Connection to SHU Internet - Win 3.1 Version

IBM PC or Compatible + Windows 3.1 Version

VERSION: February 25, 1996
AUTHOR: Center for Academic Technology (CAT) (bgw)
(Special thanks to Mike Butkus and Chris Russomanno for their help)

This document is under continuous development. If you find any errors, please
contact the CAT by sending email to internet:cat@sciris.shu.edu


Contents


Introduction

You can connect your home computer to the Internet for free, using Seton Hall's dialup Internet connection. You can then attach to Seton Hall's Campus-Wide Information System or the World-Wide-Web using Netscape, simultaneously connect to other computers via Telnet, run multiple connections to Seton Hall's mainframe systems, or download programs, images, movies, or other files from the Internet to your computer via Ftp.

At this time, you can not access your network files that you have saved on your network account on campus, or use any of the programs on your network account. You can only access the Internet (Netscape, Telnet, Ftp, Gopher, Archie, etc). A mechanism to access your network files is currently being developed, but no date has been set for its availability.

This dialup service is provided free of charge to faculty, students, and staff of Seton Hall. However, you need to dial a phone number in the (201) area code, and long distance phone charges may apply. You might want to contact your long distance phone company about special rates to frequently accessed phone numbers, or use another Internet provider of your choice.


Requirements

To use the Internet dialup connection, you will need the following:

Seton Hall's Dialup Account

A dialup account is different from your regular network account. Since not everyone will need such an account, you need to specifically apply for it before you can dialup the Internet. To apply for a dialup account at Seton Hall, please fill out the Dialup Account form by clicking on the link below. Note that you can only access that form from Seton Hall computers. Since the resources of CSD and CAT are limited, you must use the above on-line form to apply for a Dialup account (available at the address http://www.shu.edu/faculty/cat/Docs/Dialup/.) After you filled out that form you will receive a mail message to your LAN mail account that Before you can download the dialup software, you must read that electronic mail message.

How does it work and what software do I need ?

Access to the Internet is provided using a PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) connection between your computer and a bank of modems at Seton Hall. You use your computer to establish a PPP connection, providing your dialup account name. Then you can use a variety of software products to surf the net, such as Netscape, Telnet, Gopher, Ftp, etc.

You can use any PPP compatible dialup software that you like, but Seton Hall will provide you with a PPP dialup software free of charge called Trumpet WinSocket.

Note: Trumpet WinSocket is available in two versions: a shareware version that will expire after 30 days, and a version licensed to members of Seton Hall that will not expire.

Anyone can download the shareware version from various FTP sites, but to download the licensed version you need to use a Seton Hall computer, and you need to know a name and password before you are allowed to download the software. That information is sent to you via email when you fill out the above Dialup Account request form.

In addition to dialup software, you need as least an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and a TELNET program. Seton Hall will provide you with both programs for your computer. Once you have installed the FTP program, you can download any other program that you need directly to your computer (including Netscape).


Where to get the Basic Dialup Software

There are two methods to obtain the necessary software:

How to install the Dialup Software

Make sure that:
  1. Copy all files from the TRUMPET directory on your diskette to the Windows directory on your hard disk. (Actually, you can copy these files into any other directory on your hard drive, as long as it is in your path. Refer to you Windows manual for details on how to copy files)
  2. Create a program group for your Trumpet files:
    • Select File/New from the Program Manager, and choose Program Group.
    • For the Description, enter an appropriate name, eg: "SHU Dialup"
    • Leave the Group File blank (Windows will set this automatically) and select OK.
  3. Create a Program Item for "Tcpman" within your "SHU Dialup" program group:
    • Open the File Manager and position it so that you can see both the "SHU Dialup" group (in the Program Manager) and the contents of the Windows directory (you may need to resize the File Manager to do this).
    • Drag "tcpman.exe" from the Windows directory into the "SHU Dialup" program group.
  4. Start TCPMAN by double-clicking on the program icon just created.
  5. Select File / Setup
    • set the proper comm port to which your modem is connected (SLIP port 1 or 2) and the speed of your modem (start with 9600 or 14400, if everything works come back to this step and try higher numbers - the maximum for Seton Hall is 57600). Leave IP address and everything else the same (in particular, you must have selected "internal PPP"
  6. Select OKAY and ignore the message to restart Trumpet.
  7. Select File / PPP option
    • enter your dialup account ID in the "username" box in lower case only and the password in the "password" box, if applicable. Click on OK
  8. Select Dialler / Other and select the file "setup.cmd".
    • Enter Seton Hall dialup number to dial. Don't forget the area code and leading 1 to access a long distance line, if necessary.
    • Enter your dialup account ID again (in lower case only)
    • Click on OKAY instead of entering a password (or enter a password, if necessary)
  9. Select Dialer / Option
    • Select desired mode of operation in the top box.. "Automatic login and logout on demand" works best. Click Help for details, if necessary
  10. Close Trumpet Winsocket
That's it. Now you are ready to try out your connection for the first time.

