Contents
 Using Remote Link Manager

Use Remote Link Manager to set up, open, and close a serial connection from your PC to your corporate network or to another computer. You can configure Remote Link Manager to use the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) or the Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) to open a serial connection.

Introduction

About Remote Link Manager

About Serial Connections

About the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

About the Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)

How To...

Configure a Serial Connection

Open a Serial Connection Automatically

Open a Serial Connection On Demand

Open a Serial Connection Manually

Close a Connection

Write Remote Link Manager Scripts

Save the Connection Log

Troubleshoot Connection Problems


About Remote Link Manager

The Remote Link Manager application lets you use a telephone line or direct serial connection to access a local area network or another computer. Once you establish a connection to a network or computer, you can use the resources accessible from that machine. The remote serial server must be running a PPP or SLIP server program that responds to the connection request of the Remote Link Manager.

You must configure SolarNet software for remote operation. Use the Express Config feature of the SolarNet Configuration program to establish a basic serial connection configuration. Use the Configuration program to tune your serial connection settings by entering information about your modem, PC, and serial account. If you regularly open connections to multiple serial servers, you can create and save a remote configuration file for each server. You can then open the appropriate configuration file to make a connection to a remote serial server.

Once you have configured Remote Link Manager using the Express Config feature of the SolarNet Configuration program, your PC can connect automatically to a serial server whenever you start Windows. Alternatively, you can configure Remote Link Manager to use scripts to connect to a remote PPP server on demand or to open a manual connection, which can be helpful for troubleshooting connection problems.


Overview
About Serial Connections

A serial network is a link between two computers over a serial line. The serial line can be a dialup connection over telephone lines or a direct connection between the serial ports of two computers.

A serial link lets you access networks by means of a direct cable connection or standard telephone lines instead of by means of a local area network adapter. A SLIP or PPP connection makes TCP/IP applications available to you anywhere through a telephone line. Working from home or a hotel room, you can:

Use ftp or telnet to connect to corporate resources

Read your electronic mail

Run Internet applications, such as Netscape or NewsReader, when you are away from the office

Each serial network must have its own name and Internet address. Each PC and each server on a serial network must have its own name and address. If a client or server has more than one network interface, the names and addresses used on the serial network must be different from the names used for any other network.


About the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) is a set of network protocols that lets you connect your PC to TCP/IP hosts and networks over serial telephone connections. PPP provides a standard method of encapsulating network protocol information over point-to-point links. PPP defines a Link Control Protocol (LCP), which provides for link establishment, option negotiation, and peer authentication. Finally, PPP includes a family of Network Control Protocols (NCPs), which establish how datagrams for a specific higher-level protocol using PPP as a data link, such as IP, should be encapsulated and how network-layer options should be negotiated.

When you initiate a link to a PPP server, the PPP link moves through several phases.

1.	When you initiate a PPP connection, your modem dials the modem of the PPP server. The two modems negotiate connection settings such as the connection speed. When the serial connection settings have been negotiated successfully, the serial link is established.

2.	You are prompted for your dial-in name and password. If the PPP server is configured for automatic dialback, it closes the connection and calls your modem back at a predefined telephone number. At this point, you may need to enter a dialback name and password.

3.	Depending on how your PPP server is configured, you may need to start the PPP daemon. You start the PPP daemon by sending a command (manually or as part of a script) such as ppp to the PPP server.

4.	Your PC begins negotiating the link configuration with the PPP server. Link Control Protocol (LCP) configuration options let your PC and the PPP server negotiate the characteristics of the PPP link. Negotiable LCP options include settings for the maximum receive unit (MRU), asynchronous control character mapping, and link authentication. If a configuration option is not explicitly negotiated, the default value for that option is assumed.

5.	The PPP protocol suite includes optional methods to ensure that unauthorized users do not access network services. By default, authentication is not required as part of the PPP link process. However, if the PPP server requires authentication, it must negotiate the use of an authentication protocol during the link establishment phase.

RFC 1334 specifies two methods of authenticating users as part of the PPP link initialization. Remote Link Manager supports the Password Authentication Protocol (PAP), which provides a name/password method of authenticating users seeking access. Remote Link Manager does not support the Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP).

6.	After a PPP link has been established and authentication has been satisfied, your PC sends Network Control Protocol (NCP) packets to configure one or more network-layer protocols, such as TCP/IP or IPX. Negotiable NCP options include settings for network addresses and compression methods.

7.	Once a network-layer protocol is configured, the PPP link is considered up (open), and datagrams for that protocol are exchanged over the link. Either end of the PPP link can close a network-layer connection without interfering with other network-layer connections or the LCP connection.

8.	A link can be terminated during initialization because a configuration or authentication failure occurs. Once a PPP link is established, it remains configured for communication unless explicit LCP or NCP packets close the link or until some external event, such as the expiration of an activity timer or intervention by a network administrator, occurs.

When your PC no longer needs a link, it sends a termination packet to the PPP server and closes any open NCP sessions. When the server sends back a termination acknowledgment, the client signals the modem to hang up.


Overview
About the Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)

SLIP, which was developed in the mid-1980s, is a simple protocol that specifies the framing characters used to send IP packets over a serial connection. A SLIP connection lets a PC (the SLIP client) connect with another host (the SLIP server). The server provides the client with the same applications and environment available to PC users on the servers local area network.

Remote Link Manager does not support CSLIP, a version of SLIP that uses Van Jacobson header compression to improve performance.

SLIP does not provide mechanisms for address negotiation, error correction, or compression. Consequently, the SLIP settings you enter for your PC must be complete and must match those on the SLIP server.

