The editor of this web page is at: hammer@inti.be
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=================================================================
Tvdog's Internet Archive
Internet Access Programs
[The site] contains programs you can use on an old PC to connect
to the Internet. They are not Tandy-specific, though they will work
on the Tandy 1000's. These programs were mostly submitted by Marc
Williams:
[1] marcw@lightside.com, who tested them on a Tandy 1000HX
(7.16MHz V20). I tested them on a 1000TL (8MHz 80286).
It is assumed that you have an XT-class 8088, 8086, or 80286 PC
running bare DOS (no Windows) and that you will be connecting by SLIP
or PPP to a local Internet service provider. You need to have 640k
DOS RAM, a hard drive, and at least a 2400 baud modem (or the lowest
speed your provider supports, if higher; faster is, of course,
better). You also need a fair amount of patience, since setting up
DOS for the Internet is like herding cats. It helps if you have had
some experience with setting up Internet on some other system (maybe
Windows) already, or know someone who has. Ask your provider for
your:
Name of your machine (ex. mypc.foo.bar.net)
IP address of your machine (ex. 127.0.0.1)
Username (ex. myname) (email address would be myname@mypc.foo.bar.net)
Netmask (ex. 255.255.255.0)
Broadcast address (ex. 127.0.0.255)
Gateway name (ex. mygate.foo.bar.net) (machine you dial into)
Gateway IP address (ex. 127.0.0.2) (machine you dial into)
Nameserver IP address (ex. 127.0.0.3)
SMTP server name (ex. mailserv.foo.bar.net) (for outgoing mail)
POP server name (ex. mailserv.foo.bar.net) (for incoming mail)
NNTP server name (ex. newsserv.foo.bar.net) (for news)
POP and NNTP userids and passwords, if different from your usual ones
Time server IP address (ex. 127.0.0.2) (may be same as gateway)
File to get by ftp listing newsgroups carried by the NNTP server
You might not need all this, depending on which applications you
pick, but you should find out as much as you can since you can mess up
the 'net if you get your settings wrong (which would make people very
mad at you - particularly getting the IP address or machine name
wrong). It helps if your provider has a fair amount of patience as
well:-). If your provider assigns IP addresses dynamically (a
different one each time - Marc is in that situation), there are ways
of dealing with that (see below).
If you want to know what some of the stuff above is, get
[2]tcpdocs.zip.
TCPINTRO.DOC is a basic introduction to TCP/IP, the Internet protocol suite.
TCPADMIN.DOC contains more information for the terminally curious.
TCPIP1.FAQ, TCPIP2.FAQ, and TCPIP3.FAQ are parts 1, 2 and 3 of the
comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc FAQ. This is an old version from 1994; I can't
find a newer one. A lot of the stuff in the FAQ is about Windows, but there is
some on DOS as well.
A much easier way to get on the Internet with an old machine is to
get a Unix shell account on the provider's machine. The only software
you need for that is a communications program (Qmodem and Procomm are
a couple good ones). The comm program should support VT100
emulation. The provider will have text- based programs you can use
for WWW (Lynx), telnet, ftp, gopher, and other services. You don't
need any special information for a shell account; it works like any
BBS.
OK, so you want to do it anyway;-). If you are using PPP, there are
two options for you in this directory. The easiest to set up is
Nettamer.It is an all-in-one program that needs no packet driver and
supports ftp, telnet, mail, news, WWW, ping, and finger (telnet and
WWW leave a bit to be desired). Get
[3] n108-xt.zip and
[4] n108-xt.txt
for Nettamer.
If Nettamer doesn't meet your needs, or if you are using SLIP, you
need to get and install a packet driver, then get and install the
applications you want. There are three packet drivers for PPP. The
one I use is Etherppp; get ethernew.zip and [5] ethernew.txt.
Etherppp emulates Ethernet, so you set up the applications as if you had an
Ethernet (class 1) packet driver. The one Marc Williams uses is Quakeppp. It
is no longer available, but a newer version of the Klos packet driver in
Quakeppp can be downloaded from:
[6] ftp://ftp.klos.com/
[7] http://www.klos.com/
The packet driver is named PPPSHARE. Klos's PPP can also emulate
Ethernet. You should also get
[8] klosppp.txt
from my site for instructions on setting up Klos PPP. Etherppp works
best with older, slower modems (14.4k and below); Klos works better
with newer, faster ones. Klos PPP requires DOS 3.3 or later.
