kermit configuration file

[Rick Stevens]

On Sat, 2006-04-08 at 09:16 -0700, Bob Kinney wrote:
> 
> --- Rick Stevens <rstevens at vitalstream.com> wrote:
> 
> > On Mon, 2006-03-13 at 07:51 -0800, Bob Kinney wrote:
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > > On Sun, 2006-02-19 at 15:46 -0800, Bob Kinney wrote:
> > > > > I've searched high and low for an answer to this; hopefully somebody
> > here
> > > > can 
> > > > > help.
> > > > > 
> > > > > I'm trying to get kermit to read two commands from a .mykermrc file in
> > my
> > > > home
> > > > > directory:
> > > > > 
> > > > > SET LINE /dev/ttyS0
> > > > > SET CARRIER-WATCH OFF
> > > > > 
> > > > > I also have an identical .kermrc.
> > > > > 
> > > > > For some reason, the SET LINE command does not work.  
> > > > > 
> > > > > [bob at micron ~]$ kermit
> > > > > /var/lock
> > > > > C-Kermit 8.0.209, 17 Mar 2003, for Red Hat Linux 8.0
> > > > >  Copyright (C) 1985, 2003,
> > > > >   Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York.
> > > > > Type ? or HELP for help.
> > > > > (/home/bob/) C-Kermit>show file
> > > > > 
> > > > >  Transfer mode:           automatic
> > > > >  File patterns:           automatic (SHOW PATTERNS for list)
> > > > >  File scan:               on 49152
> > > > >  Default file type:       binary
> > > > >  File names:              converted
> > > > >  Send pathnames:          off
> > > > >  Receive pathnames:       auto
> > > > >  Match dot files:         no
> > > > >  Wildcard-expansion:      kermit
> > > > >  File collision:          backup
> > > > >  File destination:        disk
> > > > >  File incomplete:         auto
> > > > >  File bytesize:           8
> > > > >  File character-set:      ascii
> > > > >  File default 7-bit:      ascii
> > > > >  File default 8-bit:      latin1-iso
> > > > >  File UCS bom:            on
> > > > >  File UCS byte-order:     little-endian
> > > > >  Computer byteorder:      little-endian
> > > > >  File end-of-line:        lf
> > > > >  File eof:                length
> > > > >  File download-directory: (none)
> > > > >  Send move-to:            (none)
> > > > >  Send rename-to:          (none)
> > > > >  Receive move-to:         (none)
> > > > >  Receive rename-to:       (none)
> > > > >  Initialization file:     /home/bob/.kermrc
> > > > >  Root set:                (none)
> > > > >  Disk output buffer:      32768 (writes are buffered, blocking)
> > > > >  Stringspace:             500000
> > > > >  Listsize:                102400
> > > > >  Longest filename:        255
> > > > >  Longest pathname:        4096
> > > > >  Last file sent:          (none)
> > > > >  Last file received:      (none)
> > > > > 
> > > > >  Also see:
> > > > >  SHOW PROTOCOL, SHOW XFER, SHOW PATTERNS, SHOW STREAMING, SHOW
> > > > CHARACTER-SETS
> > > > > (/home/bob/) C-Kermit>show comm
> > > > > 
> > > > > Communications Parameters:
> > > > >  Line: /dev/tty, speed: unknown, mode: remote, modem: generic
> > > > >  Parity: none, duplex: full, flow: none, handshake: none
> > > > >  Carrier-watch: off, close-on-disconnect: off
> > > > >  Lockfile directory: /var/lock
> > > > >  Typical port device name: /dev/ttyS0
> > > > > 
> > > > > Modem signals unavailable
> > > > > 
> > > > > Type SHOW DIAL to see DIAL-related items.
> > > > > Type SHOW MODEM to see modem-related items.
> > > > > 
> > > > > (/home/bob/) C-Kermit>
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > If I rename .kermrc to hide it, the CARRIER-WATCH line changes to the 
> > > > > system default of "auto".
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > Using FC3 on kernel 2.6.12-1.1381_FC3.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Anyone have any advice?
> > > > 
> > > > First, swap the "SET CARRIER-WATCH OFF" and the "SET LINE /dev/ttyS0"
> > > > lines.  You have to turn off carrier watch before swapping to a line
> > > > without carrier.
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > Thanks for the advice Rick.  I tried it, without success.  This seems to
> > > be something that broke between RH9 and FC3 distros.  I had it working on
> > > RH9, but I did FC3 as a fresh install.
> 
> 
> Hmmm...here's a clue:  When invoking kermit as a non-root user, I get this:
> 
> [bob at micron ~]$ kermit
> /var/lock
> C-Kermit 8.0.209, 17 Mar 2003, for Red Hat Linux 8.0
>  Copyright (C) 1985, 2003,
>   Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York.
> Type ? or HELP for help.
> (/home/bob/) C-Kermit>set line /dev/ttyS0
> /var/lock
> Sorry, write access to UUCP lockfile directory denied.
> 
> 
> What's /var/lock look like?
> 
> [bob at micron ~]$ ll -d /var/lock
> drwxrwxr-x  10 root lock 4096 Apr  8 11:01 /var/lock
> [bob at micron ~]$ ll /var/lock
> total 64
> drwx------  2 root root    4096 Aug  9  2004 iptraf
> drwx------  2 root root    4096 Sep 27  2005 lvm
> drwxrwsr-x  2 root mailman 4096 Mar 21  2005 mailman
> drwxr-xr-x  2 root root    4096 Apr  8 11:05 mrtg
> drwxr-xr-x  2 rpm  rpm     4096 Feb 20 03:22 rpm
> drwxr-xr-x  2 root root    4096 Apr  7 20:22 subsys
> drwxr-xr-x  2 uucp uucp    4096 Oct 14  2004 uucp
> drwxrwxrwt  2 root root    4096 Feb 13  2005 xemacs
> [bob at micron ~]$
> 
> What would be the security-conscious way to allow non-root users to access
> the serial port?  Should I add myself to the "lock" group, or give universal
> write access to /var/lock?  A better plan?

Either would work.  The more restrictive thing (the least impact on
security) is to add yourself to the lock group.  I can't recall if
kermit runs as the invoking user or as a user in and of itself.  If it's
the latter, then add the user kermit runs as to the lock group.

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- Rick Stevens, Senior Systems Engineer     rstevens at vitalstream.com -
- VitalStream, Inc.                       http://www.vitalstream.com -
-                                                                    -
-                       When in doubt, mumble.                       -
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