Depending on your SLIP servers configuration, you can configure your PC to use static or dynamic IP addresses for the serial connection.

If your SLIP server requires static IP addresses, you must record the IP address for the SLIP server and your PC when you enter your serial connection settings.

If your SLIP server requires dynamic IP addresses, you record tokens (<addr1> and <addr2>) instead of IP addresses for the SLIP server and your PC when you enter your serial connection settings. When the serial connection opens, the server sends your PC a message containing two or more IP addresses. The first IP address is usually the address the server is using to identify itself on the serial network. The second IP address is usually the address the server wants your PC to use to identify itself.

The sequence of steps for bringing up a SLIP connection is fairly straightforward.

1.	When you initiate a SLIP connection, your modem dials the modem of the SLIP server. The two modems negotiate connection settings such as the connection speed. When the serial connection settings have been negotiated successfully, the serial link is established.

2.	You are prompted for your dial-in name and password. If the SLIP server is configured for automatic dialback, it closes the connection and calls your modem back at a predefined telephone number. At this point, you may need to enter a dialback name and password.

3.	Depending on how your SLIP server is configured, you may need to start the SLIP daemon. You start the SLIP daemon by sending a command (manually or as part of a script) such as /etc/sunslip to the SLIP server.

4.	If the SLIP server requires dynamic IP addresses, it sends your PC a message containing two or more IP addresses. Your PC replaces the <addr1> and <addr2> tokens in its serial configuration with these addresses. No real address negotiation takes place; if your PC and the SLIP server cannot agree on their respective IP addresses immediately, the serial link is closed.

5.	Once your PC acknowledges its IP address, the SLIP link is considered up (open), and IP datagrams are exchanged over the link.


Configuring Remote Link Manager

You must provide configuration settings for your serial connection before you can use Remote Link Manager to open a serial link between your PC and a remote location. You can use the Express Configuration utility in the SolarNet Configuration program to set up a preliminary PPP or SLIP configuration. If you are setting up a link to a SLIP or PPP server that uses nonstandard settings, you can use the Preferences option in Remote Link Manager to tailor your serial configuration.

Click on an item below for detailed instructions on how to configure Remote Link Manager.

Using Express Config to Set Up a Serial Configuration

Entering TCP/IP Configuration Settings

Entering User Settings

Entering Modem Settings

Entering Default Connection Settings


Express Config
Using Express Config

Each screen in the Express Config tool asks you for a single setting, such as a name or IP address. After you supply the requested information, you move to the next screen by choosing the Next button or pressing the Enter key.

The Express Config tool displays the settings you have entered in a status window at the bottom of the dialog box. You can modify a previous answer by choosing the Back button.

1.	Open the Configuration dialog box.

Double-click the Configuration icon. The Configuration dialog box opens.

2.	Start the Express Config tool.

Choose the Express Config button. The Express Config dialog box opens.

3.	Specify a name for the serial configuration.

Enter a name for the new configuration settings in the text box. You cannot assign a name that is already in use to this configuration. Express Config stores the settings you enter in the <NAME>.CFG file in the \SOLARNET\CONFIGS directory.

If you regularly use serial connections to multiple remote sites, you can create and save a configuration file for the connection to each site. For example, you can set up one configuration file (BOSTON.CFG) to dial in to the East Coast office and a second configuration file (SEATTLE.CFG) to connect to the West Coast office.

4.	Specify that you want to set up a serial network connection.

Choose PPP to set up a PPP configuration.

5.	Enter the name of your PC in the text box.

The name you enter will be advertised as the PCs host name to other hosts on the network.

6.	Select the communications port to which your modem is connected.

Choose the COM1, COM2, or COM3 radio button. Express Config assumes that your modem is a Hayes-compatible device with default settings. You can use the Preferences window in Remote Link Manager to customize your modem settings.

7.	Specify the telephone number of the SLIP/PPP server.

Enter the telephone number of the server in the text box. For most modems, you should only enter digits (09), spaces, dashes, commas, asterisks (*), and pound signs (#). Spaces and dashes can be included for cosmetic purposes. A comma in the telephone number typically causes the modem to pause for two seconds before proceeding. An asterisk or a pound sign may be required for special telephone commands; for example, *70 disables call waiting on most U.S. telephone systems.

8.	Specify the type of name service you want to use for the SLIP/PPP connection.

Choose the DNS (Domain Name Service), NIS (Network Information Service), or Hosts File radio button.

9.	Specify your login name for the SLIP/PPP connection.

Enter your user name in the text box provided. The name you enter will be the default name in the login dialog.

10.	Specify whether you want to log in to WebScout each time you start Windows.

If you select Yes, Express Config asks you for the name or IP address of an authentication server.

If you select No, you can still use WebScout, but you will have to log in manually through the Windows control panel.

11.	Specify whether you want to configure WebScout as a secondary network under Windows for Workgroups.

12.	Press the Enter key to save the updated configuration settings.


TCP/IP Setup
Entering Serial TCP/IP Settings

1.	Open the Configuration dialog box by double-clicking the Configuration icon.

2.	Open the TCP/IP Configuration dialog box.

Choose the TCP/IP button on the Configuration dialog box.

3.	Select the Enable check box in the Serial Interface panel to activate the serial interface on your PC.

4.	Enter the name your PC will use to identify itself on the remote network in the Hostname text box.

5.	Specify the IP address for your PC.

The manner in which you enter your IP address depends on whether you are using SLIP or PPP and on whether you want the remote server to assign you an IP address:

If you are setting up a SLIP connection and you want your PC to use a static IP address, enter the IP address in the upper Internet Address text box.

