Connection Methods 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. 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 much faster, and won't tie up your phone line. 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. 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 14.4Kbps 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 dial-up server, make 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.34" (28.8Kbsp) a new, faster protocol. It is expected that answering modems that support V.34 will be in service early this year. You may wish to purchase a modem with this capability since it will be at least twice as fast as the currently supported V.42 modems. In addition to a modem, you must get the software that enables your modem to connect to the network. Phone numbers for Penn State locations are listed in "Appendix A: Technical Notes." If You Live in a Residence Hall An individual backbone connection (IBC) is a very high-speed "Ethernet" connection to the Penn State network and Internet. An IBC is provided by request to students who live in University Park residence halls. Although you can use a modem, an ethernet connection is the best way for you to use your Access Account--it's faster, and doesn't tie up your phone line. If you wish to request a connection in your residence hall room, first verify that your computer has a "10BASE-T Ethernet card." If not, you must obtain one before you apply for a connection so that you can supply the Ethernet card address on the application form. Requests for connection cannot be processed without this information. To apply for an IBC, complete and return the request form or apply electronically in the labs. To apply electronically, go to an IBM computer, run Windows, and select the Access Clients group from the Program Manager. Then double-click the Ethernet Account icon from within the group. Complete all of the information and send the application. Printed forms can be obtained at CAC offices in 12 Willard Building and rooms 215 and 230 of the Computer Building. After you submit your application, the Computer Accounts office will assign you a host name, an Internet address, and a data port. The Office of Telecommunications (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. You must also obtain your Access Account userid and password, network software, and client software. The Microcomputer Order Center (MOC) in 12 Willard Building offers special access packages for residence hall students. Residence hall network cards and software can be rented or purchased by students for computer connection to networks from residence halls. Payment includes both a deposit and a one-time rental fee for use of the adapter. Upon departure from the residence hall (or Penn State), you must return the adapter for a refund of the deposit amount. See page 18 for contact information. For further information or assistance, visit the MOC in 12 Willard Building, call (814) 865-2100 or send e-mail to moc@psuvm.psu.edu. Orders can be placed Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Consulting help is available from the CAC Help Desk in 12 Willard Building. If you need additional help with installation of the network and client software, the Help Desk can have a student consultant contact you to set up an appointment in your residence hall room. You must arrange to have an R.A. present while the consultant is in your room. If You Use the CAC Labs Microcomputer labs are already configured with the appropriate client software, but you must have your Access Account information and you will also need diskettes for using e-mail or Netnews and for saving your files. Instructions follow. IBM or IBM Compatible Computers--Windows Access software is available in all CAC labs on IBM computers except for the IBM PS/2 Model 30's. 1. Start Microsoft Windows by choosing the letter "M" in the main menu. 2. Double-click on the Access Clients icon. 3. Read the help files that correspond to the software client you wish to use. 4. Double-click on the software client you wish to use. Macintosh Computers Access software is available in all CAC labs on Macintosh computers except for the Macintosh SE's. 1. Double-click on the Global icon. 2. Double-click on the "Access Project" or "Apps" folders to find the Macintosh clients. 3. Read the documentation that corresponds to the software client you wish to use, starting with the "1stTimeUsers ReadMe" files. 4. Double-click on the software client you wish to use. Customizing Software for Personal Use at Labs The Gopher, Mosaic, and OASIS software can be used at the labs by simply double-clicking on the icon. However, if you wish to use e-mail or post to Netnews in the labs, you must first customize the software for your personal use. Macintosh Users To find out how to customize Eudora for your personal use, read the file Eudora 1stTimeUsers ReadMe, which can be found in the Access Project folder. Further instructions are outlined in the Eudora Docs folder. A very thorough Eudora reference guide is available through Penn State Bookstores. Look for Bringing the P.O. to Where You Live by Carolyn Gedney. This guide is also available electronically by FTP (with the Fetch program) to ftp.cac.psu.edu in the directory /pub/access/doc, filename eudora_manual.bin. To find out how to customize InterNews (Netnews) for your personal use, read the files "InterNews 1stTimeUsers ReadMe" and "PSU InterNews info." Windows Users If you wish to use e-mail at the labs, insert a blank high-density diskette, then double-click on the Eudora icon. The software will prompt for your userid and password and set up the necessary files on your diskette. Follow the same basic procedure to configure Windows Trumpet (Netnews) for your personal use. You may use either the same or a different diskette. Bring the diskette(s) to the labs whenever you plan to use e-mail or Netnews there. Unix Workstations Users of the CAC's 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. Lab Software for Internet and E-mail How do you access Internet and e-mail services? Through "clients"--software programs that enable you to use the services on a personal computer. The following clients are currently available in CAC labs (and can also be obtained for your personal computer). Electronic mail (e-mail) --Eudora for the Macintosh --PC Eudora for Windows --NUPop for DOS Netnews (Usenet) --InterNews for the Macintosh --WinTrump for Windows --Trumpet for DOS Gopher --TurboGopher for the Macintosh --HGopher for Windows --PC Gopher for DOS World Wide Web --Netscape for both Macintosh and MS Windows PH --PH (use this to update your record) --Within the e-mail client Eudora (queries only) OASIS --On Macintosh computers at CAC labs. (Also available at Shields Building and the HUB at University Park) File Transfer Protocol (FTP) --Fetch for the Macintosh --WS_FTP for Windows --NCSA/Clarkson/Rutger's or Waterloo's FTP for DOS Telnet --NCSA Telnet and Brown's TN3270 for the Macintosh --QWS3270 or McGill's TCP3270 for Windows --Clarkson's Telbin and TN3270 for DOS