• Grasping file transfers

    From Gohanks@1:103/705 to All on Mon Nov 27 09:29:07 2017
    Hello all!

    I'm a newbie SysOp, trying out and learning how to handle Synchronet BBS setup. I've been having trouble with file transfers. I followed the documentation on the setup part and stopped on Manual Upload section. Everything up to that point is straightforward. What gives me trouble is understanding the transfer protocols. I'm still researching them at the moment, but in the meanwhile, maybe one of you guys could shed some light on my problem:
    After setting up a main library and creating the first directory I try to upload a single file. I specify the filename and accoarding to synchronet docs this is when it should display a prompt asking for the file location on my local machine. Instead it asks me for a description and transfer protocol. No matter what I choose after that it just displays some repeating symbols.
    Am I missing something?

    Thank you in advance and sorry if I'm posting a stupid question.

    Regards,
    Gohanks

    ---
    * Synchronet * GOHANKSB
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Nelgin@1:103/705 to Gohanks on Mon Nov 27 14:46:38 2017
    On Mon, 27 Nov 2017 09:29:07 +0100, "Gohanks" <gohanks@VERT/GOHANKSB>
    wrote:

    Hello all!

    I'm a newbie SysOp, trying out and learning how to handle Synchronet BBS setup.
    I've been having trouble with file transfers. I followed the documentation on >the setup part and stopped on Manual Upload section. Everything up to that >point is straightforward. What gives me trouble is understanding the transfer >protocols. I'm still researching them at the moment, but in the meanwhile, >maybe one of you guys could shed some light on my problem:
    After setting up a main library and creating the first directory I try to >upload a single file. I specify the filename and accoarding to synchronet docs >this is when it should display a prompt asking for the file location on my >local machine. Instead it asks me for a description and transfer protocol. No >matter what I choose after that it just displays some repeating symbols.
    Am I missing something?


    Once you start seeing the symbols, you need to go back to your
    terminal program and find the upload option. For example, if using
    SyncTerm you'd press ALT-U to bring up the upload menu. Keep in mind
    you'll need to configure your terminal program to use the same upload
    protocol as you configured in your SBBS profile.

    The options are XMODEM, YMODEM and ZMODEM. ZMODEM is generally the
    best protocol to use.

    The repeating symbols are part of the handshake between the BBS that's
    waiting to receive your file and the terminal program that is about to
    send it.

    ---
    * Synchronet * End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Digital Man@1:103/705 to Gohanks on Mon Nov 27 14:49:44 2017
    Re: Grasping file transfers
    By: Gohanks to All on Mon Nov 27 2017 09:29 am

    Hello all!

    I'm a newbie SysOp, trying out and learning how to handle Synchronet BBS setup. I've been having trouble with file transfers. I followed the documentation on the setup part and stopped on Manual Upload section. Everything up to that point is straightforward. What gives me trouble is understanding the transfer protocols. I'm still researching them at the moment, but in the meanwhile, maybe one of you guys could shed some light on my problem:
    After setting up a main library and creating the first directory I try to upload a single file. I specify the filename and accoarding to synchronet docs this is when it should display a prompt asking for the file location on my local machine. Instead it asks me for a description and transfer protocol. No matter what I choose after that it just displays some repeating symbols.
    Am I missing something?

    It sounds like you might be looking at some old documentation (i.e. for sbbs v2 for DOS). In Synchronet v3, there is no such thing as a "local login", so using the normal upload process that a user uses would involve sending the file over TCP/IP (e.g. using a file transfer protocol, like ZMODEM), but you don't need to do that since the file is already local to your system; the file doesn't need to be "transferred" anywhere.

    The easiest and fastest methods for the sysop to add files to their file bases are described here: http://wiki.synchro.net/faq:files#adding_files



    digital man

    Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #12:
    DCE = Data Communications Equipment (or Deuce, Stephen Hurd)
    Norco, CA WX: 67.0oF, 43.0% humidity, 0 mph SSW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.03-Win32
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Digital Man@1:103/705 to Nelgin on Mon Nov 27 14:53:02 2017
    Re: Re: Grasping file transfers
    By: Nelgin to Gohanks on Mon Nov 27 2017 02:46 pm

    On Mon, 27 Nov 2017 09:29:07 +0100, "Gohanks" <gohanks@VERT/GOHANKSB>
    wrote:

    Hello all!

