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TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 1 This Product is Shareware, if you continue to use it Please Legalise your usage through Registration. _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| Member Table of Contents page # 1 Introduction 2 2 What you need to use teleshare 3 Basic Installation and Setup 3 TsSETUP.exe - the setup program 4 How to use the host program TSH.exe 4 Setting up the modem to answer the phone Starting the Host program 5 Unloading the Host from memory 6 5 How to use the remote access program TSR.exe Linking up with the Host computer Starting the Remote program 7 Unloading the Remote from memory. 8 6 How a remote session works security access indicator 9 7 Modem sharing option 10 A modem sharing session 11 8 Other available programs 12 9 SUPPORT and the ASP ASP Introduction 13 Warranty 10 Shareware vendor notice (if any) 13 1 INTRODUCTION TeleShare/DOS allows you to run character mode DOS programs on a remote machine from the machine (or PC) attached to your keyboard. The remote PC may be anywhere that you can setup a compatible telephone and modem link. TeleShare also allows you to copy files in either or both directions with a direct file copy or Xmodem, and also allows you to use any number of external protocols. TeleShare is designed to provide reliable TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 2 most common denominator service; that is the mix of capabilities to get most jobs done, with the option to add 'frills' as needed. It has a particular fit to some areas that more well known products avoid. Particularly, TeleShare/Host is smaller than most of the competition with less reliance on advanced versions of DOS or Windows. It takes about 8K itself, plus 6 to 8 for screens, without the need for newer versions of DOS and LOADHIGH. This makes it more suitable for modern memory hungry database, spreadsheet, and word processing software that uses most of the available lower 640K DOS memory and wants to use big chunks of higher, over 640K, memory. Note that protected mode software like MSWindows and dBase IV 2.0 do not run under the TeleShare host/remote. TeleShare is designed for real character mode DOS programs. You may also notice that timing sensitive software like chkdsk, format, and running under MSWindows may act 'quirky', because the Host/Remote resident software is actually high speed multi-tasking and timing conflicts can arise. The tutorial/demo shows the Host and Remote running under MSWindows at up to 38400 'baud', but more reliably at 19200. The demo also shows Arago dBase running (faster than dBase IV and Foxpro). (Arago is dBase IV compatible, and its technology is now owned by Borland and is being incorporated into dBase for Windows.) TeleShare fits Home/Business and Travel/Business needs with its ability to get along with existing software and get the job done. Most modems are sold with communications software, and most such software has an "Escape or Shell to DOS" function that will let you add-in, or share with, TeleShare. You can setup, dial, and generally use your familiar existing software and additionally or switch to TeleShare as needed. You can even use TeleShare to make toll/billable business calls on a two modem office PC while at home. As you grow into it, you will likely discard chunks and possibly add other software to develop something that fits what YOU need. You can extensively customise TeleShare to the point of making it basically invisible to your normal work if you like. Please see the REGISTER.DOC for product registration information. 2 What you need to use TeleShare - DOS 3.1 or higher Communications hardware - At least 1 standard PC serial port in both the HOST and REMOTE computers. - 1 auto-answer async modem for HOST. Hayes compatible OPTIONAL. - 1 async modem for REMOTE. TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 3 - ( Or ) Standard null-modem connection between the computers. - To use the modem sharing option you need at least 2 serial ports and/or 2 standard modems on the HOST PC (modem sharing means calling a second PC, then making calls from it). The main remote control programs, TSH (TeleShare/Host) and TSR (TeleShare/Remote) are described in this manual along with general features. Other portions are distributed with separate sub-manuals for faster specific on-line access. This scheme allows for modular additions to TeleShare or modularly adding TeleShare to other software distributions. If you use or distribute a particular software package that could benefit from including TeleShare go ahead and do so. The basic package is small, non-intrusive, and easily modified by adding other software for specific purposes. 