If you are setting up a SLIP connection and you want your PC to use the IP address assigned to it by the server, enter <addr2> in the upper Internet Address text box.

If you are setting up a PPP connection, enter a likely IP address in the upper Internet Address text box. The IP address your PC actually uses will be negotiated during the PPP link configuration.

6.	Enter the subnet mask for the remote IP network in the Subnet Mask text box.

The subnet mask specifies which bits of the 32-bit binary IP address represent network information.

7.	Enter the name the remote server uses to identify itself over the serial connection in the Remote Server Name text box.

8.	Specify the IP address for the remote server.

The manner in which you enter the servers IP address depends on whether you are using SLIP or PPP and on whether you will accept the address returned by the server.

•	If you are setting up a SLIP connection and you want to specify a static IP address for the SLIP server, enter the IP address in the lower Internet Address text box.

•	If you are setting up a SLIP connection and you want your PC to accept the IP address the SLIP server returns for itself, enter <addr1> in the lower Internet Address text box.

•	If you are setting up a PPP connection, enter a likely IP address for the remote server in the lower Internet Address text box. The IP address the remote server actually uses will be negotiated during the PPP link configuration.

9.	Configure the name service administration for the remote network.

10.	Save the modified serial connection settings.

If you are finished entering configuration information and you are ready to close the Configuration dialog box, choose OK.

If you want to save the settings you have entered but are not finished entering configuration settings, choose Apply.

11.	Save the updated configuration.


User Preferences
Entering User Settings

1.	Run Remote Link Manager.

Double-click the Remote Link Manager icon. The Remote Link Manager dialog box opens.

2.	Open the Configuration dialog box.

Pull down the Options menu and select Configure. Remote Link Manager displays the User Information panel of the Serial Configuration dialog box by default.

3.	Specify your user name and password.

Your user name is the login ID that identifies your account on the remote host or network. Your password is the code associated with your user name that lets the remote host authenticate your identity. Enter your user name in the User Name text box and your password in the Password text box.

Your user name and password are stored in the login.scr login script. If you leave either text box blank or enter an asterisk (*), you will be prompted to enter the appropriate value when you open the serial link.

4.	Specify the telephone number of the remote host.

Enter the telephone number of the SLIP/PPP server in the Phone Number text box. Characters are typically restricted to digits (0-9), spaces, dashes, commas, asterisks (*), and pound signs (#). Spaces and dashes can be included for cosmetic purposes. A comma in the telephone number typically causes the modem to pause for two seconds. An asterisk or a pound sign may be required for special telephone commands; for example, *70 disables call waiting on most U.S. telephone systems.

5.	Optionally, specify a startup command.

Some implementations of SLIP or PPP require that you send a startup command, such as /etc/slip, to initiate the serial link. If your service provider requires a startup command, enter it in the Startup Command text box.

6.	Specify whether you want to use PPP or SLIP for the serial connection.

Choose either the Use PPP or Use SLIP radio button to select the protocol for the serial link. If you choose Use PPP, you may need to enter advanced PPP settings.

7.	Save the modified serial connection settings.

If you are finished entering configuration information and you are ready to close the Serial Configuration dialog box, choose OK. If you want to save the settings you have entered but are not finished entering configuration settings, choose Apply. If you want to discard the changes you have made, choose Cancel.


Advanced PPP Settings
Entering Advanced PPP Settings

Advanced PPP settings consist of configuration values for the Link Control Protocol (LCP) and IP Control Protocol (IPCP). Under most conditions, you should use the default settings provided with Remote Link Manager.

1.	Run Remote Link Manager.

Double-click the Remote Link Manager icon. The Remote Link Manager dialog box opens.

2.	Open the Configuration dialog box.

Pull down the Options menu and select Configure. Remote Link Manager displays the User Information panel of the Configuration dialog box by default.

3.	Open the Advanced PPP Settings dialog box.

The Use PPP button must be selected before you can set up advanced PPP settings. Choose the Advanced button in the Link Protocol box to open the Advanced PPP Settings dialog box.

4.	Specify the maximum receive unit (MRU) for the PPP link.

The MRU specifies the maximum packet size, in bytes, that a network interface will accept. The MRU for each end of a PPP link is negotiated when the link is opened, and the other end of the link is responsible for fragmenting packets longer than the negotiated MRU.

Enter a number in the range 128-2048 in the MRU text box. By default, the MRU for most PPP links is 1500.

By default, the Local and Remote check boxes for the MRU setting are enabled, meaning that the PPP client will negotiate its MRU and the MRU of the server. If you do not want your PC to negotiate its MRU, unselect the MRU: Local check box. If you do not want your PC to negotiate the MRU of the remote server, unselect the MRU: Remote check box. Note that refusing to negotiate a PPP option may cause the remote server to refuse the connection.

5.	Specify the asynchronous control character map for the PPP link.

By default, the Local and Remote check boxes for the Asynch Map setting are enabled, meaning the PPP client will negotiate its asynchronous control character map and that of the server. If you do not want your PC to negotiate its map, deselect the Asynch Map: Local check box. If you do not want your PC to negotiate the map of the remote server, deselect the Asynch Map: Remote check box. Note that refusing to negotiate a PPP option may cause the remote server to refuse the connection.

6.	Specify whether your PC will negotiate use of magic numbers to detect looped-back conditions.

By default, the Local and Remote check boxes for the Magic Number setting are selected, meaning that the PPP client will negotiate whether magic number testing will be used.

7.	Enable or disable compression of the PPP Protocol field.

The default length for the Protocol field in a PPP frame is two bytes. You can specify that your PC should compress the Protocol field to a single byte if you want to eliminate redundant data and reduce network overhead (which can be significant on low-speed serial links).