A better choice for PPP than either of those might be Dospppd. It
is a more- or-less direct port of the excellent Linux pppd program,
including the chat dialer. It emulates either class 1 or class 6
(SLIP). Dospppd takes about half as much RAM as either Etherppp or
Klos, appears to be much faster, and works with every application I
tested it with. Setting up this one will be easier if you've used its
Linux cousin, or know someone who has. Get
[9] dospppd.zip and
[10] dospppd.txt for Dospppd.
There are two packet driver choices for SLIP also. Umslip is a
class 6 (SLIP) driver; get
[11] sliparc.zip and
[12] sliparc.txt for Umslip.
Slipper and Cslipper can emulate class 1 and are compatible with
more applications. SLIPPER.EXE is the packet driver for regular SLIP,
and CSLIPPER.EXE is the driver for compressed SLIP (CSLIP). They are
both in the same archive. They do not come with a dialer, so you need
to get one; you can use either the CHAT0.EXE dialer in Dospppd or the
PHONE.EXE dialer in Umslip. To use Slipper or Cslipper with the
CHAT0.EXE dialer, get
[13] slippr15.zip,
[14] slippr15.txt,
dospppd.zip, and dospppd.txt. To use the PHONE.EXE dialer instead,
get slippr15.zip, slippr15.txt, sliparc.zip, and sliparc.txt. If you
use PHONE.EXE, you need tcpdocs.zip also - there is a section in
TCPIP1.FAQ on using packet drivers other than UMSLIP.COM with PHONE.
EXE. I have PPP, so I can't test the SLIP setup (Marc has used
Cslipper successfully). Any other communications program can be used
as a dialer, if the program is capable of dialing the phone,
establishing a connection, and exiting without dropping DTR.
The applications will ask you to specify the IP address of your
machine when you set them up. That can be a problem if you get a
different one each time. There are two protocols that help: BOOTP and
RARP. With BOOTP, the packet driver provides the application with the
IP addresses of the PC, the gateway, the nameserver, and the netmask.
With RARP, the packet driver provides the PC's IP address. NCSA
Telnet supports both BOOTP and RARP; most of the other applications
support BOOTP. The Etherppp packet driver provides both services if
you use it; Klos PPP and the Ethernet versions of Dospppd have BOOTP,
though Klos's version is problem-prone. Otherwise, Bootp is a TSR
that simulates BOOTP; get
[15] bootp.txt and
[16] bootp.zip for Bootp.
Iprarp and Rarpset can get the PC's IP address from Etherppp by RARP.
Iprarp creates a batch file that sets a DOS environment variable to
the IP address; Rarpset directly sets an environment variable. The
variable can be used with some programs that support neither BOOTP nor
RARP. Get
[17] ipcfg010.zip for Iprarp and
[18] rarpset.zip for Rarpset.
If you use BOOTP to configure your applications, remember that the
BOOTP support provided by the packet drivers is an *emulation*. In
particular, the packet drivers will not know where your nameserver is
if you do not tell them, so be sure to configure that, for example by
including the "nameserver" line in CONFIG.PPP with Etherppp.
Ipread is another program that can be useful with dynamic
addressing, particularly with SLIP (which doesn't have BOOTP or
RARP). It reads the IP address from the screen at connect time and
creates a batch file that sets a DOS environment variable to that
address. Get ipcfg010.zip for Ipread.
After you set up your packet driver (and possibly Bootp, Iprarp,
Rarpset and/ or Ipread), you pick applications and set them up. A
good application to start with is Minuet; it may be all you need.
Minuet provides ftp, telnet, mail, news, WWW (graphical if you have
EGA or VGA, but that works best if you have a 386 or better), gopher,
finger, ping, and nslookup, with context-sensitive online help, mouse
support, and many other features. It supports both class 1 and 6
packet drivers. Note: the news module in Minuet won't work if your
provider carries a huge number of newsgroups (as Agate does) or if you
have a compressed drive. Get
[19] minuarc.zip and
[20] minuarc.txt for Minuet.