    I'm a newbie SysOp, trying out and learning how to handle Synchronet BBS setup.
    I've been having trouble with file transfers. I followed the documentation on >the setup part and stopped on Manual Upload section. Everything up to that >point is straightforward. What gives me trouble is understanding the transfer >protocols. I'm still researching them at the moment, but in the meanwhile, >maybe one of you guys could shed some light on my problem: >After setting up a main library and creating the first directory I try to >upload a single file. I specify the filename and accoarding to synchronet docs >this is when it should display a prompt asking for the file location on my >local machine. Instead it asks me for a description and transfer protocol. No >matter what I choose after that it just displays some repeating symbols.
    Am I missing something?


    Once you start seeing the symbols, you need to go back to your
    terminal program and find the upload option. For example, if using
    SyncTerm you'd press ALT-U to bring up the upload menu. Keep in mind
    you'll need to configure your terminal program to use the same upload protocol as you configured in your SBBS profile.

    The options are XMODEM, YMODEM and ZMODEM. ZMODEM is generally the
    best protocol to use.

    The repeating symbols are part of the handshake between the BBS that's waiting to receive your file and the terminal program that is about to
    send it.

    This is fine advice for a remote user. But for a sysop, ususally the files they want to add to their system are already sitting there on the local file system and don't need to be transferred again. So they'll want to use the ;UPLOAD sysop command or the ADDFILES utility to add them to the filebases.

    digital man

    Synchronet "Real Fact" #81:
    Vertrauen has had the FidoNet node number 1:103/705 since 1992.
    Norco, CA WX: 67.0oF, 43.0% humidity, 0 mph SSW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.03-Win32
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Nightfox@1:103/705 to Nelgin on Mon Nov 27 14:24:17 2017
    Re: Re: Grasping file transfers
    By: Nelgin to Gohanks on Mon Nov 27 2017 02:46 pm

    The options are XMODEM, YMODEM and ZMODEM. ZMODEM is generally the
    best protocol to use.

    I somewhat miss the old days in the 90s when there were more transfer protocols available. I liked offering options, so on my BBS back then, I remember setting up Puma/MPT, BiModem, Lynx(?), and possibly others in addition to the default X, Y, and Zmodem. I don't think many of my users used the additional protocols, but they were there. I'm not sure those would work with a modern telnet BBS, since the binaries I had for those are all 16-bit DOS binaries.

    Nightfox

    ---
    * Synchronet * Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From KK4QBN@1:103/705 to Gohanks on Mon Nov 27 20:27:35 2017
    Re: Grasping file transfers
    By: Gohanks to All on Mon Nov 27 2017 09:29:07

    I'm a newbie SysOp, trying out and learning how to handle Synchronet BBS setup. I've been having trouble with file transfers. I followed the documentation on the setup part and stopped on Manual Upload section. Everything up to that point is straightforward. What gives me trouble is understanding the transfer protocols. I'm still researching them at the moment, but in the meanwhile, maybe one of you guys could shed some light on my problem: After setting up a main library and creating the first directory I try to upload a single file. I specify the filename and accoarding to synchronet docs this is when it should display a prompt asking for the file location on my local machine. Instead it asks me for a description and transfer protocol. No matter what I choose after that it just displays some repeating symbols. Am I missing something?

