TCP/IP? Browser? FTP? |
 | by Nancy Ward |
All these questions have been answered numerous times; here, there and everywhere. To my knowledge, they have never all been answered at one time, in one place, so . . .
HALNET offers: A combination SLIP/PPP/Shell account. When you log onto the system, you will be given a choice between Shell and CSLIP/PPP (Compressed Serial Line Internet Protocol/Point to Point Protocol). You will use the same user ID and password to access both types of account.
A Unix Shell account, a basic text based interface provided for you when you sign on, allows you to connect to the Internet through the HALNET computer. This account is normally used by means of a menu, which can be disabled to allow you to type instructions at the command line. The HALNET shell account offers E-mail, FTP, Gopher, Veronica, World Wide Web with Lynx browser and UseNet newsgroups. Other than your own modem and communications package, all the software tools necessary are accessible from the HALNET computer. They do not need to be (in fact, cannot be) installed on your computer.
A CSLIP/PPP account allows you to use your own client programs to bypass the HALNET computer tools and graphically interface with the Internet. You get everything the text based shell account offers, and are allowed to pick and choose among the many Winsock and Client tools available. These tools are installed on your personal computer, rather than on the HALNET computer.
Price: A personal account is available to individual HAL-PC members for a one-time setup fee of $45.00 and $10.00 per month plus tax, payable six months in advance ($113.67). On the horizon is a choice of an automatic monthly credit card deduction for HALNET service.
Hardware: In the beginning, the HALNET system was cobbled from spare parts from within HAL-PC and leftover modems from the BBS. Today, we have a "state of the art" system.
User Support: helpdesk@hal-pc.org offers support to the individual who may have a problem with installation of HALNET.exe, which includes Trumpet Winsock and several client programs. Client applications should come with their own documentation and support. For further help using these programs, a phone call or e-mail to the author or vendor will usually bring the support you need. In addition, there are halpc.halnet.questions and the INET and Internet Conferences on the BBS (713/963-4100). Although not all are official volunteers, most of the folks who hang out in these areas are those who have been helped by others and are willing to share their knowledge and expertise with those less experienced.
Restrictions: Time is unlimited; however, the usual rules of courtesy and resource sharing apply. If you are not using your account, log off; you can always call back later.
Home Pages Each subscriber is allowed one MB of space on the HALNET computer for creation of a Home Page.
The modem: A V.32 9600 BPS modem is the bare minimum (2400 BPS will do, but is not recommended), with a 14.4K BPS V.32bis/V.42bis being better and a 28.8 V.34 compatible modem being the very best.
The UART - Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter: A chip inside your computer or modem that converts its data stream for transmission in the serial environment used in data communications. The data bits are sent one after another, using a start bit at the beginning and a stop bit at the end. The UART chip aids us by turning the computer's parallel data stream into a serial data stream.
If you have an older computer, especially an 80386, chances are you have an 8250 or 16450 UART. Neither of these chips is able to communicate efficiently in the high-speed environment. Most newer modems have the newest UART chip, which will take the place of the one in your computer.
The Communications Driver: Comm.drv the Windows communications driver, is not the most efficient at high-speed work. Possible replacements include two shareware products: Cybercom and CHCOMB.EXE. Compared to Windows' Comm.drv, these drivers bring increased speed (up to 115,200 KB with a 16550A UART) and reliability to the file transfer process. Cybercom and CHCOMB.EXE can be found on most major commercial services and at FTP sites around the net.
A common misconception about shareware is that it's not commercial, but free for the taking. In fact, shareware is commercial (the author wants money for it) and is not free. The author has put in countless hours developing his product and has chosen shareware as a marketing tool. By foregoing fancy commercial packaging and ever increasing marketing costs, the author offers his product at a lower price, while allowing you to try before you buy. If the program sticks to your hard drive (if you use the program past the trial period), you are obligated to pay the author's registration fee. 'Nuff said.
The Stack/Suite: at a minimum, you will need a TCP/IP stack (WINSOCK.DLL is included) and client programs of your choosing. Assuming you wish to tap the Internet to its fullest extent, you will need a mail reader, news reader, file transfer application, World Wide Web browser, various search engines and Telnet. Listed below are descriptions of each type of client, followed by a partial list of applications available. HALNET.EXE (described below) will get you started.
HALNET.EXE: A self-extracting file located in the HALNET "guest" account, HALNET.EXE contains a TCP/IP stack configured for HALNET (you will have to add a minimum of information), FTP (file transfer application), Gopher (a search tool), and Archie (another search tool), as well as installation instructions and a HALNET subscription application. To get these files, set your communication program's file transfer protocol to Zmodem and dial up HALNET at 713/963-4141. At the login: prompt, type "guest" (omit the quotes) and press [enter]. You will be given a choice between Windows 3.1, Win95 and OS/2 software and instructions. Once your choice is made, the proper files are automatically transferred to your download path and you will be automatically logged off the system.
TCP/IP -Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol: A suite (stack) of protocols that handles transmission, receipt and reassembly of data on the Internet.
Winsock.DLL: A dynamic link library file that allows Microsoft Windows to work with TCP/IP. Winsock should fit neatly between the TCP/IP stack and the client programs.