Etherppp might work better with Minuet than Klos.
NCSA Telnet provides telnet, ftp, finger, whois, rsh, rexec, rcp,
lpr, lpq, and lprm. rcp and ftp can operate in server mode when
telnet is running. The telnet offers a complete, configurable VT100
emulation including Tektronics 4014 graphics mode on Hercules, CGA,
EGA, or VGA. You can have multiple telnet sessions going
simultaneously.Note: these applications can't resolve domain names,
and you have to specify IP addresses, either on the command line or in
the configuration file.NCSA Telnet supports class 1 packet drivers
only, so it won't work with Umslip. Get
[21] tel2308b.zip,
[22] tel2308b.txt,
[23] tel23asc.zip, and
[24] tel23asc.txt for NCSA Telnet.
Trumpet is a nice news reader that supports both class 1 and class
6, and you can get it to work with sites that carry huge numbers of
groups (with a little fiddling). It has windows and menus and
supports a mouse. Get
[25] trmp106b.zip and
[26] trmp106b.txt for Trumpet.
DosLynx is a text-based Web browser; it supports class 1 packets
only, so it won't work with Umslip. DosLynx also requires DOS 3.0 or
later. Inline.gif's can be displayed if you have a graphics card
(Hercules, CGA, EGA, or VGA). It, too, has windows, menus, and mouse
support.Get
[27] exe_16a.zip and
[28] exe_16a.txt for DosLynx.
The Etherppp packet driver is prone to frequent lockups with DosLynx;
better to use Klos PPP with this one.
IRC is an Internet Relay Chat client; Internet Relay Chat is a way
of conducting multiuser discussions over the Internet (like forums on
a BBS). It supports both class 1 and class 6 packet drivers. The
program has menus, scrollable windows, and mouse support. Get
[29] irc101.zip and
[30] irc101.txt for IRC.
Voice is another Internet Relay Chat client. You might like this
one better if you're used to ircII on Unix. Get
[31] voice11b.zip and
[32] voice11b.txt for Voice.
It requires a class 1 packet driver.
Ping is a ping client (as you might have guessed). It requires BOOTP and
didn't come with any documentation. Get
[33] ping.exe and
[34] ping.txt for Ping; ping.exe is the actual program, not an archive.
Wattcp FTP is a command-line ftp client; it requires a class 1
packet driver. It has a scripting capability, can resolve domain
names, and displays the number of bytes transferred during a GET or
PUT. Get
[35] ftpbeta.zip and ftpbeta.txt for Wattcp FTP.
POPmail is a full-featured email program, with menus, online help,
scrollable windows, and mouse support.POPmail supports both class 1
and class 6, but it requires DOS 3.0 or later. Get
[36] popml322.zip and
[37] popml322.txt for POPmail.
PC Gopher III is a gopher client with menus, scrollable windows, and
mouse support. It supports both class 1 and class 6 packet drivers,
but it requires DOS 3.3 or later. Get
[38] pcg3.zip and
[39] pcg3note.txt for PC Gopher III.
Trumpet TCP (not to be confused with the Trumpet newsreader) is a
set of Internet applications using an included TSR to interface with
the packet driver. The applications are: telnet, ftp, finger, ping,
archie, whois, hopchk (traceroute), and ichat (similar to Unix talk,
apparently, but incompatible). The archie in this package is the only
working DOS archie client I've found, but the other stuff doesn't work
all that well. Klos PPP works better with these than Etherppp. Get
[40] tcp201.zip,
[41] ntcpdrv.zip, and tcp201.txt for Trumpet TCP.
The Trumpet TCP apps works best with Slipper or Cslipper.
Pcfsp is an FSP client. FSP is sometimes used in place of FTP to
transfer files over the Internet. Get
[42] pcfsp105.txt and
[43] pcfsp105.zip for Pcfsp.