    Teh issue is, as a sysop, you don't *REALLY* want to manually upload each individual file on your system.

    yo can use the ADDFILES utility in /sbbs/exec or the ;upload sysop command from most command shells if you are logged in as sysop.

    make sure you populate the FILE DIRECTORIES of the file areas you've created first.

    after adding as many file areas as you want and puttting files in their directores, if you have a files.bbs to work with in eache directory you can just issue a

    addfiles -

    from your exec directory.

    no files.bbs and you get lucky enough to have file_id.diz or desc.sdi in the files

    addfiles - -sz

    If I add just a few files to a dir at a time and I know they do'nt have the descriptor file, I use the ;upload command. (Change into the file area you are working with before doing this)

    --

    Tim Smith (KK4QBN)
    KK4QBN BBS

    ---
    * Synchronet * KK4QBN BBS - kk4qbn.com - kk4qbn.synchro.net - Chatsworth GA USA
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@1:103/705 to Nightfox on Mon Nov 27 22:31:44 2017
    Re: Re: Grasping file transfers
    By: Nightfox to Nelgin on Mon Nov 27 2017 02:24 pm

    I somewhat miss the old days in the 90s when there were more transfer protocols available. I liked offering options, so on my BBS back then, I remember setting up Puma/MPT, BiModem, Lynx(?), and possibly others in addition to the default X, Y, and Zmodem. I don't think many of my users used the additional protocols, but they were there.

    You needed them back then to try and make the most of a dial-up session. I remember debating the ins and outs of Ymodem-G versus Xmodem-1K versus Zmodem, endlessly!

    ---
    * Synchronet * realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Marisag@1:103/705 to Digital Man on Tue Nov 28 06:54:38 2017
    Re: Grasping file transfers
    By: Digital Man to Gohanks on Mon Nov 27 2017 14:49:44

    And to mention it again, i have a perl script for linux sbbs owners to make adding files from the command line easier. It will scan the directory you run it from and add any files it has not seen before to the desired sbbs file directory.

    You can get it in the download area at https://AmigaCity.xyz, it's called "PerlAdd.pl"...

    Marisa
    --- https://AmigaCity.xyz - Portal for the Amiga - More than 2,600 free DLs
    --- https://AmigaCityLaptops.com - Laptops & Handhelds that run AmigaOS
    --- https://AmigaCity.xyz/radio.html - Amiga game music 24/7
    * Synchronet * Amiga City - The BBS for the Amiga - more than 2,500+ files
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Gohanks@1:103/705 to All on Tue Nov 28 12:11:43 2017
    Re: Grasping file transfers
    By: Marisag to Digital Man on Tue Nov 28 2017 06:54:38

    Thank you all for the tips. You've basically covered all the things I needed. I was in fact attempting to upload files remotely from a separate machine, so the first response was very helpful. I did create all the necessary directories beforehand too, so what I was missing was using the telnet clients functions, which escaped my attention since it's a dos client and only informs about its menu options just before connecting, so that info quickly vanishes off the screen. Also thank you for all the tips on the utulities provided with synchronet. It's an amazing piece of software and I'm enjoying myself very much while exploring it :)


    ---
    * Synchronet * GOHANKSB
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Nightfox@1:103/705 to poindexter FORTRAN on Tue Nov 28 10:16:05 2017
    Re: Re: Grasping file transfers
    By: poindexter FORTRAN to Nightfox on Mon Nov 27 2017 10:31 pm

    You needed them back then to try and make the most of a dial-up session. I remember debating the ins and outs of Ymodem-G versus Xmodem-1K versus Zmodem, endlessly!

    I thought I had read that Zmodem was a better protocol and had supplanted Xmodem and Ymodem, although I'm not sure about the X/Ymodem variants.

    Nightfox

    ---
    * Synchronet * Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Daryl Stout@1:103/705 to KK4QBN on Tue Nov 28 10:45:00 2017
    Tim,

    Teh issue is, as a sysop, you don't *REALLY* want to manually upload each K>individual file on your system.

    Especially if you have over 10,000 files, like I do. <G> But,
    considering I started the BBS over 25 years ago, I've picked up a few
    files and doors over the years. ;)

    yo can use the ADDFILES utility in /sbbs/exec or the ;upload sysop command fr K>most command shells if you are logged in as sysop.

    I use the addfiles deal when I start a new area...otherwise, I use
    the ;upload sysop command instead. I also use the delfiles command to
    remove files no longer in an area.

