						    Pisa, April 28, 1998

I modified the original README file by PE1RJA, adding some features, in
according with the HAM Spirit and the Linux GNU purposes.
First all, I thanks PE1RJA and OH2BNS for their very great job!

AWZnode is based upon LinuxNode by Tomi Manninen OH2BNS 
and FlexNode by Roy PE1RJA. It was born initially for the aripisa.ampr.org
system by Stefano Noferi IZ5AWZ of ARI Ham Radio Association of Pisa (ITALY).
Users in AWZNode can connect all ham packet world:
all AX25, NETROM, ROSE, FLEXNET, TCP/IP nodes in the world are now near.
I have a packet dream: all the packet networks can interchange connections.
My version of node software for Linux is an attempt to realize this idea
and I hope it can help the ham radio digital world to come back one.
I thanks ARI association of Pisa and Alex Del Chicca IK5PWJ,
for their trust and supports.

AWZNode is now running on:
 iz5awz.ampr.org - my system hi :)
 aripisa.ampr.org - the ARI Pisa IR5PIS system 
             (the same hardware of IW5DLH-8 BBS)
 ik5pwj.ampr.org - the IK5PWJ-5:DXCLX system
and within few days:
  ik5qgo.ampr.org - the IK5PWJ-6 DXCluster Internet Router
  your system ? I hope yes! ;)

If you decide to use AWZNode, send me a mail: I add you to this list.
     
Routing features include: (in order preferance)
- netrom routing
- fixed routes
	Create and/or modify /etc/ax25/node.routes, the format of this file
        is in the example file etc/node.route.ex.
	Now fixed link nodes in this file have an alias and 3 connection 
	modes, can be queried using the Links command and can be 
	connected directly using: Connect <call>|<alias> (ie. without 
	specifying the downlink port)
- flexnet destination lists
	A separate daemon (flexd) queries a neighbouring flexnet node for its
        reachable destinations, these destinations are stored on the local
        disk and can be queried using the Dest command and can be connected
        directly using: Connect <destination>
	Config file: /etc/ax25/flexd.conf:
	MyCall <call>            # the callsign used during the connection
	PollInterval <interval>  # how often the destinations are downloaded
	FlexGate <call>          # the neighbouring flexnet node
	The pollinterval is specified in seconds and the callsign after
        flexgate must be defined in /etc/ax25/node.routes !!
- mheard based routing
        When users are using your node the mheard tables are filled with
        callsigns, callsigns heard on ports can be connected directly with
        the Connect <call> command, without specifying the downlink port.

Other features:
- local users of the linux machine can be granted access to the mailreader
  and optionally to the shell. Config file: /etc/ax25/node.users
  <call>:<password>:<username>:[mail][,shell]
  call : the callsign of the user that is allowed to access special features
  password : a string pasword for MD2 standard authentication
  username : the (real)-username on the linux side
  options : mail  - the user has permission to access his or her mailbox
            shell - the user has permission to access the shell
  The password check is used when the user want to access the shell with
  "sys" command, the node prints out a Prompt, 5 numbers and a 10-digits 
  number for MD2.
  Users with the mail option enabled will receive messages like "New mail
  has arrived", mostly when the stated condition is met ;-)
- all users can send messages to a callsign associated in the kernel table
  with a linux username ("send" command).
- now the sysop can modified the node prompt and password prompt 
- "!" command show system statistics
- old "SEssions" command is now "MSessions"
- now "MHeard" command can be used without port specification
- changed the output of several query programs (like ports/routes etc.) also
  included more netrom specific output in these commands
- included a lastlog, which shows the time, date and port of your previous
  session, if this is your first connect, you are requested to read the
  info text

Excuse my orrible english |)
  
The official FTP Site of AWZNode is:
ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/ham/packet/linux/awznode/

Please check out the file COMPILATION when you decide to compile this
hack. If you have questions/suggestions/requests or whatsoever, please
feel free to send me a mail at iz5awz@radio-gw.cnuce.cnr.it
or via packet bbs at iz5awz@iw5dlh.pi.itos.ita.eu

