The Unix Shell Access Account is a separate service which FOURnet offers optionally to customers who subscribe to Standard Access or Telnet-In services. Unix Shell access is not included with FOURnet's Express Internet service.
FOURnet's Unix Shell access provides users with a text-based non-graphical command line or menu-driven interface which is somewhat similar to a DOS prompt, yet much more powerful, and with a direct Internet connection.
The Internet was built on this user interface, and it is still popular today with advanced or power users, programmers, and web developers.
Unlike PPP access, programs are already installed on the system such as Unix mail programs (elm, mail, pine, etc), Unix news readers (tin, nn, rn), Unix text editors (vi, ex, ed, emacs, pico), as well as a full programmers development environment (cc, gcc), and file download utilities (XYZmodem, Kermit, etc).
Advantages are speed of use by comparison as files are already available on the system (ie NNTP news articles do not need to be downloaded to your PC before being read, mail does not need to be uploaded/downloaded/stored on your system, file transfers are quicker using zmodem without the additional packet overhead inherent in using TCP/IP and using a streaming protocol such as Zmodem).
Other advantages are that you won't need to configure or install TCP/IP or client programs on your PC as you will instead be able to take advantage of programs which are already installed for your use on the Unix machine. Additionally, you will have access to useful Unix programs and utilities which you would not have available to you otherwise, and you will have at your disposal the very powerful Unix Shell.
Users with telnet-in access can login to their FOURnet account from other locations without using PPP or dialing in. This can be useful if you travel or if you want to reach your personal mailbox, read news, or use other Unix utilities from work or school.
Disadvantages? Ask a seasoned Unix user - they'll say "none". But in all fairness, of course there are drawbacks, or this would be the most popular form of Internet access, which it is not!
Unix has a much steeper learning curve than using a browser and PPP to access the Internet. You'll need to stumble along in the beginning as you learn a few navigational commands. Once you've found your way around a bit, you'll be able to find much information online to help you learn what you need to become a proficient user. We've installed a menu program to get you started - just type "menu" when you login.
Unix is also not a "graphical" interface, and you won't be able to use a mouse to navigate, or click on pictures to view. This is text-only, like DOS.
You'll need to be sure that the modem program which you're using supports DEC VT100 terminal emulation and choose that setting before connecting. Other terminal emulations are also available by request - just send email to support@four.net and we'll change your default TTY type on FOURnet (you'll also need to change your modem program's setting to the same emulation.) If your modem program is currently set to dial using ANSI, be sure to change this prior to dialing FOURnet or your screen clearing codes won't function properly and your screen may appear garbled when you're using the menu program which requires screen clearing capabilities.The Unix shell account which is included with "Standard Access" service normally uses the same username and password as your PPP account, however, the two services do not run on the same server on the Network. You won't be able to run PPP by logging into your Unix shell account. Your POP3 mailbox and Unix mailbox are one and the same, so you won't have to run both to access your email and can choose one or the other. This feature is convenient when you've suddenly lost your TCP/IP setup and are unable to login using PPP! It enables you to download new files that you may need, keep current with your email, and view helpful online documentation such as IP addresses that you'll need for PPP.
If you'd like to learn more about using Unix, check out some of the links below or go to the search engine at altavista.digital.com and type in: Unix AND beginner in the "search" box then press submit.
http://www.ucalgary.ca/ucs/consult/FAQ/