How to connect and disconnect

To connect: If you have the "login on demand" option checked, you can start any Internet program (such as Netscape or Ftp) and a connection will be established automatically when needed.

If you do not have "login on demand" option checked, or you do not have any Internet programs yet, open "tcpman" from the "SHU Dialup" group in the programmer and select "Dialler / Login".

After establishing a successful connection, you are attached to the Internet. Nothing else will happen, but now you can use any Internet program such as Netscape, Telnet, or FTP. Use the FTP program to obtain any other program that you like to use. See below for instructions on downloading software, in particular Netscape.

To disconnect: Select "Trumpet WinSock" from your running programs, and select "Dialler / Bye". That will disconnect you and hang up your modem. Make sure your modem has disconnected properly (turn it off, if necessary). You will also be disconnected automatically if your Internet connection remains idle for several minutes - don't worry if it happens, you will be automatically reconnected when necessary if you selected the "login on demand" feature.


How to install the FTP Software

On your diskette is another directory, labeled FTP. To install that program: Next, you need to create an icon for the new FTP program That's it. You now have software to download other software (which is the purpose of FTP).

How to install the Telnet Software

On your diskette is another directory, labeled TELNET. To install that program: Next, you need to create an icon for the new TELNET program That's it. You now have software to connect to other computer systems such as the online catalog (which is the purpose of TELNET).

How to obtain other software

Using Ftp and your Internet dialup connection you can download other software straight to your hard disk. That, however, may mean that you could also catch a virus. Make sure you download software only from reputable software depositories.

The software you can download from Seton Hall is checked against virus infections as a matter of course and should be safe to use.

To download software, here are the basic steps:

As a detailed example, here are the steps for downloading and installing Netscape.

Downloading and installing Netscape

Netscape version 2 is a program to browse the World-Wide-Web. It is (currently) free of charge for academic institutions. To download Netscape: These instructions refer to version 2.0 of Netscape; other versions may use slightly different instructions, but you should have little trouble figuring it out. The program will now download to your computer. It make take some time (up to one 40 minutes) depending on the speed of your modem. A progress bar will tell you how much of the file has already been downloaded.

Once the download process is finished, click on EXIT to exit the FTP program. You need to setup Netscape next.

Netscape has many options that can be configured. Start Netscape by selecting it from the appropriate folder in the Program Manager. Make sure you are still connected to the Internet. You should soon see the Netscape Homepage. If you do, everything is working correctly, and there are just a few items to complete. That's it. Now Netscape should work, and be configured correctly. You can also install many other 'helper' applications that can handle different types of information found on the World-Wide-Web. By default, Netscape can handle text, graphic images, and sounds. To be able to see, say, movies, you need to first download the appropriate program from Seton Hall's download site or from other Internet sites and setup that program to work correctly with Netscape on your computer.

Downloading and installing Telnet 3270

Telnet 3270 is very similar to the Telnet program mentioned above, but it allows you to connect to IBM Mainframe computers. For example, Seton Hall has several mainframe computers for administration and faculty use. You would need this program to access that information. You will again need to have obtained a user name and password for those computers before you can use it, but again some (very few) library card catalogs may also require you to use this program.

Telnet 3270 is only needed in certain circumstances - you can download it later, or not at all

This program is free, but offers very limited features. You can purchase (or download) any other WinSocket compatible program that offers you better features, but you may have to pay for it yourself.

The program will now download to your computer. It is small, so it should not take very long. A progress bar will tell you how of the file has already been downloaded. Next, you need to create an icon for the new Telnet 3270 program That's it, you are now ready to connect to an IBM mainframe computer.
For further information on using Netscape, Telnet, or Telnet 3270, or for other programs to access the Internet, participate in one or more of the seminars and workshop offered by the CAT and by Academic Computing.

If you have any questions or problems, please check the Dialup FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions page. If you can not solve your problem that way, please fill out the Dialup Trouble Report form.


Center for Academic Technology (CAT)
Bert G. Wachsmuth
Faculty Fellow