain support for USB interfaces, serial ATA disks, Blue Tooth, and wireless LAN. Due to extensive changes in the kernel code, AX25 is not as well supported on the 2.4 and early 2.6 kernels. Although you can run AX25 with kernel 2.4, Linux system often becomes unstable and will lock-up. Ralf DL5RB worked intensively on AX25 code adaptation to 2.6 kernel. Versions later than 2.6.13 are fine for stable when running HamRadio AX25 applications.

This step by step procedure to set up an FPAC node, based on Mandriva Linux 2007 distro with 2.6 Linux kernel, will cover :

1. Installation of Linux 2.6 kernel with AX25 modules

2. Installation of AX25 libraries

3. Installation of AX25 tools

4. Installation of AX25 applications

5. Configuration of the ax25ipd daemon

6. Installation of the FPAC software

7. Installation of AX25 start-up scripts

8. Setting up the FPAC switch.

2. How to configure a Linux 2.6 kernel with AX25 modules

            urpmi  kernel-2.6.17.6mdv-1-1mdv2007.0.i586.rpm             urmpi.update -a
            urpmi kernel-2.6

        This will give you a message followed by a list of files. For example :
            pas de paquetage nommé kernel-2.6
            Les paquetages suivants contiennent kernel-2.6 :
            em8300-kernel-2.6.17-3mdvlegacy
            fuse-kernel-2.6.17.8-tmb-server-3mdvsmp
            kernel-2.6.17.5mdv
            kernel-2.6.17.6mdv
            ndiswrapper-kernel-2.6.18-rc4.4mdvsmp

            Choose the kernel rpm file you want. Here for example enter :
                urpmi kernel-2.6.17.6mdv
             The file is downloaded and the new kernel automatically installed.
 
-rw-r--r--  1 root root 101464 déc  4 19:59 libax25.a
-rw-r--r--  1 root root  20816 déc  4 19:59 libax25io.a
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root root    720 déc  4 19:59 libax25io.la*
lrwxrwxrwx  1 root root     18 déc  4 19:59 libax25io.so -> libax25io.so.0.0.0*
lrwxrwxrwx  1 root root     18 déc  4 19:59 libax25io.so.0 -> libax25io.so.0.0.0*
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root root  23090 déc  4 19:59 libax25io.so.0.0.0*
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root root    706 déc  4 19:59 libax25.la*
lrwxrwxrwx  1 root root     16 déc  4 19:59 libax25.so -> libax25.so.0.0.0*
lrwxrwxrwx  1 root root     16 déc  4 19:59 libax25.so.0 -> libax25.so.0.0.0*
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root root  76967 déc  4 19:59 libax25.so.0.0.0*

4. How to install AX25 tools

I modified some #include headers in order to aid the compilation of ax25tools-0.0.11 package with 2.6 kernel. You may choose to get the compiled tool binary files or the source files and compile them. It is always preferable to compile software for your system.

To get the source files archive, right click on the following link and download the package into the directory of your choice

http://f6bvp.free.fr/logiciels/ax25/ax25-tools-0.0.8src_f6bvp.tgz

Unpack the package:

tar xvfzP ax25-tools-0.0.8_i386_f6bvp.tgz

This will put some binary files into /usr/local/sbin and others in /usr/local/bin .

5. How to install AX25 applications

Unlike the previous two packages, AX25 applications have evolved recently. Steve VK5ASF has provided a dynamic IP capability. Although there is no official release at the present time, I have provided the binary and source files of modified ax25-0.0.6 packages. You may choose to use the compiled applications or get the source files and compile them. It is always preferable to compile software on your own system. However you can download compiled AX25 applications :

To get the source files archive, right click on the following link to download the package into the directory of your choice : http://f6bvp.free.fr/logiciels/ax25/ax25-apps-0.0.6src_f6bvp.tgz

Move the file into a directory, for example, /usr/local/src/ax25 then change to that directory. 

tar xvfz  ax25-apps.src_f6bvp.tgz – Change directory
cd ax25-apps-0.0.6 and type the following set of commands :

http://f6bvp.free.fr/logiciels/ax25/ax25-apps-0.0.6_i386_f6bvp.tgz

tar xvfzP ax25-apps-0.0.6_i386_f6bvp.tgz

Note : flag P is upper case.

