[NEW] BBA Mode for DreamPi

[anti]

I'm not sure if I'm understanding this correctly. I have a DreamPi+Modem and BBA both connected to my network via Ethernet. How would the DreamPi know that my BBA is gaming online if I'm using an upstream DNS server on my BBA (46.101.91.123) and not pointing my BBA's DNS to the DreamPi?

I'll put together a short explanatory guide:

1) You must have a DreamPi/RaspberryPi configured for Wi-Fi.

2) An RJ45 cable (CAT5 or CAT5E) must connect the RaspberryPi's Ethernet port to the BBA.

3) On the RaspberryPi command line, you must execute the activation command:
./bba_mode.sh
4) Then choose option 0 and press enter.

5) On the Dreamcast, make sure that the browser settings for "Planet Web" 3.0 (or similar that works with BBA) your BBA is in DHCP, or if you want to specify it, it should be as follows:
Static IP Config
Dreamcast IP - 192.168.2.2
Netmask - 255.255.255.0
Gateway - 192.168.2.1
DNS1 - 192.168.2.1

6) Connect a BBA Game or Browser

That's it, the Dreampi/RaspberryPi will be the "internet source" to BBA, with the addition of managing the Dreamcast Now, it will open a DCNOW session and recognize the game.

After restarting the raspberryPi, everything goes back to normal and you will be able to connect to a game via dial-up.

After following this guide, you will probably understand the main guide better, in the first post.

No offense, but this sounds a bit backwards. I have ethernet connectivity to all of my devices. If the DreamPi can act as a router, what's stopping you from connecting the BBA and DreamPi to the same network switch and setting your BBA's gateway to the IP of the DreamPi? Why the need for WiFi?

[Scrivani]

It is possible to use the Dreamcast Now Manual Session (option 2), where you activate the game you want on Now via Raspberry Pi and then you connect your BBA normally the way you already do.

I'll take a look and test the possibility the way you suggested, sound good, i just need to see the python code behavior on that schema, should work , by using raspberrypi ip also as DNS server on dc bba settings.

[anti]

It is possible to use the Dreamcast Now Manual Session (option 2), where you activate the game you want on Now via Raspberry Pi and then you connect your BBA normally the way you already do.

I'll take a look and test the possibility the way you suggested, sound good, i just need to see the python code behavior on that schema, should work , by using raspberrypi ip also as DNS server on dc bba settings.

Please feel free to reach out to me on this for assistance. I have entry level knowledge in Python but I built my professional career in networking and hold a few certifications pertaining to it.

[Scrivani]

Please feel free to reach out to me on this for assistance. I have entry level knowledge in Python but I built my professional career in networking and hold a few certifications pertaining to it.

I did a quick test using the RaspberryPi as a Gateway, also as a DNS Server because I need to capture DNS incoming requests, since this is what powers the Dreamcast Now.

Technically possible, but I have to rewrite the bash/shell code, for example creating an alternative version of bba_mode.

To know when to start and stop the Dreamcast Now session, using it as a gateway, I need to capture logs via iptables and monitor the duration of the connection. DNS requests happen normally. So to make decisions based on this log instead of what I do today with DHCP service logs and the message itself that informs when the interface is turned on and off with BBA activation: "eth0 wake up", "eth0 wake down".

.
Now comes a point of consideration and premises:
1 - The connection should always be via fixed IP configuration.
2- Some games ignore these configurations and force DHCP, such as Toy Racer and Driving Strikers, which would cause the game not to be updated in Now in games like this. In the way I do it today, I also use DHCP, covering all games.
3- Doing it this way makes the Dreamcast Now session the same as the modem, since the differentiation is made by the mac address.
4- An important part of bba_mode is that using a different interface than the one normally used, it adds a second Dreamcast Now profile, where players add different nicknames with identification, for example: Sonic1994 (BBA).


The possibility of using it in the suggested way is indeed interesting, because it eliminates the need to use the raspberrypi as a physical bridge, but it has pros and cons. However, it can be implemented, I have bba_mode as open source on github, in case I don't have time to implement it in the near future.

