San Jose IBM PC Club Internet Access

  1. Graphical PPP Access
  2. Text-mode Access
  3. Getting your SJPC userid

Graphical PPP Access

Most club members use PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) for access to the Internet.  With just an ordinary telephone connection or high speed internet access, PPP enables you to surf the world wide web using a browser such as Netscape Navigator or MS Internet Explorer.  You can also use e-mail via graphical tools such as Netscape Messenger or MS Outlook Express.  Here's what you need to get started...
  1. Hardware: A computer, modem, and standard telephone line or a high speed connection (DSL, cable, wireless)
  2. A userid: Here's how to get your SJPC userid
  3. Internet access software
  4. E-mail software:  Your computer needs software that can communicate with the SJPC mail server.  Examples are Netscape Messenger and Microsoft Outlook Express.  Here's how to set it up.

Text-mode Access

This is for members who need or prefer a text mode command interface.  SSH protocol can be used to login to the
SJPC mail/web server from a computer connected to the Internet (Telnet is not supported).  After you complete the SSH login, a mail/web menu will appear that includes text mode options for changing your password, e-mail, web browsing, FTP, and other functions.  SSH protocol can be accomplished using a program such as PuTTY which is a free SSH and Telnet client for 32-bit Windows systems.  SSH (secure shell) looks and works like telnet.  The difference is that SSH encrypts the userid, password, and text, but Telnet does not.  For information on using PuTTY for text mode access to the SJPC mail/web server, click here.

Your SJPC Userid

  1. Choose a userid.  Our usual convention is first initial and last name, such as jsmith.  But you can choose whatever you prefer, up to a maximum of 8 letters and numbers.  You can use your SJPC userid for e-mail, FTP, and SSH.  Your spouse and children at home can each have their own account.  And each account can have its own web site (no business sites, please).
  2. Choose a password.  The password should be at least 6 characters and not guessable. Dictionary words are no good, nor a run of letters, etc.  One way is to pick out a phrase, then take the first letter of each word.  ("Four score and seven years ago" becomes "fsasya".)  Another way is to pick two words and interlace them.  ("Cat dog" becomes "cdaotg".)
  3.  Ask the postmaster to set up the account.  Jim Van Nuland is our postmaster.  His telephone number is inside the front cover of your Bits and PCs newsletter, or you can send him an e-mail to postmaster@sjpc.org.
Changing Your Password
    Your password no longer expires after a year, but you may change it at any time.  Examples of passwords include a saved password in your login script and those in mail programs.  If you want to change your password, contact the postmaster, Jim Van Nuland.  His telephone number is inside the front cover of your Bits and PCs newsletter, or you can send him an e-mail to postmaster@sjpc.org.  He will insist on a nice "strong" password, as described above in the item titled "Choose a password".  Jim will change your password on the mail/web server.
Getting assistance

Return to the San Jose IBM PC Club's home page
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