By default, compression of the Protocol field is enabled.

8.	Enable or disable compression of the Address and Control fields.

You can specify that your PC should compress the HDLC Address and Control fields when it transmits datagrams over the PPP link. By default, address/control field compression is enabled.

9.	Specify whether you will use the Password Authentication Protocol.

The Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) provides a simple method for a PPP peer to establish its identity. A peer being authenticated with PAP sends authentication request messages that contain its name and PAP password until the authenticator acknowledges and accepts the information or until the connection is terminated.

If your PPP server uses PAP to authenticate PPP clients, choose the Use PAP check box and enter your PAP password in the UPAP ID text box. If you leave this text box blank, you will be prompted to enter your PAP password manually when the PPP link is being opened.

10.	Specify whether you want your PC to negotiate its IP address and the IP address of the PPP server.

PPP provides a mechanism for negotiating IP addresses. During IP address negotiation, your PC and the PPP server will offer suggestions on what their respective IP addresses should be. If IP address negotiation is enabled, your PC will offer the host name and IP address specified in the User Information panel of the Configuration dialog box to configure the serial link. The PPP server may accept those values or make a counteroffer, suggesting a different set of values, until the PPP server and client reach agreement.

If you want your PC to negotiate its IP address, select the Negotiate IP Address: Local check box. If you want your PC to negotiate the servers IP address, select the Negotiate IP Address: Remote check box.

11.	Specify whether you want to use old-style (RFC 1172) address negotiation.

RFC 1172 specified a method for negotiating the IP addresses of the PPP client and server simultaneously. This address negotiation method was superseded in RFC 1332 by a more efficient method, where one IP address would be negotiated at a time. If you are opening a serial connection to a relatively old PPP server that expects RFC 1172 address negotiation, select the Use RFC 1172 Addresses check boxes.

12.	Specify whether you want your PC to request its IP address and the IP address of the PPP server.

If you want your PC to request IP address information from the PPP server, select the Request IP Address: Local and Remote check boxes.

13.	Specify whether you want to use modern Van Jacobson TCP/IP header compression.

Van Jacobson header compression provides a method of reducing the length of headers for TCP/IP datagrams. This can improve the performance of the PPP link significantly if both peers support header compression. Van Jacobson header compression must be enabled for both peers for it to be used on an asynchronous PPP link.

If you want to use Van Jacobson header compression, select the VJ Compression Local and Remote check boxes. By default, these check boxes are selected.

14.	Specify whether you want to use old-style Van Jacobson TCP/IP header compression.

For purposes of backward compatibility with older PPP implementations, you can use old-style (4-byte) Van Jacobson header compression instead of modern VJ header compression. If you want to use old-style Van Jacobson header compression, select the Use Old VJ Protocol Local and Remote check boxes. By default, these check boxes are unselected.

15.	If you specified that you wanted to use Van Jacobson header compression in Step 13, specify the number of slots (header buffers) you want to reserve.

When Van Jacobson header compression is turned on, your PC allocates memory for a specified number of slots (headers) by default. The number of slots your PC actually reserves may be reduced during link configuration if the PPP server can only support a lower number. By default, 16 slots are reserved.

16.	Save the advanced PPP settings.

When you finish entering configuration information, choose OK. You will return to the User Information panel of the Configuration dialog box.


Modem Settings
Entering Modem Settings

1.	Run Remote Link Manager.

Double-click the Remote Link Manager icon. The Remote Link Manager dialog box opens.

2.	Open the Configuration dialog box.

Pull down the Options menu and select Configure.

3.	Open the Modem Configuration panel.

Choose the Modem tab to display the Modem panel of the Serial Configuration dialog box.

4.	Specify the type of modem you will use for the serial connection.

If your modem can use a standard initialization script, select the name of your modem from the Type drop-down list. Modem scripts are stored in the NFSWMDM.INI file in the \WINDOWS directory.

If your modem requires a custom initialization script or if you want to modify one of the standard modem scripts, choose the Edit button.

Remote Link Manager writes the modem initialization string for the modem you select to the DIALUP.SCR script.

5.	Specify the port to which the modem is connected.

Use the Port drop-down list to select the serial port to which you are connecting your modem or a direct serial cable. COM1 is the default serial port.

6.	Specify the port speed.

Use the Speed drop-down list to select the speed at which the serial port of your PC will pass data to your modem. You can select port speeds ranging from 1200 bits per second (bps) to 115,200 bps. The default is 38400.

You should select the port speed that is appropriate for the UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter) used by your serial port. Click here for an explanation of how to use the Microsoft Diagnostics utility to determine the UART your serial port is using.

After you have configured and tested your serial configuration, you can experiment with faster port speeds.

7.	If necessary, configure advanced modem settings to specify whether the serial connection will use 7-bit or 8-bit characters.

8.	Save the modified serial connection settings.

If you are finished entering configuration information and you are ready to close the Serial Configuration dialog box, choose OK. If you want to save the settings you have entered but are not finished entering configuration settings, choose Apply. If you want to discard the changes you have made, choose Cancel.


Modem Initialization Script
Setting Up a Modem Initialization Script

A modem initialization script configures the communication settings for your modem. You can add your own modem initialization script or edit an existing initialization script if your modem is not on the list of supported modems or if you want to tune your modems performance.

To set up a modem initialization script:

1.	Open the Customize Modem dialog box by clicking the Edit button in the Modem Configuration dialog box.

2.	If you want to add a new script, type the name of the script in the Type text box. If you want to edit an existing script, use the Type drop-down box to select a script name.

3.	Enter the modem initialization commands in the Script text box.

4.	Choose OK.

You return to the Configuration dialog box.