    Thanks to the help of a former GT Power Sysop, I've got a batchfile to
    create my list of all files, that updates nightly.

    Daryl

    ---
    * OLX 1.53 * To air is human. Be sure you're standing down wind.
    * Synchronet * The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Nightfox@1:103/705 to Daryl Stout on Tue Nov 28 15:59:14 2017
    Re: Grasping file transfers
    By: Daryl Stout to KK4QBN on Tue Nov 28 2017 10:45 am

    Especially if you have over 10,000 files, like I do. <G> But,
    considering I started the BBS over 25 years ago, I've picked up a few files and doors over the years. ;)

    I kept most of my downloadable files from my BBS in the 90s on my current BBS, but compared to some BBSes, I didn't carry a whole lot of files. I didn't have any shareware CD-ROMs or anything available on my BBS, it was mostly stuff I had downloaded and found useful or fun (plus a few other files). People don't download a whole lot from my BBS these days, although occasionally some people do download some of the BBS-related files. Every once in a while in the last 10 years I've also see a few downloads from my DOS and Windows games or utilities sections.

    When I back up my BBS, usually I compress it and it can fit on a single CD-R disc (but often lately I've just been backing it up to a USB flash drive).

    Nightfox

    ---
    * Synchronet * Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Daryl Stout@1:103/705 to NIGHTFOX on Wed Nov 29 13:10:00 2017
    I kept most of my downloadable files from my BBS in the 90s on my current BBS N>but compared to some BBSes, I didn't carry a whole lot of files. I didn't ha N>any shareware CD-ROMs or anything available on my BBS, it was mostly stuff I N>had downloaded and found useful or fun (plus a few other files). People don' N>download a whole lot from my BBS these days, although occasionally some peopl N>do download some of the BBS-related files. Every once in a while in the last N>10 years I've also see a few downloads from my DOS and Windows games or N>utilities sections.

    I get a lot of anonymous FTP from Google, etc. grabbing files. I never required uploads or had file ratios. So, if folks want to leech my file
    areas, more power to them.

    Now, there are some areas available ONLY to Verified Users in Good
    Standing, Visiting Sysops, Ham Radio Operators, etc. -- so the GUEST and ANONYMOUS logons don't have access to everything.

    Even after a user has gone through the New User Logon Process,
    including the Telnet Email Verifier, if they don't leave New User
    Feeback telling where they heard about the BBS, and what they're looking
    for, I don't upgrade them...so, they still won't have full access. I
    give them 48 hours from initial logon to do such, and if not, I zap
    their account without comment.

    When I back up my BBS, usually I compress it and it can fit on a single CD-R N>disc (but often lately I've just been backing it up to a USB flash drive).

    I have a network drive, with the BBS computer and a laptop on it. I
    usually keep 5 backups from each one, and use the Acronis Backup
    utility.

    I saw a post in one echo about creating a batch file for backing up
    all of the Synchronet stuff...and while it could be done, it'd be a
    rather large file, for all the directories.

    Daryl

    ---
    * OLX 1.53 * We are born naked, wet, and hungry. Then, it gets worse.
    * Synchronet * The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org
    * Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From mark lewis@1:3634/12.73 to Daryl Stout on Wed Nov 29 16:52:16 2017

    On 2017 Nov 29 13:10:00, you wrote to NIGHTFOX:

    I get a lot of anonymous FTP from Google, etc. grabbing files. I never required uploads or had file ratios. So, if folks want to leech my
    file areas, more power to them.

    google isn't "grabbing files"... they're cataloging them... they have to download them to figure out what they are... ZIP files have a signature at the beginning of the file but others have their signature at the end so you have to
    get the whole file to find it... others so-called signature comes from different parts of the file so, again, you have to have the whole file to analyse it...

    )\/(ark

    Always Mount a Scratch Monkey
    Do you manage your own servers? If you are not running an IDS/IPS yer doin' it wrong...
    ... Never open your own restaurant.
    ---
    * Origin: (1:3634/12.73)