As Sean can attest to, my Irex (binkd) can occasionally just shut down.
No idea why or anything, it just ends (no log entries either). And
there are times when I might not turn on the monitor for the BBS for
days, maybe all week. Then Sean send me an email and slams his
IronFist(tm) to let me know my mailer is down (just joking).

So, I did some surfing and playing around. Found a python script that
checks any IP4 address and port to see if it is open and connectable.
If not, it can send an email. So I set that up and had to do some hacks
to it, since it was written for Python v2 and unix based systems. But I
got it working (on windows). So not I will be notified when it goes
down. Sean can rest the IronFist and save it for the real bad guys. :P

Not bad for a guy that doesn't know shit about python, but should.

Kev


--- Telegard/2/QWK v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Razor's Domain/2 BBS (618:200/1)

To: Kevin Nunn
Re: Port Checking
By: Kevin Nunn to All on Tue Apr 12 2022 02:13 pm

to it, since it was written for Python v2 and unix based systems. But I
got it working (on windows). So not I will be notified when it goes
down. Sean can rest the IronFist and save it for the real bad guys. :P

Not bad for a guy that doesn't know shit about python, but should.

Kev

just have it restart once a day or whatever.
--- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
* bbses.info - http://bbses.info - telnet://bbses.info
* Origin: Time Warp of the Future BBS - Home of League 10 (618:300/12)

Re: Port Checking
By: Jas Hud to Kevin Nunn on Tue Apr 12 2022 04:40 pm

To: Kevin Nunn
Re: Port Checking
By: Kevin Nunn to All on Tue Apr 12 2022 02:13 pm

to it, since it was written for Python v2 and unix based systems. But I got it working (on windows). So not I will be notified when it goes
down. Sean can rest the IronFist and save it for the real bad guys. :P

Not bad for a guy that doesn't know shit about python, but should.

Kev

just have it restart once a day or whatever.

I was going to suggest something similar. It should be easy to run a periodical script in the server itself capable of checking whether the process is running, and if it is not running, throw a warning and relaunch the service.

Actually the way to go is to build a High Availability cluster with two redundant load balancers, but I guess that is out of the budget :-)


--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (618:250/24)

JAS HUD wrote to KEVIN NUNN <=-

just have it restart once a day or whatever.

I did consider that, but with these old systems, if something shuts
down incorrectly for any reason at all. Semaphores and locked files can
get all screwed up. So I try to not shut down things unless a reboot or something is required.

Kev

--- Telegard/2/QWK v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Razor's Domain/2 BBS (618:200/1)

ARELOR wrote to JAS HUD <=-

I was going to suggest something similar. It should be easy to run a periodical script in the server itself capable of checking whether the process is running, and if it is not running, throw a warning and
relaunch the service.

I am sure on linux or even windows, it would be an easy task. But, I am
running OS/2. I might could do it with Rexx, but it's just as easy to
run a python script on another machine that checks if the port is open,
and if not it emails me.

Actually the way to go is to build a High Availability cluster with two redundant load balancers, but I guess that is out of the budget :-)

LOL I'll just put it on a IBM Z-series and never worry about it in that
case.

Kev

--- Telegard/2/QWK v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Razor's Domain/2 BBS (618:200/1)

Kevin Nunn wrote to All <=-

So, I did some surfing and playing around. Found a python script that checks any IP4 address and port to see if it is open and connectable.
If not, it can send an email. So I set that up and had to do some hacks
to it, since it was written for Python v2 and unix based systems. But I got it working (on windows). So not I will be notified when it goes
down. Sean can rest the IronFist and save it for the real bad guys. :P

Not bad for a guy that doesn't know shit about python, but should.

Cool to have done it yourself. I use a service that checks binkd, telnet, shoutcast and web ports every 5 minutes, it's worked pretty well.

uptimerobot.com


... Do you ever see inconsistencies in your world?
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

To: Arelor
Re: Port Checking
By: Arelor to Jas Hud on Wed Apr 13 2022 07:52 am

I was going to suggest something similar. It should be easy to run a periodical script in the server itself capable of checking whether the process is running, and if it is not running, throw a warning and relaunch the service.

