path: root/doc/ktalkd/index.docbook

<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<!DOCTYPE book PUBLIC "-//KDE//DTD DocBook XML V4.2-Based Variant V1.1//EN" "dtd/kdex.dtd" [
  <!ENTITY kappname "&ktalkd;">
  <!ENTITY % addindex "IGNORE"> 
  <!ENTITY % English "INCLUDE" > <!-- change language only here -->   
]>

<book lang="&language;">

<bookinfo>
<title>The &ktalkd; Handbook</title>
<authorgroup>
<author>
<firstname>David</firstname>
<surname>Faure</surname>
<affiliation>
<address><email>[email protected]</email></address>
</affiliation>
</author>

<!-- TRANS:ROLES_OF_TRANSLATORS -->
</authorgroup>

<legalnotice>
&FDLNotice;
</legalnotice>

<copyright>
<year>2001</year>
<holder>David Faure</holder>
</copyright>

<date>2001-05-02</date>
<releaseinfo>1.05.02</releaseinfo>

<abstract>
<para>
&ktalkd; is an enhanced <command>talk</command> daemon - a program
to handle incoming <command>talk</command> requests, announce them and
allow you to respond to it using a talk client. 
</para> 

</abstract>
<keywordset>
<keyword>KTALKD</keyword>
<keyword>talk</keyword>
<keyword>talkd</keyword>
<keyword>otalk</keyword>
<keyword>ntalk</keyword>
<keyword>ktalkdlg</keyword>
<keyword>kcmktalkd</keyword>
</keywordset>
</bookinfo>

<chapter id="introduction">
<title>Introduction</title>

<para>
&ktalkd; is an enhanced <command>talk</command> daemon - a program to
handle incoming <command>talk</command> requests, announce them and
allow you to respond to it using a <command>talk</command> client.
</para>

<important>
<para>
Note that &ktalkd; is designed to run on a single-user workstation, and
shouldn't be run on a multi-user machine: since it reads users'
configuration files, users can get the <command>talk</command> daemon to
run any command, which is particularly dangerous. Do not use &ktalkd; if
you create accounts on your machine, to people you don't fully trust.
</para>
</important>

<para>
In this document, if somebody wants to talk to you, you are designated
as the <quote>callee</quote>.
</para>

<para>&ktalkd; has the following features :</para>

<variablelist>
<varlistentry>
<term>Answering machine</term>
<listitem>
<para>
If the callee isn't logged on, or doesn't answer after
the second announcement, an answering machine is launched, takes the
message, and mails it to the callee.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>Sound</term>
<listitem>
<para>
If desired, a sound is played with the announcement.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>
X Announce
</term>
<listitem>
<para>
If compiled with &kde; installed, &ktalkd; will use
<command>ktalkdlg</command>, a &kde; dialog, for announcement.  If
&ktalk; is running, it will be asked to make the announcement
itself. (New since 0.8.8).
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>Multiple displays announcement</term>
<listitem>
<para>
If you are logged remotely (&eg; with an
<userinput><command>export</command>
<envar>DISPLAY</envar>=<replaceable>...</replaceable></userinput>
command), the X announcement will be made on this display too. Answer on
the one you want!  If you're also logged in a text terminal, and if
you're <emphasis>not</emphasis> using xterms (internal restriction),
then you'll see a text announcement too, in case you're using the text
terminal at the time of the announcement.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>

<varlistentry>
<term>Forwarding   <emphasis>(New since 0.8.0)</emphasis></term>
<listitem>
<para>
You can set up a forward to another user even to another host
if you're away. There are 3 different forwarding methods. See section
<link linkend="usage">Usage</link>.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>

<varlistentry>
<term>Configuration</term>
<listitem>
<para>
If &ktalkd; is compiled for &kde;, it reads config from &kde; config
files, the sitewide
(<filename>$<envar>TDEDIR</envar>/share/config/ktalkdrc</filename>) and
the user one, in its home folder. The sitewide one has to be manually
edited by the administrator, but there is now a configuration dialog for
the user one. It's called <command>kcmktalkd</command> and can be found
in the &kcontrol; after installing &ktalkd;.  On non-&kde; systems,
&ktalkd; will read <filename>/etc/talkd.conf</filename>.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>

