The LinKT Manual: Installation

## Installation

In this chapter we will discuss how to get going with LinKT.

### Prerequisites

This manual will NOT cover Unix-basics such as unpacking tar-archives, or setting environment variables. If you are new to Unix and Linux, please refer to an appropriate system administrators' manual to find out how to handle these things.
Now this point is clear, we are ready to go

### Necessary files

I assume you have the KDE desktop working. 1.0 or 1.1 is fine. To compile LinKT you will need to have the development-package of Qt version 1.4 or higher installed

In addition there has to be a working installation of AX.25 on your system. We will not discuss the kernel-AX25 since there is the AX.25-HOWTO. If you are able to make a connection using the `call`-program, there should be no problems in doing this with LinKT too.

You can get the newest version of `LinKT` from the LinKT-Homepage. Or, using packet-radio, from the mailbox DB0EA-8.

Special note for SuSE 6.0 or higher: It is necessary that you have installed the package `egcs` and not `gccfront` (both in section `d`), because SuSEs KDE and Qt are compiled with egcs and not compatible to gcc-compiled binaries. A gcc-compiled LinKT will exit with segmentation fault immediately after startup. Additionally `gpp` and `libgpp` have to be installed.

### Compilation

You need a compiled version of the ax25-utilities-packages somewhere on your system. Alternativly you may install the "ax25-utils-devel"-package if available for your distribution. If you did compile the ax25-utils yourself, I recommend to copy all *.h files from ax25utils-2.1.42a/lib to /usr/include/ax25 and the libax25.a to /usr/lib. Alternatively you can provide the path to you axutils-direction to the configure-script using `./configure --with-ax25-utils=<directory>`. If you want to have debug-symbols in the executable, pass --enable-debug to configure. In all other cases just enter

>     % ./configure

environment variable `AX25LIB` to the `lib`-Directory if the ax25-utils, e.g. `export AX25LIB=/usr/src/ax25-utils-2.1.42a/lib`.

Having done that, unpack LinKT, change to the linkt-x.y.z directory and enter the following commands:

>     % ./configure
>     % make
>     % make install

The last command copies all relevant files to their proper places and you should be able to start LinKT. You need to be root (superuser-rights) to execute the `make install`.

LinKT uses `autoconf`, so it should compile on most Linux distributions. If you have problems, be sure you have installed the X11-Includes (X11 development package), KDE, Qt and the AX25-Utils as described above. Having checked that and if you continue to get errors, contact Jochen directly or via our mailing list.

If you have KDE running, reload the panel to activate the LinKT item in the launch-menu. (select `K panel restart` )

### Configuring

Now is the right time to run LinKT. There is an item in the launch-menu, look at `K Applications HamRadio LinKT`.

Please check the `TX-MyCall` at `File Preferences Callsigns` By default, LinKT uses the MyCall from `/etc/ax25/axports`.

Setting up Mycall is enough for now, but be sure to go through the other options as soon as possible so as to have an optimal configuration !

### The First Connection

Now you are able to open the `Connect`-dialog by selecting `Channel Connect` or pressing `<Alt+C>`. Enter the destination callsign, the port, and your callsign, and after pressing OK, connection should be established soon. Congratulations! You should consider grabbing a good piece of pizza now! <gr>.

If not, there is probably a problem with your Ax.25 configuration, or maybe the called station is not on the air.

To disconnect, click the close-button of the window or select `Disconnect` from the menu which appears when you hit the right mousebutton on the current window. If you are in hurry, just press `ALT-D`. In any case you must confirm the disconnect.