Telnet is a way to connect to a machine and
run commands. Using Telnet, you can connect to your account at Infoboard and run
commands as if the machine were sitting on your desktop!
Why
would I need it?
You may not need to use Telnet
very often, but there will come a time when you need to use it, so it's important
to be comfortable with it. For instance, to set up certain features of your account
such as Infoboard's Email System or setting up the banner program you need to
be able to Telnet. Although the command-like interface may seem a bit intimidating
to some, there are lots of good books to help you through the process.
How is it different from FTP?
Telnet
is used for running commands, and FTP is used for transferring files.
Telneting to your account through the Control
Panel
The best way to run telnet is through your Control Panel. To
do that, login to your control panel and then click on the "+" next to the Telnet
folder. This will create two links: About Telnet and Run Java Telnet.
If this is the first time you're using Telnet, or don't know many Unix commands,
you should read the About Telnet section first. Then, click on Run Java
Telnet and the program will open in the right-hand frame (see below). It will
prompt you for your login and password (the same ones you use for FTP), and then
it will print the line "TERM = (vt100)". Just hit enter, and you're ready to go!
To see how this will look, here's a screen shot:
At this point you can start
typing in Unix commands. A description of some common ones can be found in the
About Telnet page of your Control Panel, and we've also gathered some in
our Unix Commands page. When
you're done, click the "Disconnect" button or just type in the command "exit"
or "logout" and hit enter.
What the buttons mean:
Connect
- telnet to your account. (This is automatically done when you start your Java
telnet session, but you may need it if you click on "Disconnect", and later decide
to re-connect.)
Disconnect - end your telnet session.
Detach/Delete Window
- this will cause the telnet window to "detach" from the web page so that it can
then be moved anywhere on your screen. Click on this button again to reattach
it.
Send - another way to enter in commands. (You can also do this by typing
where the blinking cursor is and hitting Enter.)
Telneting to your account through other software
Note: it is highly recommended that you telnet to your account
through your Control Panel as shown above.
Connect
to your local Internet Service Provider.
Open your Telnet
program. There are many popular shareware programs on
the web available for download. Go to download.com
or shareware.com and do a search for "Telnet".
If you're running Windows 3.x/95/98 you already have a telnet program
installed on your system called telnet.exe. To run it, click on the "Start" button
on your taskbar, highlight "Run" on the menu, and then type in the command "telnet"
in the window that appears.
Connect to the server. Once the programming
is running, you'll need to tell the program where to connect to. Look for a selection
called "Connection", "Make New Connection",
or "Remote System". Enter www.yourdomain.com and press
"OK" or "Connect". You'll see a screen very similar to the one shown above, with
a "login" prompt and possibly a blinking cursor.
Type in your login name and
press enter, then enter your password when prompted and press enter. (Your login
and password are the same ones that you use to FTP to your account.)
If you
entered the information correctly, then you're in! If the server gives you a login
or password incorrect error, just re-enter your login and password.
Terminal
Type If you see the line "TERM = (vt100)", just press enter and you're ready
to start entering commands.
Enter commands. At this point you can start
typing in Unix commands. A description of some common ones can be found in the
"About Telnet" page of your Control Panel, and we've also gathered some in our
Unix Commands page. Type
in the commands and hit enter.
Disconnect. To end your telnet session,
simply type in the command "exit" or "logout" and then hit enter.