3 Basic Installation and Setup Once TeleShare is installed on your computer system, make sure the current directory contains the TeleShare files (eg \TELE) and run the TsSETUP.EXE setup program. Context sensitive help for every setting is displayed on the bottom of each screen. The bulk of the background explanations for TeleShare setup are in the separate manual file called TsSETUP.DOC. Just the highlights are included here. The TeleShare/SETUP catagories are: General Defaults Security Remote Transfer Modem Sharing The General Defaults catagory has the basic settings to 'get you going'. Normally leave the settings at their defaults except for possible changes to the Communications Port (choices are 1 or 2) and the Baud rate (choices range from 300 to 19200 with a recommended maximum of 9600 for normal use). Check that the settings are the same on both computers. The Security catagory has Yes or No and the access password if you enter "Yes". The Remote catagory lets you 'tune' remote access. You can change the hotkeys, polling timing, and Host/Remote mode indicator. Normally the defaults should be fine. If you use a null modem connection you can increase the nominal baud rate to something like 115200, and may prefer to change the polling pause to something like 5 to speed things up. The Transfer catagory basically only knows about the special TeleShare/XMODEM transfer program, and LOG file settings. Normally try using the default settings before customizing TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 4 unless you definitely want log files on or off. If you do get file transfer errors, follow the TsSETUP instructions to get back up to speed. The Modem sharing catagory is designed to allow you to call another PC and use a second modem on that PC to make calls. This allows you to redirect toll charges and file transfers to the other PC's phone number and computer. Please read TsSETUP.DOC for more information on the setup program. Its worth reading because it highlights many TeleShare features in gruesome detail. 4 How to use the TeleShare/HOST program TSH.EXE Generally, change to the sub-directory whenever you want to start either the HOST or REMOTE software and execute the appropriate BATCH file. (TSHOST.BAT) for HOST program or (TSREM.BAT) for remote. Setting up the modem to answer the phone TeleShare was written to work with other software including your current communications software. This design allows it to occupy a minimal amount of memory while you run memory hungry applications. It was also written to be used with non-Hayes compatible modems. This version of TeleShare contains no Hayes specific initialization routines in the Remote or the Host. This means that they make NO attempt to set the modem to auto answer. The assumption is that you have already setup auto answer with other software, such as TSPHONE/TSDIAL, or TELIX. TsPhone specifically adds a menu driven interface to help you setup TsDial to answer the phone. Here are some of the simplest ways to do this. 1. Use one of the external programs distributed with the basic TeleShare package to setup the modem for you, such as Tsdial. 2. On a Hayes modem throw the DIP switch that makes the modem answer the phone when it's ringing. Which one? See the modem manual. 3. You should be able to use the communications software that came with your modem. After all, it already 'knows all about' the modem. You may be able to setup auto-answer then shutdown to avoid conflicts with TeleShare. Its also worth exploring this option at some point just to verify how much the two pieces of communications software conflict. When you find TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 5 problems you will be able to avoid them in the future. You can likely initially use the communications software, then shell to DOS, and run TSH or TSR. If you have the MARK/RELEASE public domain tools, you can shell out, then RELEASE the communications software from memory and use TeleShare. Using combinations of communications software can easily cause problems, which will lead you to exploring the next option. 4. You can use the DOS MODE command to set the port parameters and then use a DOS 'COPY' command to send the auto-answer init string to the modem. These DOS commands can be included in the batch file used to start the HOST program and you'll never need to worry about them again once they are correct. This allows you to setup the batch file to start-up TeleShare and the major application(s) you plan to use it with. You can also have TeleShare waiting in memory and only startup the modem with a batch file when needed. This customization flexibility is the major reason that the default Remote and Host program setup uses batch files (see below). Use the MODE command to intialize the port to the protocol you're using or the modem string you are about to send won't be recognized by the modem. Most of the time you can go into the communications software that you normally use (or that came with your modem) and see and test what it uses. Print Screen its settings and put them in a file, say "DIALFILE" to be used by the setup batch file with a command like: COPY DIALFILE COM1:<RETURN> The 'AT' type commands in the DIALFILE should end with an <ENTER> or carriage return. Starting the Host program The TeleShare/HOST program TSH.EXE is the one you need to run on the computer you are attempting to access from remote. This program is a TSR, or Terminate and Stay Resident program, requiring only about 8K for the .EXE load module and will politely stay hidden as long as it's loaded, and will start helping you on command. Another 6-8K is held for screen buffers. TeleShare screens are updated in batches instead of trickles (like some other remote software), which means that the screen buffers take more ram. The result is cleaner, snappier, screen updates. TSH.EXE monitors the PC and the modem and will allow the PC to be used from remote once it senses an incoming caller. You can always use the PC normally when TSH.EXE is loaded and if someone is using the system from remote then they can see what you do and you can see what they do with BOTH parties having equal control of the PC and the keyboard. This meshes TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 6 well with uses like real-time training sessions with remote callers. Or