Amanda Work Group Installation Manual

							Chapter 14: Accessing Amanda Remotely 169
Setting Up Amanda’s Computer as a Host
It is a good idea to run the Host program automatically whenever Amanda’s 
computer starts. The AUTOEXEC.BAT file already contains lines that you 
can use for this purpose. 
However, you must remove the REM at the beginning of two lines in the 
AUTOEXEC.BAT: the line that contains the HOST command and the line 
above it that starts REM ECHO…. You might also have to change the 
number of the COM port to be used by the null modem cable or by the 
modem in Amanda’s computer. If the line is missing, add it as the first line of 
the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. 
Then reboot the computer to load the Host program.
The line for the null modem cable is:
REM LH HOST /2 /f /n >>%LOGN%
This lines for the modem and null modem cabled can be explained as 
follows:
REMIndicates that the line is currently ignored. Remove the 
REM to use the line.
LH HOSTTells the computer to load this program in high memory.
/2The 2 is for COM2. You can change this number to the 
number of the COM port the null modem cable or modem 
will use.
/fIndicates that the cable or modem is faster than 2400 bps.
/nIndicates that a null modem cable will be connected to 
both computers.
>>%LOGN%Sends information about loading the Host program to ei-
ther the C:\BOOTLOG file or to the screen, depending 
whether your AUTOEXEC.BAT file contains the line 
SET LOGN=C:\BOOTLOG or the line SET 
LOGN=CON: 
						

							170 Installing [email protected]/DOS
The line for the modem is:
REM LH HOST /4 >>%LOGN%
Use the list above (for the null modem) to understand each part of this line.
Change the /4 to the number of the COM port used by the modem on 
Amanda’s computer, and add a /f if your modem can handle data speeds of 
higher than 2400 bps.
Setting Up the Remote Computer
The remote computer must have a copy of the Remote program. Then you 
can run the Remote program from that computer (for example, a 
notebook).You can copy REMOTE.COM from C:\AMANDA to a floppy 
disk using the following command at the DOS prompt:
copy c:\amanda
emote.com a:
emote.com
(Your floppy disk drive may be b: rather than a:.) Then you can insert the 
floppy disk into the remote computer and copy the file to that computer.
If Amanda is running as a standalone, you can copy the file using the Alt+F 
(Filecopy) command from the Main screen. Simply answer the Copy From: 
and Copy To: prompts. 
						

							Chapter 14: Accessing Amanda Remotely 171
Connecting by Null Modem Cable
To connect over a null modem cable: 
1. Attach one end of the null modem cable to the correct serial port (for 
example, COM2) on Amanda’s computer and to a serial port on the 
remote computer.
2. Turn on both computers. 
3. From the remote computer, use the following command to start the 
Remote program. 
remote /x /n /f 
where x is 1 or 2, depending on what COM port the cable is connected 
to on the remote computer. For COM1, you can use /1 or nothing at all 
because COM1 is the default.
You execute the command from the directory in which the Remote pro-
gram is stored or you add the path name to the command. For example, 
if the program is stored on your hard drive in the UTIL directory on 
your C: drive, C:\UTIL\REMOTE would replace REMOTE in the com-
mand. If the computer runs a version of Windows, run the command 
while the computer is in DOS mode. (Remote may not run in a DOS 
box.)
4. Press Enter.
The following appears on the screen:
Remote Version 2.0
You can run Setup and other programs on Amanda’s computer while sit-
ting at the remote computer. (If the screen is blank because of Amanda’s 
screen saver, press the spacebar to exit the screen saver.)
5. To end the Remote session, press Alt+X.
The program asks you to confirm your decision to exit by typing Y.
The remote computer disconnects from Amanda.  
						

