Node configuration for user access

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User Registration

There are two types of user in a DXSpider node, a registered user and an unregistered user. By default, all users belong to the unregistered category.

Node in UNREGISTERED Mode

This is the default way of working, but not necessarily the best.

The global variable that sets the node type is $main::reqreg and its default value is 0. 

  set/var $main::reqreg = 0

In this mode the sysop doesn't have to to register users, but if they are registered, then it will simply be a database entry. Both types of user will have the same capabilities to send and receive SPOTS, ANN, etc

Node in REGISTRATION Mode

To activate registration, the global variable $main::reqreg must be set to 1. The way to change it is 

  set/var $main::reqreg = 1

When this mode is activated, only users that the sysop has registered will be able to send and receive SPOTS, ANN, etc. Unregistered users will only be able to receive information.

The way to register/unregister a user is as follows: 

  set/register <call>
  unset/register <call>

You can check which users we have registered using 

  sh/register <call>

A specific login banner for registered users can be shown. The file containing it is the following 

  /spider/_local_data/motd

When an unregistered user starts the login process, they can be sent a different file that can be configured to say that they are not registered and how to register should they wish to do so. This file is ... 

  /spider/local_data/motd_nor

Password Usage

By default, the node has disabled the function of requesting a password when we log in. So there is a risk that another user can use our account.

For a user to be assigned a password, the sysop will have to execute at least once 

  set/password <call> <string>

and the user can change his password with the command 

  set/password


Node in NO PASSWORD Mode

The global variable $main::passwdreq is set to 0 by default. As mentioned above, users logging into a node so configured will only be prompted for their callsign.

To see the value of the variable we will use 

  sh/var $main::passwdreq


Node in PASSWORD Mode

If we set the $main::passwdreq variable to 1, we will force any user logging in to the node to enter their callsign and password, otherwise they will not be able to access the node. The node will not establish the session if there is no positive authentication.

To set this mode of operation: 

  set/var $main::passwdreq = 1


How To Protect Node (Recommended configuration)

One way to control the correct use of our node, is to use the combination of registration and password as follows.

We enable the registration for all the users 

  set/var $main::reqreg = 1

and we disable the global use of passwords 

  set/var $main::passwdreq = 0

This allows anyone to access the node in READ mode, but only those who have authenticated with username and password will have full user access.

This implies that the sysop must register and assign a password to the trusted user. 

  set/register <call>
  set/password <call> <string>

This way we have control and limit the misuse of our node.


Make Changes Permanent

Although we can enable or disable these variables at any time, if we want to keep them during the startup of the node, we must edit the file 

  /spider/scripts/startup

and include the following lines 

  set/var $main::reqreg = 1
  set/var $main::passwdreq = 0

The changes to this file will not take effect until there is a reboot, so we can activate it manually the first time from the console by typing 

  set/var $main::reqreg = 1
  set/var $main::passwdreq = 0
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