WebMail-Lite Mail Server for HSMM Tutorial

I have had several Hams contact me about my posting on the Paclink Server. I have now finished the new setup tutorial for it. This is current to the latest version. I tried to make the instructions as simple as possible, but you must not be afraid to get into the workings of the software. This software as configured will work great with the HSMM-Mesh nodes. If you undertake this you can offer your served agency and many others the ability to have normal email when the internet is not available in the immediate area.The RF side will be for another posting. With this system you can let your served agency plug their computers into your system. They will not have to change anything in their computers. They will have to go to a "web site" and enter their login information that you will provide. The learning curve is very small for the users because the browser will have a very familiar email program. I have installed this on a Vista laptop and a Windows 7 Ultimate laptop. So give this a try.

 

 

What You Need to Start

1. Paclink properly installed, configured and working 

1. WampServer
   1. Go to: http://www.wampserver.com/en/
   2. Click on the downloads tab
   3. Then, click on the "Download WampServer 2.2A" link
   4. Enter your information or click "download it directly"
   5. Save the install program where you will be able to find it later

1. WebMail Lite
   1. Go to:http://www.afterlogic.org/download/webmail-lite
   2. Click the PHP radio button
   3. Press the "Start Downloading" button
   4. Save it where you will be able to find it later 
    

WampServer Installation

WampServer is a combined package of Apache Web Server 2.2.21, MySQL 5.5.16, and PHP 5.5.38 all for Windows.

Installation Steps

1. Locate and run the WampServer setup program from the computer you want to use as your Paclink server. Follow the install wizard being sure to use the default file system locations.
2. When the installation completes choose the option to run WampServer or run it from the Start menu or desktop icon if you missed this it
3. You should now see an icon in the system tray titled "WAMPSERVER". It should not be red and may indicate that the server is "Online" or "Offline" at this point. It should cycle from red to yellow to green. Refer to the help system for assistance in resolving any issues
4. Configure the PHP system to support WebMail by enabling the PHP IMAP option. Left-click the WampServer tray icon and then select PHP - PHP extensions - php_imap
5. Left-click the WampServer tray icon and choose the "Put Online" menu item. This will start the Apache and MySQL servers
6. The servers will start up and hovering over the tray icon should show that the service is "Online".
7. To test your configuration thus far, select the localhost menu item from the local menu,left-click on tray icon. You should see the WampServer start page showing configuration information.
8. If you have any problems with this installation or see errors when attempting to place the server Online, right-click the WampServer tray icon and choose the Help menu item to open the help system. There's also a WampServer forum at: http://www.wampserver.com/phorum. 

WebMail Lite

1. Create a folder called "webmail" under the default WampServer web folder "c:\wamp\www". Left click the WampServer tray icon then click "www directory"
2. Un-zip the webmail_php.zip archive:
   1. Extract the contents of the zip folder into the "webmail" folder "c:\wamp\www\webmail"
   2. Move the "data" folder _and_ its contents into the "webmail" folder "c:\wamp\www\webmail"
   3. You should now have the webmail folder containing the "data" folder as well as the complete contents of the web folder 
   4. Delete the install folder
3. In the "webmail" folder, edit using a text editor, like notepad, the "inc_settings_path.php" file so that the path to the "data" folder is ""c:/wamp/www/webmail/data/"". Be sure to save the file when you are done. 
4. In the "webmail" folder double click "data" then "settings" then open "settings" file with a text editor
5. Find "off" and change the off to an on, then save the file.
6. Start your browser on the Paclink machine and go to http://localhost/webmail/adminpanel
   1. If you get an error or see a red error box on the admin page, review the previous steps and if needed consult the WebMail on-line help on the AfterLogic site or go to http://localhost/webmail/adminpanel/docs/index.php
7.  The log in is mailadm as the user name and 12345 as the password
   1. The password can be changed later
   2. Left click the WampServer tray icon then click "phpMyAdmin"
   3. Then click the "Databases" tab
   4. Under "Create new database" type the name you want for your database. Then click the "Create" button
8. In the Webmail Administrative Console select "System" tab and make the following changes:
   1. Set the SQL Login to "root"
   2. SQL password leave blank
   3. Set Database name to what you setup for the database
   4. Set the host to 127.0.0.1
   5. Click the "Test Connection" button. If it tests good proceed, if you have problems check that you did everything up to this point correctly
   6. If you are good to this point click the "Create tables" button. If it says failed you have a problem in your database.
   7. Click "Save" button to save your settings
9. In the Administrative Console select "Domains" tab and make the following changes:
   1. Select the "Default domain settings" option
   2. Incoming mail use POP3, localhost and Port 110
   3. Outgoing mail use localhost and Port 25
   4. Check "Use incoming mail's login/password of the user"
   5. Under the "General" tab, change the site name to what you want it to be
   6. Under the "Webmail" tab make sure "Enable webmail" is checked
   7. Click "Save" to save your settings 
    

