4. Connection Methods 4.1 System Requirements For reasonable performance, your computer system should meet certain minimum requirements for disk space, RAM, and operating system level: -- Almost any kind of Macintosh can run the Access client software. One with a hard disk makes things much easier. We recommend a system with at least 4MB of memory and System 7. -- For IBM PCs a hard disk is required, and DOS version 4 or newer. For Windows clients, Windows 3.1 or newer is needed and 4MB of memory is recommended. The software you will need is generally dependent upon the type of computer you use and where you use it. Requirements for the most common situations are described below. Other circumstances may require consultation with Help Desk staff. 4.2 If You Have a Backbone Connection If your department is connected to the University backbone, you must obtain network and client software. If a backbone connection is available, use this method of connection rather than a modem and phone--it's faster. Departmental backbone connections must be arranged with the Office of Telecommunications (OTC) by your department. Network software can be purchased from the Microcomputer Order Center (MOC) in 12 Willard Building. If you don't know whether a backbone connection and network software are available, ask the computer support person in your department or college. The administrative offices of your work unit can provide contact information. 4.3 If You Use a Modem If your machine is not connected to the backbone, you must use a modem and a phone line to connect. Your modem should support "V.42bis" which at 14400 "baud" is the fastest that is supported. Slower modems work, but may be too slow for some functions. If you're considering the purchase of a modem for connecting to the Access dialup server, be sure that you can return it in case it doesn't work. We recommend an external (rather than internal) modem with lights. Lights help you see what's going on during transmission of data. Ideally, your modem should be capable of being upgraded to "V.Fast", an emerging protocol. In addition to a modem, you must get the software that enables your modem to connect to the network. 4.4 If You Live in a Residence Hall A very high-speed "Ethernet" connection to the backbone is provided by request to students who live in the following residence halls: East Halls, Pollock area, South Halls, North Halls, Atherton Hall, and McKee Hall. Eventually all residence halls will provide backbone access. This is the best way for students to use their Access Accounts. If you live in a residence hall that does not yet provide backbone connections, you must have a computer, modem, phone line, network software, and client software. If you live in one of the residence halls that provide backbone access by request, you need a personal computer with an Ethernet card, an Access Account, network software, and client software. You must apply for both an Individual Backbone Connection (IBC) and an Access Account. Forms are available in the printed version of this guide or at CAC offices in the Computer Building and at 12 Willard Building. If you do not already have an Ethernet card, you must obtain one before you apply for an IBC connection so that you can supply the Ethernet card address on the application form. Requests for connection cannot be processed without this information. The MOC offers special Access packages for residence hall students. See section 6 for contact information. After you submit the IBC form, the Computer Accounts office will assign you a userid (if you don't already have one), a host name, an Internet address, and a data port. The OTC Network Management Center will contact you when your data port is ready for use. You will not be able to use the Access services until OTC tells you that your data port is active. 4.5 If You Use the CAC Labs Microcomputer labs are already configured with the appropriate access software, but you must bring diskettes for using email or Netnews and for saving your files. Access software is available in all CAC labs on both IBM and Macintosh computers except for the Macintosh SE­s and IBM PS/2 Model 30­s. Users of the CAC­s Unix clusters can use client software to access news, Gopher, and phone directory services. News is accessible with tin, rn, or trn from terminal sessions and with xrn from X Windows sessions. Gopher may be accessed with Gopher from terminal sessions or xGopher from X Windows. Directory services may be accessed with ph in terminal sessions or xph from X Windows. At present, no POPmail software is installed on the CAC Unix Clusters. Client software for Unix is available by anonymous FTP from ftp.cac.psu.edu in the directory pub/access/unix.