Trumpet Winsock: (shareware, $25.00 registration fee) developed by Peter Tattum. The most popular TCP/IP program, Trumpet seems to be the only viable shareware stack available.
WS_FTP: (free for non-commercial use), created by John A. Junod. Two versions are available, 16-bit for Windows 3.1 users (included in HALNET.EXE), and a 32-bit version for users of Windows NT and Win95. WS_FTP already has a number of session profiles set up that will allow you to go out and get whatever you need or want for your Internet connection.
Wsarchie: (freeware) Although Wsarchie is a search tool, it searches for FTP files; therefore, it should be included here. Tell Wsarchie what you are looking for and it connects to an archie server (there are a number of them), then searches the database and provides you with an FTP site name and complete directory path to the program you have specified. There are several archie servers listed in the Default Archie Server field of Wsarchie.
Mail Readers: Mail (e-mail) readers allow you exchange electronic messages with others on the Internet. E-mail is stored on the host computer in your mailbox. When you log in to your HALNET account, you will be told if you have mail waiting.
Eudora Lite: (postcardware - Send a postcard from your area to the author.) Available through the HAL-PC BBS as EUDORA.ZIP and as a preset WS_FTP session profile. Although the "lite" version is adequate for sending and receiving e-mail, local software stores carry a commercial version (more bells and whistles) of Eudora.
Pegasus: (freeware) available through the HAL-PC BBS as WINPM.ZIP and as a preset WS_FTP session profile.
Telnet: An Internet protocol that allows you log in at a remote computer and let your computer act as though it were a terminal, thereby using whatever resources the system administrators there have made accessible. Telnet to the Library of Congress and access records of millions of books published in the US. Or, see government records, copyright information and other options. Unlike other client applications, the Telnet app is managed by whatever system you log onto with it.
Ewan: (freeware) Authored by Peter Zander, and although Ewan is freeware, e-mail support will cost you. Ewan is also available on the BBS as EWAN105.ZIP.
WinQVT: WinQVT is a shareware package combination that presents a newsreader, FTP module, mail capabilities and Telnet all rolled into one.
Searching with WAIS - Wide Area Information Servers: WAIS databases allow you to search for information in a full-text environment, using a variety of search techniques.
EINet WinWais: (freeware) is a full featured WAIS client that includes a graphics viewer program. Lets you search a wide range of databases by entering keywords and moving between sources with ease.
HGopher: (public domain) created by Martyn Hampson. Graphical icons provide information about the files available at sites you visit. Just click on the item to choose it. HGopher uses the Gopher+ protocols.
Veronica: (freeware) Accessed through Gopher sites, Veronica allows you to search Gopher menus for particular key words. In this manner, you can eliminate sites that don't have information you need.
Trumpet for Windows: (shareware - $40.00 registration fee) Gives readily workable commands through pull-down menus and hot buttons at the bottom of the screen. Trumpet for Windows equals or surpasses commercial programs.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions: Although not a client application, this is a good place to put FAQ information, in that it is accessible through newsgroups, covered above. No matter what else you may find on the Internet, FAQs are one of your most important resources. As an example, a good source of Winsock news and tips is the USENET newsgroup, alt.winsock. For a FAQ list that will provide all the technical information you'll ever be likely to want, check out the newsgroup comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc You will find that if you read the FAQs on a particular subject, you won't have to ask half so many questions.
World Wide Web (WWW): Last, but certainly not least, let's take a look at the World Wide Web. What is the WWW? How does it differ from the rest of the Internet? Or, does it differ at all?
Although originally designed as a communications project for physicists around the world to keep up with the latest developments in research, the WWW has become much more than that. Tim Berners-Lee revolutionized our view of networking by using a system called hypermedia which, combined with the Internet's global connectivity, allows us to produce multimedia documents with components that can be physically located almost anywhere in the world.
WWW BROWSERS: How do we view these multimedia documents? Enter the web browser. Although user interfaces vary, browsers work in basically the same way. By using hyperlinks, you can move back and forth between the numerous web sites.
Netscape: (shareware, $39.00 registration fee) An outgrowth of original work at NCSA, Netscape is created for the nontechnical user. By far the most popular browser, Netscape makes intelligent use of its menus and provides numerous ways to customize your environment. A commercial version of Netscape is available at local software stores.
NCSA Mosaic: (free for non-commercial use) Mosaic provides a user-friendly configuration option and is under continual development. You will also need w32sOLE.exe and documentation for Mosaic.
Cello: (check documentation for possible cost) Cello offers a different take on web browsing. A full featured browser, there are a number of neat capabilities. Version 2 is most likely available by this time. Allows you to access Gopher servers, FTP and consult X.500 directory services and other resources.
Paul Gilster tells you where to get, how to install and how to configure the various components of your Internet software (for both the PC and the Mac), from the TCP/IP stack to the various client programs you will need for whatever you choose to do on the Internet. In short, this book may be the most valuable Internet tool you'll ever own.
This page is best viewed using Netscape ver. 2.0b5 or higher. Designed by Meredith Foster. E-mail me at webmaster@hal-pc.org with any comments you have and tell me what you want to see here.
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