DecServer 700: Dialin configuration

Please note: This page describes configuration for a DS700-16. Configuration for the -08 model differs, as this supports Full Modem Control. Please see the manual for this.
This configuration is what I use for dialing into my DS700 with an attached modem. The usual Disclaimer applies.

The modem is attached to port 16 here, so I will show the configuration for this port. Please consult the manual or the excellent online help to find out how to set your configuration this way.

Basic port configuration

Local> show port 16

Port 16: PHONE                         Server: SERIAL-01

Character Size:            8           Input Speed:              19200
Flow Control:            CTS           Output Speed:             19200
Parity:                 None           Signal Control:         Enabled
Stop Bits:           Dynamic           Signal Select:  CTS-DSR-RTS-DTR

Access:              Dynamic           Local Switch:              None
Backwards Switch:       None           Name:                 MOD-HAM-1
Break:              Disabled           Session Limit:                2
Forwards Switch:        None           Type:                      Hard
Default Protocol:        LAT           Default Menu:              MAIN
                                       Dialer Script:            PHONE
                                       Preferred Service: None
                                       
Authorized Groups:   0
(Current)  Groups:   0
                                       
Enabled Characteristics: Autoconnect, Broadcast, Dialup, Inactivity Logout,
Input Flow Control, Lock, Loss Notification, Message Codes, Output Flow
Control, Password, Verification

"FYI" only, the port status output:

Local> show port 16 status

Port 16: PHONE                         Server: SERIAL-01

Access:       Dynamic                  Current Service:                   
Status:          Idle                  Current Node:                      
Sessions:           0                  Current Port:                      

Input XOFFed:      No                  Output Signals: DTR RTS
Output XOFFed:     No                  Input Signals:  CTS DSR RXD

After the basic port characteristics are CHANGEd, there are some other things that might have to be tweaked: A dialer script for modem configuration (optional, if your modem works out-of-the-box), and LAT services for the console connections once you have logged in on the terminal server. You might also want to install a custom menu that shall be presented to the user.

Dialer script

Local> show dialer script phone

Dial Script :      PHONE                                                       

Init String:       ATS0=2              
Reset String:      ATS0=2                                                      
Command String:    AT                                                          
Prefix String:     DT                                                          
Connect String:    CONNECT

It is important that the modem answers a dialing phone after a defined number of rings (after the second ring signal in this configuration).

LAT service

To be able to connect to other ports when having dialed in, you have to define LAT services. To prevent the DS700 from announcing these services over the network, you might want to do

CHANGE SERVER ANNOUNCEMENTS DISABLED

Then you have to create a LAT service for each console you want to be able to connect to from the Local> prompt.
In this example the service is named "dawn_cons", and it connects to port 2. You have to use LIST here, now SHOW, as only LIST shows the local devices on this DS system.

Local> list service dawn_cons

Service: DAWN_CONS
Identification: dawn console
Ports:  2
Rating:   0
Enabled Characteristics:
Connections

Please note that I have disabled the QUEUE characteristic for the port, it is enabled by default. You may want to make sure that exactly one port is added to one service.
If you want to remove a service, you can PURGE it.

You can now connect to the serial port by issuing

CONNECT LAT DAWN_CONS

Setting up a menu

As seen in the basic characteristics, you can define a MENU per port.
The important lines look like this:

Local> show menu MAIN

[ ... stuff deleted ... ]
Line 6 Display:
Connect to dawn console

Line 6 Execute:
CONNECT LAT dawn_cons
[ ... stuff deleted ... ]

For general help on defining menus, either read the default MAIN menu (you can just SHOW MENU MAIN), or consult the documentation.

Telnet listener

For debugging purposes, I have also set up a telnet listener on the modem port:

Local> show telnet listener 2016

Listener TCP-port:  2016                     Listener Type:  TELNET 
Identification:     Dialout
Ports:              16
Connections:        Enabled 

Feature: Example dialin session

You can see what dialing in looks like on another page.