Advanced Modem Settings
Setting Advanced Modem Settings

1.	Choose the Advanced button to open the Advanced Modem dialog box.

2.	Choose the Use 7 Bit Characters or Use 8 Bit Characters button to specify the character set.

3.	Choose OK when you are finished.


Default Connection Settings
Entering Default Connection Information

1.	Run Remote Link Manager.

Double-click the Remote Link Manager icon. The Remote Link Manager dialog box opens.

2.	Open the Configuration dialog box.

Pull down the Options menu and select Configure.

3.	Open the Defaults Configuration panel.

Choose the Defaults tab to display the Defaults panel of the Serial Configuration dialog box.

4.	Specify the login script for the serial connection.

The default login script automates the login process by sending a login name and password to the remote server. The default login script is a text file called DEFAULT.SCR in the \SOLARNET\CONFIGS directory.

•	If you want to use the standard login script, select Use Default Login Script.

•	If you want to use a custom login script, select Use Named Login Script and choose the Browse button to select the script you want.

•	If you do not want to use a login script, select Use No Login Script.

See Setting Up Scripts for information on setting up login scripts.

5.	Specify whether you want the serial link to open automatically when you start Windows.

If you want the serial link to be opened automatically, select the Auto Connect check box. If you want the serial link to be opened on request, leave the check box unselected.

6.	Specify whether you want Remote Link Manager to minimize when the serial connection is established.

If you want Remote Link Manager to reduce its dialog box to an icon when your PPP or SLIP connection is established, select the Minimize Once Connected check box. If you want Remote Link Manager to leave its dialog box open after the serial link is established, leave the check box unselected.

7.	Save the modified serial connection settings.

If you are finished entering configuration information and you are ready to close the Serial Configuration dialog box, choose OK. If you want to save the settings you have entered but are not finished entering configuration settings, choose Apply. If you want to discard the changes you have made, choose Cancel.


Making an Automatic Connection
Making an Automatic Serial Connection

Remote Link Manager opens a connection to the default serial server automatically if you enable the Auto Connect check box in the Defaults panel of the Preferences dialog box. If the dialin or login script does not contain an item of information Remote Link Manager needs to open the connection or log in to the remote server, it will prompt you to enter the missing information.

After the automatic serial connection is opened, you should review the connection log to verify that no errors were encountered. The connection log displays the following line when a successful connection exists:

Interface pp0 [IP address 1] -> [IP address2]


Opening a Connection On Demand
Opening a Serial Connection On Demand

1.	Run Remote Link Manager by double-clicking the Remote Link Manager icon.

2.	Open the serial connection by choosing the Connect button or by pulling down the Connect menu and choosing Connect.

Remote Link Manager initializes the communications port and runs the DIALUP.SCR script to connect to the remote server. Once the link is opened, Remote Link Manager runs the designated login script to log in to the remote server.

3.	Minimize the Remote Link Manager dialog box.

Do not exit the Remote Link Manager application or you will close your serial link.

See Also:

Writing a Remote Link Manager Script

Configuring PPP


Opening a Manual Connection
Opening a Serial Connection Manually

1.	Run Remote Link Manager by double-clicking the Remote Link Manager icon.

2.	Open the Manual Dial dialog box by pulling down the Connect menu and selecting Manual Dial.

Remote Link Manager displays the Manual Dial dialog box.

3.	Optionally, enter AT commands to configure your modem.

For example, you can enter ATM1 to turn on your modems speaker, letting you hear the tones and signals the modem uses to open the connection.

4.	Choose the Dial Phone button.

Remote Link Manager runs its dialup script to dial the telephone number of the remote server.

5.	Log in and respond to prompts from the serial server as they appear.

Remote Link Manager presents login prompts it receives from the server in the large Log text box. Enter your responses to the prompts in the Input text box at the top of the dialog box. Press Return after you complete each response to indicate that you want to send it to the remote server.

6.	After you have logged in to the remote server and been authenticated, choose the Start Protocol button.

Remote Link Manager closes the Manual Dial dialog box and opens the SLIP or PPP link.

7.	Minimize the Remote Link Manager dialog box.

Do not exit the Remote Link Manager application or you will close your serial link.


Closing a Serial Connection

1.	Open the Remote Link Manager dialog box.

2.	Close the serial connection.

Choose the Disconnect button or pull down the Connect menu and select Hang Up. The connection to the remote PPP server is closed and the remote session is stopped. If Remote Link Manager finds a disconnect script (DISCONN.SCR), it runs the disconnect script to kill the serial server process on the remote host. If Remote Link Manager finds a hangup script (HANGUP.SCR), it runs the hangup script to reset the modem.


Overview
Writing a Remote Link Manager Script

A script is an ASCII text file that tells Remote Link Manager to send or look for certain character strings at specific times. Each line in a script represents one command. Script commands are executed in sequential order, with no jumping or branching of commands.

Remote Link Manager updates its standard scripts automatically when you modify its configuration settings. You can use a text editor, such as the DOS Edit program or the Notepad utility, to create and edit Remote Link Manager scripts. Scripts, which are typically saved with a .SCR file extension, are stored in the /SOLARNET/CONFIGS directory on your PC.

Scripts consist of three types of elements:

Keywords are commands that initiate specific actions.

Prompts provide a way for a user to enter input into a Remote Link Manager script.

Escape characters represent special characters, such as line ending characters and the carriage return.

