Connecting to other computers with UUCP

Setting up a simple UUCP connection

This section describes how to establish a modem-based UUCP connection to another computer. The connection described is a simple one-to-one connection between two systems using Hayes-compatible modems, or any modem specifically supported by a dialer binary (for example, Telebit, Multitech, or US Robotics). Both sites are able to dial into each other. It is assumed that the modem on each site is connected to /dev/tty1A. (If your modem is attached to a different serial port, you will need to change this.) Finally, it is assumed that the modems are connected by a hardware-handshaking cables. For more detailed information and for other UUCP configurations, see ``Configuring UUCP''.

To set up the standard UUCP system, you need:

: at least one RS-232 serial line (or serial port) on your computer to use for UUCP.
: the UUCP Utilities and Mail Utilities. If not installed, use the Software Manager or custom(ADM).
: a modem, configured as described in the ``Adding modems''.
: a standard telephone jack for access to the telephone system.
: a cable to connect the serial port to the modem.

To set up the connection, edit the /usr/lib/uucp/Systems and /usr/lib/uucp/Devices files. You can use the UUCP Manager/uuinstall utility to help you do this.

The Systems file in /usr/lib/uucp contains a list of the systems that UUCP knows about, and specifies the device and method used to contact each system. The Devices file identifies the usable devices, speed to use, and the serial ports that the devices are connected to.

To configure UUCP on a computer called topaz:

Make a note of the:

modem speed to use in making the connection.

name of your computer (called topaz in this example).

name of the other UUCP host (called emerald in this example).

serial line connected to the modem (/dev/tty1A in this example).

login and password to use when connecting to the remote machine (if you do not know these, the remote system's administrator should be able to tell you).

Log in as root and run the UUCP Manager located in the Networks directory of the SCOadmin hierarchy, or use the uuinstall(ADM) command line. You see this menu:

                    UUCP Administration Utility
                    ===========================
   
   1. Display or update site name
   2. Display or update list of remote sites       (Systems)
   3. Display or update direct- or dial-out lines  (Devices)
   4. Display or update direct- or dial-in lines   (/etc/inittab)
   5. Check consistency of UUCP files
   6. Test connection with remote site
   7. Convert old UUCP files to new format
   

   Choose an option (1-7), or q to quit :

Select Display or update site name. You will be given options to display or update the local site name. Ensure that the site name for your system is correct.

Return to the main menu (by pressing <q>) and select Display or update list of remote sites, which edits the /usr/lib/uucp/Systems file. You see a menu like this:

        Display or update list of remote sites (Systems)
        ================================================
   
        1. Display the Systems file
        2. Add a new site entry
        3. Delete a site entry
        4. Change a site entry
   

   Choose an option (1-4), or q to quit :

Select Add a new site entry. uuinstall prompts you to enter information about the new site a line at a time:

   Site name	: emerald
   Schedule	: Any
   Device type	: ACU
   Speed range	: 2400
   Phone number	: 0123456789
   Expect login	: ogin:-@-ogin:-@-ogin:
   Send login	: topaz
   Expect login	: ssword:
   Send login	: bbsuucp

These fields are described in detail in ``Adding entries for remote sites to the Systems file''.

Review your site entry, then type <q> to go back to the main menu. Now select Display or update direct- or dial-out lines.
You should see a menu like this:
```
   Display or update direct- or dial-out lines (Devices)
   =====================================================
   
   1. Display the Devices file
   2. Add a new device entry
   3. Delete a device entry
   4. Change a device entry
   

   Choose an option (1-4), or q to quit :
```
Having defined a site to contact, it is necessary to configure the device used to contact the site. In the Systems file (step 4) you specified that the device ACU should be used. So it is necessary to add (or change) the device entry for ACU:
```
   Device type	? ACU
   Tty line	? tty1A
   Dialer line	? -
   Speed range	? 2400  
   Dialer		? hayes2400
   Switch token	?
   New entry is accepted :
```
These fields are described in detail in ``Specifying dial-up parameters with the Devices file''. (If you are not using a Hayes compatible modem, you may need to change the ``Dialer'' field, and optionally the ``Speed range'' field.) Use the dialer same dialer name that you used when you configured your modem. The dialers provided are described in -1.
After adding or updating the ACU device, you should return to the main menu.
If you do not want to permit emerald to log in on your system, skip this step. Select Display or update direct- or dial-in lines to update /etc/inittab to permit UUCP to receive logins on the appropriate device (/dev/tty1A). You should see a menu like this:
```
   Display or update direct- or dial-in lines (/etc/inittab)
   =========================================================
   
   1.	Display inittab file
   2.	Enable login on a line
   3.	Disable login on a line
```
Select Enable login on a line to enable login on a line, and enter the name of the line. (Display the inittab file for a list of acceptable lines.) Note that if the kernel is subsequently relinked, it is necessary to reenable any lines allocated for UUCP logins.
Quit from uuinstall. Edit /usr/lib/uucp/Permissions to specify the kind of access that your system (topaz) has to the other host (emerald) when dialing out, and the access emerald has to your system when dialing in. Add the following text:

LOGNAME=emerald \
MACHINE=emerald \
COMMANDS=rmail:rnews \
READ=/usr/spool/uucppublic \
WRITE=/usr/spool/uucppublic \
SENDFILES=call \
REQUEST=yes \

These fields are described in ``Limiting access with the Permissions file''.
If you are permitting incoming calls, assign a login name and password for the machine calling you. For example, if emerald calls you, you should create an account for it. See ``Creating login accounts for sites dialing in'' for details. You must tell the administrator of the other machine what the password is, so that they can configure their Systems file login script for your host (topaz).
To permit incoming calls, return to uuinstall and select Display or update direct- or dial-in lines. This lets you display, enable, or disable the devices on your system. You must enable the device used by ACU before UUCP can receive incoming calls.
Run uuinstall and select Check consistency of UUCP files. This will tell you if there are any incorrect permissions or detectable inconsistencies in your UUCP configuration.
To test the UUCP connection from topaz to emerald, select Test connection with remote site. uuinstall prompts you for the name of the site to contact, then runs a UUCP test session. See ``Testing the UUCP connection'' for more details of testing a connection.