* Original Area: C.9.Local
* Original To : Bob Jones (1:343/41)

Hello :)

I was trying to upload a QWK *.rep packet and the BBS disconnected me after the
transfer. Not sure what the problem is; could be archive decompression, tossing, or protocol/connection related.

When you have time could you inspect your log for further details ? I would be interested in what's causing the problem.

I'm currently using Bluewave/386 as my OLR.

I can upload and toss Bluewave *.rep packets fine to my own BBS (Maximus/DOS v3.01) via mTelnet's Zmodem.

But I get the same disconnection problem on COMM Port OS/2 (Bob Juge's BBS) after uploading a QWK *.rep packet. So not sure if it's an OS/2 issue as I don't know of any other DOS Maximus BBS's to call.

Here's the screen output on my end:

Maximus supports any .QWK format reader.
Press "?" for more information.

READER (59 mins):
Tag area Download new msgs Upload replies Protocol default
Archiver default Restrict date Main menu Goodbye (log off)
?help
Select: u

Please begin uploading TOPHAT2.REP now.


Mode: Zmodem
Begin sending now, or hit <Ctrl-X> several times to cancel.


0100000027fed4
The BBS has ended for unknown reasons.
Please wait while an attempt is made to record this bad news...
Thank you.

Connection Closed to tophat.darktech.org/23 @ 1:28 pm

Thanks !

--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Top Hat 2 BBS (1:343/41)

* Original Area: C.9.Local
* Original From: Bob Jones (1:343/41)
* Original To : Mvan Le (1:343/41)

Hello :)

I was trying to upload a QWK *.rep packet and the BBS
disconnected me after the transfer. Not sure what the
problem is; could be archive decompression, tossing, or protocol/connection related.

When you have time could you inspect your log for
further details ? I would be interested in what's causing the problem.

I'm currently using Bluewave/386 as my OLR.

I can upload and toss Bluewave *.rep packets fine to my
own BBS (Maximus/DOS v3.01) via mTelnet's Zmodem.

But I get the same disconnection problem on COMM Port
OS/2 (Bob Juge's BBS) after uploading a QWK *.rep
packet. So not sure if it's an OS/2 issue as I don't
know of any other DOS Maximus BBS's to call.

Here's the screen output on my end:

Maximus supports any .QWK format reader.
Press "?" for more information.

READER (59 mins):
Tag area Download new msgs Upload replies
Protocol default
Archiver default Restrict date Main menu
Goodbye (log off)
?help
Select: u

Please begin uploading TOPHAT2.REP now.

Mode: Zmodem
Begin sending now, or hit <Ctrl-X> several times to cancel.

0100000027fed4
The BBS has ended for unknown reasons.
Please wait while an attempt is made to record this bad news...
Thank you.

Connection Closed to tophat.darktech.org/23 @ 1:28 pm

Thanks !

Interesting.....

Based on what I am seeing, I am guessing that the upload completes, and then something "breaks" trying to unpack the uploaded .rep packet. My guess is the archive method you are using is too new for what I run on the BBS.... What are
you using to compress the file? What version of the program? What flags are you using?

It probably works on your BBS setup because you have matching compression and decompression routines.....

Just a guess.....

Bob Jones, Sysop, Top Hat BBS


--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Top Hat 2 BBS (1:343/41)

* Original Area: C.9.Local
* Original To : Bob Jones (1:343/41)

Thank you.

Connection Closed to tophat.darktech.org/23 @ 1:28 pm

Thanks !

Interesting.....

Based on what I am seeing, I am guessing that the
upload completes, and then something "breaks" trying to
unpack the uploaded .rep packet. My guess is the
archive method you are using is too new for what I run
on the BBS.... What are you using to compress the
file? What version of the program? What flags are you
using?

It probably works on your BBS setup because you have
matching compression and decompression routines.....