See Also:

Types of Scripts

Sample Scripts


Types
Types of Scripts

Remote Link Manager uses four types of scripts:

A dialup script configures and dials your modem. When you request an automatic or on-demand connection, Remote Link Manager executes its standard dialup script (DIALUP.SCR) immediately. When you are opening a serial connection manually, Remote Link Manager executes the dialup script when you click the Dial Phone button in the Manual Connection dialog box. Click here to see a sample dialup script.

A login script runs after a modem connection is established when you request an automatic or on-demand connection. A login script supplies login and password information and, if necessary, starts a SLIP or PPP server shell on the remote host.

You can maintain a separate login script to help you log in to each remote site you use. Unless you specify the login script you want to use, Remote Link Manager executes its standard login script (DEFAULT.SCR) when you request an automatic or on-demand connection. Click here to see a basic login script. Click here to see a sample script for a dialback connection.

A disconnect script is used to halt the SLIP/PPP daemon and to log out of a serial session. When you choose the Disconnect button,  Remote Link Manager looks for its standard disconnect script (DISCONN.SCR) and runs it if it exists. Since most serial servers reset themselves automatically when you close a connection, you do not usually need a login script.

A hangup script is used as a modem driver to hang up a call. A hangup script is usually not required, since most PCs automatically signal the modem to hang up when you disconnect and the data terminal ready (DTR) signal drops. When you choose the Disconnect button, Remote Link Manager runs its disconnect script; looks for its standard hangup script (HANGUP.SCR); and runs it if it exists. Click here to see a sample hangup script.


Keywords
Keywords in Remote Link Manager Scripts

Each line of a script begins with a keyword. Keywords initiate action or direct the Remote Link Manager to perform a task. Some keywords are followed by a character string, which must be enclosed by a pair of double quotation (" ") marks.

The following table describes each script keyword and its qualifier, if applicable.

Keyword	Description
#	Denotes a comment line; content is ignored by Remote Link Manager.
send "string"	Sends  the specified character string to your modem or the remote serial server.
expect "string"	Looks for the string to be returned by your modem or the remote serial server before moving to the next line. If the expected string is not received within the time-out period, the script is terminated.
wait [n]	Pauses for n seconds before continuing to the next line. Default is 1 second if you omit n.
timeout n	Specifies a time-out interval of n seconds for the expect and carrier detect commands. If the time-out expires, the script terminates. If you do not specify a time-out value for the expect and detect carrier commands, the default timeout is 15 seconds for direct serial connections and 30 seconds for dialup serial connections.
slow	Sends the string for subsequent send commands one character at a time.
fast	Sends the string for subsequent send commands as a complete string.
userid "string"	Use the specified string as the user ID; overrides the user ID contained in the configuration file.
password "string"	Use the specified string as the password; overrides the password contained in the configuration file.
phonenumber "string"	Use the specified string as the serial servers telephone number; overrides the telephone number contained in the configuration file.
done	Terminates the script normally. Any line that follows the done command is ignored when the script is executed.
detect carrier	Terminates the script when a hardware carrier signal is detected.

See Also:

Prompts

Escape Characters

Sample Scripts


Prompts
Prompts in Remote Link Manager Scripts

You can include prompts in scripts to give users a way to enter information while the script is running. Typical script prompts might request a user ID, a workstation name, or a phone number. Script prompts must be enclosed in angle brackets (< >).

When you include a prompt in a script, Remote Link Manager checks whether a value for the prompt is defined in its configuration file or the script file. If it is, Remote Link Manager uses the defined prompt value when it executes the script. If a value for the prompt is not defined, Remote Link Manager displays a dialog box prompting the user to enter a value for the prompt. After the user enters a value, Remote Link Manager resumes execution of the script.

The following standard script prompts are built into Remote Link Manager:

<userid> asks the user for a login name

<password> asks the user for a login password

<phone number> asks the user for the telephone number of a remote serial server

You can add your own prompts to a script to obtain information from a user. For example, if you want the script to ask a user for a workstation name, you could include the following line in a script:

send <workstation>\r

Remote Link Manager would then pause during a script to ask the user for the name of the workstation he or she wants to access.

See Also:

Keywords

Escape Characters

Sample Scripts


Escape Characters
Escape Characters in Remote Link Manager Scripts

Escape characters represent special keys. When you include an escape character in a Remote Link Manager script, it simulates the press of the indicated key. Each escape character must be preceded by a back slash (\) character.

The escape characters are:

\r  Carriage return

\n  Newline character

\t  Tab

\b  Backspace

See Also:

Keywords

Prompts

Sample Scripts


Sample Remote Link Manager Scripts

You can use  basic scripts as building blocks when writing scripts specific to your remote link situation. To view a script, click on one of the following entries:

Basic dialup script

Basic login script

Login script for a dialback connection

Login script that starts the SLIP daemon

Basic hangup script

See Also:

Writing a Remote Link Manager Script


Dial-Up Script
Sample Dialup Script

The following dialup script uses the hardware carrier-detect signal to indicate a modem connection has been established. Lines that start with # are explanatory remarks, which are not processed by the script.

# wait 3 minutes for expected responses

timeout 180

# reset modem to factory defaults

send "atz\r"

wait 2

# dial the serial server at 1-508-555-1234

send "ATDT15085551234\r"

# look for the carrier-detect signal to end script

detect carrier


Login Script
Basic Login Script

The following login script performs a simple name/password login to a serial server. Lines that start with # are explanatory remarks, which are not processed by the script.

wait 2

send "\r"

# enter login name at the prompt

expect "ogin:"

wait 1

send "caliban\r"

#enter password at the prompt

expect "ssword:"

wait 1

send "prospero\r"

wait 5

done


Dialback Login Script

A dialback connection lets a user initiate a connection by calling a serial server and entering preliminary authentication information. The serial server hangs up the connection and then calls the user back at a preconfigured number for additional authentication information.