some forms of project coordination/group calling. Both TSH.EXE and TSR.EXE obtain their runtime parameters from a file called TSCONFIG.CFG. This is a BINARY file and you can only change the contents with the TeleShare/SETUP setup program TsSETUP.EXE described above. To run the HOST program change to the \TELE sub-directory you created during the installation and enter the command 'TSHOST'. This batch file will load the TeleShare/HOST progam TSH. Once the program has informed you that the load was successful it is OK for a remote user to connect with the modem and start using the PC with the remote access part of TeleShare. There is no hotkey screen in the HOST program. It simply installs itself in memory and does its job of allowing a remote caller to use the PC. Unloading the Host from memory Enter "TSH U" from DOS to Unload the TeleShare/HOST software from memory. If you have loaded other resident software above it, then it will only be able to suspend itself. Yes, you can use a TSR manager like MARK/RELEASE to rip the TeleShare software out of memory. 5 How to use the TeleShare/REMOTE access program TSR.EXE You must use the special remote program provided (TSR.EXE) to access the PC running the TeleShare/HOST software (TSH.EXE). This program is a TSR, or Terminate and Stay Resident, program just like the TeleShare/HOST program TSH.EXE. TSR.EXE is itself called TSR and is a TSR program. If this proves to be too confusing, just rename it. How about "mote", as as short form of 'remote' and small? There is a special batch file called TSREM.BAT which should be used to start the remote access program. It is described in greater detail below following the section regarding linking up with the TeleShare/HOST computer. Linking up with the HOST computer TeleShare was developed to be used with all kinds of modems and not just Hayes compatibles. There are no routines built into the software to initiate a dial-up to the HOST computer. This helps reduce the runtime memory requirements. Some of the following material will be somewhat repetitive if you have read from the beginning. TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 7 1. You can use any modem software that allows you to place the call then escape, or shell, to DOS without hanging up. Once you are back in DOS, you can run the setup batch file TSREM.BAT and press ALT-R (or whatever you have reset the hotkey to) to access the TeleShare/REMOTE program on the remote computer. 2. You can also link to the remote quite easily using the DOS 'MODE' command and a few 'COPY CON COM1:' commands. Use the MODE command and set the port protocol. Once set correctly... Any 'COPY CON COM1:' commands will send the strings you enter right to the modem. Use the standard 'ATDT???-????' string to initiate the dial and wait for a connection. Check out the settings in the communications software that came with your modem (or whatever modem software you normally use) and copy their 'ATD_etc' commands. Once the 'CARRIER DETECT' light is up on your modem or you hear the connection established over the speaker you're reasy to run TSREM.BAT and begin accessing the HOST computer. Other There are also plenty of other straight dial/connect programs available. Any one should do the trick provided it does not drop CARRIER once it is established. If you have a DATA/TALK type async modem that is not Hayes compatible then you can still use TeleShare. Just start your hand set call in the usual way and once you've thrown over from TALK to DATA and CARRIER is up you can load the TeleShare/REMOTE software and begin using the HOST computer. This software can likely be used with higher speed connections, but the maximum tested speed with a modem is 19.2K. 115200 baud works fine over a Lantastic null modem serial connection between a monochrome 286-10 HOST and a VGA 486-33 with the 486 easily handling information received from the 286. However, using the 486 as HOST is tricky with incomplete screen updates on the 286. 38400 baud works okay with the 486 HOST and slow 286 remote. For any speed you can use tap the ALT-L/ALT-R key set to generate an updated screen when the remote screen gets corrupted. You may prefer to change your default polling pause (eg. to 5) from normal modem settings, if you use a null modem serial connection . Starting the REMOTE program The REMOTE access part of TeleShare is the program you need to run to access the HOST computer running TSH.EXE. A special batch file is provided called TSREM.BAT which will TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 8 perform the load for you. You should be in the sub-directory where the TeleShare remote programs are located and enter 'TSREM' to initiate the load. Once the title screen appears and tells you the load has been successful then all you need to do to start using the HOST computer is hold down the ALT key and press 'R' (REMOTE). If you've changed the ALT-R key to something that makes more sense to you via TsSETUP.EXE then press that key sequence to contact the remote HOST. You must already be connected before you press the hotkey or nothing will happen! The remote portion of TeleShare is a TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) program. You can stay in your own DOS and simply switch to the HOST computer's DOS at any time with the ALT-'R' hotkey, which will bring up the TeleShare/Remote access screen on top of the current DOS task. Use the ALT-'L' (or whatever you have reset it to with TsSETUP.EXE) hotkey to return to 'local' DOS. Unloading the REMOTE from memory. Enter