• How do I turn a regular user into a QWK Networking user

    From KenDB3@1:103/705 to All on Mon Dec 5 10:28:14 2016
    Hi there folks,

    I've never used the part of the new user questionnaire that asks if you want to
    create a QWK Networking User. I never had much reason to, but recently someone asked me if I could turn their regular user into a QWK networking user.

    1) How would I go about this? I know there is a restriction of Q, but is that it? Does that take care of everything, or are other restrictions and exemptions needed?

    2) Is there anything special I need to setup to allow someone to grab QWK messages from me? Aka... I've never been a hub, and I don't know enough to know if this would mean I am going to need to be a hub to allow this type of connection, and are there any settings I need to change for this to happen.

    Basically, I've hit a question from a user I have no frame of reference for, lol. Any help would be appreciated, but you'll pretty much have to treat me as a Newb. :-)

    ~KenDB3

    ---
    * Synchronet * KD3net-Rhode Island's only BBS about nothing. http://bbs.kd3.us
    * Origin: Vertrauen - vert.synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Nicholas Boel@1:154/10 to KenDB3 on Mon Dec 5 09:36:22 2016
    Hello KenDB3,

    On 05 Dec 16 10:28, KenDB3 wrote to All:

    I've never used the part of the new user questionnaire that asks if
    you want to create a QWK Networking User. I never had much reason to,
    but recently someone asked me if I could turn their regular user into
    a QWK networking user.

    Why do they want this? Do they simply want to download offline QWK packets for their interest in posting messages? If so, I don't think this option is necessary. Creating a QWK networking user (with that option) is usually for people that want to start their own QWK network (like Dovenet). These QWK users
    could then setup their system to poll yours via FTP to transfer messages back and forth via QWK.

    Basically, if you don't have your own "network" that you're offering up.. I don't really see a need for what your user is requesting of you. Unless is actually makes offline QWK/REP stuff easier too, but that would have to be answered by someone with more knowledge on the subject.

    1) How would I go about this? I know there is a restriction of Q, but
    is that it? Does that take care of everything, or are other
    restrictions and exemptions needed?

    In a QWK networking environment (ie: you started your own network with QWK networking), you would also need to setup your message group and sub-boards with QWK conference IDs.

    http://wiki.synchro.net/ref:qwknet

    2) Is there anything special I need to setup to allow someone to grab
    QWK messages from me? Aka... I've never been a hub, and I don't know enough to know if this would mean I am going to need to be a hub to
    allow this type of connection, and are there any settings I need to
    change for this to happen.

    If someone just wants to do offline messaging, there is no need for you to do anything. They can go to your QWK menu, setup the areas they want to subscribe to, download a .QWK packet, use an offline reader/editor to read/reply to messages, and if they did any replying.. upload your system their newly created
    .REP packet. Your system would then add those messages to your message sub-boards.

    Basically, I've hit a question from a user I have no frame of
    reference for, lol. Any help would be appreciated, but you'll pretty
    much have to treat me as a Newb. :-)

    If you're not actually hosting a network, I would ask the user why they would want what they asked for. If it's simply ONLY to have access to your QWK menu for offline reading/messaging, then I guess you could go ahead and give them the Q restriction, but then they wouldn't have access to the rest of your BBS.

    Regards,
    Nick

    ... "?? ????. ? ????? ?????? ???????."
    --- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20160827
    * Origin: thePharcyde_ distribution system (Wisconsin) (1:154/10)
  • From Digital Man@1:103/705 to KenDB3 on Mon Dec 5 13:04:08 2016
    Re: How do I turn a regular user into a QWK Networking user
    By: KenDB3 to All on Mon Dec 05 2016 10:28 am

    Hi there folks,

    I've never used the part of the new user questionnaire that asks if you want to
    create a QWK Networking User. I never had much reason to, but recently someone asked me if I could turn their regular user into a QWK networking user.

    1) How would I go about this? I know there is a restriction of Q, but is that it? Does that take care of everything, or are other restrictions and exemptions needed?

    That's pretty much it. You might want to give QWKnet accounts additional exemptions (e.g. logons per day). Here's the logic in newuser.js for new QWKnet accounts:

    user.security.restrictions|=UFLAG_Q;
    user.security.exemptions|=UFLAG_L;
    user.security.exemptions|=UFLAG_T;
    user.security.exemptions|=UFLAG_D;
    user.security.exemptions|=UFLAG_M;


    2) Is there anything special I need to setup to allow someone to grab QWK messages from me? Aka... I've never been a hub, and I don't know enough to know if this would mean I am going to need to be a hub to allow this type of connection, and are there any settings I need to change for this to happen.