							172 Installing [email protected]/DOS
Connecting by Modem
To connect via data modem, both Amanda’s computer and the computer that 
will be accessing Amanda remotely must be running and have a modem that 
is connected to both a serial port and a telephone line. The data modem must 
be connected to either a dedicated telephone number (this works best) or its 
own telephone system station.
The Host program can use COM1 through COM4. The Amanda Company 
recommends that Amanda’s computer use one of the following for the data 
modem:
COM1 with IRQ4 and not other devices on COM1 or using IRQ4
COM2 with IRQ3 and not other devices on COM2 or using IRQ3
COM3 with IRQ11 and not other devices on COM3 or using IRQ11
COM4 with IRQ5 and not other devices on COM4 or using IRQ5
The Remote program works only with COM1 or COM2, with industry 
standard IRQ and I/O port addressing. That is: 
COM1 with IRQ4 and not other devices on COM1 or using IRQ4
COM2 with IRQ3 and not other devices on COM2 or using IRQ3
To control Amanda via modem:
1. Use the following command to start the Remote program:
remote /x 
where x is 1 or 2, depending on what COM port the cable is connected 
to on the remote computer. (For COM1, you can use /1 or nothing at all 
because COM1 is the default.)
You execute the command from the directory in which the Remote pro-
gram is stored or you add the path name to the command. For example, 
if the program is stored on your hard drive in the UTIL directory on your 
C: drive, C:\UTIL\REMOTE would replace REMOTE in the command.  
						

							Chapter 14: Accessing Amanda Remotely 173
If the computer runs a version of Windows, run the command while the 
computer is in DOS mode. (Remote may not run in a DOS box.)
2. Press Enter.
The following appears on the screen:
Remote Version 2.0
Enter phone number:
3. Type the telephone number for Amanda, then press Enter.
For example, if both modems are on the station side of the telephone 
switching system, you might use 9,17147530414,,,,,102 where the com-
mas are two-second pauses and the 102 is for mailbox 102. In this 
example, the Extension field for mailbox 102 would have to be 102H to 
achieve a blind transfer to extension 102.
Enter password: appears on the screen.
4. Type JENNIFER in uppercase letters, then press Enter.
You can run Setup and other programs on Amanda’s computer while sit-
ting at the remote computer. (If the screen is blank because of Amanda’s 
screen saver, press the spacebar to exit the screen saver.)
5. When you have finished, type Alt+X to end the connection. 
The program asks you to confirm your decision to exit by typing Y.
The remote computer disconnects from Amanda. 
						

							174 Installing [email protected]/DOS 
						

							Chapter 15:
Programming Amanda
Using Tokens
The Token Programming Language allows you to write programs for 
Amanda. These programs consist of tokens entered in Extension fields 
(defined per mailbox using Amanda Administrator’s Mailbox window or 
Amanda Standalone’s Users screen) and/or in Method fields (defined per 
mailbox using Amanda Administrator’s Notify window or Amanda 
Standalone’s Notify Screen). This section describes the language and 
introduces you to common programming terms. Understanding these terms 
can help you understand any programming language.
A token is a sequence of one or more characters that represents an action that 
Amanda can perform. The tokens that you use most often are simple and 
perform routine actions such as dialing an extension. However, a program 
can be much more complicated than that.
With the Token Programming Language, you can use tokens to do either of 
the following:
 Enhance Amanda’s normal processing of the Extension and Method 
fields. Normally, she uses Programmed Call Progress Monitoring 
(PCPM).
In this case, you add the tokens where appropriate within the field.
For example, 147H is a sequence of four tokens that tells Amanda to 
dial the DTMF digits 147 (for extension 147) and then hang up. Notice 
that the tokens are not separated by spaces (or any other characters). 
You write tokens one right after the other.  
						