<varlistentry>
<term>Internationalization</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Under &kde;, the announcement will be in your language provided that you
set it in the &kde; menus and that someone translated
<command>ktalkdlg</command> to your language. The same goes for the
configuration dialog, <command>kcmktalkd</command>.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>

<varlistentry>
<term>Support for <command>otalk</command> and <command>ntalk</command>
<emphasis>(New since 0.8.1)</emphasis></term>
<listitem>
<para>
&ktalkd; now supports both protocols, even when forwarding. &ktalk;
supports both protocols as well.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
</variablelist>

<para>I hope you will enjoy this talk daemon,</para>

<para>David Faure <email>[email protected]</email></para>

</chapter>

<chapter id="usage">
<title>Usage</title>

<para>
To use &ktalkd;, you need a <command>talk</command> client. The
text-based <command>talk</command> is available on most &UNIX; systems. Try <userinput><command>talk</command> <replaceable>your&lowbar;username</replaceable></userinput> to see what happens when you
receive a <command>talk</command> request.
</para>

<para>
You can also try the answering machine the same way: initiate a
<command>talk</command> to yourself, ignore the announcement twice, and
you'll see the answering machine.
</para>

<para>
There is a <command>talk</command> client with a graphical interface for
&kde;, &ktalk;. It's not yet shipped with &kde; packages, but you can
find it on ftp://ftp.kde.org. It should be in <ulink
url="ftp://ftp.kde.org/pub/kde/stable/latest/apps/network">ftp://ftp.kde.org/pub/kde/stable/latest/apps/network</ulink>
</para>

<para>
The announcement dialog box is trivial: <guibutton>respond</guibutton>
or <guibutton>ignore</guibutton>.
</para>

<para>
The configuration dialog should be rather straight forward, except for
setting up a forward to another user (or even to another host).
</para>

<sect1 id="choosing-a-forwarding-method">
<title>Choosing a Forwarding Method</title>

<para>
None is perfect, they all have pros (+) and cons (-).
</para>

<variablelist>
<varlistentry>
<term><acronym>FWA</acronym> - Forward announcement only.</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Direct connection.  Not recommended.
</para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem>
<para>
(+) You know who the caller is, but
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
(-) Caller will have to respond to an announcement from you. Annoying.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
(-) Don't use if you have an answering machine on your
<quote>away</quote> location. (The answering machine can't popup an
announcement, it would be confusing!)
</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>

<varlistentry>
<term><acronym>FWR</acronym> - Forward all requests, changing info when
necessary</term>
<listitem>
<para>
Direct connection.
</para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem>
<para>
(+) Caller won't know that you're away, but
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
(-) You won't really know who the caller is - only his username, (so you
might see <computeroutput>talk from
Wintalk@my&lowbar;host</computeroutput>)
</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>

<varlistentry>
<term><acronym>FWT</acronym> - Forward all requests and take the
 talk.</term>
<listitem>
<para>No direct connection.</para>

<itemizedlist>
<listitem>
<para>
(+) Same as above, but also works if you and caller can't be in
direct contact one with the other (&eg; firewall).
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
(+) You'll be told who's really talking to you when you accept the talk
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
(-) But as in <acronym>FWR</acronym>, you won't know his machine name in
the announcement
</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
</variablelist>

<para>
In short, use <acronym>FWT</acronym> it you want to use it behind a
firewall (and if &ktalkd; can access both networks), and
<acronym>FWR</acronym> otherwise.
</para>

</sect1>
</chapter>

<chapter id="questions-and-answers">
<title>Questions and Answers</title>

<qandaset>
<qandaentry>
<question>
<para>
Why doesn't <systemitem class="username">root</systemitem> receive &kde;
announcements?
</para>
</question>

<answer>
<para>
Because this would be security hole, with the current user
detection. You can bypass the limitation by adding two lines in
<command>xdm</command> config files (which are the same as &kdm; ones).
</para>

