ACCESSING A SERVER

This section explains the various methods by which a client user or program can access an MTS network server.

After a general description of the client’s logon record, some of the various access methods are presented.

The Logon Record

To access a user-funded server, that is, a charged public server or a private server, the client must supply alogon record. A logon record consists of a sequence ofinformation itemsseparated by spaces.

Each item is of the formkeyword=value.

Certain items are required, and others are optional. The required items are:

Keyword Description

ID The userID on the MTS host of the user to whom the server’s use of resources will be charged.

PW The password that corresponds to the userID.

CMDFILE The name of the server’s command file (private servers only).

For example, a logon record for a charged public server might look like:

ID=WXYZ PW=GRUNCH

A logon record for a private server might look like:

ID=WABC PW=HUNGRY CMDFILE=WABC:MAILDROP

Using the “Which Host?” Prompt

This method can be used by any client that can access the UMnet/Michnet network. It is most suited for human users, especially in the case of free public servers.

To access afree public serverusing the “Which Host?” prompt, type the server’s name in response to that prompt. For example, here is a sample TIMEDATE server session:

Which Host? TIMEDATE 16:16:29 EST

Wed Jan 20/88

%H1E:CH0445-AF5E:UM24 timeda Connection closed

To access acharged public serverusing the “Which Host?” prompt: type the server’s name; press the Return key; and then type alogon recordthat supplies a userID to be charged and its password. For example, here is a sample server session charged to an imaginary user with userID MONA and password LISA:

Which Host? servername ID=MONA PW=LISA

output here

%H1E:CH043D-AF1D:UM4E servername Connection closed

To invoke aprivate serverusing the “Which Host?” prompt: type the word “PRIVATE” followed by the name of the MTS host on which the server resides; press Return; and then type a logon record that supplies the userID of the owner of the server, the corresponding password, and the name of the server command file. For example, here is a session with an imaginary private server SHOWFILES owned by our imaginary user MONA:

Which Host? PRIVATE UM

ID=MONA PW=LISA CMDFILE=SHOWFILES 5 ML.CC Create=Oct16/87 5 ML.CITI Create=Nov02/87

%H1E:CH043D-AF1D:UM4E privat Connection closed

When typing a logon record at a terminal, it is useful to press the Escape key before and after the password to keep it from printing.

Using the %GRAB Command

This method can be used by any client that can access a host computer on the UMnet/Michnet network. It is used from within a host session rather than at the “Which Host?” prompt, but is otherwise identical.

To access afree public serverusing the %GRAB command, type “%GRAB” followed by the server’s name. For example:

#%GRAB TIMEDATE 16:16:29 EST Wed Jan 20/88

%H1E:CH0445-AF5E:UM24 timeda Connection closed

To access a charged public server using the %GRAB command: type “%GRAB” followed by the server’s name; press the Return key; and then type alogon recordthat supplies a userID to be charged and its password. For example:

#%GRAB servername ID=MONA PW=LISA output here

%H1E:CH043D-AF1D:UM4E servername Connection closed

To invoke a private server using the %GRAB command: type “%GRAB”, followed by the word

“PRIVATE”, followed by the name of the MTS host on which the server resides; press Return; and then type a logon record that supplies the userID of the owner of the server, the corresponding password, and the name of the server command file. For example, here is a session with an imaginary private server SHOWFILES owned by our imaginary user MONA:

#%GRAB PRIVATE UM

ID=MONA PW=LISA CMDFILE=SHOWFILES 5 ML.CC Create=Oct16/87 5 ML.CITI Create=Nov02/87

%H1E:CH043D-AF1D:UM4E privat Connection closed

Using the $MOUNT Command

This method can be used by any client that is signed on to an MTS session in the UMnet/Michnet network. It is often used from within a $SOURCE-able file of MTS commands.

To invoke afree public server, use a $MOUNT command of the form:

MOUNT MNET *pdn* DEST=host SERVER=server

where “pdn” is a pseudodevice name of your choosing, “host” is the name of the MTS host on which the server resides, and “server” is the name of the server (see the discussion on server names under

“Comparing MTS Network Servers Currently in Use” above). Note that server and client may reside on the same host.

Here is an example of accessing the free public TIMEDATE server interactively using the $MOUNT command:

#MOUNT MNET *A* DEST=UM SERVER=TIMEDATE

#mnet *a* dest=um server=timedate

#*A*: Mounted on AD00

#COPY *A*

>16:25:00 EST

>Tue Jan 26/88

AD00: Connection CLOSED

#RELEASE *A*

#"*A*": MNET dismounted.

To invoke acharged public serveror aprivate server, issue the MOUNT command as above and then follow it with a logon record as described above under the “Which Host” method. One way to do this is to copy it to the server’s pseudodevice:

COPY *SOURCE* TO *pdn*

ID=userid PW=password CMDFILE=cmdfile {end-of-file}

The output of the server can then be read using a command of the form:

COPY *pdn*

Once the server completes, release the pseudodevice name with a command of the form:

RELEASE *pdn*

Here is an example of accessing our imaginary private SHOWFILES server owned by userID MONA:

#MOUNT MNET *A* DEST=UM SERVER=PRIVATE

#mnet *a* dest=um server=private

#*A*: Mounted on AD00

#COPY *SOURCE* TO *A*

>ID=MONA PW=LISA CMDFILE=SHOWFILES

>$ENDFILE

#COPY *A*

>5 ML.CC Create=Oct16/87

>5 ML.CITI Create=Nov02/87 AD00: Connection CLOSED

#RELEASE *A*

#"*A*": MNET dismounted.

For further information about other methods for accessing servers and for creating servers, see Using and Creating MTS Network Servers, Reference R1073.