How to use WebMail

From the Paclink WebMail server

1. Go to http://localhost/webmail/
2. Click "Advanced Login" then enter the email address you setup, then the login name (the email address without @winlink.org) and password for the account you have set up in PacLink
3. Play with WebMail-Lite for Paclink!

HSMM WebMail Access for Paclink

I now have a Webmail server setup on my Paclink computer. This gives me the ability to connect a served agencies computer through a HSMM mesh link and supply email through a remote portable Paclink RF node. This gateway can use any email client that supports POP and SMTP. This gives me an Apache server that can be used for many other things on the HSMM network in the future. Once I got it setup and running, I found that I really like how it works. This system allows a served agency to have email access without any changes to the agency computers. All you have to do is give the agency a web address and their tactical email address that you set up in the Paclink software. The one good or bad thing is that it does not keep copies of the emails, the agency sending the emails would have to keep there own copies. I think there is a way to keep copies if you buy the upgraded software for Webmail. I am still working with this and building on the simple webmail server. The active ham web site has a good basic start up guide, my installation did not workout the same but it is probably due to software updates.

http://www.winlink.org/
http://www.wampserver.com/en/
http://www.afterlogic.com/download/webmail.asp
http://www.activeham.com/pmwiki.php?n=Main.WebMailAccessToPaclink

Nook Color for HSMM Update

The Nook Color that I posted about earlier is a very nice little computer. I have been working with it more on the web side, I have played with the ebook side and it works very well. It's web browser is nice, but I have to get used to typing on the screen. I had no problems connecting to the AP router going into the Mesh node. The Nook connected to my Paclink email server without any problems. I can send and recieve email from the Nook. This was a fun and easy project.

HSMM-Mesh nodes update

I now have four mesh nodes up and running in various forms from unmodified to portable battery powered node. These have been working great together. I have had no problems with auto association or hopping from node to node. I have been working on connecting these nodes with a mobile server that can connect to Paclink and send Winlink messages via 2m RF. This is a mobile node that can be placed where needed during an event or emergency. This would let a served agency connect to the portable server and using only a web browser have email capabilities. This means that only a web address and password is needed to access the system, no software needs to be installed at the served agency. The next thing for this project is to have HF capability since we do not have enough 144/440 RMS Gateway Nodes in the state, I hope this will change in the future. I will in a future post go into more detail about the mobile Apache server, but initial testing is very favorable.

BPQ32 Now With Winlink2000 CMS Telnet Capabilities

I have been playing with BPQ32 for some time and have really liked it so far. Now it even surpasses all my expectations, I am not sure how John Wiseman GM8BPQ/G8BPQ does it, but he does! This new version includes CMS telnet access via the BPQ32 program. There is no need to run separate Winlink software to run a RMS Node. I have been testing this new configuration and have had no problems yet. It is also easier to setup than it ever has been. This software does not need the NET 3.5 that the RMS program needs, thus limiting you to Windows XP or newer. BPQ32 should be able to run on Windows 2000. I have not tested it yet but am planning on testing it on a 2000 machine in the near future. There is also included reporting to the Winlink Packet Station Database. Now we only need one program to do most of the work. Check it out


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BPQ32/
http://www.cantab.net/users/john.wiseman/Documents/TelnetServer.htm
http://www.cantab.net/users/john.wiseman/Documents/WL2KReporting.html

BPQ32 up and running

I now have BPQ32 up and running. It was a very intersesting ordeal, but I am very pleased with the outcome. The site now has a node, BBS Mail and Chat, and Winlink RMS. I must thank Jeff WA4ZKO for his time and help in making this happen. This node is now connected to a node in Owensboro and Dry Ridge. Now it is time to build on this system and add users.