This will put some binary files into /usr/local/sbin and others in /usr/local/bin .

6. A script for various directories and file setup

To run an FPAC node on a 2.6 Linux kernel we need to setup some directories and file rights. This should have been done automatically when the AX25 libraries, tools and application packages were installed, but this was not the case. I wrote the following script to facilitate the job.

#!/bin/sh
# rc.init.script
# Part of http://rose.fpac.free.fr/MINI-HOWTO/

# by f6bvp at amsat dot org

#
# This script should be run only once after installation of
#
# - libax25
# - ax25-apps
# - ax25-tools
#
# and before installing FPAC fpac327 package
#
# AX25 libraries declaration (into ld.so.conf)
#
echo "/usr/local/lib" >> /etc/ld.so.conf
/sbin/ldconfig
#
# Reserving UDP port 10093 for FPAC service
#
echo "fpad 10093/tcp # FPAC" >> /etc/services
echo "fpad 10093/udp # FPAC" >> /etc/services
#
# Making necessary AX25 directories
#
mkdir /usr/local/var
mkdir /usr/local/var/ax25
cd /var
ln -s /usr/local/var/ax25 ax25
mkdir /usr/local/etc
mkdir /usr/local/etc/ax25
cd /etc
ln -s /usr/local/etc/ax25 ax25
#
# Add some FPAC directories and files
#
mkdir /usr/local/var/ax25/fpac
/bin/chmod a+x /usr/local/var
/bin/chmod a+x /usr/local/var/ax25
/bin/chmod a+x /usr/local/var/ax25/fpac
/bin/touch /usr/local/var/ax25/fpac/loggedin
/bin/chmod a+w /usr/local/var/ax25/fpac/loggedin
#
mkdir /usr/local/var/ax25/mheard
/bin/chmod a+x /usr/local/var/ax25/mheard
/bin/touch /usr/local/var/ax25/mheard/mheard.dat
#
/bin/touch /usr/local/etc/ax25/axports
/bin/touch /usr/local/etc/ax25/nrports
/bin/touch /usr/local/etc/ax25/flexd.conf
/bin/touch /usr/local/etc/ax25/node.routes
#
echo "Do not forget to edit 'SYSOP=' and 'CONNECT='"
echo "in file /usr/local/sbin/fpac.sh"
echo "according to your own BBS callsign and sysop name"
#

# /etc/ax25/axports
#
# The format of this file is:
#
# name callsign speed paclen maxframes description
#
0   F6ZZZ-8  115200   256  4  Linux  (AXIP)
#1   F6ZZZ-4   38400   256  2  Linux  (VHF-1)
#2   F6ZZZ-5   38400   256  2  Linux  (UHF-1)
#3   F6ZZZ-6   38400   256  2  Linux  (VHF-2)
#4   F6ZZZ-7   38400   256  2  Linux  (UHF-2)
#

