Putting an Apple IIgs BBS on the Internet(I break things so you don’t have to)

Andrew RoughanMelbourne, Australia

OzKFest 2015

Why?At the last OzKFest I demonstrated Sean Craig’s

The Complex BBS host system and explained all the fun some of us had been having online in the late 80s and early 90s.

There was some interest in the audience for trying it out, but nobody really wants to use a modem any more.

An internet connected host avoids the modem.

How?There were two ways forward that I saw:1) Re-write the game to have an ethernet driver2) Connect the serial port to ethernet

How 2?

There are a few methods of connecting a serial host to the internet.

1)Using a Serial Port server device to bridge serial to ethernet.2)Port redirection on a computer that also has ethernet.

Serial Port Server

Allows serial devices to connect and communicate over Ethernet networks using the IP protocol familyCould be used to tunnel serial signalsMay support several serial port types:RS-232, RS-422/485One or more serial portsAn Internet user can connect to the serial port using Telnet to a dedicated IP address and port number.

Serial Port Server options

I found reference in Comp.Sys.Apple2 for a couple of options that others had tried.

•Moxa Technologies NPort Server•Lantronix UDS 10/100/xxxx device server

•Ominously, both had cries for help with the cabling and don’t seem to be used for Apple II BBS systems any more.

Lantronix UDS100

I bought a UDS100 device which has one serial port.Needs a modem cable (not null-modem)

ProHas a disconnect option that recognises a closed Telnet session and drops DCD so host can reset itself.Issues modem responses (OK, CONNET 9600, NO CARRIER)

ConsMust be configured through a connection to the device (serial, telnet, web server)Has configuration options that are set in binary.

Moxa NPort Server

I bought a DE-302 device that supports two serial ports.Needs a null modem cable

ProLCD screen and buttons on the device allow direct configuration of the unit.

ConThe manual devotes many pages to the Windows configuration program and not enough to the actual configuration settings.A closed telnet session may not trigger host reset.*No Modem-like responses.*

*I will be happy to be proven wrong. Please help!

BBS Host setup

The Complex host system was written in a way that relies on modem responses. The Lantronix UDS100 is well suited for this.

Cable connections (mini-din 8 to db25) are:1 Hsko – 5 CTS 4 GND – 7 GND 7 GPi – 8 DCD2 Hski – 4 RTS 5 Rx – 2 Tx 8 Rx+ – no3 Tx – 3 Rx 6 Tx+ – 7 GND connection

BBS Host setup – UDS 100

Channel Settings:Baudrate - 9600

I/F Mode - 4C (RS-232C, 8-bit, no parity, 1 stop bit)

Flow - 02 (RTS/CTS)

Port Number - 6502

Connect Mode - D6 (full verbose with echo)

Remote IP Address - Leave as 0's

Remote Port - Leave as 0

DisConnMode - 80

FlushMode - F7

DisConnTime - 00:00 (disabled) – or perhaps 5:00

SendChar 1 - 0

SendChar 2 - 0

BBS Host setup – Modem Router 1

Add service

BBS Host setup – Modem Router 2

Add Firewall route / NAT

Server needs a Client

The host supports a graphic display.How to connect to the host to display the graphics?

Spectrum communications software•Serial and Telnet connections•Online Displays: ANSI, ProTerm Special Emulation (PTSE), VT100, The Complex

Dedicated Client software for IIgs, Mac, PC

Is there an Emulator that supports a modem?Can it connect over TCP/IP?

GSport modem emulation 1

When client software sends ATDT to the modem port, GSport tries to establish a network connection to a domain or an IP address e.g.ATDTcrazyworldbbs.no-ip.orgATDT75.145.20.97

By default this is a Telnet connection to port 23

GSport versions 0.32c and above now support the provision of a port number to connect to e.g.ATDTboycot.no-ip.com,9999ATDT192.168.1.21,6502

GSport modem emulation 2

GSport configuration (F4 key)

Serial port configuration

Configuration for the modem port

GSport modem emulation 3

When a connection is established GSport sends a connect message to the host to advise what connection speed has been established e.g. ‘CONNECT 9600’Currently, the 9600 is hardcoded and could mislead clients and hosts if the rate is set differently. A feature request has been created to have the speed reflect the client port setting.

GSport Client Software

Start with the GSport Internet Starter Kit imageInstall SpectrumInstall The Complex Online Display driverSpectrum/Add.Ons/OnlineDisplays

Start Spectrum andsetup a new phone bookentry that uses“The Complex” display

Beware: Spectrum dislikesdomain names within the number.Ewen is already on the case!

Does it work?Demo time

Other ResourcesNO-IP.COM points a hostname to your dynamic IP address

HOWTO Lantronix & C64 extensive configuration walkthrough

HOWTO KEGS & TCPSER4J run telecom programs and BBS's within KEGS emulator

BoycoT BBS Setup Serial port to ethernet gateway for Windows

Internet Modem Telnet to modem emulator for Windows(Visual Basic source code is available)

HOWTO METAL BBS with Moxa including cable pinouts

Surf the web at 300 baud Using an acoustic coupler from 1964

Mac plus web browsing via Rasberry Pi proxy(who wants to do this for the Apple IIgs?)

IIgs BBS on the Internet

Thank you!Terry Olsen –for inspiration (BoycoT BBS SYSOP)

Nick Westgate – GSport connection to a port other than 23

Ewen Wannop – Spectrum Online Display help

Peter Neubauer – GSport GSBug help

Geoff Body – GSport TWGS help to support Pixie CDA

Kali Lawrie – for allowing me to play for so long

Questions?