the DOS COMMAND 'TSR U'. This will instruct TSR.EXE to remove itself from memory. If no resident programs were loaded after TSR.EXE then the memory used by TSR.EXE will be returned to the total available. Run TSREM.BAT again if you need to re-load the program. If any TSR's were loaded after TSR.EXE then it will only be able to suspend itself. It should whine at you in this case. 6 How a remote session works Once you have pressed ALT-R to call up the TeleShare/REMOTE access screen the software will notify you that it is requesting a 'session update' from the HOST computer. If SECURITY is on then password(s) are verified at this time. It is necessary to obtain a complete session update (including a new video screen) each time you re-enter the hotkey terminal screen since things may have changed on the HOST computer since your last access. This only takes a moment or two and you will then see the latest screen from the HOST on your own screen. From this point on you are using the HOST computer as if you were sitting in front of it. There are a few things to keep in mind while using the HOST computer TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 9 - If the HOST has a color monitor and the REMOTE has a monochrome monitor then all colors on the HOST screen will be converted to either HIGHLIGHT, NORMAL or REVERSE VIDEO on the monochrome side. - Keyboard echo will NOT be instant as it is when you are using your own DOS. Whether or not the delay is noticeable depends on the speed of the HOST computer, the baud rate and the Poll Timer Tick Rate. Once you realize that no keys will be lost you will find yourself typing ahead without noticing any echo delay. - DOS commands that scroll the screen rapidly will not appear as they do when executed locally. The updates are slower so the scrolling will show up in bursts with a momentarily 'frozen' screen between the bursts. Software that changes the display with windows should appear normally. The screen images are temporarily accumulated in the memory buffer then blasted onto the monitor to avoid the 'watery' screen update characteristic of some other remote software. Access indicator ( Mode indicator ) Since the REMOTE program is a TSR and you can switch from your local DOS to the HOST machine's DOS it's necessary to be able to tell where you are! When the REMOTE TSR is loaded there will normally be a single character indicator in the upper right hand corner to tell you where you which DOS you're actually using. A highlighted 'L' - means you are using your 'L'ocal DOS. Press ALT-R to switch to the REMOTE computer. A highlighted 'R' - means you are using the 'R'emote DOS. Press ALT-L to return to your Local DOS. When you enter 'TSR U' and Unload the TeleShare/REMOTE access program then the indicator will disappear the next time that portion of the screen is updated. You can also turn the indicator off permanently by reconfiguring the setup file with TsSETUP.EXE. 7 Modem sharing option TeleShare has the ability to share a second modem attached to the HOST PC with the REMOTE user. One modem is used to allow the REMOTE PC to access the HOST. The other modem on the other com port can then be used by the REMOTE as if it were actually connected to the REMOTE. Any modem software can be used on the REMOTE the same way that 'normal' software can be TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 10 run remotely. This allows you to load TSH.EXE on your computer at the office and ( if it has another modem ) call it from home and originate long distance calls to other systems from the office. Briefly, how to do it: 1. Load TeleShare/HOST on your office PC before you leave. 2. Call the office PC from your home PC. 3. Tell the office PC's second modem to call long distance with the charges going to the office number. 4. You can dial and upload/download files normally. A modem sharing session In the explanations that follow and on some of the TsSETUP parameter screens the term 'primary' port refers to the one used to maintain contact with remote for modem sharing or normal TeleShare sessions. The term 'secondary' port refers to the com port with the extra modem attached which can be controlled by the remote PC connected via the 'primary' port. 1. Make sure you have 2 modems on the HOST PC connected to both COM1 and COM2. The modem that will be used to maintain contact with the remote should be ready to answer the phone and connect when it rings. ( auto-answer ON ). 2. Make sure all the TsSETUP.EXE parameters are OK. One of the modems will be used to maintain contact with the remote and the other will be the one controlled by the remote. Be sure the desired port assignments and baud rates match the desired hardware connection(s). TsSETUP.EXE will not let you assign a baud rate to the 'secondary' port that's faster than the 'primary'. 3. Make sure you know what the designated signon and signoff passwords are. You must enter the passwords to start and stop the modem sharing session after you connect and they must be entered exactly the way they've been defined with the TsSETUP.EXE program 'over there'. Its a good idea to run TsSETUP.EXE on the HOST and display the modem sharing parameters to discover the current signon/signoff passwords. NOTE: The default signon PASSWORD = TSSTART and the default signoff PASSWORD = TSSTOP 4. Make sure TeleShare/HOST program TSH.EXE with modem option is loaded and resident on the PC with 2 modems. 