Actually the way to go is to build a High Availability cluster with two redundant load balancers, but I guess that is out of the budget :-)

or just have it restart.


i dont like having a sever up for polling msgs.
i used to just run it and poll x times a day.
--- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
* bbses.info - http://bbses.info - telnet://bbses.info
* Origin: Time Warp of the Future BBS - Home of League 10 (618:300/12)

Kurt Weiske wrote to Kevin Nunn <=-

Kevin Nunn wrote to All <=-

So, I did some surfing and playing around. Found a python script that checks any IP4 address and port to see if it is open and connectable.
If not, it can send an email. So I set that up and had to do some hacks
to it, since it was written for Python v2 and unix based systems. But I got it working (on windows). So not I will be notified when it goes
down. Sean can rest the IronFist and save it for the real bad guys. :P

Not bad for a guy that doesn't know shit about python, but should.

Cool to have done it yourself. I use a service that checks binkd,
telnet, shoutcast and web ports every 5 minutes, it's worked
pretty well.

uptimerobot.com

Nice, thanks. Just signed up for the (free) plan.



... If not for the last minute, nothing would get done.
=== MultiMail/Linux v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (618:250/24)

KURT WEISKE wrote to KEVIN NUNN <=-

Cool to have done it yourself. I use a service that checks binkd,
telnet, shoutcast and web ports every 5 minutes, it's worked pretty
well.

uptimerobot.com

Never thought to search for a service that handled it LOL Thanks for
the info, I might switch over to that.

Kev


--- Telegard/2/QWK v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Razor's Domain/2 BBS (618:200/1)

JAS HUD wrote to ARELOR <=-

i dont like having a sever up for polling msgs.
i used to just run it and poll x times a day.

Well I am a hub for micronet, so I need the server up.

Kev

--- Telegard/2/QWK v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Razor's Domain/2 BBS (618:200/1)

To: Kevin Nunn
Re: Re: Port Checking
By: Kevin Nunn to Jas Hud on Wed Apr 13 2022 11:03 am

From Newsgroup: Micronet.MIN_BBS

JAS HUD wrote to KEVIN NUNN <=-

just have it restart once a day or whatever.

I did consider that, but with these old systems, if something shuts
down incorrectly for any reason at all. Semaphores and locked files can
get all screwed up. So I try to not shut down things unless a reboot or something is required.

Kev

well you can kill irex. i cant remember if it makes a lock file.
also, if you are running on old hardware consider runing it on a VM.
--- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
* bbses.info - http://bbses.info - telnet://bbses.info
* Origin: Time Warp of the Future BBS - Home of League 10 (618:300/12)

To: Kevin Nunn
Re: Re: Port Checking
By: Kevin Nunn to Kurt Weiske on Wed Apr 13 2022 03:17 pm

From Newsgroup: Micronet.MIN_BBS

KURT WEISKE wrote to KEVIN NUNN <=-

Cool to have done it yourself. I use a service that checks binkd, telnet, shoutcast and web ports every 5 minutes, it's worked pretty well.

uptimerobot.com

Never thought to search for a service that handled it LOL Thanks for
the info, I might switch over to that.

yeah i use something like that too, but i don't remember the name.
it's still good to just check on things once a day.
--- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
* bbses.info - http://bbses.info - telnet://bbses.info
* Origin: Time Warp of the Future BBS - Home of League 10 (618:300/12)

Hello Kevin,

13 Apr 22 11:06, you wrote to Arelor:

LOL I'll just put it on a IBM Z-series and never worry about it in
that case.

Once I have some income, I am tempted to put the BBS on my Dell PowerEdge R710 server: 16 cores (four Xeon processors), 48GB RAM (all in 2GB DIMMs no less) and up to 10 HD capability. Not to mention four onboard NICs.

Though it's probably eat me out of house and home on the electric bill...

-- Sean

... On a clear disk, you can seek forever!
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

Hello Jas,

13 Apr 22 09:26, you wrote to Arelor:

i dont like having a sever up for polling msgs.