7. How to configure ax25ipd

# /etc/ax25/ax25ipd.conf
# ax25ipd configuration file for station f6zzz
#
# Select axip transport. 'ip' is what you want for compatibility
# with most other gates ...
#
socket ip
socket udp 10093
#
# Set ax25ipd mode of operation. (digi or tnc)
#
mode tnc
#
# If you selected digi, you must define a callsign. If you selected
# tnc mode, the call sign is currently optional, but this may change
# in the future! (2 calls if using dual port kiss)
#
#mycall2 vk5xxx-5
#
# In digi mode, you may use an alias. (2 for dual port)
#
#myalias2 svwdn2
#
# Send an ident every 540 seconds ...
#
#beacon after 540
#btext ax25ip -- tncmode rob/vk5xxx -- Experimental AXIP gateway
#
# Serial port, or pipe connected to a kissattach in my case
# master /dev/ptyq1 is attached to port ax0 ( 0 in /etc/ax25/axports)
device /dev/ttyq1
#
# Set the device speed
#
speed 115200
#
# loglevel 0 - no output
# loglevel 1 - config info only
# loglevel 2 - major events and errors
# loglevel 3 - major events, errors, and AX25 frame trace
# loglevel 4 - all events
# log 0 for the moment, syslog not working yet ...
#
loglevel 2
#
# If we are in digi mode, we might have a real tnc here, so use param to
# set the tnc parameters ...
#
#param 1 20
#
# Broadcast Address definition. Any of the addresses listed will be forwarded
# to any of the routes flagged as broadcast capable routes.
#
broadcast QST-0 NODES-0
#
# ax.25 route definition, define as many as you need.
# format is route (call/wildcard) (ip host at destination)
# ssid of 0 routes all ssid's
#
# route <destcall> <destaddr> [flags]
#
# Valid flags are:
# b - allow broadcasts to be transmitted via this route
# d - this route is the default route
#
#route vk2sut-0 44.136.8.68 b
route f5mtz-0 f5mtz.no-ip.org udp 10093 b
route kp4djt-0 24.129.134.206 udp 10093 b
route f1hci-0 f1hci.org udp 10093 b
route f5kbw-0 147.210.91.241 udp 10093 b
route f6bvp-0 f6bvp.org udp 10093 b
#
#delay f5mzn-0 35
#

8. How to install and configure FPAC 3.27

Jean-Paul F6FBB, the author of Linux FPAC, stopped its development with version 3.25, but released a compiled working version (3.26) on a floppy image that can be downloaded from F6FBB FTP site or from a mirror site. This Windows program , Rawrite, will help you to make a bootable floppy that will run Fpac. FPAC 3.26 is associated with Linux system glibc6 library compatible with 2.4 kernels. For our purpose we need to compile FPAC sources.

--- axlib.h	2007-01-26 19:34:51.000000000 +0100
+++ axlib.h	2007-01-26 20:12:22.000000000 +0100
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@
 #define	_AXLIB_H
 
 #ifndef AX25_KERNEL_H
-#include <netax25/ax25.h>
-#include <netrose/rose.h>
+#include <netax25/kernel_ax25.h>
+#include <netax25/kernel_rose.h>
 #endif
 
 #ifndef	TRUE

    If you prefer you can edit axlib.h by hand, as there are only two lines to add.

    Enter the two lines preceded by a single + sign (without writting it !).

make
make install

#
# Configuration file for FPAC node
#
# This file is /etc/ax25/fpac.conf
#
# Node Informations
#
L2call = F6ZZZ-10
L3call = F6ZZZ-11
Trcall = F6ZZZ-14
DNIC = 2080
Address = 175522
Coverage =
InetPort = 10093
InetAddr = 44.151.75.153
Password = abcdefghi
City = PARIS-17
locator = JN18DV
UserPort = *
DefPort = 0
#
# Additional commands
#
Command
BBs = connect f6bvp-1 2080175502
# BBs = /usr/local/fpac/bin/call_tcp f6bvp 1022
CLu = connect f6bvp-3 2080175502
STat= /bin/cat /var/ax25/fpac/fpacstat.dat /var/ax25/fpac/fpacstat.day
Telnet =
IPLinks = /bin/netstat --ip
IPRoutes= /bin/netstat -r
TRace = connect f6bvp-14 2080175502
HCI = connect f1hci-10 2080191601
End
# Bbs command will connect the user to the BBS on the same machine
# via rose level
# idem for command CLu that will connect the user to local DxNet server
# STat command will display connexion statistics
# Empty command telnet will do nothing

# Sysop reserved commands
#
Sysop
DIsk = /bin/df -k
SYSop = /usr/local/fpac/bin/fpacshell
YGET = /usr/local/fpac/bin/yapp -u /tmp/%1
YPUT = /usr/local/fpac/bin/yapp -d /tmp/%1
RM = /bin/rm /tmp/%1
LS = ls -l /etc/ax25/%1
CAT = sh -c cat /etc/ax25/%1
WEdit = /usr/local/fpac/bin/wpedit %*
Hci = telnet f1hci.org 3282
end
#
#
# Port specific to an address
#
# VHF user access port has address 175502
# AddPort = VHF
# Address = 175302
# Port = 0
# End