Yes, there are positive points and there could be an alternative version of BBA_Mode, I just need to see when it would be possible to release it.

Another curious premise, since it will always require some manual action, I always like to remember the Manual List feature, which is practical, simple and convenient, for those who want to appear on Now while playing on BBA. Another possibility is in the instructions, which is to add a second ethernet port via USB and have a fully wired connection.

[peanut_unlimited]

I do like this idea a lot. I've mentioned it in similar posts, I implemented something like this quite some time ago, however I had a service running on another pi on my network that the DC would point to for its dns settings, while the service constantly scanned for the MAC address of the BBA to come online. It would then sniff those dns logs and then submit a push to DCNOW. Once the MAC address was no longer visible it would then drop the DCNOW connection.

I still use this service now to automatically manage my DCNOW presence via BBA. My aim was to move it to the dreampi, so it service as both a connection for the modem and for a listener of the BBA. I was thinking we could capture a generic pattern for SEGA BBA MAC addresses to just sniff the network for 'some' sort of Sega branded network device and automate the process. Alternatively could manually enter a mac address as an option if that failed. Then all thats required is pointing the DNS settings of the DC to that device and boom, all good to go.

This project sounds very similar to the goal I was trying to achieve and I love seeing this develop.

Nice work Scrivani

[anti]

I did a quick test using the RaspberryPi as a Gateway, also as a DNS Server because I need to capture DNS incoming requests, since this is what powers the Dreamcast Now.

Were you able to get online with your BBA when using the DreamPi IP as the default gateway and DNS server? I think you may have actually answered my original question and also sparked a new idea for your script! Two for one!

1 - The connection should always be via fixed IP configuration.
2- Some games ignore these configurations and force DHCP, such as Toy Racer and Driving Strikers, which would cause the game not to be updated in Now in games like this. In the way I do it today, I also use DHCP, covering all games.

Most DHCP servers have an option for IP reservations. You could set that up and change your BBA settings to do DHCP instead of static. This would facilitate what is needed for your setup and also get around those issues you listed for Toy Racer and Driving Strikers.

Another curious premise, since it will always require some manual action, I always like to remember the Manual List feature, which is practical, simple and convenient, for those who want to appear on Now while playing on BBA. Another possibility is in the instructions, which is to add a second ethernet port via USB and have a fully wired connection.

I appreciate you reminding me of another idea I had in the past - setting up a DreamPi for multiple modems to connect at once. I should probably talk with the creator of DreamPi at some point as well lol

I do like this idea a lot. I've mentioned it in similar posts, I implemented something like this quite some time ago, however I had a service running on another pi on my network that the DC would point to for its dns settings, while the service constantly scanned for the MAC address of the BBA to come online. It would then sniff those dns logs and then submit a push to DCNOW. Once the MAC address was no longer visible it would then drop the DCNOW connection.

Not too bad of a solution. Might be worth exploring using ARP instead of parsing DNS logs but not sure if that would make much difference in terms of efficiency!

I still use this service now to automatically manage my DCNOW presence via BBA. My aim was to move it to the dreampi, so it service as both a connection for the modem and for a listener of the BBA. I was thinking we could capture a generic pattern for SEGA BBA MAC addresses to just sniff the network for 'some' sort of Sega branded network device and automate the process. Alternatively could manually enter a mac address as an option if that failed. Then all thats required is pointing the DNS settings of the DC to that device and boom, all good to go.

The OUI (first six of the MAC address) for Sega Dreamcast(s) is the only OUI that Sega has registered so this should be an easy win for you!

00D0F1 SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD.

Nice work Scrivani

I forgot to say thanks as well!

[Scrivani]

It's very nice to see other BBA lovers

So yeah, i would keep my bba_mode the way it is, and maybe create a alternative version for that.

If you set an IP Reservation on you router, i think you would not be able to force the gateway to another device(?).

And yeah ,there is many ways to submit the DCNow session