8. Configuring an AX.25 interface for NetRom.

To configure NetRom on an AX.25 interface you must configure two files.

8.1 Configuring /etc/ax25/nrports

The first is the /etc/ax25/nrports file. This file describes the NetRom port in much the same way as the /etc/ax25/axports file describes the AX.25 ports.

This file is formatted as follows:

name callsign  alias  paclen   description

Where:

name

is the text name that you wish to refer to the port by.

callsign

is the callsign that the NetRom traffic from this port will use.

alias

is the NetRom alias this port will have assigned to it.

paclen

is the maximum size of NetRom frames transmitted by this port.

description

is a free text description of the port.

An example would look something like the following:

netrom  VK2KTJ-9        LINUX   235     Linux Switch Port

Note that the ports are referred to by name by programs such as call.

8.2 Configuring /etc/ax25/nrbroadcast

The second file is the /etc/ax25/nrbroadcast file.

This file is formatted as follows:

axport min_obs def_qual worst_qual verbose

Where:

axport

is the port name obtained from the /etc/ax25/axports file. If you do not have an entry in /etc/ax25/nrbroadcasts for a port then this means that no NetRom routing will occur and any received NetRom broadcasts will be ignored for that port.

min_obs

is the minimum obselesence value for the port.

def_qual

is the default quality for the port.

worst_qual

is the worst quality value for the port, any routes under this quality will be ignored.

verbose

is a flag determining whether full NetRom routing broadcasts will occur from this port or only a routing broadcast advertising the node itself.

An example would look something like the following:

radio    1       200      10         1

8.3 Creating the NetRom device

When you have the two configuration files completed you must create the NetRom device in much the same way as you did for the AX.25 devices. This time you use the nrattach command:

# nrattach netrom

This command would start the NetRom device (nr0) named netrom configured with the details specified in the /etc/ax25/nrports file.

8.4 Starting the NetRom daemon

The NetRom daemon manages the NetRom routing tables and generates the NetRom routing broadcasts. You start NetRom with the command:

# /usr/sbin/netromd

You should soon see the /proc/net/nr_neigh file filling up with information about your NetRom neighbours.

Remember to put the /usr/sbin/netromd command in your rc files so that it is started automatically each time you reboot.