Division of Information Technology
Web Publishing @ SFSU
Telnet
What is TELNET? Telnet is the main Internet protocol for creating a connection with a remote machine. It gives the user the opportunity to be on one computer system and do work on another, which may be across the street or thousands of miles away. In WWW publishing telnet is used to log into the web server and 'set the permissions' of files and directories. Once a telnet session has been established, commands specific to the remote host must be used. If you don't know what commands to use try typing: help, ?, or menu to obtain host specific help.

To Telnet to a remote host, the remote host must be:

  • Powered on and connected to the Internet
  • Setup with account(s) and password(s) that allow users to login using telnet
  • Registered with a Domain Name Service (DNS). If not registered, use the IP number

Telnet can be used to do the following:

  • Check E-mail while away from your primary computer
  • Run Netfind to locate an email address
  • Search online library catalogs such as MELVYL and CARL
  • Establish a Tia connection for off campus Internet access

Once a Telnet session is established, it remains connected until:

  • The Logout (or equivalent) command is issued
  • The connection is broken - something gets unplugged or malfunctions
  • The remote host system 'time's out' after a predetermined idle time

TELNET Crash Course The NCSA Telnet for Macintosh and WinQVT for Windows crash course instructions will give you an overview of using this software.

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Last modified February 11, 2008 by the Web Team