[NTLUG:Discuss] dial-out modem server

[Mark Bickel]

>From eusmb Wed Oct 17 13:41:27 2001
To: discuss at ntlug.org
Subject: dial-out modem server

I want to share a pool of six modems to about two dozen users for dial-out only.
The users will connect to remote systems with a variety of line characteristics:
9600,8,1,N; 4800,7,1,E; etc.
I've looked at RFC 2217 which describes what I want to do pretty well.

My idea was having a single IP and DNS to telnet/ssh into. The user would get
a login into a locked down shell running a menu allowing the user to enter
the destination modem telephone number, set line characterisics, possibly toggle
between terminal emulation, and disconnect.

This could allow users to access using the the crappy yet ubiquitous Hyperterminal.

Alternately, some kind of RFC 2217 compliant "virtual modem driver" that installs
in Windoze as COM3 or whatever could be useful for using existing comms programs
that expect a physical COM port to be specified.

Additional criteria: very low cost or free, Open Source a must for the server side
of the solution. Planning to run on old 486 or Pentium w/ 2 serial ports onboard
plus a 4 or 8 port multi serial card from cyclades, digi or equinox (suggestions?).

Does anyone on the list have any firsthand experience with implementing something
like this? Yes, I've already searched freshmeat and sourceforge, but would like to
hear from anyone who has already played with this.


TIA,
Mark.Bickel at ericsson.com