    Not really. You may want to consider using static conference numbering for your networked subs if you plan on adding (inserting) or removing from that msg group in the future. See http://synchro.net/docs/networking.html#ConfiguringQWKHub for more.

    digital man

    Synchronet "Real Fact" #28:
    Rob Swindell's first computer was a Commodore VIC-20 (1980).
    Norco, CA WX: 62.8oF, 45.0% humidity, 2 mph SE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
    --- SBBSecho 3.00-Win32
    * Origin: Vertrauen - vert.synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Tony Langdon@3:633/410 to KenDB3 on Tue Dec 6 08:52:00 2016
    KenDB3 wrote to All <=-

    @MSGID: <58458963.3388.fido-syncsyso@freeway.apana.org.au>
    @TZ: 412c
    Hi there folks,

    I've never used the part of the new user questionnaire that asks if you want to
    create a QWK Networking User. I never had much reason to, but recently someone asked me if I could turn their regular user into a QWK
    networking user.

    You need to give the user the "Q" restriction un the user editor. I create my QWK users manually, because I have a lot of network specific configuration on my hub.

    1) How would I go about this? I know there is a restriction of Q, but
    is that it? Does that take care of everything, or are other
    restrictions and exemptions needed?

    There's a couple of exemptions that are suggested, which the wiki mentions. The "Q" restriction is the big one. Where things get interesting is if you host multiple QWK networks and want to control which node can access which network, you have to use flags to control read/write access to the individual subs (blocking access to each group will screw up conference numbers).

    2) Is there anything special I need to setup to allow someone to grab
    QWK messages from me? Aka... I've never been a hub, and I don't know enough to know if this would mean I am going to need to be a hub to
    allow this type of connection, and are there any settings I need to
    change for this to happen.

    To host a single QWK network is pretty straightforward. Hosting (and securing) multiple QWK networks takes a bit more thought.


    ... All hope abandon, ye who enter messages here.
    --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
    * Origin: Freeway BBS - freeway.apana.org.au (3:633/410)
  • From KenDB3@1:103/705 to Digital Man on Mon Dec 5 23:56:54 2016
    Re: How do I turn a regular user into a QWK Networking user
    By: KenDB3 to All on Mon Dec 05 2016 10:28 am

    Hi there folks,

    I've never used the part of the new user questionnaire that asks if you want to
    create a QWK Networking User. I never had much reason to, but recently someone asked me if I could turn their regular user into a QWK networking user.

    1) How would I go about this? I know there is a restriction of Q, but is that it? Does that take care of everything, or are other restrictions and exemptions needed?

    That's pretty much it. You might want to give QWKnet accounts additional exemptions (e.g. logons per day). Here's the logic in newuser.js for new QWKnet accounts:

    user.security.restrictions|=UFLAG_Q;
    user.security.exemptions|=UFLAG_L;
    user.security.exemptions|=UFLAG_T;
    user.security.exemptions|=UFLAG_D;
    user.security.exemptions|=UFLAG_M;


    2) Is there anything special I need to setup to allow someone to grab QWK messages from me? Aka... I've never been a hub, and I don't know enough to know if this would mean I am going to need to be a hub to allow this type of connection, and are there any settings I need to change for this to happen.

    Not really. You may want to consider using static conference numbering for your networked subs if you plan on adding (inserting) or removing from that msg group in the future. See http://synchro.net/docs/networking.html#ConfiguringQWKHub for more.

    digital man

    Synchronet "Real Fact" #28:
    Rob Swindell's first computer was a Commodore VIC-20 (1980).
    Norco, CA WX: 62.8oF, 45.0% humidity, 2 mph SE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs


    Thanks DM! And thank you everyone else who offered advice.

    Also, fun side note, I see your Real Fact mentions a VIC-20, I just gave one of those to a buddy of mine who collects vintage stuff. I had a TRS80 too that I gave him. I got to use the TRS80 back when I was young, but someone gave me the VIC-20 a couple of years ago and it was not doing any good in my basement, so it went to a good home finally, lol.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BNZe5sMgpLa/

    ~KenDB3

    ---
    * Synchronet * KD3net-Rhode Island's only BBS about nothing. http://bbs.kd3.us
    * Origin: Vertrauen - vert.synchro.net (1:103/705)
  • From Digital Man@1:103/705 to KenDB3 on Mon Dec 5 22:47:14 2016
    Re: Re: How do I turn a regular user into a QWK Networking user
    By: KenDB3 to Digital Man on Mon Dec 05 2016 11:56 pm

    Also, fun side note, I see your Real Fact mentions a VIC-20, I just gave one of those to a buddy of mine who collects vintage stuff. I had a TRS80 too

    We all had to start somewhere. :-)

    digital man

    Synchronet "Real Fact" #11:
    DOVE-Net was originally an exclusive ("elite") WWIVnet network in O.C., Calif. Norco, CA WX: 51.6oF, 91.0% humidity, 0 mph NW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
    --- SBBSecho 3.00-Win32
    * Origin: Vertrauen - vert.synchro.net (1:103/705)