<note>
<para>
The S.u.S.E &Linux; distribution includes those lines by default.
</para>
</note>

<para>
Those config files are normally in a folder such as <filename
class="directory">/etc/X11/xdm</filename>, or <filename
class="directory">/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xdm</filename> on other
systems. The following supposes that they are in <filename
class="directory">/etc/X11/xdm</filename>, so you might have to
translate them for another folder.</para>

<para>Here is what you have to do:</para>

<procedure>
<step>
<para>Edit the file <filename>Xstartup</filename>, or create it, (in the
<command>xdm</command> config folder) so that it reads:
</para> 
<screen>#!/bin/sh
/etc/X11/xdm/GiveConsole
sessreg -a -l $DISPLAY -x /etc/X11/xdm/Xservers $USER</screen>
</step>
<step>
<para>and the file <filename>Xreset</filename> so that it reads:
</para>
<screen>#!/bin/sh
/etc/X11/xdm/TakeConsole
sessreg -d -l $DISPLAY $USER</screen>
</step>
<step>
<para>
Make sure that <filename>xdm-config</filename> make reference to those
two files:
</para>
<screen>DisplayManager._0.startup:      /etc/X11/xdm/Xstartup
DisplayManager._0.reset:        /etc/X11/xdm/Xreset </screen>
</step>
</procedure>

<para>
This will make &kdm; (or <command>xdm</command>) log
the user into utmp, which is the right thing to do. It's not up to
&konsole;, nor <command>xterm</command>, to log the user, but to
<command>xdm</command> and &kdm;, in my
opinion. However, this will not log the user as an X user when using
<command>startx</command>... Any hint about that ?
</para>
</answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question>
<para>
Why don't I, as a normal user, receive &kde; announcements?
</para>
</question>

<answer>
<para>
If you're running a &Linux; system (with <filename
class="directory">/proc</filename> enabled), this behavior is a
bug. Please send me a description of it so that I correct it.
</para>

<para>
If you're running &Linux; 2.0.35, this is a known bug in the kernel,
which doesn't let <systemitem class="username">root</systemitem> read
<filename class="directory">/proc</filename>. The solution is the same
as in the previous question, provided that you run
&kdm; or <command>xdm</command> to log into X. Or
upgrade!
</para>

<para>
Otherwise, this is normal.  &ktalkd; can't find the user, as &kde;
doesn't log him into utmp and the &Linux; based (<filename
class="directory">/proc</filename>) detection is disabled. The solution
is the same as in the previous question, provided that you run
<acronym>kdm</acronym> or <acronym>xdm</acronym> to log into X. Another
solution is to make sure you always have an
<application>xterm</application> running.
</para>
</answer>
</qandaentry>

<qandaentry>
<question>
<para>
How do I get debug output from &ktalkd;?
</para>
</question>

<answer>
<para>
As it is a daemon, there is no debug output on standard output. To get 
debugging output (for instance before submitting me a bug report!),
update the lines in <filename>inetd.conf</filename> which launches
&ktalkd; and &kotalkd; to be:
</para>
 
<screen>talk   dgram   udp     wait    root    /usr/sbin/tcpd  /opt/kde/bin/ktalkd -d
ntalk  dgram   udp     wait    root    /usr/sbin/tcpd  /opt/kde/bin/ktalkd -d</screen>

<para>Notice the <option>-d</option> option.
</para>

<para>
Then edit <filename>/etc/syslog.conf</filename> to add the following
line:
</para>

<screen>*.*         /var/log/all_messages</screen>

<para>To make it work, you then have to restart <command>inetd</command>
and <command>syslogd</command>:</para>

<screen><prompt>%</prompt> <userinput><command>killall</command> <option>-HUP inetd</option></userinput>
<prompt>%</prompt> <userinput><command>killall</command> <option>-HUP syslogd</option></userinput></screen>

<para>Finally, run a <command>talk</command> session and see the result
in <filename>/var/log/all&lowbar;messages</filename> </para>