You're also not a mail hub for a mail network.

-- Sean

... "If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it." - Thomas Fuller
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

Hello Jas,

13 Apr 22 18:13, you wrote to Kevin Nunn:

well you can kill irex. i cant remember if it makes a lock file.

Killing IRex like that risks corrupting data files very easily.

also, if you are running on old hardware consider runing it on a VM.

OS/2 doesn't always behave well in a VM since it tends to call rather esoteric CPU instructions while running that a VM may or may not support.

-- Sean

... Insanity is hereditary; you get it from your children.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

just have it restart once a day or whatever.

I was going to suggest something similar. It should be easy to run a period script in the server itself capable of checking whether the process is runn and if it is not running, throw a warning and relaunch the service.

Actually the way to go is to build a High Availability cluster with two redundant load balancers, but I guess that is out of the budget :-)

well if he's a hub he should maybe run it on a more stable setup and then run his bbs on his os2 box.

--- Renegade v1.18a
* Origin: E Physics E bulletinboard.systems E 16BIT! E (618:300/10)

|03Quoting message from |11Sean Dennis |03to |11Jas Hud
|03on |1113 Apr 22 21:06:04|03.

Hello Jas,

13 Apr 22 09:26, you wrote to Arelor:

i dont like having a sever up for polling msgs.

You're also not a mail hub for a mail network.

yeah i didnt know he was a hub. maybe he should just run something in a vm
to handle the hubbing.

--- Renegade v1.18a
* Origin: E Physics E bulletinboard.systems E 16BIT! E (618:300/10)

Kevin Nunn wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-

KURT WEISKE wrote to KEVIN NUNN <=-

Never thought to search for a service that handled it LOL Thanks for
the info, I might switch over to that.

While I'm all about rolling your own services, it's nice to have a service outside of your network, because if your network goes down, mail won't get out.


... UNPRISON YOUR THINK RHINO
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

Sean Dennis wrote to Kevin Nunn <=-

Once I have some income, I am tempted to put the BBS on my Dell
PowerEdge R710 server: 16 cores (four Xeon processors), 48GB RAM (all
in 2GB DIMMs no less) and up to 10 HD capability. Not to mention four onboard NICs.

Though it's probably eat me out of house and home on the electric
bill...

I have two thinkpads - one's running 32-bit Windows 10 bare metal and runs
the BBS. The other is running Proxmox. Combined, they use negligible power
and come with their own UPSes. It makes for a nice little HomeLab.

https://realitycheckbbs.org/images/homelab.jpg

Eventually, I want to move to 2 USFF systems with 32 GB of RAM and have Proxmox set up in a HA cluster. I'll need to wait until I have billable
income and can call it a work expense, though. :)




... Emphasize the flaws
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

JAS HUD wrote to KEVIN NUNN <=-

well you can kill irex. i cant remember if it makes a lock file.

No need, it dies by itself LOL and it does leave a lock file. And the
only way to "kill" it is to manually do it.

also, if you are running on old hardware consider runing it on a VM.

How would that help? My setup actually started out on a VM, then I
purchased hardware to be able to run it on a real machine. So why would
I want to go back to a VM? Doesn't make sense.

Kev


--- Telegard/2/QWK v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Razor's Domain/2 BBS (618:200/1)

SEAN DENNIS wrote to KEVIN NUNN <=-

Though it's probably eat me out of house and home on the electric
bill...

Yea, but you'll save on heating bills :)

Kev

--- Telegard/2/QWK v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Razor's Domain/2 BBS (618:200/1)

KURT WEISKE wrote to KEVIN NUNN <=-

While I'm all about rolling your own services, it's nice to have a
service outside of your network, because if your network goes down,
mail won't get out.

Yea that is a good point. I have both my script and the website thing
going now, so at least I will know now when irex dies and I can get it restarted before the IronFist(tm) shows up :P

Kev

--- Telegard/2/QWK v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Razor's Domain/2 BBS (618:200/1)

Kurt Weiske wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

I have two thinkpads - one's running 32-bit Windows 10 bare metal
and runs the BBS. The other is running Proxmox. Combined, they
use negligible power and come with their own UPSes. It makes for
a nice little HomeLab.

https://realitycheckbbs.org/images/homelab.jpg

FYI... can't reach that URL. Security certificate is the first issue,
and even if I tell the browser to ignore that, it's a 404.