I was going to scrutinise your Compress.Cfg for clues but I don't think it's compression related because it appears that any upload / file transfer whatsoever from me to your BBS is breaking.

I've attempted some test uploads: "lanius.zip" and "bitsbaud.mec" which both failed. I think lanius.zip was created with WinZip 8.0, and bitsbaud.mec is just a flat MECCA file -- the aim was to test if your upload process would yield different results between compressed and uncompressed file uploads (which
it didn't).

Are you currently able to upload files via that Zmodem protocol to your own BBS
? and is it the Maximus internal Zmodem ? -- the Maximus internal Zmodem is what I use for my BBS and uploads with mTelnet work fine.

I'm using pkzip to upload *.REP packets to Vertrauen (Rob Swindell's BBS ( telnet://vert.synchro.net)) successfully. He's runnin his stuff on W2k+3 ...

So I don't know what the problem is. I can only suspect it's OS/2. I seem to be
having lots of probs with uploading stuff to OS/2, albeit thus far observed only from Bob Juge's and your BBS.

Anyway, I've provided below some details with what I've attempted to do for each of your available compression options.

I'm using PkPak from 1988 and PkZip (1993) so I don't think they're too "new" for your ARC 5.xx and Info-zip.

+-----------------+
| Your ARC Option |
+-----------------+

CMD: "C:\tmp\pkpak -a tophat2.rep *.msg"
Version: PKPAK FAST! Archive Create/Update Utility Version 3.61
08-02-88 Copyright (c) 1986-1988 PKWARE Inc. All Rights Reserved.
PKPAK/h for help


+----------------------+
| Your Info-zip Option |
+----------------------+

CMD: "C:\tmp\pkzip tophat2.rep *.msg"
Version: PKZIP (R) FAST! Create/Update Utility Version 2.04g 02-01-93
Copr. 1989-1993 PKWARE Inc. All Rights Reserved. Shareware Version
PKZIP Reg. U.S. Pat. and Tm. Off. Patent No. 5,051,745


+-----------------+
| Your LHA Option |
+-----------------+

CMD: "C:\tmp\lha a tophat2.rep *.msg"
Version: LHA version 2.13
Copyright (c) Haruyasu Yoshizaki, 1988-91
=== <<< A High-Performance File-Compression Program >>> ======== 07/20/91 ===


If you've got time perhaps you can try uploading files to yourself using mTelnet or other client with Zmodem.

Apart from that, I think we've reached the end of the line with this.


--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Top Hat 2 BBS (1:343/41)

* Original Area: C.9.Local
* Original From: Bob Jones (1:343/41)
* Original To : Mvan Le (1:343/41)

...

It probably works on your BBS setup because you have
matching compression and decompression routines.....

I was going to scrutinise your Compress.Cfg for clues
but I don't think it's compression related because it
appears that any upload / file transfer whatsoever from
me to your BBS is breaking.

Based on your additional comments, that is probably where the problem is. I was also thinking modem not telnet session. How are you opening the telnet session? Are you using 8 bit clear protocol? If you are using a 7bit protocol
or one that escapes certain character sequences, the upload will fail on those escape sequences. I believe the VMODEM support under Ray Gwin's SIO that we use on OS/2 boxes requires an 8 bit clean telnet session. A lot of telnet sessions will assume 7 bit and/or an escaped character set by default.

I've attempted some test uploads: "lanius.zip" and
"bitsbaud.mec" which both failed. I think lanius.zip
was created with WinZip 8.0, and bitsbaud.mec is just a
flat MECCA file -- the aim was to test if your upload
process would yield different results between
compressed and uncompressed file uploads (which it
didn't).

Ok, this is probably a telnet connection issue....

Are you currently able to upload files via that Zmodem
protocol to your own BBS ? and is it the Maximus
internal Zmodem ? -- the Maximus internal Zmodem is
what I use for my BBS and uploads with mTelnet work
fine.