BPQ32 for BBS and Winlink 2000

I have been looking into BPQ32 latley. I already have a Winlink RMS running and would like to have a BBS also runnig. BPQ32 looks like the right program for the job. This program is from John Wiseman G8BPQ/GM8BPQ. BPQ32 is an AX.25 NET/ROM compatible node software for Windows. This program will work with AGWPE software. This compatability is an asset for sound card based Winlink/BBS technology. This program does have a learning curve but there is plenty of documintation for it. I have been playing with it on my test computer and when I am comfortible with its operation I will start using it on the RMS gateway KC4BQK-10.


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BPQ32/

AGWPE Upgrade Avaliable

AGWPE has a new version ready for download. The new version is ver 2010.414. This version works a lot better for my RMS station. It seems to decode the packets better and seems more robust. If you have not upgraded yet, please do so. The way I upgraded was by deleting the old version and installing the new program. I then had to enter my information into AGWPE and restart the program. It work the first time out. This is a great program made even better.

http://www.sv2agw.com/ham/agwpe.htm
http://www.sv2agw.com/downloads/default.htm

New Winlink Client Software Released

RMS Express for Winlink 2000 has been released. It is a radio email client that includes support for the new sound card mode Winmor. It also has support for HF Pactor, VHF/UHF packet and direct telnet to WL2K CMS servers. I have started experimenting with this mode and it looks to be quite interesting. It has a learning curve but comes with some good documentation. Get your feet wet with this and move to the future. I will comment on this mode after I have had some time to try it out.

http://www.winlink.org/WINMOR
http://www.winlink.org/ClientSoftware

Winlink 2000 RMS Upgrade

I have updated my Winlink RMS with some new equipment. I added a Yaesu FT-2800m that has 65 watts out. I also added a new Radio Shack 15-Amp Power Supply 22-508. These additions should increase the coverage area. My mobile testing showed som areas that had below average coverage. I will be doing another round of testing to see if the coverage did increase.

http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm

AGWmonitor

I have found a program that is very usefull in running and testing Winlink RMS nodes. The program is AGWmonitor by the same creator of AGWPE. This program works great. You can see all the traffic on the frequency. It is good for finding out if the frequency is too crowded or not. It will also list all stations that are heard. The best feature is that it works at the same time as your RMS or Paclink program does.


http://www.sv2agw.com/ham/agwmon.htm

Mobile Winlink Up and Running

I now have the mobile Winlink system up and running. The final tests went very well. I can connect to my RMS or the one in Owensboro K4HY-12. The mobile consists of a Yaesu FT-1802m and a SCI-6 PC Sound Card Interface. I will post a wright up on this unit. Now I can start testing the complete system with the HSMM radios with it. With this system, I can now pull up somewhere and supply a link for Email for any of our served agency's. This is good for that "Last Mile" communications. With a small 2m beam on a 10 foot pole, I could increase the range of the mobile unit. Now it is time to display the system for the public and other Hams.

QForms for Winlink

Qforms is a great program for Winlink Radiogram messages. QForms supports ICS, Radiogram, and Simple format messages. QForms allows entry of text into an electronic form to create a message, which is then saved in an XML format. The XML file is then sent to another station that is also running QForms where it can be opened, displayed and printed. Optionally, a text version of the message can be created, saved and sent to a remote station. The text format can not be re-opened by QForms other than as a simple text file. This is an easy way to send properly formated Radiograms. Checkout the download page at The Active Ham.

http://www.activeham.com/pmwiki.php?n=Main.HomePage

Winlink 2000 RMS Station

The RMS Station is up and running using Sound card technology. I am running a Compaq computer with XP, running AGWPE and WL2K RMS. The setup for these programs was real easy KC2RLM has a good tutorial for the setup. The sound card interface is a Rigblaster Nomic. The Nomic performs very good and is easy to setup. The 2m radio is a Radio Shack HTX-242. This radio is an older 2m radio but does a really good job with packet. You can still find these for sale on Ebay and other places. The antenna is a Diamond CP22E at about 35 Feet. This antenna is a high-gain monoband antenna made from heavy-duty aluminum construction. It has 6.5db gain and rated to 200 watts. If you have a PSK31 or any other digital mode running, you can also run Winlink2000.

http://www.winlink.org/

http://www.sv2agw.com/ham/agwpe.htm

http://www.kc2rlm.info/soundcardpacket/

http://www.westmountainradio.com/RIGblaster.htm

http://www.rfparts.com/diamond/cp22e.html

Nomic

CP22E