Section 2-2: In order to Connect...

[ Previous chapter ][ This chapter ][ Next chapter ] You should have the appropriate hardware/software prerequisites before you start.

• Cabling : Any desktop device must be somehow connected to the main computer or network, which usually requires a plug in the wall. Make sure that the responsible person at your site is informed if you want to connect your equipment, for advice and support.

• Desktop Equipment - Workstation Type: If you have a workstation, PC or Macintosh, you need software (commercial or public domain) for connection to the IP network . Note that, depending on the application you want to run, your desktop device must run specific software which makes it possible to display "windows" on the screen. The usage of this so-called X-Windows system is described below .

  NOTE: Even if you have all cables ready, you MUST call the responsible person BEFORE you connect. World-wide connectivity REQUIRES that your host is properly named and configured.

• Desktop Equipment - Terminal Type: You can use a terminal, PC or Macintosh as an input/output device. If your PC or Macintosh is not connected to ethernet (a cable which may look like a TV cable or an oversized telephone connection), but to a serial line (i.e., COM1 (PC) or communication port (Macintosh)), you need software (commercial or public domain) for terminal emulation (e.g., the public domain program 'kermit' ).

  NOTE: If you run a terminal or terminal emulator you will most probably not be able to use the X-Windows system , which is required for running various applications including GCG's graphical user interface WPI .

  NOTE: If you run a terminal or terminal emulator you will most probably not be able to use the comfortable, graphic versions of 'gopher' or 'mosaic' . You will be restricted to use the versions of 'lynx' (a text-only browser for the WWW system) and 'gopher' of the host to which you are connected.

• Hardcopy Devices: If you wish to use a local printer attached to your PC or terminal, you need to make sure that this printer supports 'pass-through' printing. Note that, depending on your local configuration, printing can also use the network , which implies that various devices at different physical locations are accessible. Biology software, like the GCG package, might require specific settings and is described later .

The following assumes that the hardware and communication software are properly installed and that you use a device with keyboard input. PC (Windows) or Macintosh applications might offer a click-and-enter interface where you just need to give the name of the computer to connect to (e.g., a graphical user interface to 'telnet').

SECURITY NOTICE: You will most probably be able to connect to any computer in the world once you are connected to a central computer and use this as a 'base' for 'internet surfing'. If you do this, you will access environments, programs, databases and computers which are not under local control. Rules which are available for local use, therefore, might not apply in the usual way. This consideration is particularly important for environments beyond firewalls (commercial companies).

Open a window if you are on a PC or Mac, otherwise hit <RETURN>. If you get a prompt which identifies a LAT terminal server (LAT: Local Area Transport, a DEC-proprieraty protocol for local area networks), e.g.,

Enter Username>

enter your account name and hit <RETURN> again. (You could also abbreviate your name here, at this point there is no check.) If you get

local>

you will be able to connect to your host on the local network. E.g., to connect to the host BALU, type

local> connect balu

• Serial Line Access (TCP/IP server):

Open a window if you are on a PC or Mac, otherwise hit <RETURN>. If you get a prompt which identifies a 'telnet' terminal server, e.g.,

Server01>

enter the name of the computer you want to connect to. E.g., to connect to the host ch.embnet.org, type

Server01> connect ch.embnet.org

Note that some servers use a different syntax, and you must type

Server01> open ch.embnet.org

• Broadband:

Open a window if you are on a PC or Mac, otherwise hit <RETURN>. If you get a prompt which identifies a broad band ethernet terminal server, e.g.,

#

enter the service name. E.g., to connect to the host residing at 631, type

# call 631

• from another host running TCP/IP:

It can be that your computer does not understand TCP/IP names because it is not connected to a name server . Then, you need to find out the so-called 'address' of the remote computer. This address is typically a set of four numbers separated by dots. The WWW browser and other networking software will most certainly fail if the name server system does not operate properly.

VMS System

If you have an account on a VMS machine, and you wish to connect to another system which runs TCP/IP , the command to connect to the host basel.ch.embnet.org would be

$ TELNET BASEL.CH.EMBNET.ORG

The command 'telnet' may fail if it is unknown on your local computer. TCP/IP is an optional product on VMS systems and needs to be configured or purchased separately. Ask your system manager for assistance. It can be that your VMS system does not understand TCP/IP names because it is not connected to a name server . Then, you need to find out the so-called 'address' of the remote computer. This address is typically a set of four numbers separated by dots. For example, to connect to a node called 131.152.8.4, type

$ TELNET 131.152.8.4

This command might fail because the remote computer is currently unavailable for communication. Then, the error message would be

network is unreachable

or similar.

UNIX system

If you have an account on a UNIX machine, and you want to connect to another system which runs TCP/IP , the command to connect to the host basel.ch.embnet.org would be

% telnet basel.ch.embnet.org

It can be that your UNIX system does not understand TCP/IP names because it is not connected to a name server . Then, you need to find out the so-called 'address' of the remote computer. This address is typically a set of four numbers separated by dots. For example, to connect to a node called 131.152.8.4, type

% telnet 131.152.8.4

This command might fail because the remote computer is currently unavailable for communication. Then, the error message would be

network is unreachable

or similar.

• from another host running DECNET:

If you have an account on a VMS system, and you need to connect to another system which still runs DECnet (Phase IV), the command to connect to the host biox would be

$ SET HOST BIOX

It may happen that the command fails because the computer name is not known on your local computer. Then, the error message would be

%F, remote host is unknown

In this case, you must determine the full address of the computer. Consider the following example: If the area number of the host is 47, and its host number is 36, the calculation is to multiply the area by 1024 and add the host number. In this example (47 * 1024) + 36 gives 48164. The command to be typed is then

$ set host 48164

This command might fail because the remote computer is currently unavailable for communication. Then, the error message would be

%F, remote host is unreachable

or similar. If your computer is connected to the public X.25 network, you need the PAD number of the remote computer. To connect to a node with the number 06225463552423, type

$ set host /X29 06225463552423