5. Call the HOST PC from the REMOTE PC. If you are only TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 11 connecting to change the origin of your calls, you do not need to load TeleShare on that machine. When the word 'CONNECT' appears enter the 'modem sharing signon password. 'TSM OK' will appear on the screen if you enter the password correctly (case matters) and you can start your re-originating call. The keyboard of the HOST PC will not operate as long as the HOST modem sharing session is active. This prevents any HOST PC interference with the modem sharing. 6. Once you are done, stop the modem sharing. If you need to have a normal TeleShare session you need to restart 'from scratch'. 7. Stop the HOST modem sharing session by typing your 'modem sharing signooff password', which will cause 'TSM EXIT' to appear on screen if you got your password right. This process also unlocks that PC's keyboard. 8. Exit your modem program on the REMOTE PC. You may now load ( or re-load ) the TeleShare/REMOTE program TSR.EXE and have a normal DOS session with the HOST PC. NOTE: The TeleShare/REMOTE module TSR.EXE should never be memory resident when you run your modem software with the HOST modem sharing option. If TSR.EXE is already loaded -Change to \TELE sub-directory. -Enter TSR U to Unload the TSR. -Change to your modem program sub-directory. -Call the HOST with your modem program, start the modem sharing with the right password. -Continue your modem terminal session until done. -Use the correct signoff password to stop the modem sharing -Exit your local modem program. -Change to the \TELE subdirectory. -Enter TSREM and reload the REMOTE module. -Press ALT-R and continue your TeleShare session. If TSR.EXE is NOT loaded. -Change to your modem program sub-directory. -Call the HOST with the modem program start the modem sharing with the right password. -Continue your modem terminal session until done. -Use the correct signoff password to stop the modem sharing -Exit your local modem program. -Change to the \TELE subdirectory. -Enter TSREM and reload the REMOTE module. TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 12 -Press ALT-R and continue your TeleShare session. Additional Notes on the modem sharing option - If you receive the signon acknowledgement string 'TSM OK' followed by an endless stream of garbage then this probably means you only have 1 com port on the HOST PC. You must have at least 2 valid com ports on the HOST PC to use the remote modem access option. - Every time you change the primary COM port assignment with TsSETUP.EXE then you will notice that the SHARED modem COM port selection changes automatically to the other COM port (1 or 2). TeleShare supports only COM 1 or 2 at this time and the primary and secondary com port selections must always be different. - If you are using different baud rates for the modem sharing option then keep an eye out for transmission errors. There is no buffering of the data being passed and the success using different baud rates depends mostly on the speed of your CPU. Older machines's may have trouble using the modem sharing option with different baud rates. 8 Other available programs TSPHONE.EXE is designed to be the 'manager' program for most uses. It has its own on-line help and manual, and you can use it to peruse the other manuals. You can use its menus to test run the other programs. The full TeleShare distribution includes a variety of programs and associated documentation files. Normally each program has its own manual, for example TSDIAL.EXE has TSDIAL.DOC, to make it easy to find the appropriate information. The alternate - one manual for everything - would be unwieldy, and unfriendly if you want to only print out a portion. Use your text editor or start up TsPHone and use its upper level help to find and browse through the various manuals as you like. Because the TsPhone program acts as an overall manager for the distribution, its a good idea to check out its manual and TsPhone.exe itself. 9 SUPPORT and the ASP Please consider reporting the circumstances, preferably in written form, to technical support when you discover problems with the software. For technical support, either call (604) 433-5189, or write to Suite 606 - 6455 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, V5H 4E4. Both registered and soon to be registered users currently get the same support without any arbitrary time limit. You may also try leaving a Compuserve message at 75020, 2664, but be aware that messages rapidly 'scroll off' TeleShare DOS Remote Access Page 13 Compuserve. The best electronic message area (also available from Compuserve) is via the internet at: INTERNET:vic_williams@mindlink.bc.ca. P. C. Softsmith Suite 606 6455 Willingdon Ave Burnaby, B. C., Canada V5H 4E4 ASP Introduction: Please also carefully read the accompanying SHR_WARE.DOC document. "This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536." Warranty THE DOCUMENTATION AND ASSOCIATED SOFTWARE ARE DISTRIBUTED AND SOLD WITH NO WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING ITS MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENTATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE AND DOES NOT REPRESENT A COMMITTMENT ON THE PART OF THE VENDOR. OTHER PRODUCT AND BRAND NAMES MENTIONED ARE TRADEMARKS OR REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE HOLDERS. FOR INFORMATION ONLY, PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT AND THE SOFTWARE ARE LICENSED COPYRIGHT MATERIAL COURTESY INTERLINK TECHNOLOGIES. 10 ShareWare Vendor Notice (if any) If you are a shareware vendor, please feel free to replace this with your standard notice.