Using CRT 2.4
CRT is a program that lets you make a terminal connection to ACS or another Boston University computer system over an Ethernet or PPP connection. This type of connection is called a "Telnet" session.
Why use CRT?
Most versions of Windows come with a built-in Telnet program, but we recommend CRT because it is so easy to use and because it has several extra features. CRT is site-licensed at Boston University, so you can use it for free.
Installing CRT
You can get CRT from the Boston University Web software page at http://www.bu.edu/software. When you run CRT's installation program, you'll be asked a number of trivial questions during installation, and you can make any choices you want here. The strangest question you'll be asked is whether you want TAPI support that means extra support for telephony applications and if you're not sure about whether you want this, just choose "no."
Starting the CRT program
To start CRT, go to the Start menu and choose CRT or Programs®CRT (the exact location on the Start menu will vary depending on how you installed the program). Alternatively, you may click on the CRT shortcut on your desktop.
You might be asked the question below. Choose Yes or No,
whichever you prefer. This question just determines whether your
computer will make a note to itself to "prefer" CRT over built-in
Windows Telnet anytime that you run a Telnet program. If you can't
decide, choose "No."
Figure 1: CRT may ask this question at startup. Either answer is fine. If in doubt, choose "No"
Making a Connection
At Boston University, we distribute CRT with a session list that shows up when you start CRT. This session list includes the computers acs2, acs3, acs4 acs5, and acs6.
- To
connect to one of the computers in the Session List,
click on any of the listed computers (acs2, acs3, acs4, acs5,
or acs6) and click OK.
- To
connect to a different computer, click on the Quick Connect
tab and type the computer name (for example, enga.bu.edu)
and then click OK.
Figure 2: Connecting with the Session List
Figure 3: Connecting to a computer that is not on the session list
Note: If the Save session box on the Quick Connect tab is checked, CRT will automatically add any new computer name to the Session List. Then you can choose it from the Session List next time.
Entering your login name and password
Now you will see the login window. Enter your login name and password when prompted.
Figure 4: Entering your ACS login name and password
What to do after you connect
Now that you have connected to acs (or another computer) you can use programs on that computer, such as pine to view your mail or ls to list your files. See the ACS help pages at www.bu.edu/computing/acs/help for more information about programs available on ACS.
Adjusting session preferences
To change the font size or window color or another characteristic of your CRT session,
- Go
to the Options menu and choose Session Preferences.
Figure 5: Setting Session Preferences
Figure 6:
Choices available in the Session Preferences window
- Click on the Display tab to change color or fonts. Click on other tabs to make other changes.
- After you have made your changes, click OK.
- Finally, click on Save Settings Now under the Options menu.
Figure 7: Saving the changed settings
Your preferences are saved with the session name that currently displays in your title bar so for example in the picture below, the settings are saved under the name acs4.bu.edu. Next time you open a CRT session, if you chose acs4.bu.edu from the session list, you will be using the preferences you just saved.
Figure 8: The session name
Ending your session
Click on the Disconnect button or
go to the File menu and choose Disconnect, then
click on Yes.
Figure 9:
The Disconnect button
Figure 10:
Choose Yes to disconnect.
Learning more about CRT
This document just explained the basics of
connecting to a Boston University computer with CRT. For more
information, please see CRT's built-in Help. Simply go to the
Help menu and choose Help Topics.
Figure 11:
CRTs Help menu
CRT is written and supported by a company called Van Dyke Technologies. You can find additional help and technical support at the Van Dyke Technologies web page at http://www.vandyke.com