CUTCP Telnet is a newer version of the NCSA Telnet package and is
set up similarly. It provides telnet, ftp, ping, lpr, lpq, and lprm,
and it seems to deal with domain names better than NCSA Telnet. Like
that package, CUTCP Telnet offers a complete VT100 emulation and
supports incoming ftp during a telnet session. It supports both class
1 and 6 packet drivers. Get cutcp-b.zip for CUTCP Telnet. The
documentation for NCSA Telnet will also be helpful with this one.
Talk is a DOS version of the Unix talk program for 2-way interactive
communication over the Internet. Get
[44] talk-13.zip for Talk.
It is a WATTCP application and is set up similarly.
Bobcat is a good text-based WWW browser, successor to Doslynx, and
very similar to Unix Lynx. It will run on any video card *except* CGA
and requires DOS 3.3 or later. I don't know whether it supports a
class 6 packet driver or not. Klos PPP or Dospppd work better with it
than Etherppp. Bobcat is highly configurable but can be somewhat
difficult to set up. Get bcat-e02.exe,
[45] bcat-e02.txt, and
[46] remquote.zip for Bobcat.
Arachne is a graphical WWW browser, and yes, it will run on an XT,
albeit slowly. It requires a class 1 packet driver. You must have
EGA or better video and a mouse; for best results, 640x480x256 SVGA or
better is required. Get archn102.exe and
[47]a rchn102.txt for Arachne.
I have included some special instructions for Agate Internet users
in the *.txt files. Disregard them if you're not on Agate (the *.txt
files should still be useful). I do not work for Agate Internet.
Also check out Nigel's (unfinished) List of PPP Applications for DOS at:
[48] http://www.4kz.com.au/~nigel/ppp.html
And see the FDISK.COM DOS Internet page at:
[49] http://www.fdisk.com/doslynx/
Another site worth checking out is Dan Komaromi's page on setting
up Internet email for DOS:
[50] http://www.komaromi.com/dos_email/
There are several pages of links and information on DOS Internet programs
to be found on the RealmSpace for the DOS site:
[51] http://www.best.com/~darknerd/realmspace/rsdos.htm Jeffrey L. Hayes
[52] tvdog@agate.net
[53] Tvdog's Home Page.
˙
(URLs / sources:)
˙
[1] mailto:marcw@lightside.com
[2] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/tcpdocs.zip
[3] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/n108-xt.zip
[4] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/n108-xt.txt
[5] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/ethernew.txt
[6] ftp://ftp.klos.com/
[7] http://www.klos.com/
[8] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/klosppp.txt
[9] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/dospppd.zip
[10] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/dospppd.txt
[11] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/sliparc.zip
[12] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/sliparc.txt
[13] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/slippr15.zip
[14] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/slippr15.txt
[15] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/bootp.txt
[16] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/bootp.zip
[17] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/ipcfg010.zip
[18] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/rarpset.zip
[19] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/minuarc.zip
[20] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/minuarc.txt
[21] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/tel2308b.zip
[22] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/tel2308b.txt
[23] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/tel23asc.zip
[24] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/tel23asc.txt
[25] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/trmp106b.zip
[26] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/trmp106b.txt
[27] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/exe_16a.zip
[28] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/exe_16a.txt
[29] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/irc101.zip
[30] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/irc101.txt
[31] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/voice11b.zip
[32] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/voice11b.txt
[33] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/ping.exe
[34] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/ping.txt
[35] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/ftpbeta.zip
[36] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/popml322.zip
[37] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/popml322.txt
[38] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/pcg3.zip
[39] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/pcg3note.txt
[40] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/tcp201.zip
[41] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/ntcpdrv.zip
[42] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/pcfsp105.txt
[43] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/pcfsp105.zip
[44] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/talk-13.zip
[45] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/bcat-e02.txt
[46] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/remquote.zip
[47] ftp://ftp.agate.net/users/01935/internet/archn102.txt
[48] http://www.4kz.com.au/~nigel/ppp.html
[49] http://www.fdisk.com/doslynx/
[50] http://www.komaromi.com/dos_email/
[51] http://www.best.com/~darknerd/realmspace/rsdos.htm
[52] mailto:tvdog@tvdog.sdi.agate.net
[53] http://www.agate.net/~tvdog/index.html