From bobrankin@mhv.net Tue May 28 23:27:10 1996 Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 21:03:48 -0400 From: Bob RankinReply-To: TOURBUS-REQUEST@LISTSERV.AOL.COM To: Multiple recipients of list TOURBUS Subject: TOURBUS - 28 May 1996 - Telnet Basics /~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~/~~~|~\ | "Why | Surf When / You Can | Ride The | Bus?" / | \ |__________|__________/__________|__________|_________/ | \ / /______|----\ / Be the first web-surfer on your block to own an |//////| | | ultra-cool WorldVillage T-shirt. For more info visit |//////| | | http://www.worldvillage.com/tshirt.htm |//////| | | |//////| | ~~~/~~~\~~/~~~\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/~~~\~~~~ \___/ \___/ T h e I n t e r n e t T o u r B u s \___/ TODAY'S TOURBUS STOP : Telnet Basics TODAY'S TOURBUS ADDRESS : http://lmc.einet.net/hytelnet/SITES2.html Long before the Web and all of its multimedia flash was a blip on the Internet radar, savvy netizens were using a text-based tool called Telnet to tap into the wonders of the online world. But today, many Net surfers who have never even heard of Telnet are missing out on something good... *----------------------------* GET SMART *-----------------------------* Bring the classroom to your room! University of Wisconsin-Stout online courses let you learn in your own place and time. For more info, point to http://major.uwstout.edu or send e-mail to "conted@uwstout.edu". *------------------------------------------------------------------------* What is Telnet? --------------- Telnet is a tool that lets you log in to other computers using the Internet. Why would you want to do that? Simple - to access the interesting stuff on those other computers, such as research databases, games, card catalogs, and information services. And many times, the only way to get there is by Telnet. Since Telnet is text-based, there's no pointing or clicking. All your navigation is done via the keyboard, so leave the mouse at home when you venture out with Telnet. Even though there are no pretty pictures, you'll find that a little time invested in learning the basics of Telnet will be time well spent! How to Connect -------------- Before you can connect to another computer with Telnet, you'll need to know a few things. No matter type of computer or connection you have, you must specify a hostname (and sometimes a port number) before you can connect to the other computer. And once you connect, you'll need to enter a userid (and sometimes a password) in order to log in and start using the service at that remote computer. Once you are logged in, you'll need to pay careful attention to the instructions on the screen to find out how to navigate the Telnet site and logout when you're done. When Telnetting you could end up on almost any type of computer -- a UNIX computer at a university, a DOS-based BBS, or an IBM mainframe, so the commands you use while logged in to the remote site will differ from site to site. Telnet via a Shell Account -------------------------- Let's work through an example using a UNIX shell account to find out what this Telnet stuff is all about. (Things work pretty much the same way if you have a SLIP/PPP account - more on that later.) In general, when you use Telnet from a shell prompt, you'll send a command like this: telnet hostname The word "telnet" tells your system to start a Telnet session and to go to the address that you specify in hostname. (You replace hostname with the name of the site that you want to Telnet to.) Unless you are told to use a specific port number (such as 3000), you should omit the portnumber value. The brackets around portnumber mean that this field is optional. Vanilla Telnet -------------- OK, time to try some Telnet-ing. Let's Telnet to the computer called SJSULIB1.SJSU.EDU (The San Jose State University Library and Instructional Resource Center, gateway to the Beethoven Bibliography Database) and see what happens. To connect to this site, type telnet SJSULIB1.SJSU.EDU You will be able to login to this site without being prompted for a userid or password. (The Beethoven database can be accessed by entering "O" at the prompt after you connect.) Telnet With a Port Number ------------------------- Here's another Telnet example, this time with a specific port number. For this one, type telnet DOWNWIND.SPRL.UMICH.EDU 3000 a weather forecasting service. Again, there's no need for a userid or password here. Explore at your leisure... Telnet With a Userid -------------------- Finally, here's a Telnet example that does require a userid for entry. To connect to the InterNIC Directory and Database Services site, type telnet ds.internic.net While this site requires a userid, we're told in the welcome screen to login as "guest". Don't count on being told how to login though. Sometimes you have to know the userid ahead of time! Unless you are connecting to a fee-based service to which you have previously subscribed (like CompuServe or a BBS) you probably won't ever need a password when using Telnet. Telnet Clients for SLIP/PPP --------------------------- If you're Telnetting from a SLIP/PPP account (using Windows or Macintosh graphical software) look for an icon on your screen labelled "Telnet" (or possibly "Terminal") to start a Telnet session. If you don't have the software already installed, here are some free Telnet programs that you can download through your Web browser. NetTerm (Windows) http://starbase.neosoft.com/~zkrr01 NCSA Telnet (Macintosh) http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive/Archive/comm/tcp/ ncsa-telnet-27b4.hqx (line split for clarity) Note: If you're a subscriber to Prodigy or America Online, Telnet may be out of your reach. Check in the Internet area to see if Telnet is available. A Word About Terminal Emulation ------------------------------- The phrase "terminal emulation" may sound like a fatal disease, but it's important to understand. Because there are many different types of computers out there, your Telnet software has to act just like (or emulate) the real terminals that are connected to the host computer you wish to access. Each Telnet program (or client) allows you to specify the type of terminal to use before you connect. It's usually safe to try VT100 emulation, but if the screen looks jumbled or keys will not function properly, try ANSI (common for BBS's) or TN3270 (for IBM mainframe systems). *-----------------* Win the $1 Million Dollar Giveaway! *----------------* Enter in the PrizeLINK Progressive Jackpot Sweepstakes At Web Warehouse mall! Play the Browse & Win game, with a chance to Win up to a COOL $1 Million!! Web Warehouse Shopping Mall offers a wide assortment of quality consumer items and services ranging from jewelry to music CDs. Stop by today and take advantage of the Special Monthly Savings! *------------------------( http://webwarehouse.com )-----------------------* How To Find Interesting Telnet Sites ------------------------------------ Hopefully the examples in this psoting have given you an idea of the type of services available by Telnet. But that's just the tip of the iceberg - you can visit BBS's all over the world, access free databases, search through library card catalogs, play interactive multi-player games and do lots of other interesting things via Telnet. Check out http://lmc.einet.net/hytelnet/SITES2.html with your Web browser and you'll find a listing with dozens of Telnet sites to explore. They're all arranged by category with nice descriptions, and best of all they're just a click away. See you next time! --Bob ====================================================================== SUBSCRIBE : Send SUBSCRIBE TOURBUS Firstname Lastname to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM unSUBSCRIBE: Send SIGNOFF TOURBUS to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Web Site : http://www.worldvillage.com/tourbus.htm Advertising: E-mail BobRankin@MHV.net w/ Subject: SEND TBRATES Ad slots for June are going fast! ====================================================================== TOURBUS - (c) Copyright 1996, Patrick Crispen and Bob Rankin All rights reserved. Redistribution is allowed only with permission. Send this copy to 3 friends and tell them to get on the Bus!
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