							176 Installing [email protected]
 Stop Amanda’s normal processing of the fields and tell her what to 
do.
In this case, the first character in the field is @. Then you add the tokens 
that tell Amanda what to do.
For example,
@
R(G1,%S1)
assigns the DTMF digits entered by the caller to a variable named %S1. 
This starts with an @ to indicate that you are NOT processing this 
Extension field normally.
Normal processing for the Extension field: Amanda plays “Please hold 
while I try that extension,” puts the caller on transfer hold, then evaluates the 
tokens in the field. Unless told to do otherwise, she listens for call progress 
tones and an answer.
The @ stops Amanda from performing the dial code that puts a caller on 
transfer hold (also known as the dl_dtwait dial code). As explained in 
Installing [email protected], you use the Setup utility (selection 1) to 
set or view the dial codes. The codes are stored in 
C:\AMANDA\PBX.DB\1001.PBX, which you can view or edit using the 
JOVE utility.
Normal processing of the Notify Method field: Amanda tries to access a 
port for an outbound notification call. The @ stops Amanda from going off-
hook.
When most people think of a program, they think of a series of lines, each of 
which contains a single action or command. The Token Programming 
Language is similar, but each line become the contents of a different field, 
using the Extension field of a mailbox.
If the program contains only a few lines, sometimes you can use just one 
Extension or Method field for the entire program. However, when you need 
more fields, you use the Extension fields from additional mailboxes. Even if 
a Method field must be extended, you extend it to the Extension field in 
another mailbox.  
						

							Chapter 15: Programming Amanda 177
You use additional fields for any of the following reasons:
 The logic of the program branches or repeats. You use a G() com-
mand or I() command to create the branch or loop. See “Flow of 
Control: Branching and Looping” on page 188 for more details.
 The length of the string of tokens exceeds 65 characters, so you are 
forced to continue in another field. You use a G() command to ex-
tend the token string to a new Extension field.
Mailbox Settings
If you are using a mailbox’s Extension field for token programming, you 
must use all of the following settings:
 Do Not Disturb must be off. Amanda ignores the Extension field al-
together if Do Not Disturb is on.
 Call screening must be off. 
Success and Failure
Amanda evaluates tokens from left to right. If Amanda performs a token 
successfully, she goes on to the next token. 
When all the tokens have been performed successfully in an Extension field, 
Amanda goes to the RNA Chain field. If the RNA field is blank, she goes to 
the Done Chain field for the company greeting mailbox (usually mailbox 
990). 
When all the tokens have been performed successfully in the Notify Method 
field, Amanda goes to the next Notify Method field (if there is one). If there 
are no more Notify Method fields, Amanda goes to the Done Chain field for 
the current mailbox.
If the token is unrecognized (because of a syntax error or a typographical 
error) or fails, Amanda immediately goes to the Done Chain field without 
processing the rest of the tokens in the field. If the last successful token gives 
Amanda an invalid mailbox, she processes the Done Chain field for the 
mailbox associated with the current port because she cannot locate a Done 
Chain field for the invalid mailbox. (The mailbox associated with the port is 
usually 990, the Company Greeting mailbox.)  
						

							178 Installing [email protected]
For a literal or system variable, there is no such thing as failure. The token 
always succeeds. Some tokens define almost any behavior as successful. For 
example, you can have Amanda spell an empty string. Amanda doesn’t say 
anything, but no failure occurs either. 
Tracing Token Execution
Amanda’s trace files can let you know where and how a token program is 
failing. This is an invaluable debugging tool. 
Amanda creates trace files as she runs, because the following trace command 
should be in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
amanda /t5 /s1300
Like the default trace command, this command creates 
C:\AMANDA\TRACE.OUT file and limits its size to the last 1.3MB of data. 
(A file this size will fit on a 3 1/2-inch floppy disk.) What is different about 
this command is that it writes to the trace file every 10 lines. In this way, if 
Amanda crashes while running your token program, no more than ten lines 
of trace information can be lost. You can use /t with a number less than 10 if 
you need to, but it will slow down the system.
You can also display trace information on-screen.
To display trace information for a standalone system:
1. Press Ctrl+Home.
2. Press Alt+T.
Pressing any key stops the display. On-screen traces are stored by default in 
C:\AMANDA\SCREEN.OUT. To change the name of this file, use the Setup 
utility to change the setting for the configuration option screen_save.
To display trace information on Amanda Voice Server:
Press T.