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## 6. Frequently Asked Questions about Linux UUCP

## 6.1 Why is all the info here for UUCPs configured in "Taylor" rather than "HDB" mode?

(religious mode on - I know some people are just as religious about "ease of use" as I am about "being standard". That's why they make source code you can build your own from :-) )

Because IMHO it's the de-facto standard UUCP implementation at this time. There are thousands of sites with experienced admins & there are many places you can get incredibly good information concerning the HDB setup.

Moreover, if you know what HDB is, you shouldn't be reading this HOWTO :-)

Use the `uuconv` utility in /usr/sbin to convert config files from one mode to another.

## 6.2 Why do I get "timeout" on connections when I upgraded to uucp-1.04?

- from Ed Carp - erc at apple.com

  If you use a "Direct" device in the Devices file, there's now a 10 second timeout compiled in. Make the name of the Device anything other than "Direct". If you tweak the example /etc/uucp files provided, you won't have problems with this one.

- from Greg Naber - greg at squally.halcyon.com

  If you get chat script timeouts, you can tweak the sources by editing at line 323 in uuconf/syssub.c & changing the default timeouts from 10 seconds to something larger.

- from Ed Rodda - ed at orca.wimsey.bc.ca

  If you get chat script timeouts, typically connecting to other Taylor sites, a pause after login can fix this.

      feed Any ACU,ag 38400 5551212 ogin: \c\d "" yourname word: passwd

- from Dr. Eberhard W. Lisse - el at lisse.NA

  Some kernels experience modems hanging up after a couple of seconds. The following patch sent by Ian Taylor might help.

  > `

  >     *** conn.c.orig Mon Feb 22 20:25:24 1993
  >     --- conn.c      Mon Feb 22 20:33:10 1993
  >     ***************
  >     *** 204,209 ****
  >     --- 204,212 ----

  >          /* Make sure any signal reporting has been done before we set
  >            fLog_sighup back to TRUE.  */
  >     +   /* SMR: it seems to me if we don't care about SIGHUPS, we should clear
  >     +      the flag before we return  */
  >     +   afSignal[INDEXSIG_SIGHUP] = FALSE;
  >         ulog (LOG_ERROR, (const char *) NULL);
  >         fLog_sighup = TRUE;

  > `

## 6.3 Why doesn't HDB anonymous uucp seem to work?

Taylor in HDB mode seems to be sensitive to white space & blank lines. To be safe, make sure that there are no blank lines or trailing spaces in the Permissions file.

Lastly, make sure that you have a file called `remote.unknown` in /usr/lib/uucp or /etc/uucp & that it's *NOT* executable.

See the O'Reilly & Associates book `"Managing UUCP & USENET"` for details regarding this file.

## 6.4 What does "no matching ports found" mean?

In all probability, you are attempting to use a dialer that doesn't exist, or the dialer you've specified in the port files doesn't match up with any valid devices in the dial file.

## 6.5 What are known good config files for HDB mode?

The following are "known-good" config files for Taylor 1.05 under Linux in HoneyDanBer mode. They work on kernels of 0.99-8 or later. All files should be in /usr/lib/uucp or /etc/uucp unless you've tweaked the sources to put the uucp library elsewhere.

If you *HAVE* put things in non-standard places, be aware that things like sendmail might get very confused. You need to ensure that all communications-related programs agree on your idea of "standard" paths.

    #------------- Devices -------------
    # make sure the device (cua1 here) matches your system
    # cua N = COM N+1
    #
    # here "scout" is the Digicom Scout Plus 19.2 modem I use
    # tbfast etc. is for a Telebit Trailblazer Plus modem's various speeds
    #
    ACU cua1 - 19200 scout
    ACU cua1 - 9600 tbfast
    ACU cua1 - 1200 tbslow
    ACU cua1 - 2400 tbmed

    #------------- dialers --------------
    # note the setting of the Trailblazer registers "on the fly"
    # "scout" is a Digicom Scout Plus (Hayes-like) modem I use here
    #
    scout   =W-,    "" ATM0DT\T CONNECT
    tbfast  =W-,    "" A\pA\pA\pT OK ATS50=255DT\T CONNECT\sFAST
    tbslow  =W-,    "" A\pA\pA\pT OK ATS50=2DT\T CONNECT\s1200
    tbmed   =W-,    "" A\pA\pA\pT OK ATS50=3DT\T CONNECT\s2400

    #-------------- Systems -------------
    # this is a very generic entry that will work for most systems
    #
    # the Any;1 means that you can call once per minute with using -f (force)
    # the ACU,g means force "g" protocol rather than Taylor's default "i"
    #
    fredsys Any;1 ACU,g 19200 scout5555555 "" \r ogin:--ogin: uanon word: uanon

    #-------------------------------- Permissions -------------------------

    # Taylor UUCP in HDB mode appears to be sensitive to blank lines.
    # Make sure all Permissions lines are real or commented out.
    #
    # this is a anonymous uucp entry
    #
    LOGNAME=nuucp MACHINE=OTHER \
    READ=/var/spool/uucp/nuucp \
    WRITE=/var/spool/uucp/nuucp \
    SENDFILES=yes REQUEST=yes \
    COMMANDS=/bin/rmail
    # # this is a normal setup for a remote system that talks to us
    # note the absolute path to rnews since this site puts things
    # in locations that aren't "standard"
    #
    LOGNAME=fredsys MACHINE=fredsys \
    READ=/var/spool/uucp/fredsys:/var/spool/uucp/uucppublic:/files \
    WRITE=/var/spool/uucp/fredsys:/var/spool/uucppublic \
    SENDFILES=yes REQUEST=yes \
    COMMANDS=/bin/rmail:/usr/bin/rnews
    #----------------------------------------------------------------------

## 6.6 Getting uucico to call alternate numbers

The new v1.05 has an added '-z' switch to uucico that will try alternate numbers for a remote system.

You can else use Taylor mode & "systemyouarecalling-2" (see "sys" in config. files section for more details)

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