Info Highway Lessons...

Hello everyone!

Ever heard the term, "Beam me up Scotty!"? . Let us look at the possibilities of being Cyber Transported from location to location. Such can and more importantly IS being done daily. Cyber-Traveler on the Internet are being "beamed" from location to location daily. One minute you can be in the U.S., the Next you can be in Africa. All of this is possible through an Internet Method called Telnet. Do you have a local Internet provider, but no Local Compuserve Node number? Telnet may be your answer, read on...

Telnet uses the TCP/IP (remember that lesson?) protocol to connect computers to various hosts. If your Information Provider has the Telnet Feature you can execute this command easily. Once the Command Telnet is typed on clicked on, you will be then able to tell the program where you would like to go. This is normally done via the OPEN command. Then you would type the Address of the place you would like to go. After this, you would asked to log in. Normally you would need to already have an I.D. and Password at this location, but what I am learning of late is that, just as Anonymous FTP allows you to be transferred to various sited to obtain File, Some systems allow you to Telnet to them without having an account with them as well. You will be able to call up menu options and get whatever information you are seeking. Let us bear in mind that in contrast to FTP, with Telnet you are not "dropped off in someone's PC Directory to GET whatever files you want", you are here actually "put at the complete PC or Online Service and can run the programs or access the Menus" that interest you. You may be able in most cases to logon as NewUser or similar. You may find that you Telnet to a site and it does not ask for any info at all. Most like here, you have Telneted to what is known as a "port". This will be part of the address and will tie you directly to a program that will run on the fly. As on any System help is often available such as...

OPEN - to start a connection

CLOSE - to end a connection

QUIT - also ends the Connection and the Telnet Program (will in

most cases return you back to your Info Providers Main Menu)

? - Retrieves help on Commands

Z - Suspends Telnet

display set - toggles local echo.

set escape - sets the escape key to end a telnet session

Just as Gopher programs (another lesson) help in finding the FTP sites, there is a program to assist in finding Telnet Sites. It was created by Peter Scott and is called Hytelnet. There versions of this program for DOS and Mactintosh. A good place to start to look for versions would be via FTP at access.usask.ca. A special note, the Macintosh Version of Hytelnet (which requires MacTCP and HyperCard) requires you to click on Configure to enter your Telnet paths etc. You can also run the Hytelnet Unix Client at via Telnet at access.usask.ca. You login would be hytelnet.

Some notable Telnet sites are as follows:

Library of Congress: dra.com or locis.loc.gov

Online Computer Library Center: epic.prod.oclc.org (note: first you

must obtain an account by calling

(800) 848-5878

MELVYL: gladis or melvyl (note: first you

must direct dial into the Bay Area

Dataline (510) 642-6092 *2400bps*

(510) 643-9600 *9600/14400bps*

Science Space Info: spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov

History: ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu

NBA Game Schedule: culine.colorado.edu

Weather: downwind.sprl.umich.edu 3000

Well this wraps another Lesson, hoping your Cyber-Travels are good ones!

We close with a...

Tip of the Week

---------------

Question:

How can you browse over 80,000 CD titles for browsing and ordering?

Answer:

Via Telnet.

Where?

cdconnection.com

Enter Here for Our Main Web Site & Sign in Guestbook!