<para>When submitting a bug report, never forget to include the
debugging output, but also &ktalkd;'s version number and the
<command>./configure</command> output. Thanks.</para>

</answer>
</qandaentry>
</qandaset>

</chapter>

<chapter id="copyright-and-license">
<title>Copyright and Licenses</title>

<para>
&ktalkd; is maintained and improved by David Faure,
<email>[email protected]</email>
</para>

<para>
The original program was written by Robert Cimrman,
<email>[email protected]</email>
</para>

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&underFDL;
&underGPL;

</chapter>

<appendix id="installation">
<title>Installation</title>

<sect1 id="how-to-obtain-ktalkd">
<title>How to obtain &ktalkd;</title>

<para>
&ktalkd; is now a core application of the &kde; project <ulink
url="http://www.kde.org">http://www.kde.org</ulink>, part of the
tdenetwork package.
</para>

<para>
You can always download the latest &ktalkd; from the main &FTP; site of
the &kde; project, <ulink
url="ftp://ftp.kde.org/pub/kde">ftp://ftp.kde.org/pub/kde</ulink> and
from its mirrors. It's usually found in <ulink
url="ftp://ftp.kde.org/pub/kde/stable/latest/apps/network">ftp://ftp.kde.org/pub/kde/stable/latest/apps/network</ulink>
</para>
</sect1>

<sect1 id="requirements">
<title>Requirements</title>

<para>
In order to successfully compile &ktalkd;, you need the latest versions
of the &kde; libraries as well as the &Qt; C++ library. All required
libraries as well as ktalkd itself can be found on <ulink
url="ftp://ftp.kde.org/pub/kde/">ftp://ftp.kde.org/pub/kde/</ulink>.
</para>
</sect1>

<sect1 id="compilation-and-installation">
<title>Compilation and Installation</title>

<para>
In order to compile and install &ktalkd; on your system, type the
following in the base folder of the &ktalkd; distribution:
</para>

<screen><prompt>%</prompt> <userinput><command>./configure</command></userinput>
<prompt>%</prompt> <userinput><command>make</command></userinput> 
<prompt>%</prompt> <userinput><command>make</command> <option>install</option></userinput></screen>

<para>As &ktalkd; is a daemon, <userinput><command>make</command>
<option>install</option></userinput> will require <systemitem
class="username">root</systemitem> privileges.</para>

<para>
Don't forget to update <filename>/etc/inetd.conf</filename>.  For
example, on a &Linux; system, if &kde; is in <filename
class="directory">/opt/kde</filename>, change the lines concerning
<command>talk</command> and <command>ntalk</command> to:
</para>

<screen>talk   dgram   udp     wait    root    /usr/sbin/tcpd  /opt/kde/bin/ktalkd
ntalk  dgram   udp     wait    root    /usr/sbin/tcpd  /opt/kde/bin/ktalkd</screen>

<para>A script is provided, to make the necessary change automatically. 
Update your <filename>inetd.conf</filename> file just by running</para>

<screen><prompt>%</prompt> <userinput><command>./post-install.sh</command></userinput></screen>

<para>
Anyway, you'll have to <emphasis>restart inetd</emphasis> after this.
On most &Linux; systems, do:
</para>

<screen><prompt>%</prompt> <userinput><command>killall</command> <option>-HUP inetd</option></userinput></screen>

<para>
On newer systems, using <command>xinetd</command>, there is no more
<filename>/etc/inetd.conf</filename>, and you should edit or create
<filename>/etc/xinetd.d/talk</filename> instead, with those lines:
</para>

<screen>service talk
{
	socket_type = dgram
	wait = yes
	user = root
	server = /usr/bin/ktalkd
}

service ntalk
{
	socket_type = dgram
	wait = yes
	user = root
	server = /usr/bin/ktalkd
}</screen>

<para>
then restart <command>xinetd</command>.
</para>

<para>
Please inform me of any modification you had to undertake in order to
get &ktalkd; to compile or work on your platform.
</para>
</sect1>

</appendix>

</book>

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