The BBS is using the built in internal transfer protocols. The only one I've played with in the past that was an external protocol was for kermit support. If I had kermit support running, that would probably get around the problem being experienced.

I'm using pkzip to upload *.REP packets to Vertrauen
(Rob Swindell's BBS ( telnet://vert.synchro.net))
successfully. He's runnin his stuff on W2k+3 ...

So I don't know what the problem is. I can only suspect
it's OS/2. I seem to be having lots of probs with
uploading stuff to OS/2, albeit thus far observed only
from Bob Juge's and your BBS.

Anyway, I've provided below some details with what I've
attempted to do for each of your available compression options.

Thanks.....

I'm using PkPak from 1988 and PkZip (1993) so I don't
think they're too "new" for your ARC 5.xx and Info-zip.

The PkPak from 1988 may be too new for ARC..... Just check, my arce program produces a 1987 copyright date. The PkZip should be ok for the Info-Zip. [The
ARC implementation is the one "stardard" for fidonet, which dates back to about
1984 or 1985 as I recall.]

+-----------------+
| Your ARC Option |
+-----------------+

CMD: "C:\tmp\pkpak -a tophat2.rep *.msg"
Version: PKPAK FAST! Archive Create/Update
Utility Version 3.61
08-02-88 Copyright (c) 1986-1988 PKWARE Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
PKPAK/h for help

This looks like what you are running on your end to compress the message prior to uploading.

+----------------------+
| Your Info-zip Option |
+----------------------+

CMD: "C:\tmp\pkzip tophat2.rep *.msg"
Version: PKZIP (R) FAST! Create/Update Utility
Version 2.04g 02-01-93
Copr. 1989-1993 PKWARE Inc. All Rights
Reserved. Shareware Version
PKZIP Reg. U.S. Pat. and Tm. Off. Patent No. 5,051,745

Ditto. I know I'm using InfoZip on this end.

+-----------------+
| Your LHA Option |
+-----------------+

CMD: "C:\tmp\lha a tophat2.rep *.msg"
Version: LHA version 2.13
Copyright (c) Haruyasu Yoshizaki, 1988-91
=== <<< A High-Performance File-Compression Program >>>
======== 07/20/91 ===

That should be compatible with my newer LHArch support (the version 2.x support, not the version 1.x support).

If you've got time perhaps you can try uploading files to yourself using mTelnet or other client with Zmodem.

Ah... telnet. I belive I've tested in the past with Binkley from the OS/2 box
to the OS/2 box. Which means I'm using the TCP/IP channel as OS/2 expects it.
Try an 8 bit clear telnet session....

Apart from that, I think we've reached the end of the line with this.

Thanks for the info.

Bob Jones, Sysop, Top Hat BBS


--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Top Hat 2 BBS (1:343/41)

* Original Area: C.9.Local
* Original To : Bob Jones (1:343/41)

Based on your additional comments, that is probably where the problem is.
I was also thinking modem not telnet session. How are
you opening the telnet session? Are you using 8 bit
clear protocol? If you are using a 7bit protocol or
one that escapes certain character sequences, the
upload will fail on those escape sequences. I believe
the VMODEM support under Ray Gwin's SIO that we use on
OS/2 boxes requires an 8 bit clean telnet session. A
lot of telnet sessions will assume 7 bit and/or an
escaped character set by default.

I think my telnet client (mTelnet) is 8n1 by default. I don't think there're any serious BBS' these days that do 7 bit.

I've successfully uploaded REP packets to Dog House BBS (doghousebbs.com) using
the same telnet client via Maximus' internal Zmodem. He's using Maximus v3.01 on W2k with NetFoss 0.9.1.

So my guess is the problem is with Vmodem/SIO or an OS/2 compatibility issue. I
haven't tested a different telnet client on this BBS. If I get around to it, I'll try ZOC of SyncTerm and see if they make a difference.

--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Top Hat 2 BBS (1:343/41)