Kantronics KPC–3 Plus User Manual page 131

useable network configuration that makes good use of all possible paths. Coordination
of efforts and philosophies should result in an expanding network that is low in
frustration and fun to use.
Node Stacking
Although the K-Net firmware in the KPC-3 Plus provides a quick and easy method to
increase network usage and efficiency, as the network grows there will be an increasing
demand to provide an even higher level of service to the community. This can take
several forms: Adding more user ports to the network as existing user ports become
heavily loaded, adding dedicated server access ports to "unload" activity from existing
user/server shared channels, and the creation of point-to-point dedicated backbone
channels to increase overall network performance.
Since knowledge of how to properly configure the K-Net node is assumed, this section
will deal only with the physical connections and parameters that are required to create a
node stack.
Before deciding to "help" the community, you should be aware of the impact that adding
more ports of any nature will have on the existing network. Generally speaking, more
available radio ports will provide a more efficient network provided that this effort is well
coordinated with the other node sysops in the area that will be affected by your actions.
Sysop coordination and cooperation must exist in order for the network to provide the
maximum benefit for all users.
The concept of a node stack is practically self-explanatory. A node stack is formed
when two or three or more network nodes are "hard-wired" together (stacked) and
allowed to communicate with each other. Since the radio ports are already in use, the
serial port of the TNC is used to pass the networking information and data between the
nodes in the stack. Setting the INTFACE command (from the cmd: prompt) to NET
forces the K-Net node to use the serial port as well as the radio ports for passing
network information. Because of this, the serial port can no longer be used as an ASCII
terminal port since all communication is now "net-ese" and used by the other nodes in
the stack for routing and other network functions. If you need to change a node
parameter, the terminal mode can be regained by connecting a terminal to the serial
port and using the standard packet transparency escape sequence (three control C
method), or the node can be remotely accessed via a radio port if the RTEXT has been
set, and the proper response to the SYSOP command is sent to the K-Net node.
Again, the QUALITY parameter plays a major role when node stacking is used. The
default QUALITY settings are 255/70 (255 for port 0 - serial port, 70 for port 1 - 1200
baud). The QUALITY setting for the serial port (port 0) is defaulted to the maximum
value allowable because the serial link between nodes in a stack is very reliable. Of
course this value can be changed, but doing so may cause undesirable node
propagation and routing.
The most basic form of a node stack would be to add another 1200-baud port to your
KPC-3 node. The additional hardware required is another complete 1200-baud network
node station (transceiver, feedline, antenna, TNC to radio cable, TNC with network
node firmware such as a KPC-3 with version X.XX N firmware or other TNC with
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