SFSU DoIT | Help Desk | Connecting to SFSU's Internet Services via Your ISP

Connecting to SFSU's Internet Services via your ISP (Internet Service Provider)

Many of the procedures described here require access to a Telnet application.

The recommended Telnet programs are Terminal in Mac OS X (under the Utilities folder) and SSH Secure Shell Client for Microsoft Windows. SSH Secure Shell Client is available from the SFSU downloadable software web pages at http://www.sfsu.edu/~doit/helpdesk/wdevapp.htm

E-mail using Pine

Accessing SFSU's Web site and library databases with Lynx

File Transfer from SFSU's private FTP

Troubleshooting

Pine (brief description)
Telnet into one of the two login servers apollo.sfsu.edu or libra.sfsu.edu

Note: when connecting from an ISP the .sfsu.edu is required.

Enter pine (or menu) at system prompt

apollo% pine

Also see Using Pine

Web:

Accessing SFSU's Web site and library databases with Lynx:

Telnet into one of the two login servers as noted above.

Enter lynx (or menu) at system prompt

apollo% lynx

use the arrow keys to navigate, and the return/enter key to follow a link.

To enter a URL type G then enter the full URL.

Also see Using Lynx

FTP:

File Transfer from SFSU's private FTP

Open a telnet connection as described above.

cd to the tmp directory

libra% cd /tmp

Type ftp ftp2.sfsu.edu at the unix prompt.

libra% ftp ftp2.sfsu.edu

At the Name prompt type anonymous.
At the password prompt type your E-mail address

220 mercury FTP server (SunOS 5.6) ready.

Name: anonymous

331 Guest login ok, send ident as password.

Password: login@sfsu.edu

type bin to set the type to binary

ftp> bin

200 Type set to I.

ftp>

use the commands ls (to list directory contents) cd (to change directories) to find the file you want

use the command get to transfer the file into the /tmp directory

type quit to close the connection

ftp> quit

221 Goodbye.

Using Fetch (Mac) or WS_FTP (Windows) log into the same login server go to the /tmp directory and transfer the file to your hard drive.

Also see

Using FTP,

Using Fetch

Using WS_FTP

Problems:

What is happening if Telnet doesn't work?

Possible connection problems with your ISP

Test your connection

Under Windows try the ping command

If using Windows 95/98 click on the button -> Programs -> MS-DOS Prompt
If using Windows Me/2000/XP click on the button -> Programs or (All Programs) -> Accessories ->MS-DOS Prompt (or Command Prompt)

Type in: ping apollo.sfsu.edu then press the 'enter' key on your keyboard.
The ping command should display information about packets being sent and received. If you see "Connection timed out" (or if the window remains blank for a long period of time), you do not have a valid PPP connection

On Macintoshes try launching Netscape or Internet Explorer, if you are getting a "No DNS" Error you do not have a valid connection

Possible IP registration problems

Get your computer's IP number and have DoIT check if it is fully registered. (Unregistered or partially registered ip numbers are rejected from connecting to SFSU servers).

Mac OS X

Click on the menu and select System Preferences
Click Internet & Network --> Network
Write down the IP address
Call the Help Desk (415) 338-1420 and they can verify if the IP number you are receiving when you connect to your ISP is a fully registered IP.

Microsoft Windows

From the button choose Run
If using Windows 2000/XP type command in the Open field then click the OK button. Type ipconfig at the Dos prompt and press the enter/return key.
Write down the IP address.
Call the Help Desk (415) 338-1420 and they can verify if the IP number you are receiving when you connect to your ISP is a fully registered IP.

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Last Modified: 25 Feb 2002
doit@sfsu.edu