StofaSwitch 0.03 - Quick Speedcoded VIO StofaNet Switcher for OS/2

(C) Mads Orbesen Troest & SIRIUS Cybernetics

WHAT?!

 This is a quick, speed-coded program to perform sign-on and sign-off the NAT
 at the fab Danish cable-internet provider StofaNet. StofaNet provides a very
 fast and reliable internet connection through their cable TV network, through
 a special cable modem which outputs standard 10 megabit ethernet packages. For
 more information, refer to www.stofa.dk and www.stofanet.dk).

 It /may/ possibly to use this program with other cable providers also; I have
 not tried it and probably never will, but do feel free to try for yourself,
 just don't nag me about it if it fails to meet your needs! .-)

  Files Included:

   StofaNet.TXT : This marvellous mini-documentation. ;-)
   StofaNet.EXE : The main StofaNet switcher itself. This it the program that
                  communicates with the Stofa NAT.
   SetUp.CMD    : Installation/Configuration script. This REXX script should
                  be run the first time you install the switcher, and may
                  henceforth be called whenever you want to reconfigure it.
                  The script generates program object on the desktop, as well
                  as two shortcut scripts for commandline usage.
   Scripts\*    : Contains two shortcut scripts for commandline usage, namely
                  SignOn.CMD and SignOff.CMD. These files are generated and
                  configured by the SetUp.CMD script, don't edit them manually!
   Icons\*      : Some icons you can use for the sign on/off commands...
                  Also used by the SetUp.CMD script to set the desired icons on
                  the program objects generated/updated on the desktop.


WHY?!

 Well, to put it shortly: because I needed it! Stofa does not really support
 other operating systems than Windoze, but since their services work on every
 TCP/IP-over-ethernet enabled system, of course it works on OS/2 also. The only
 problem is the dreary process of signing on and off via a manual telnet to the
 NAT; eerie user IDs and passwords have to be remembered, and I wanted to be
 able to be on/offline with a simple (double)click or VIO command. This is the
 result.

 I have a /much/ larger project going, making automated sign-ons/offs to
 StofaNet, managing shared access between multiple concurrent users, etc. This
 program was simply a quick hack to allow me to use StofaNet until I complete
 the /real/ Stofa controller called LifeWire/2. For that same reason, please do
 not bug me about implementing PM interface or other nice features in this
 version: it is and will remain a quick hack to make do until LifeWire is done!


WHOM?!

 It's for you also! Please, be my guest if you can use it. If you can't, then
 that's fine too, really. Just delete these files quietly.

  HOWEVER: This program is NOT supported! I take NO responsibility for
   anything, including this program (or my life in general ;-)!
           The program /has/ small deficiencies, but you have to live
           with them for the time being! This, as stated above, is a quick
           version to get through life uintil I complete the REAL Stofa
           controller. Don't bug me about it. It's there when it's done;
           I've studies to attend also!

  ALSO: Even if this program should be available from StofaNet's webpages, do
   /not/ bug Stofa about it; they have nothing to do at all with this
        mini-tool. If you have problems, try asking in a newsgroup (dk.edb.os2
        for example), or send me an email. If I've got the time, I'll reply.


WHERE?!

 Contact the author for any reason whatsoever at:

  Mads Orbesen Troest
  Dyrskuevej 53, 1.MF
  DK-9200 Aalborg SV

 /After/ the 1st of November 1999 I've moved to:

  Mads Orbesen Troest
  Valdemarsgade 6, 1.TV
  DK-9000 Aalborg

  (+45) 2345 7004 (Voice)
  (+45) 9818 5383 (FAX/Data) (Currently not available after 1999.11.01)

  <mads@troest.dk>


Oh, and HOW?!

 Should be self-explanatory. If you can't figure out how to use it either give
 up or try sending me a mail; I /might/ find the time to reply. .-)

 You may either call the switcher directly from commandline (or through the
 shortcut scripts generated by SetUp.CMD), or you may use the program objects
 on your desktop, generated/updated by SetUp.CMD. The program objects (as well
 as the shortcut scripts) ultimately call the swithcer executable with a number
 of commands and switches. These are:

 Usage: StofaNet.EXE <SignOn|SignOff> <User> <Password> [-switch]...
    Or: StofaNet.EXE <Encrypt> [Password]

 Switches:
  -NATIP:ip address (Address of NAT; defaults to 192.168.30.2)
  -NATPORT:port (Port of NAT; defaults to 259)
  -ENCRYPTED (The supplied password was encrypted by Encrypt command)
  -SHUTUP (Do not make too much connection/disconnection/error noise)

 Some Quick Examples:
  StofaNet.EXE SignOn 1874251s001 IHateFish
  StofaNet.EXE SignOff 1874251s001 VUngrSvfu -Encrypted
  StofaNet.EXE SignON 1812651s001 BfgReTbqg /ShutUP -NATPORT:42 /Encrypted
  StofaNet.EXE SignOFF 1812651s001 OstErGodt -NATIP:0.7.9.13 /NATPORT:42
  StofaNet.EXE Encrypt Knallerei
  StofaNet.EXE Encrypt
  ECHO HeXeReI | StofaNet.EXE Encrypt
  ... Well, you get the idea (I hope :-)


IMPORTANT!

 The term "encryption" is a /strong/ overstatement of what StofaSwitch does!
 You should NOT consider your passwords safe merely because they are "coded"
 by the mechanisms currently implemented in the switcher! I simply use a very
 banal form of encoding to avoid that passwords are incidentally revealed, or
 not-so-indicentally by the average user. In the future, this encoding /may/
 be replaced, but for the time being it is very important that you understand
 that this is only a surface-level "encryption".

 However, disclosing your password is normally not extremely dangerous, because
 the Stofa NAT won't accept sign-on/off requests with your user ID/password,
 unless they originate from the proper IP address; namely your own.

 But don't use the same password other places (never do), because, like I said,
 the password can fairly easily be "decrypted"!


Final Hos and Hellos to:

 Mikkel Orbesen Troest (Who could wish for a better OS/2 brother? .-)
 Torsten Balle Koefoed (The REXX-wiz; but I did the SetUp.CMD myself though :-)
 Lars Lund (For suggestions and test of the first Stofa-code I ever made... :-)
 Jens Christiansen (For talking me into doing and releasing this version. ;-)
 Signe Hastrup (For putting up with me (sort of) while I was coding this. .-)

  - The rest of Team OS/2 Aalborg, Denmark (See ya', fellamilads!)
  - and all faithful OS/2 users around the world, of course!


-> KEIN KNALLEREI - NUR OS/2! ;-) <-

