UMBC TIA FAQ

TIA FAQ For PC Setups at UMBC

The files contained within the archives named "tia-umbc.exe", "tia-net.exe" and "tia-pine.exe" are self extracting archives. The files will automatically be placed in the "C:\temp" directory on your hard drive

WHAT IS TIA?

Tia is technically a program that runs on the UMBC mainframe computing system. Specifically, it runs on umbc7, umbc8, umbc9, (umbc10, when it gets here), and alumni. Currently, the scripts do not support alumni, the main reason is because we don't have access to alumni to see exactly what the script needs. However, we have heard that it works just fine on alumni.

If you want a technical explanation, TIA is a script that runs on a mainframe system and emulates SLIP/PPP connections. It is an emulator that talks two ways. One side talks to the UNIX side, transferring and accepting SLIP/PPP packets, and the other side talks to the PC side, transferring and accepting SLIP/PPP packets.

WHAT DO I NEED FOR TIA?

You need, a computer, an account on umbc7, umbc8, umbc9 or the alumni machine. Your computer needs to have MS-Windows installed on it. It needs to have at least 4 megabytes of RAM (8 is highly encouraged), and with at least 5 megabytes of space on the hard drive. The processor should be better than or equal to a 386sx16. The modem that you are using should be as fast as 9600 baud, or faster (14,400 baud is preferred, but 9600 will also work). Anything lower than 9600 baud modems WILL NOT WORK. You will also need the TIA software, which can be found on the PC's in the ECS building, or on UMBC's FTP site (ftp.umbc.edu:/pub/netapps/PC/TIA) or from a friend, if they have it.

SLIP/PPP? I'M CONFUSED!

Don't panic. You don't need to know that in order for it to work. They are protocols that are used to be able to transfer packets from one machine to another. In the case of UMBC, it is generally used to transfer graphics, primarily web graphics (based upon usage data). One is faster than the other (PPP) because it is a more intelligent scheme and is compressible.

OK, I HAVE THE FILES, NOW WHAT? Put them on your computer! See the next step for precise information.

HOW TO PUT THE FILES ON YOUR COMPUTER

Using DOS:

Place the diskette containing the file(s) in the diskette drive (I am assuming that the particular drive is the A: drive. It very easily could be the B: drive. If yours happens to be the B: drive, then everywhere I type A:, you type B:. Simple, huh?)
At the C:\> prompt, issue the command "copy a:\tia-umbc.exe c:\tia-umbc.exe" without the quotation marks.
A copy of the file "tia-umbc.exe" will be on the root directory of your C: drive on your computer.
At the C:\> prompt, issue the command "tia-umbc". This will extract the files into the proper directory on your computer.
***The files will be extracted into the "C:\temp\tia" directory.****

HOW TO INSTALL THE FILES THAT YOU JUST PLACED ON THE COMPUTER

Start windows (type "win" at the C:\> prompt).
When the program manager starts, click once on the menu bar item "File".
Then click once on the item "Run" under "File"
In the box, on the Run menu, type the command "\temp\tia\install" and click on the OK button.

This will install the files to their proper place on your computer. It is menu driven, with instructions. Please follow the on screen instructions. It will also create some icons in windows for you.

HOW DO I INSTALL THE NETSCAPE DISTRIBUTION ON MY COMPUTER?
Using DOS:

Place the diskette containing the file(s) in the diskette drive (I am assuming that the particular drive is the A: drive. It very easily could be the B: drive. If yours happens to be the B: drive, then everywhere I type A:, you type B:. Simple, huh?)
At the C:\> prompt, issue the command "copy a:\tia-net.exe c:\tia-net.exe" without the quotation marks.
A copy of the file "tia-net.exe" will be on the root directory of your C: drive on your computer.
At the C:\> prompt, issue the command "tia-net". This will extract the files into the proper directory on your computer.
****The files will be extracted into the "C:\temp\netscape\" directory.****

HOW TO INSTALL THE FILES THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY PLACED ON THE COMPUTER

Star windows (type "win" at the C:\> prompt).
When the program manager starts, click once on the menu bar item "File".
Then click once on the item "Run" under "File"
In the box, on the Run menu, type the command "\temp\netscape\setup" and click on the OK button.

This will install the files to their proper place on your computer. It is menu driven, with instructions. Please follow the on screen instructions. It will also create some icons in windows for you.

