|
So how do you get a shell account? Actually, it's possible
you may already have one and not know it. So first we will answer the question,
how do you tell whether you may already have a shell account? Then, if you are
certain you don't have one, we'll explore the many ways you can get one, no
matter what, from anywhere in the world.
How Do I Know Whether I Already Have a Shell Account?
First you need to get a program running that will connect you
to a shell account. There are two programs with Windows 95 that will do this, as
well as many other programs, some of which are excellent and free.
First we will show you how to use the Win 95 Telnet program
because you already have it and it will always work. But it's a really limited
program, so I suggest that you use it only if you can't get the Hyperterminal
program to work.
How to log into a shell account with Windows telnet:
1) Find your Telnet program and make a shortcut to it on your
desktop.
· One way is to click Start, then Programs, then Windows Explorer.
· When Explorer is running, first resize it so it doesn't cover the entire
desktop. · Then click Tools, then Find, then "Files or Folders."
· Ask it to search for "Telnet."
· It will show a file labeled C:\windows\telnet (instead of C:\ it may have
another drive). Right click on this file.
· This will bring up a menu that includes the option "create shortcut." Click on
"create shortcut" and then drag the shortcut to the desktop and drop it.
· Close Windows Explorer.
2) Depending on how your system is configured, there are two
ways to connect to the Internet. The easy way is to skip to step three. But if
it fails, go back to this step. Start up whatever program you use to access the
Internet. Once you are connected, minimize the program. Now try step three.
3) Bring up your Telnet program by double clicking on the
shortcut you just made.
· First you need to configure Telnet so it actually is usable. On the toolbar
click "terminal," then "preferences," then "fonts." Choose "Courier New,"
"regular" and 8 point size. You do this because if you have too big a font, the
Telnet program is shown on the screen so big that the cursor from your shell
program can end up being hidden off the screen. OK, OK, you can pick other
fonts, but make sure that when you close the dialog box that the Telnet program
window is entirely visible on the screen. Now why would there be options that
make Telnet impossible to use? Ask Microsoft.
· Now go back to the task bar to click Connect, then under it click "Remote
system." This brings up another dialog box.
· Under "host name" in this box type in the last two parts of your email
address. For example, if your email address is jane_doe@boring.ISP.com, type "ISP.com"
for host name.
· Under "port" in this box, leave it the way it is, reading "telnet."
· Under "terminal type," in this box, choose "VT100."
· Then click the Connect button and wait to see what happens.
· If the connection fails, try entering the last three parts of your email
address as the host, in this case "boring.ISP.com."
Now if you have a shell account you should next get a message asking you to
login. It may look something like this:
Welcome to Boring Internet Services, Ltd.
Boring.com S9 - login: cmeinel
Password:
Linux 2.0.0.
Last login: Thu Apr 10 14:02:00 on ttyp5 from pm20.kitty.net.
sleepy:~$
If you get something like this you are in definite luck. The
important thing here, however, is that the computer used the word "login" to get
you started. If is asked for anything else, for example "logon," this is not a
shell account.
| 