... All the easy problems have been solved.
=== MultiMail/Linux v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (618:250/24)

Re: Port Checking
By: Jas Hud to Arelor on Wed Apr 13 2022 09:26 am

To: Arelor
Re: Port Checking
By: Arelor to Jas Hud on Wed Apr 13 2022 07:52 am

I was going to suggest something similar. It should be easy to run a periodical script in the server itself capable of checking whether the process is running, and if it is not running, throw a warning and relaunc the service.

Actually the way to go is to build a High Availability cluster with two redundant load balancers, but I guess that is out of the budget :-)

or just have it restart.

i dont like having a sever up for polling msgs.
i used to just run it and poll x times a day.

Oh I was not thinking of polling, port scanning or anything of that sort.

It is easy enough to record the Process Id of a service upon start and then run a cronjob in the machine every now and then to check whethersuch process is still in the table of active processes. Common Linux and BSD init systems have some means to track whether a process is active or has crashed.



--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (618:250/24)

How would that help? My setup actually started out on a VM, then I purchased hardware to be able to run it on a real machine. So why would
I want to go back to a VM? Doesn't make sense.

you save power, it's easy to backup and it'll be more stable.

--- Renegade v1.18a
* Origin: E Physics E bulletinboard.systems E 16BIT! E (618:300/10)

Hello Kurt,

14 Apr 22 11:16, you wrote to me:

https://realitycheckbbs.org/images/homelab.jpg

Tried that URL and Chrome complained:

"The webpage at https://realitycheckbbs.org/images/homelab.jpg might be temporarily down or it may have moved permanently to a new web address. ERR_HTTP2_PROTOCOL_ERROR"

I tried using links2 in graphic mode and it complained about your cert.

Eventually, I want to move to 2 USFF systems with 32 GB of RAM and
have Proxmox set up in a HA cluster. I'll need to wait until I have billable income and can call it a work expense, though. :)

Would be nice if I could do that too.

-- Sean

... Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

Hello Kevin,

14 Apr 22 16:26, you wrote to me:

Yea, but you'll save on heating bills :)

True. I could leave the bedroom closet door open and be at a constant 74F all winter long.

-- Sean

... A stitch in time saves nine.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

Gamgee wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-

https://realitycheckbbs.org/images/homelab.jpg

FYI... can't reach that URL. Security certificate is the first issue,
and even if I tell the browser to ignore that, it's a 404.

My reverse proxy was down, try it now?


... It's cyber hurricane season, and everywhere is Florida
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

Hello Kurt,

15 Apr 22 07:16, you wrote to Gamgee:

My reverse proxy was down, try it now?

Nice lab there. Like the soma fm mug too (yep, know who they are).

-- Sean

... If things were left to chance, they'd be better.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

Re: Port Checking
By: Sean Dennis to Kurt Weiske on Fri Apr 15 2022 04:54 pm

Nice lab there. Like the soma fm mug too (yep, know who they are).

One of my first Othernet's sysops programs the "Boot Liquor" stream for them. He (Zardoz) ran a BBS called Burn This Flag in San Jose, CA.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

Hello Kurt,

15 Apr 22 14:42, you wrote to me:

One of my first Othernet's sysops programs the "Boot Liquor" stream
for them. He (Zardoz) ran a BBS called Burn This Flag in San Jose, CA.

Small world, isn't it?

-- Sean

... People will buy anything that's one to a customer.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

Kurt Weiske wrote to Gamgee <=-

https://realitycheckbbs.org/images/homelab.jpg

FYI... can't reach that URL. Security certificate is the first issue,
and even if I tell the browser to ignore that, it's a 404.

My reverse proxy was down, try it now?

Yep, working fine now. Sweet setup you have there, and well disguised. :-)



... Gone crazy, be back later, please leave message.
=== MultiMail/Linux v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Linux
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