Software Interest Group

• Schedule
• Documentation
• Resources
• Thanks

---

How to Run Netscape from Home

(using SLiRP)

by Mark Hays, Ricardo Martinez, Jose' Torres, and Anu Rao

---

Overview

The World Wide Web is the up-and-coming infosource of choice. We will show how easy it is to access the world of online information from the comfort of home. Free software that is available for users of Macintosh, Windows PC, and Linux workstations will be demonstrated. No ISP (Internet Service Provider) account will be required.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Modem Configuration
• The Set-Up
• Links/Info for Necessary Software
  • Linux
  • PC MS Windows (95)
  • Macintosh

---

Introduction

Our demonstrations make use of a free software package called SLiRP (for more info, see the SLiRP Homepage in Australia). In order to use the methods described here, you will need

• a network account on which SLiRP is installed (for example, your account on the Math Dept. Suns, where SLiRP 1.0c is installed on the system)
• PPP software (using the TCP/IP protocol) at your local machine at home
• the software you wish to use (Netscape, in this case) at both ends (remote network account and local machine at home).

[Back]

---

Modem Configuration

Often the most difficult part of the set-up is the proper configuration of your modem and your computer's serial port (for a quick refresher course on modems, take a look at the SWIG Modem Jargon page). You must refer to your modem manual for the actual commands, but in general you will want to:

• turn command echo on
• turn verbal responses on
• turn hardware flow control on
• turn software flow control off
• use the highest speed your computer and serial port support

The easiest way to configure your modem is to start up kermit, minicom, seyon, etc., and issue the approriate commands (obtained from your modem manual; most modems use the standard Hayes AT command set). Be aware that some modems have (physical) DIP switches that can affect modem parameters independent of its software settings.

Setting up hardware flow control can be tricky. Most newer modems provide a "hardware flow control template", usually available via an AT command. If your modem has such a template, it is usually a good place to start. If your modem does not have such a template, then refer to your modem manual.

Once you have everything set up, be sure to save your configuration into your modem's non-volatile RAM and configure it to load this stored profile on power-up.

If you have a choice, a 28.8K baud modem (that can data compress/error correct to 115.2K baud) is recommended.

[Back]

---

The Set-Up

• Mark Hays will describe how to run Netscape at home from a Linux machine.
• Jose' Torres will describe how to run Netscape from home using:Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows 95.
• Ricardo Martinez will describe the setup for a Macintosh.

NOTE: The materials presented have been tested with the software versions listed below and work as of 5/2/97, but they come with no guarantees).

[Back]

---

Links/Info for Necessary Software (at local end)

Linux:Red Hat v. 3.0.3, 4.0, 4.1; Kernel v. 2.0.27 (has been tested with Netscape v. 3.01, MPEG player v. 2.3, SLiRP 1.0c, and the PPP scripts provided below and works as of 5/2/97; comes with no guarantees)

• Netscape (v. 3.01)
  • download from local ftp site
  • download from Netscape
  
  
• MPEG player (Berkeley v. 2.3)
  • download from local ftp site
  • Berkeley MPEG site
  • Geometry Center Info/Dowload
  
  
• PPP scripts (tarred and gzipped)
  • PPP HOW-TO
  • Serial Programming HOW-TO
  • PPP-Linux FAQ

Microsoft Windows95 (has been tested with Netscape v. 3.01, the MS Windows95 (Release B) software listed below, SLiRP 1.0c, and the PPP scripts provided below and works as of 5/2/97; comes with no guarantees)

• Netscape (v. 3.01)
  • download via local ftp site (Netscape 32-bit)
  • download from Netscape
  
  
• Microsoft TCP/IP Protocol for Microsoft Windows95 (comes with Windows95)
• Microsoft Dial-Up Adapter (comes with Windows95)
• Microsoft Dial-Up Networking (comes with Windows95)
  
• PPP script (text)

Macintosh (v. 7.1, 7.5, 7.5.1, 7.5.3, 7.5.5) (has been tested with Netscape v. 3.01, StuffIt Expander v. 4.01, Disk Copy Utility v. 6.1, OpenTransport v.1.1.2, and OpenTransport PPP v. 1.0, and SLiRP 1.0c, works as of 5/2/97; comes with no guarantees)

• OpenTransport 1.1.1 or 1.1.2 (TCP/IP protocol; shareware) (v. 1.1.2 recommended)
• OpenTransport PPP 1.0 (freeware)
  • download from local ftp site
    • StuffIt Expander 4.01 (freeware; needed expand the DiskCopy software)
    • Disk Copy Utility 6.1 (needed to copy OpenTransport software to disks)
    • OpenTransport 1.1.1
    • OpenTransport 1.1.2
    • OpenTransport PPP 1.0
  • download from Apple
  • Open Transport Reference Q & A
  
  
• Netscape (v. 3.01)
  • download via local ftp site
  • download from Netscape
  
  
• (optional) AppleScript ScriptEditor (v. 1.1.1) (used to create scripts)

[Back]