From David.Steele@usask.ca Fri Feb 02 12:27:50 1996 Path: tribune.usask.ca!duke.usask.ca!glenn From: glenn@duke.usask.ca (Glenn Hollinger) Newsgroups: usask.general Subject: Announcement:PPP Service for Students Date: 1 Feb 1996 20:36:09 GMT Organization: University of Saskatchewan Lines: 158 Message-ID: <4er87p$5le@tribune.usask.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: duke.usask.ca X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] IMPORTANT NOTICE Changes are being made to this dialin facility during the next 1-4 weeks that will affect all users. Details are available from: - the Newsgroups usask.general, and usask.network; - the CAMPUS bulletin folder (VMS systems); - the campus World Wide Web server, http::/www.usask.ca/student-dialup/ - posters in campus computer labs. Detailed Announcement --------------------- IMPORTANT NOTICE Upcoming Changes to Student and Public Access Modem Facility The Advisory Committee for Computing Services (ACCS) has recommended DCS provide PPP services on the existing student/public access modem pool to enhance student access to the campus electronic mail server and campus world wide web information resources from their homes. Computing Services has accepted this recommendation and will be enabling PPP access to the campus network and computer resources via the existing campus modem pools. This access will, in general, not give students access to college computer lab resources. In order to enhance student access to the campus, through the implementation of PPP service, DCS will be need to modify and partition the existing 56-line Student and Public Access modem facility during the next month. Specifically, the existing 56-line modem facility will be divided into two facilities: - a 40-line modem facility dedicated solely for student use. This facility will support PPP, which, among other things, will enable students to access the campus mail server from their homes as if they were accessing it from on campus (for instance in a computer lab). In order to provide greater access to students and for computer security reasons, access to this facility will only be provided via a valid username and password; all students are eligible for a username/password. This facility will have a new phone number (978-8440). - a 16-line modem facility which can be used by the public as well as students. This facility will be accessible by the same phone number as the existing modem pool (978-8400). No username or password will be required to access this facility. This facility can still be used by students to access online library resources and other campus servers on which students may have computer accounts. For example, students can use these lines to login into the mail server, mail.usask.ca, to obtain an username/password for the 40-line modem facility. Computing Services is not implementing PPP on the latter 16 lines because: - these modems use older technology and are too slow to support PPP. - some dialin access by members of university community is still required without the restriction of user authentication (without using username and password). Some needs for this access are outlined in the proceeding description of the 16-line facility. An outline of the changes which will occur over the next month follows. February 6/96. -------------- The existing 56-line public access modem pool will be partitioned with 40-lines in one (student only) modem pool and 16 lines in the other. The 16 line facility will be accessible by the phone number 978-8400. The 40-line facility will be accessible by the phone number 978-8440. At this time, no usernames or passwords will be required to access either facility. After February 20, students who will want to use the 40-line modem pool will require a username and password. Students can obtain these passwords starting February 6. Students must have an account on the campus mail server, mail.usask.ca, in order to enable their own access (obtain a username and password) to the 40 line (student) modem facility. The campus email server, mail.usask.ca, is used by most computer labs to provide email services. Therefore, most students who have an email account in a campus computer labs also have email account on the campus mail server. Students can obtain a username and password for 40-line modem pool by: - using the Telnet program to login to mail.usask.ca; - logging into mail.usask.ca using their email username and password; - selecting the menu item, "[D] Dialin Account - Enable"; this will display a usage policy for the modem facility. - by responding "yes" to usage policy. After responding yes to the usage policy, students will be given a username and a password for the 40-line (student) modem facility. The username will be identical to their email username. The password will be different from their email password. Your email and modem facility passwords can be synchronized (made the same) by either: - logging into the modem facility and use the command "DEFINE PORT USER KERBEROS PASSWORD" and follow the prompts. Note, this will not work until February 20. - logging into the mail server (mail.usask.ca) and selecting the menu item to change email passwords, change your email password to that of your modem facility password. Students who forget their password for the 40-line modem pool, can obtain a new password following the same procedure to obtain their initial username/password (as described in above paragraph). Students who do not have an email account on the campus email server, mail.usask.ca, must obtain an email account on that server before they will be able to get an username/password for the student modem facility. An email account on mail.usask.ca can be obtained from: - campus computer labs. Note, some college computer labs will require a fee for use of the computer lab before enabling this account and this depends on college policy. The support staff in your college can tell you if they expect you to pay a fee. - or from the Computing Services Help Desk, Room 160 Physics. There is no charge. Students MUST have an USERNAME/PASSWORD for the 40-line modem pool in order to access it after February 20th. February 20/96. --------------- The following changes will be implemented on February 20th: - access to the 40-line modem pool will be restricted to only students with an valid username/password. Note, the 16 line modem pool will continue to be accessible without a username/password. - students will be able to use PPP on the 40-line modem facility. To enable students to use this new service with minimum effort, a kit containing instructions as well as free, shareware, and site-licensed software has been created. This kit can be downloaded for free from ftp.usask.ca or purchased. While final arrangements have not yet been made, the kit will likely be on sale in either the Bookstore or the Place Riel Information Center for a price of $25 or less. Kits will be initially available for Macintosh System 7.X and Windows/Windows for Workgroup 3.1 and 3.11. Each kit will contain the following applications: PPP software drivers; email, ftp, telnet. Licensing restrictions do not permit us to distribute a Web browser; however, the kit will include instructions for obtaining a Web browser. Other ----- The proposed service will not meet the all needs of all students. The Advisory Committee for Computing Services, Computing Services and others are investigating long term solutions to the problem of access to the campus network from student homes. A new solution should be in place by fall. This solution may have a fee for service. Questions regarding these changes should be directed DCS's Help Desk, Room 160 Physics (email to help.desk@usask.ca).