# UHF user access port has address 175502

#AddPort = UHF
# Address = 175502
# Port = 1
#End

# Port UHF 9600 via carte SCC4 et T7F (experimental)

#AddPort = UHF-9600
# Address = 175402
# Port = 4
#End
#
# List of predifined users (to specify a non-default port)
#
# USER command was used to send frames via rose network level.
# This was when Kissnetd was used to create an internal network
# in order to link applications together. But now, ax25d, xfbb,
# or dxnet are able to listen to rose connexions, so may be directly
# connected via rose0 port issuing a Level 3 command.
#
#User = BBS
# Path = F6KDS-1
# port =
#End

#
# Liste of alias for easy connexions to some address
#

#Alias = F6BVP-3
# Path = F6PTT-1,191501
#End

#Alias = F6BVP-4
# Path = F5KCK-1,178504
#End

#Alias = F6BVP-4
# Path = F6KDS-1,194501
#End

#
# List of adjacent nodes
#
# NoWP = 1 means no White Page
# for FPAC DOS does not know how to handle white pages

Node = DJT
path = KP4DJT-9
DNIC = 3100
Address = 813626
Port = 0
NoWP = 0
End

Node = XEO
path = N4XEO-9
DNIC = 3100
Address = 772467
Port = 0
NoWP = 0
End

Node = BVP
path = F6BVP-11
DNIC = 2080
Address = 175502
Port = 0
NoWp = 0
End

Node = HCI
path = F1HCI-11
DNIC = 2080
Address = 191601
Port = 0
NoWp = 0
End

Node = KBW
path = F5KBW-9
DNIC = 2080
Address = 833501
Port = 0
NoWp = 0
End

#
# Routes to adjacent nodes
#
# DNIC specify a default DNIC for the following addresses
#
# Address is for 1 to 6 digits, using hierarchy
#

Routes
DNIC = 0
3100 = DJT
DNIC = 3100
772 = DJT
772 = XEO
DNIC = 2080
* = BVP
8 = HCI
8 = KBW
177202 = HCI
End


9. AX25 startup scripts

It is not uncommon to have several home computer interconnected on a Home networking LAN. The LAN gets it's Internet connection via a router which provides the gateway. For FPAC it is not a good idea to use an address assigned by a DHCP. We need to use a fixed IP address for our Linux host. For the purpose of this document our LAN address is 192.168.0.0. and the gateway address is 192.168.0.1.

#!/bin/sh
# /etc/rc.d/rc.ax25
#
# This script will start AX25 FPAC switch application on a Linux 2.6 system
# at boot time with a sample callsign F6ZZZ.
# rc.eth0 : setup Ethernet eth0 device LAN address and initialize a route to Internet
# through a gateway ;
# rc.tnc : attach ax0 device to pseudo device ptyq1 ;
# rc.axip : install a tunnel between ptyq1 and ttyq1 pseudo tty devices ;
# run ax25ipd daemon that performs AX25 frame encapsulation in IP frames ;
# routes encapsulated packets from ax0 to Internet rose FPAC address;
# rc.fpac : start FPAC suite of programs and mheardd daemon;
# rc.beacon : start listen application on console 2 listening to port 0
# and install a beacon broadcast on ax0 port ;
#
echo 15 > /proc/sys/kernel/panic
echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
#
# The following is an example for eth0 fixed IP address 
# not necessary if protocol DHCP is used  
#
#/sbin/ifconfig eth0 192.168.0.200
#/sbin/route add -net 192.168.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 eth0
#/sbin/ifconfig lo 127.0.0.1
#/sbin/route add -net 127.0.0.0 netmask 255.0.0.0 lo
#/sbin/route add default gw 192.168.0.1
#
# /etc/rc.d/rc.tnc
#
/usr/local/sbin/kissattach /dev/ptyq1 0 44.151.75.153
/bin/sleep 2
#
#/etc/rc.d/rc.axip
#
/bin/date > /var/log/ax25ipd.log
/usr/local/sbin/ax25ipd -l4 >> /var/log/ax25ipd.log 2>&1
#
#/etc/rc.d/rc.fpac
#
/bin/date > /var/log/fpac
/usr/local/sbin/fpac.sh
/usr/local/sbin/mheardd
#
#/etc/rc.d/rc.beacon
#
#/usr/local/bin/listen -char >> /dev/tty2 &
/usr/local/sbin/beacon -c F6ZZZ -d QST -t 10 0 'Nodal Rose FPAC F6ZZZ'
#