HOW DO I DO THIS FOR THE PINE DISTRIBUTION?
Using DOS:

Place the diskette containing the file(s) in the diskette drive (I am assuming that the particular drive is the A: drive. It very easily could be the B: drive. If yours happens to be the B: drive, then everywhere I type A:, you type B:. Simple, huh?)
At the C:\> prompt, issue the command "copy a:\tia-pine.exe c:\tia-pine.exe" without the quotation marks.
A copy of the file "tia-pine.exe" will be on the root directory of your C: drive on your computer.
At the C:\> prompt, issue the command "tia-pine". This will extract the files into the proper directory on your computer.
****The files will be extracted into the "C:\temp\pine\" directory.****

HOW TO INSTALL THE FILES THAT YOU JUST PLACED ON THE COMPUTER

Star windows (type "win" at the C:\> prompt).
When the program manager starts, click once on the menu bar item "File".
Then click once on the item "Run" under "File"
In the box, on the Run menu, type the command "\temp\pine\setup" and click on the OK button.

This will install the files to their proper place on your computer. It is menu driven, with instructions. Please follow the on screen instructions. It will also create some icons in windows for you.

OK, IT'S ON, NOW WHAT?

Well, now you should be in Windows. There will be an icon folder called Tia Applications. Most likely it will be open. Also, if you so desire, you can erase all of the file contained in the c:\temp\ directory. Those are no longer needed, once you have done the above steps.

Double click on the Trumpet Winsock Icon. A new window will open
Select the Menu Item "Dialler" Under that, Select "Setup.cmd"
Input the Proper data.
Restart Trumpet Winsock.
If you have a modem, you will hear the modem pick up the phone and dial. If you have a dataphone, you won't hear anything, but it will be dialing also.
You will have a proper connection, and all will be good to go, when you see the words "You may now start your Network Software" on the screen. It does not matter if there is anything after that. All that matters, is that those particular words are on the screen.
Minimize Trumpet Winsock, by clicking once on the down arrow in the upper right hand corner of the window.

WHAT DID THAT JUST DO?

You just created a link between your computer and the UMBC computing system. Now you should be able to do anything else that you want. Netscape is a good choice to try.

WHAT DOES SOME OF THE SOFTWARE DO?

EWAN TELNET

Ewan telnet is a telnet client (obviously). What this allows you to do, is open an interactive session with which ever machine you decide to tell it to connect to. This will be just like logging in thru the Telnet Option on the PC's in the PC lab in the ECS building. This will also be like just dialing up the modem and connecting to our systems. It is text based, and does not allow for graphics.

WS FTP

Ws ftp is an ftp client (obviously). It allows you to transfer files from one computer to another. It can login to the umbc system, and "download" files that may be on your account, or from our FTP server. It can also connect to a multitude of machines out on the Internet proper, and get copies of files on them. Most of the files out there are shareware/freeware, so you don't have to worry about pirating software.

NETSCAPE

Do you really need an explanation of this one? It is a web browser. It allows for graphical viewing of the World Wide Web. Surfing the web is a popular and time consuming process, best accompanied by a lot of free time, and mass quantities of caffeine to keep you awake whilst you study deep into the night, because you used most of your time to surf. Do it cautiously :)

PC-PINE

PC-Pine is just like the version that runs on our mainframes. It resides on your hard drive, an option that some people like. There has been problems with newer accounts, and this program. If you try this, and it DOES NOT work, please try the following solution:

Using EWAN TELNET, open a connection to the machine that you are trying to read mail from (I will assume umbc8, but it just as easily could be anything else).
Login to that particular machine.
At the prompt (umbc8[1]% for umbc8), type the following without quotes, and following the capitalization scheme:
"ln -s $HOME/.mailspool/$USER $HOME/.Maildrop"
Exit the Telnet connection (type the word "exit").
Fire up PC-Pine. It should work now.

TROUBLE SHOOTING INFORMATION

Something is not working! Here's some ideas on what to do:

You are not sure if you have a connection: Look for the words "You may now start your Network Applications" in Trumpet Winsock. They will not be the last thing on the screen, but they will be close to it. If you don't see them there, something is wrong. You are not making a connection. It could be that your modem is turned off (if external), or that you have it set to the wrong com port.
You know you have a connection, but Netscape won't work: Try Ewan Telnet. If you get a connection thru Ewan Telnet, you know that the connection thru Trumpet Winsock is good. If you don't get a connection thru Trumpet Winsock, then something is wrong with Trumpet Winsock. IF you can connect thru Ewan Telnet, Netscape has a problem (hehehe).
You keep getting General Protection Fault: Most likely this is because one of the Netscape files got corrupted. Reinstall them.

OH NO, SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING AND NOT LISTED ABOVE, WHAT DO I DO?

Re-read the instructions again (you're looking at them).

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