Assignment 7

Just like FTP (File Transfer Protocol), SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol), and HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol), Telnet is an application layer protocol that operates on top of TCP/IP. Telnet allows users to communicate with remote hosts. A Telnet application is a program that allows a user to log into an account on a remote machine.

You have already used Telnet in this course. Every time you log into gaia to do an assignment you are using Telnet.

There are many other resources available through Telnet besides gaia and saclink, and we will explore some in this assignment. It is fair to note that many of the information services that are available through Telnet are moving to the Web, and as such this assignment keeps getting shorter and shorter . . .

Questions to ponder (not from any particular reading assignment):

1. During a Telnet session from home, your expensive Pentium PC is acting like a dumb terminal (T/F).
   
   
2. If you were to telnet to gaia from home, then to saclink from gaia, then back to gaia from saclink, you would have three separate telnet sessions executing simultaneously (T/F).
   
   
3. On which machines are the telnet sessions executing?
   
   

Exploring some online resources via Telnet

As I mentioned, telnet resources seem to be shrinking, as more and more information moves to the Web. There are however, many interesting and useful sites still in existence that you can access.

Heads up about the project: As you are perusing telnet sites in this lab, and ftp sites in the next lab, keep your eyes open for resources that might be useful to you for your project report.

Note: it is not required that you be logged in to gaia to complete this assignment. The instructions will work just as well from a gaia prompt, or from a telnet application on your computer.

Begin by issuing the following telnet command: telnet eureka.csus.edu

At the login prompt, type library. You will be presented with the library's gateway menu. Choose option "E" to go to the library card catalog.

Do a search by Author, for the name "Traver Robert".

4. What is the name of the book in our library and where is it located?
   
   

The campus library has a multitude of information available through the Eureka system. This is the same system you use on the terminals in the library. They have also made this interface available on the Web. Log out of your telnet session, then go to the library's website at http://eureka.csus.edu.

Click on the link for the Course Reserves. Check on "Course Instructor" and enter Lecureux F.

5. Is there anything in the reserve book room under Prof. LeCureux's name, and if so, for what class?
   
   

Using a web based search, find a telnet site that you can log into as a guest or that provides public access.

6. What is the address of this telnet site, how do I log in, what is the site for, and how did you find it?
   
   

An amusing telnet site is bofh.engr.wisc.edu 666

The 666 is an argument to telnet that connects to a specific port on the remote host. This site should print today's excuse for network problems at you and then disconnect.

7. What is the date and the excuse?