TBBS 2.2 - Connecting TBBS 2.2 to an X.25 Packet Switch Network

Contact:   eSoft, Inc. (Makers of TBBS)
           15200 E. Girard Ave., Suite 3000
           Aurora, CO  80014
           (303) 699-6565      Voice
           (303) 699-6872      Fax
           (303) 699-8222      BBS
           support@esoft.com   E-Mail

CONNECTING TBBS 2.2 TO AN X.25 PACKET SWITCH NETWORK
----------------------------------------------------

NOTE:  This document assumes knowledge of both TBBS and the X.25 network 
you're connecting to. It does not attempt to explain any technical terms or 
the minutia of configuration or debugging. 

TBBS Version 2.2 supports only external PADs (Packet Assembler/Disassembler). 
A PAD is required to connect TBBS to an X.25 network. eSoft, Inc. does not 
recommend any particular brand of PAD at this time. As of this printing, we 
have not yet come in contact with a PAD that could not be configured to work 
with TBBS in some fashion, so the brand selection decision should be based on 
other factors (such as cost and capacity). 

Depending on the situation, your X.25 network service provider may furnish or 
lease you a PAD for your use. A copy of the information herein should be given 
to your service provider so they may properly configure your network 
connection. 

When selecting or configuring a PAD, it must support and be set for the 
following: 

Host Echo
8-Bit Transparent Data
Data Forwarding Timeout of 250ms

These settings cannot be modified without affecting the operation of the 
system! 

The PAD must be able to properly support the carrier detect (CD) line and the 
data terminal ready (DTR) line of the serial port. CD must reflect the state 
of the connection: logical high when a call is present, logical low when the 
line is vacant. When TBBS lowers the DTR line from its normally high state, 
the PAD must respond by disconnecting the caller. 

Some PAD products reflect the connect status with the data set ready (DSR) 
line, and have CD forced high. TBBS cannot operate with CD forced high. If 
your PAD uses DSR to reflect call status, then a simple adapter, cable or DB-
25 "breakout box" can be configured to connect the PAD's DSR line (pin 6) to 
TBBS' CD line (pin 8). 

To connect a line to the PAD, simply attach a DigiBoard DB-25 cable directly 
to the PAD. To configure the line, run TBBS' CEDIT program. Select Com Ports 
from the menu bar, then Port Definitions from the pull-down menu. If this is a 
new line, press Ins to insert a new line, or select the existing line to 
configure. To select the modem type, enter the letter "A" here, and press 
Enter. You may use one of the two "Autobaud" settings for an auto-baud PAD, or 
one of the "Fixed" settings (select the desired fixed speed) for a fixed speed 
PAD. If your PAD supports RTS/CTS, make sure that the RTS/CTS Flow Control 
setting is set to "Y" for YES. 

If you used one of the two Autobaud settings, then the user will need to press 
their Enter, Return or Send key up to three times to "awaken" TBBS after 
they've connected. (The network may be able to be setup to do this 
automatically.) 

Most problems in X.25 situations come from improper PAD setup. Make sure that 
the instructions on this data sheet are followed explicitly, and that the PAD 
profile (X.3 settings) are configured as shown. 

eSoft, Inc. has not setup systems on X.25 networks. Therefore, please 
understand that our ability to provide support for these environments is 
necessarily limited. 

- END -
TBBS0058
Rev. 1/92

Copyright (C) 1994 eSoft, Inc., All Rights Reserved.  Permission granted
to distribute this file in its entirety, without modification, to any
interested party.  Any other use requires the written permission of
eSoft, Inc.

IMPORTANT:  The information herein is subject to change without notice.
Please call or write to confirm factual information of importance to you
or your organization.

