DOS text based Internet Access
Will Baldwin
Here are a few examples of DOS text-based (non-Windows) Internet
client software:
Program Available at ftp://
PINE (email, news) cac.washington.edu
DOSLynx (WWW, news, ftp, gopher, wais)
ftp2.cc.ukans.edu/pub/WWW/DosLynx/
Minuet (WWW, Telnet, email, news, Ftp, Gopher, finger, IP finder)
Minuet.micro.umn.edu/pub/minuet
Trumpet (NNTP Newsreader)
Simtel mirrors, under /msdos/pktdrvr
PC Gopher III " " " " "
YARN (email, news) " " " " /offline
Ka9q (various) " " " " /ka9q
NCSA Telnet (various) " " " " /ncsatlnt
FTP client dorm.rutgers.edu/pub/msdos/wattcp
NetTamer (WWW, news, email, Ftp, Telnet)
Garbo mirrors, under /connect/nt99*.zip
Slippper (email, news, Ftp, Telnet)
Slip-olr.zip in the wuarchive site listed
below, or email circ...@delphi.com.
(Despite its name, I believe Slippper can be used with either SLIP
or PPP.)
Some of the above can also be found at ftp://wuarchive.wustl.edu
in the pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS/incoming, DOSLynx, or internet_tools
directories. Also available there is a utility program I wrote,
MYIP.zip, which makes it easier to use Etherppp w/Minuet (and
other internet software) with PPP hosts that assign new IP
addresses at each logon, by automatically passing the IP address
to the client software, making it unnecessary for the user to type
it in each time. It also helps software take full advantage of
unattended mode features. Coming soon is a version which will
automatically pass the IP address to DOSLynx. It will probably be
named MYIP200.zip.
Some of the programs listed above need to be used with a separate
packet driver. Depending on your ISP, you'll either need SLIP or
PPP. The most common for SLIP use is UMSLIP, found at
boombox.micro.umn.edu/pub/pc/slip/sliparc.exe. The most common
for PPP use is Etherppp, found at
ftp.merit.edu/internet.tools/ppp/dos/etherppp.zip, or
ftp2.cc.ukans.edu/pub/DosLynx/support/etherppp.zip. Make sure you
get the latest version (1.9.49 beta as of this writing). People
say the earlier versions are rather buggy. If the above 2 are not
the latest, gopher to gopher.merit.edu, under Merit Software,
MS-DOS archive, communications, ncsa, and try Etherppp-new.zip.
You can find hints and tips for using the software in mailing
lists, and usenet newsgroups. For example, there are mailing
lists for Minuet users (check the Minuet.faq file accessible at
the URL shown in the opening screen), and DOSLynx (check the
docs). There are newsgroups for PINE (comp.mail.pine), and PPP
(comp.protocols.ppp).
There are other mail/newsreaders available that I didn't list. To
intelligently search for one that you can use, you have to know
how the mail will be sent from your ISP (usually uucp/rmail,
SMTP/POP/IMAP), and how news will be sent (usually uucp/rnews, or
NNTP). Unfortunately, questions about these are beyond my
expertise. You'll have to talk to your ISP, and ask questions in
the newsgroups.
WWW alternatives: Minuet, NetTamer, and DOSLynx feature text and
graphic web pages, but the book, 'The Internet for Dummies' makes
the case that Gopher or WAIS are better for all purpose use than
WWW.
Even if you don't find an acceptable DOS client program to do what
you want, here are 3 alternatives:
1) Use a Telnet client to access internet services on remote
hosts.
2) Use a shell account on your ISP, using just about any
common modem program that has a terminal emulator.
3) Internet-by-Email service, which brings Ftp, Archie,
Gopher, and other services to virtually anyone with an e-mail
account.
Good ftp sites to find MS-DOS internet software:
Simtel mirrors under /msdos/offline, /msdos/ka9q, msdos/pktdrvr,
and msdos/ncsatlnt
ftp://dorm.rutgers.edu/pub/msdos
Good sites for general purpose MS-DOS software:
Mirror Site IP Directory -----------
I. SimTel Mirrors
oak.oakland.edu 141.210.10.117 /pub/msdos
wuarchive.wustl.edu 128.252.135.4 /systems/ibmpc/msdos
archive.orst.edu 128.193.2.13
/pub/mirrors/oak.oakland.edu/simtel20/msdos
ftp.uu.net 192.48.96.9 /systems/ibmpc/msdos/simtel20
ftp.funet.fi 128.214.6.100 /pub/msdos/SimTel-mirror
src.doc.ic.ac.uk 146.169.2.1 /pub/packages/simtel20
ftp.switch.ch 130.59.1.40 /mirror/msdos
ftp.uni-paderborn.de 131.234.2.32 /msdos
ftp.technion.ac.il 132.68.1.10 /pub/unsupported/dos/simtel
archie.au 139.130.4.6 /micros/pc/oak
nctuccca.edu.tw 140.111.1.10 /PC/simtel
ftp.nectec.or.th 130.59.1.40 /pub/mirrors/msdos
(gopher: gopher.oakland.edu)
II. Garbo Mirrors
garbo.uwasa.fi 193.166.120.5 Main Garbo site
wuarchive.wustl.edu 128.252.135.4 /systems/ibmpc/garbo
archie.au 139.130.4.6 /micros/pc/garbo
nctuccca.edu.tw 140.111.1.10 /PC/garbo
Some Ftp sites may have reorganized their directories by the time
you read this, so you may have to hunt around a little <g>. Try
to use Ftp sites that are nearest you.
Usenet newsgroups:
alt.usenet.offline-reader, comp.os.msdos.mail-news,
comp.protocols.ppp, comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc, and other groups
in the comp.protocols hierarchy.
And the Fidonet echo Internet Discussion.
The book 'The Internet for Dummies', especially chapter 28, lists
some DOS resources. The book 'PC Internet Tour Guide', by Fraase,
is basically a book about Minuet. Another good Internet book is
'The Internet Complete Reference', by Harley Hahn.
-- Will Baldwin - Joplin, Mo. USA - email: Will.B...@nemspa.org
-- Will Baldwin - Joplin, Mo, USA. My views are only my own.
Fido: 1:286/926 Internet: Will.B...@nemspa.org
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