NCDware installation

[ 3.5 | 5.x | Customization ]

Obviously, the software has to be installed on some host, preferably running some *NIX. Descriptions below are for an AIX host, but should apply to other Unixoids as well.

NCDware 3.5

Download 3.5 from NCD's archive. (I have no experience with original media).
Unpack/install it in some convenient location, say /applfs/applb01/NCDware-3.5

create a link to the boot file for the terminal type to be served:

ln -s /applfs/applb01/NCDware-3.5/tftpboot/Xncd19c /tftpboot/Xncd19c

create a link to the configuration directory:
```
ln -s /applfs/applb01/NCDware-3.5/usr/lib/X11/ncd/configs /tftpboot/configs
```
Note that the top directory, /applfs/applb01/NCDware-3.5, has to be NFS-exported because it will be accessed via NFS.

Create a writable file where configuration parameters can be stored:

touch     /tftpboot/configs/ncd_std.stp
chmod a+w /tftpboot/configs/ncd_std.stp

The generic configuration file /tftpboot/configs/ncd_std should contain:

boot-tcpip-desired-server = 192.168.1.42
ip-use-address-discovery = false
read ncd_std.stp
#exec-startup-commands
#file-service-table
#ip-subnet-mask
#ip-broadcast-address
#ip-initial-default-gateway-1
#tcpip-name-servers
#tcpip-name-server-protocol
#xserver-default-font-path
#apply

Create a terminal specific configuration file, named after its IP address (in hex), for example /tftpboot/configs/C0A80138 corresponding to IP address192.168.1.56. It should contain:
```
ip-address-at-next-boot = 192.168.1.56
read ncd_std
apply
```

NCDware 5.x

From Original CD

(description to come, if I ever get hold of the original one)
Regular NCDware distributions come with a /usr/lib/X11/ncd/ directory which is going to be installed, so better place a link like

ln -s <ncdware-target-directory>/ncd /usr/lib/X11/ncd

prior to installation, otherwise the installation will trash the root disks /usr/lib/X11/ with NCD stuff, which is probably not what you want.

From saved archives

See the documentation section where such archives might be obtained from. Typically they are structured as follows:

5.0.129

Xncdxpl   # xpl for Explora 400
modsxpl/
Xncdxpt   # xpt for Explora 700
modsxpt/
Xncdhmx   # hmx for ??? 
modshmx/

mosaic_pref/
configd.doc
help/
java/
ncd/

5.1.140

Xncdxpl   # xpl for Explora 400
modsxpl/
Xncdxpt   # xpt for Explora 700
modsxpt/
Xncdhmx   # hmx for ??? 
modshmx/

3270kbds/
icakbds/
mosaic_pref/
configd.doc
help/
java/
ncd/

As root, on the host, choose an appropriate target directory, say /applfs/applb00/NCDware-5.1.140/.
Install, i.e. unpack the archives.
Create an extra subdirectory, ncd, which should contain at least:
- a file rgb.txt with X11 colour descriptions (e.g. from standard /usr/lib/X11/rgb.txt).
- a file configs/ncd_std with additional configurations. An original and an actual example.
  Customize configs/ncd_std to your needs.
  ( Some more info from NCD)
Place a link
```
ln -s /applfs/applb00/NCDware-5.1.140/ncd /usr/lib/X11/ncd
```
which is needed for the client terminal to read rgb.txt (the /usr/lib/X11/ncd/ path seems to be hard coded).
nfs-Export /applfs/applb00/NCDware-5.1.140/ and /usr/lib/X11/fonts, read-only.
( On AIX, conveniently done via smitty)

For bootp/tftp services places entries in /etc/bootptab, e.g. for an Explora X-terminal :

ncdexplora:ht=ethernet:sm=255.255.255.0:gw=140.181.xx.yy:bf=Xncdxpl:hd=/applfs/applb00/NCDware-5.1.140

In /etc/inetd.conf enable appropriate service:

bootps  dgram   udp     wait    root    /usr/sbin/bootpd       bootpd /etc/bootptab

and refresh the internet daemon:

refresh -s inetd

Most, if not all customizations are controlled via the central configuration file, in this example /applfs/applb00/NCDware-5.1.140/ncd/configs/ncd_std.
For more detailed information see the documentation section.

Configuring a boot monitor upgrade

(tested on NCDware 5.x only !)
In the NCDware configuration file, enable the line specifying the location of the new boot monitor binary, for example:

boot-prom-update-file = "/applfs/applb00/NCDware-5.1.140/bootben.bpu.V_2_9_412"

For Explora hardware supporting boot PROMs (not just ROMs), the update will be performed during next reboot.
Since PROM update is a potentially dangerous operation, it is advisable to disable this line again asap.

Enabling name service

DNS is enabled in the configuration file, for example:

tcpip-name-servers = {
{  192.168.1.1 }
...
}

For hosts not served by the name server(s), or if no general DNS service is available, the functionality of the UNIX /etc/hosts/ file can replicated by similar entries in the configuration file, for example:

tcpip-name-local-cache = {
{a3000 192.168.1.11 0}
{a1200 192.168.1.12 0}
...
}

Offering login hosts

A convenient collection of default hosts is specified by (example)

login-default-hosts = {
{tcp hp9ka "HP 9000/712 HP-UX 10.20"}
{tcp hp9ke "HP 9000/425e HP-UX 9.1"}
...
}

Fonts

Specify fonts, for example:

xserver-default-font-path = {
        { "/usr/lib/X11/fonts" }
        
        { "/usr/lib/X11/more-fonts" }
        { "built-ins" }
}

The font directories must be NFS-mounted as in this example:

file-service-table = {
{ "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/"      nil 192.168.1.42 nfs "/applfs/applb01/NCDware-5.1.140/ncd/fonts/" unix 3 30 8192 8192 }
{ "/usr/lib/X11/more-fonts/" nil 192.168.1.42 nfs "/applfs/applb01/more-fonts/"                unix 3 30 8192 8192 }
}

Last updated: 18-Nov-2012, M.Kraemer