Manual/tutorial wanted ;)

[DmitriiCM]

Hi and thanks for the interesting project.

I have this hardware setup:

• Minitel 1
• ESP32 running the Socketel project and connected to the local WiFi
• PyMoIP server on another machine

What is the minimum config I need, to run a local server and connect a Minitel to it?

I run a python3 -m Server command on my Ubuntu machine, I also specified a ws://10.14.24.110:8765 server in the Socketel config, I see the connection, but I got this error:

AttributeError: module 'Server.arbo_teletel.arbo_defaultvar' has no attribute 'RetourLink'
2022-10-15 13:36:38,995 [ERROR] connection handler failed

As a second attempt, I tried running python3 -m Gateway --tcp 9000 --ws 9001 --logpath . on the same machine, and specified the ws://10.14.24.110:9001 port in Socketel, I see only ValueError(f"invalid subprotocol: {subprotocol}") in the log.

What am I doing wrong?
Thanks.

[64rulez]

Hi, very happy of your interest about this project and wanted to get in touch with you since I've seen your post on "medium.com".

I will try to help you at best.

First of all, very minimal setup is :

• A linux (RPi ?) server running an instance of "PyMoIP Server"
• Any "appliance" capable of physically reaching your "PyMoIP Server" using WebSockets, displaying text, and sending keystrokes

(NB1 : Socketel is a very nice "toy", providing great enhancements and comfort over "regular" use, but it's not mandatory at all. I'm very pleased to see that you've got one)
(NB2 : If you really wants to use a physical Minitel, you may also use an USB/RS232 adapter and a TTL/RS232 level adapter and "PyMoIP User" .... but as you've got a Socketel, let's go with it !)

You may also run, from your Linux server, a "PyMoIP Gateway" that will allow you to connect to your "PyMoIP Server" from either WS or Telnet. First testing in telnet mode (Putty or MobaXterm) might help. It's also handling connection redirections if needed.

From your first attempt, the file "arbo_defaultvar.py", under folder "arbo_teletel", is incorrect and does not contains any default value for key "Retour" (Back). All settable values in "PyMoIP Server" need to have a default setting. May be the file is empty or you're pointing to the wrong file.

From your second attempt, it seems that the command for "PyMoIP gateway" is incomplete. You have listening ports for the gateway (both telnet & WS), and logpath - that's great, but nothing more. (You should have something between your "PyMoIP gateway" and your "PyMoIP server" instance otherwise, the gateway won't be able to make you reach anything.)

I need to review a bit what I've already written in the wiki and I revert to you soon.

[64rulez]

Questions :
From https://github.com/64rulez/PyMoIP/wiki/PyMoIP-Gateway#pymoip-gateway-wiki

• What about "GatewayConfiguration.json" and "neverbanned.json" files ? [should not be related ... but one never knows]
• Have you seen recommendations ?
  It is recommended to launch PyMoIP programs [Gateway, Server] with the script 'startvdt.sh'.
  It is recommended to end PyMoIP programs [Gateway, Server] with the script 'stopvdt.sh'.
  It is recommended to restart PyMoIP programs [Gateway, Server] with the script 'restartvdt.sh'.
• From "PyMoIP script", tab, what's your "serverlist" file ?
  https://github.com/64rulez/PyMoIP/wiki/PyMoIP-scripts#serverlist-file
• From what you expect to do : Do you intend to setup a "simple Minitel" server or a "Teletel-like" server (that will allow you to redirect incomming connections ?)

So far, I admit that nothing is present yet in the wiki about "PyMoIP Server" .... but

• There's a ReadMe file under "Server" folder, even it it's quite outdated (no mention about RetourLink), it's a starting point
• Sample arbo files aren't matching current level of arbo module (what needs RetourLink)
• Just added some quick docs ... https://github.com/64rulez/PyMoIP/wiki/PyMoIP-Server-...-tree-structure-...

[DmitriiCM]

Thanks for the answer. Using without Socketel is even better, fewer components are required :)
As I understand, to run Minitel from scratch, 3 components are needed:

• a dummy page in a VDT format
• a Videotex (WebSocket?) server
• a daemon that will forward data to a serial port (if we are connecting Minitel to the Raspberry Pi)

It would be nice to have a connection diagram in the wiki and to see a general data flow, which file is responsible for what.

[64rulez]

In the wiki, something about 'PyMoIP User' : how to connect a minitel over serial ... just added points 1 and 6 at the moment.

[64rulez]

Added a PyMoIP/Docs folder with new drawio schematics about PyMoIP_User, PyMoIP_Gateway, and PyMoIP_Server. Also added an "old" word document focussed on PyMoIP_Gateway.

==> Let me know if that helps, if things are remaining unclear, typos, nonsences, whatever.
==> I still need to review actual "demonstration" arbo files as they may/probably mismatch with current "official" PyMoIP_Server release (teletel.org is running on beta since nearly one year !)

[DmitriiCM]

Thanks, I will try :)