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How to Telnet to a Host

Telnet is used for logging into other machines on the Internet. In order to modify file and web page permissions or perform other tasks directly from the command line of your SFSU UNIX account you can use telnet. Some examples of popular telnet applications are:

• Windows based PCs: Microsoft Windows Telnet (built into Windows 95 and greater operating systems) and Hummingbird Host Explorer.
• Macintosh: Terminal is built into Mac OS X and greater.
  NCSA Telnet and Better Telnet for use with Mac OS System 7 - 9.

SFSU has the following login servers available to the SFSU campus community. All these AFS cluster hosts are relatively the same so it does not matter which one you choose to access your SFSU account.

• apollo.sfsu.edu
• libra.sfsu.edu

Microsoft Windows Telnet

If you are using Microsoft Windows 95 or greater, use Windows Telnet to access the login servers unless you need printing capabilities. If you need printing capabilities, install and use the more robust Hummingbird Host Explorer application. You can launch the built in Microsoft Windows telnet program by following the instructions below:

1. Clicking on the Start button located on the Windows task bar and select Run.
2. In the Open field type: telnet servername
   where servername is either apollo.sfsu.edu or libra.sfsu.edu

For example: If you want to telnet to apollo, type: telnet apollo.sfsu.edu
SFSU Departments wanting to change the password for the Department web account would type: telnet www.sfsu.edu



3. Click on the OK button.
4. When prompted, login with your SFSU login id and password.
   
5. If you don't know what to do at the % (Unix) prompt, you can type: menu
   This command will give you a listing of some programs that you can use on your UNIX account.

Apple's Terminal

Macintosh OS X and greater includes the Terminal application. Terminal lacks printing functionality. If you need printing capabilities, you will need to install 3rd party software.You can launch the built in Terminal program by following the instructions below:

1. Use the Finder to navigate to Macintosh Harddisk > Applications > Utilities.
2. Double-click the Terminal icon .
3. At the % prompt, type: telnet servername
   where servername is either apollo.sfsu.edu or libra.sfsu.edu  
   For example: If you want to telnet to apollo you would type the following: telnet apollo.sfsu.edu
   SFSU Departments wanting to change the password for the Department web account would type: telnet www.sfsu.edu
   Press the return key on the keyboard.
4. When prompted, login with your SFSU login id and password.
5. If you don't know what to do at the % (Unix) prompt, you can just type:
   menu

   This command will give you a listing of some programs that you can use on your UNIX account.

NCSA Telnet, Better Telnet and Hummingbird Host Explorer

These programs are freeware, shareware and/or commerical telnet applications. Hummingbird Host Explorer (for Windows only) is a licensed product available for free to the SFSU campus community at http://www.sfsu.edu/~doit/sw.htm

To use any of these telnet programs, follow the instructions below:

1. Download and install the appropriate application.
2. Open any telnet application by double-clicking on the icon corresponding to it.
3. Click File > Open (connection) or Telnet Session. When it asks you to fill in a Host server (this is the only blank you have to fill in, you can leave the Window name section empty), you can fill in any of the following servers:
   • apollo.sfsu.edu
   • libra.sfsu.edu
4. Wait for the telnet window to appear and type in the requested information, such as login and password.
   If you don't know what to do at the UNIX % prompt, type: menu
   This command will give you a listing of some programs that you can use on your UNIX account.

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Last Modified: 25 Jul 2005
doit@sfsu.edu