#!/bin/sh
#
# This script will be executed *after* all the other init scripts.
# You can put your own initialization stuff in here if you don't
# want to do the full Sys V style init stuff.
#
echo 30 > /proc/sys/kernel/panic
#
#/etc/rc.d/rc.eth0
#
/etc/rc.d/rc.ax25
#
touch /var/lock/subsys/local
#

cd /usr/local/bin

ln -s /etc/rc.d/rc.ax25  ax25

10.1. Router configuration

If your Linux computer is directly connected to your DSL box without a router, the following applies to your DSL router settings.

A router not only performs the basic routing functions but it usally includes a firewall function to protect your computer and LAN from Internet intruders. By default the traffic passing through the router may be filtered in both directions. IP packets going from LAN to Internet are routed only if you give the permission. You may already be setup to pass normal traffic. However AX25 applications are using ports that must be opened in both directions. Ports up to 1024 are reserved for Standard applications and must not be used. See /etc/services file. Our FPAC needs port 10093 to be opened in both directions for UDP and TCP protocols. Check your router or DSL modem documentation to find out how to enable these ports.

10.2. Interfacing FPAC with application programs

Some application programs that will run on the same Linux machine can listen to a local port and may be easily interconnected with fpac node.

FBB and DxNet can communicate with FPAC without additive programs. NetRomd needs ax25d to perform the interface with FPAC.

Run the following script during AX25 setup. It will create NetRom devices that will be used by the following applications and start NetRom daemon.

#!/bin/sh
# /etc/rc.d/rc.netrom
#
#echo "NETROM"
  /sbin/modprobe netrom
#
killall -KILL netromd
ifconfig nr1 down
ifconfig nr0 down
ifconfig nr2 down
ifconfig nr3 down
# creating NET/ROM devices (please edit your own ampr.org network address)
/usr/local/sbin/nrattach -i 44.151.75.15 -m 256 netnod
/usr/local/sbin/nrattach -i 44.151.75.15 -m 256 netbbs
/usr/local/sbin/nrattach -i 44.151.75.15 -m 256 netclu
# adjacent NET/ROM nodes creation via port 4=ax4 (ax25 over ip)
/usr/local/sbin/nrparms -nodes k4gbb-14  + CIT03 120 6 4 k4gbb-14
/usr/local/sbin/nrparms -nodes kp4djt-14 + DJT14 120 6 4 kp4djt-14
/usr/local/sbin/nrparms -nodes vk2tv-14  + KEMPC 120 6 4 vk2tv-14
/usr/local/sbin/nrparms -nodes vk2vy-2   + VYNODE 120 6 4 vk2vy-2
# start ax25d daemon to link NetRom and FPAC node
/usr/local/sbin/ax25d
# Broadcast NET/ROM
/usr/local/sbin/netromd -lid -t 10
# remove default routes
/sbin/route del -net 44.0.0.0/8 nr0
/sbin/route del -net 44.0.0.0/8 nr1
/sbin/route del -net 44.0.0.0/8 nr2
/sbin/route del -net 44.0.0.0/8 nr3
/sbin/route del -net 44.0.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.255 eth0
#

For deeper understanding see nrattach and nrparms manuals.

10.2.1. Interfacing FPAC with a BBS application

If your Linux box is running a BBS it can be internally connected to ROSE FPAC and interfaced with NetRom. This will give your BBS a worldwide access to AX25 stations.