The following script opens a dialback connection. Lines that start with # are explanatory remarks, which are not processed by the script.

wait 2

send "\r"

# enter login name at the prompt

expect "ogin"

wait 2

send "caliban\r"

#enter dial-in password at the prompt

expect "ssword"

send "prospero\r"

# look for remote server to drop the connection

expect "NO CARRIER"

wait 2

#set modem to answer dialback call on first ring

send "ats0=1\r"

# enter login name again

expect "ogin"

send "caliban\r"

# enter dialback password at the prompt

expect "ssword2"

send "ariel\r"

done


SLIP Login Script
Login Script for SLIP Daemon

The following script opens a connection to a SLIP server and starts the SLIP daemon after the user login is complete. Lines that start with # are explanatory remarks, which are not processed by the script.

# define values for userid and password

userid "caliban"

password "prospero"

#use predefined values to log in

expect "ogin:"

wait 1

send "<userid>\r"

expect "ssword:"

wait 1

send "<password>\r"

# look for server to return host name tempest

expect "tempest"

# send the startup command for the slip daemon

send "/etc/sunslip\r"

# look for the sunslip acknowledgement

expect "SUNSLIP"

done


Hang-Up Script
Sample Hangup Script

A typical hangup script performs software hang up of the phone. Lines that start with # are explanatory remarks, which are not processed by the script.

# put modem into command mode

send "+++"

wait 2

#reset modem to factory defaults

send "ATHO\r"

wait 5

done


Saving The Connection Log

1.	Use Remote Link Manager to connect to a remote serial server.

The Connection Log displays information about the connection process.

2.	Pull down the File menu in Remote Link Manager and choose Save Log As.

The Save Log As dialog box opens.

3.	Accept the default path and file name or specify a different path and file name for the log file and choose OK.

The connection log is saved in a file with the path and name specified. If the file already exists, a message box appears that allows you to overwrite the existing file.


Troubleshooting Remote Link Manager Problems

The vast majority of problems encountered with Remote Link Manager operations are related to incorrect serial configuration. Use this troubleshooting guide to associate a connection problem with its underlying system-configuration cause.

It may be helpful to understand normal connection behavior before trying to determine how and where your Remote Link Manager session is failing.

There are three sources you can use to diagnose Remote Link Manager problems:

System error messages can indicate where in the connection process a problem is first encountered.

Connection log messages can identify the point at which a connection fails.

Opening a serial connection manually lets you step through the connection process and observe system behavior at each step.


Normal Remote Link Manager Behavior

If you enable the serial interface in your SolarNet configuration, Remote Link Manager runs automatically each time you start Windows. You will see the Remote Link Manager icon on your desktop.

If you enable Remote Link Manager's Autoconnect option, Remote Link Manager automatically dials the modem, runs its dialup and login scripts, and starts the serial (PPP or SLIP) interface. If you dont enable the Autoconnect option, you can open a serial connection by choosing the Connect button in Remote Link Manager.

To troubleshoot a Remote Link Manager problem, you need to understand the process Remote Link Manager follows in establishing a successful connection. Click on Typical Connection Behavior or Typical Disconnection Behavior to view information about normal Remote Link Manager connect and disconnect sequences.


Typical Connection Behavior

The connection process can take up to three minutes. Most of that time is spent executing scripts and negotiating IP address settings. When Connect is pressed, the following events occur for a PPP link:

1. Remote Link Manager title bar displays "Connecting."

2. The Connect button becomes inactive and the Disconnect button becomes active.

3. Connection Log displays:

Open Comm Port

Preconfigure PPP interface

Dial Remote Script Started (if connection is dialup)

Script Done (if connection is dialup)

Connect Script Started (if a login script is specified)

Script Done (if a login script is specified)

Interface Started

Interface pp0 [local IP address] > [remote IP address]

CONNECT COMPLETE

4. Remote Link Manager title bar displays "Connected."


Typical Manual Connection Sequence

User: AT

Modem: OK

User: ATDTphone number

Modem: (dials phone, negotiates baud rate) CONNECT xxxx (baud rate)

Remote: Login:

User: xxxx (userid)

Remote: Password:

User: xxxx (password)

Remote: (Sends login messages, then switches to PPP server daemon)

Remote: (up to 10 PPP packets sent)

User: (Press Start Interface. PPP takes over connection)


Typical Disconnection Behavior

Disconnecting takes up to 15 seconds. When Disconnect is pressed, the following events occur:

1. Remote Link Manager title bar displays "Disconnecting."

2. The Connection Log displays:

Interface Stopped

Logout Script Started (if DISCONN.SCR file is present)

Script Done (if DISCONN.SCR file is present)

Hangup Script Started (if HANGUP.SCR file is present)

Script Done (if HANGUP.SCR file is present)

Reset PPP Configuration

Close Comm Port

DISCONNECT COMPLETE

3. Remote Link Manager title bar displays "Not Connected."

4. Disconnect button becomes inactive and Connect button becomes active.


System Error Messages and Behavior

Use the following table to identify problems related to system error messages and behaviors.

If You See ...	It Means...	You Should...
In the System Dialog box the following error messages: Unable to load NFSW_ PPP.386 Error in VxD Number 3177	The Comm driver is not properly loaded into the Windows kernel.	Make sure the SYSTEM.INI file has the following entry in the 386[Enh] section: network=nfsw.386, nfswnfs.386, nfsw_ppp.386, *vnetbios
Connect button is grayed out	The COM Port is not available.	Choose another COM Port.


Connection Log Messages

Use the following table to identify problems related to messages appearing within the Connection Log.