This is a partial listing from FBB BBS showing the port description file : /etc/ax25/port.sys file.

#Com Interface Adress (Hex)   Baud
    1   9        *****        115200
    2   9        189C         0
#TNC NbCh Com MultCh Pacln Maxfr NbFwd MxBloc M/P-Fwd Mode  Freq
   0   0    0   0       0     0     0     0      00/01   ---- File-fwd.
   1  20    1   rose0   250   2     6     10     15/10   XULWY Rose0

   2   4    1   3       250   2     2     10     08/10   XULWY UHF
   3  10    2   0       250   7     8     10     15/15   TUWY  Telnet
   4   4    1   netbbs  250   7     2     10     15/15   XULWY NetRom
#

The BBS is connected to fpac node via rose0 port.

There is a TNC linked to AX25 port 3 defined in /etc/ax25/axports file.

Telnet port 189C is decimal 6300. Command is : telnet <hostname> 6300 to enter the BBS.

Port netbbs will interface the BBS with NetRom.

By the way. Dealing with 2.6 kernels, F6FBB's xfbbd source file needs to be patched in order to be compiled without problem and run correctly.

You can download via FTP from here a patch to apply to the BBS source file of xd704-jsrc.tgz . The new version label is 704l.
You may also find the patch here for downloading via http.

10.2.2. Interfacing FPAC with a DxCluster application

If your Linux box computer is running a DxNet cluster you can interface it with ROSE FPAC.

Dxnet system/dxnet.cfg file will look like :

set/node +f8kgk-3 +f5mtz-3 +f5kbw-3 +f6cdd-3 +tu5ex-3 +kp4ig-5
set/call f6bvp-3
set/sys +F6BVP
set/ssid +3
set/port 0 1 3 4 rose0 inet:9000 netclu
set/tz +2

The Dx cluster can be accessed via either ax25 radio ports 0, 1, 3 and 4, via FPAC node port rose0, telnet port 9000 and NetRom port netclu.

10.2.3. Interfacing FPAC with NetRom

The following will give the necessary instructions to interface FPAC with a NetRom net.

Example of /etc/ax25/nrports file

# /etc/ax25/nrports
#
# The format of this file is:
# name callsign alias paclen description
#
netnod  F6BVP-10  BVPNOD    235    F6BVP FPAC node
netbbs  F6BVP-1   BVPBBS    235    F6BVP BBS
netclu  F6BVP-3   BVPDX     235    F6BVP Dx Cluster
#

This is the content of your /etc/ax25/ax25d.conf file

#
<netrom>
parameters 1   10 * * * * *
NOCALL * * * * * * L
default  * * * * * * *    root /usr/sbin/fpacnode fpacnode -q %S
#

Add the letter b after UDP port number of the route description in /etc/ax25ipd.conf to allow broadcast of NetRom routes.

11. HOWTO

There are many other documents that relate to Linux networking in a general way. I strongly recommend you also read them. They will assist your efforts and provide a stronger insight into other possible configurations.

They are:

The Linux Kernel HOWTO

The AX25-HOWTO,

Tithe HAM-HOWTO,

The NET-3-HOWTO,

The Ethernet-HOWTO,

and:

The Firewall-HOWTO

12. Getting Help

Remember that FPAC is a network switch. You must be able to connected to at least one other FPAC node. The more adjacent nodes you are linked to the better your network will perform.

Stations already running an FPAC node is a good place to get help.

Reading messages from FPAC News list is a must.. To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit the fpac Archives.

Subscribe to the FPAC list by going to this page.

Global help about Linux and Ham radio can be requested via the Linux Ham list. First check the Linux-hams archive.
Linux-Hams is a mailing list for the discussion of the Linux operating system, and it's use in Amateur Radio. Anyone with an interest in both subjects is encouraged to subscribe. The discussion is mostly concentrated on the use and development of the AX.25 code in the Linux kernel. If you would like to subscribe to the Linux-hams mailing list and receive these messages in your own mailbox, send a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org, placing the line

subscribe linux-hams

in the body of the message.