If You See ...	It Means...	You Should...
Winsock Startup Error	A Winsock problem exists.	Check that the correct version (1.01 or later) of the WINSOCK.DLL is in the path.
Cannot Open COM Port:x Invalid Port Open COM Port Fail	A problem exists with specified COM Port.	Check that the specified COM Port is available and functional.
Cannot Open COM Port:x Invalid parameters Open COM Port Fail	A problem exists with the COM Port parameters.	Check: baud rate, data bits, parity setting.
Dial Remote Fail Error in script command line Time-out error on script command line:xx Script Aborted	A problem exists with the built-in dialup script or the DIALUP.SCR file.	Check local and remote modem, phone line, and phone number. Use manual connection mode to isolate failure point.
Login Fail Error in Open Script File Error in script command line:xx Time-out error on script command line:xx Script Aborted	A problem exists with the login script file. Many such problems are related to timing.	Check login script. Type script commands in manual connection mode to verify each line in the script. If commands execute properly, adjust script wait and time-out values. Rerun script.
Invalid Socket Error Socket IOCTL Error Invalid Socket Interface Error	There is a problem with system sockets.	Allocate more sockets for use by Windows. Check that an application is not using all available sockets. Restart Windows or reboot your system to reassign socket usage.


Manual Connection Log Messages

Use the Manual Connect mode to isolate connection problems. View a typical manual connection sequence to see a normal progression of modem commands and responses.

Use the table to identify problems with manual connections.

If you ...	And Do Not See...	You Should...
Type: AT	OK	Check for a modem problem: cable, power cord, configuration, etc.
Type: ATDT[phone number]	CONNECT	Check for a modem problem (local or remote). If remote modem answers but does not connect, try another phone line or a slower baud rate.
See CONNECT	Login prompt	Press Return several times. If no connection results, there is a problem at the remote server.
See PPP packets and press Start Interface	Readable output on your screen	Ask your system administrator which PPP parameter you should set.

Note: When a successful PPP connection is established, the remote server begins sending PPP packets. These packets are easy to identify: They start and end with the hexadecimal character 0x7e, which displays as a tilde (~) character on most monitors. If you do not press Start Interface, you will see approximately 10 PPP packets sent at roughly 3-second intervals.


Support
Serial Connection Support

The Remote Link Manager has been tested with the Solaris 2.4 PPP server.

If you intend to use a SLIP server or another PPP server, contact your support representative for more information. The representative can supply you with important details about SLIP/PPP configuration and use.


Microsoft Diagnostics Utility
Using the Microsoft Diagnostics Utility

1.	From DOS, change to the Windows directory and type msd.

2.	Type C to view the Microsoft diagnostics for your COM ports.

3.	Note the UART identifier (typically 8250, 16450, or 16550) in the UART Chip Used line.

4.	Set the serial port rate to the optimum setting for your UART type. Use the  following table to select your optimum port setting.

If your UART Type is:	Start your port speed at:

================	==================

8250	19200 bps

16450	38400 bps

16550	57600 or 115200 bps


Asynchronous Control Character Map

The asynchronous control character map is a four-byte hexadecimal number that identifies the control characters that should not be transmitted as part of a data stream over a serial link (typically because they function as instructions to a modem). The default value for the asynchronous control character map is 0x00000000, which specifies that no characters are escaped.


Overview
Magic Number

PPP uses a magic number to detect a looped-back link (that is, a link where the local peer is talking to itself). When the use of magic numbers is enabled, your PC includes a random number (the magic number) in a configuration request message as part of its link configuration negotiation. If the magic number sent to a remote host matches the magic number returned by that host, a looped-back condition probably exists. If your PC receives the same magic number it sends out after several magic number tests, it assumes that it is talking to itself and terminates the PPP link.


Overview
Dialup Serial Connection

A dialup serial connection is a link between your PC and another computer over standard telephone lines. To open a dialup connection, you tell Remote Link Manager (manually or by means of a script) the telephone number of the remote server and your SLIP or PPP user name and password. Your modem calls the remote server, the remote modem answers, and the two modems negotiate their connection speed. If you are using SLIP, the two computers use preconfigured settings to open a serial link. If you are using PPP, your PC negotiates the link configuration settings with the remote server. Once the serial link is established, you can interact with the remote host as if you were a node on the same network.

To use a dialup connection, you need an analog (voice) telephone line and a modem. The modem translates digital signals it receives from your computer into analog (sound) signals and transmits the analog signals over telephone lines to a remote modem. The remote modem translates the analog signals it receives into digital signals and forwards them to the remote server.


Overview
Direct Serial Connection

A direct serial connection links the serial (COM) port of your PC and a serial port on another computer (the serial server). Typically, the server to which your PC is connected has connections to one or more other networks, and the server acts as a gateway between the serial network and the rest of the internetwork. Because a direct serial connection is not limited by a modems transmission speed, you can set the communication port speed to the fastest speed supported by your serial port for direct serial connections.

To set up a direct serial connection, you need a null modem cable. A null modem cable allows communication between two serial devices without using a modem. You use the null modem cable to connect the communications port of your PC to the serial port of a PPP or SLIP server.

For best performance, the null modem cable should not be longer than 100 feet. You should ensure that electromagnetic interference on the line is minimized by routing the cable away from heavy electrical equipment and by using shielded cable.


Overview
Asynchronous Control Character Map

The asynchronous control character map is a four-byte hexadecimal number that identifies the control characters that should not be transmitted as part of a data stream over a serial link (typically because they function as instructions to a modem). The default value for the asynchronous control character map is 0x00000000, which specifies that no characters are escaped.