Off-Site Dial-in Access to NCCS Unix Systems Using Sprintnet and NPSS

This is the preferred access method is for NCCS users who need dial-in access to NCCS Unix systems from outside of the GSFC local dialing area. Please note that effective July, 1996, no new user accounts are being added to NPSS from Goddard. Currently,there is no alternative in place, and users with existing accounts will be able to continue to use them.

Contents

• What You Need on Your Local Machine
• What You Need on the NASA Packet Switching System (NPSS)
• NPSS Trouble Desk
• To Login to a Unix System on the Primary Goddard Subnet
• To Disconnect

What You Need on Your Local Machine

You need access to a terminal or computer with dialout capabilities and the following characteristics:

• Emulating a well-known terminal, e.g., DEC VT100 (not required, but highly recommended)
• data rate from 300 to 9600 baud (modems with higher baud rates can dial in, but the effective rate will be 9600 baud)
• 7 data bits, even parity
• 1 stop bit

What You Need on the NASA Packet Switching System (NPSS)

You need a valid userid and password. For information on obtaining an NPSS userid and password, contact the Technical Assistance Group (TAG).

NPSS Trouble Desk

If you are experiencing problems using the NASA Packet Switching Service (NPSS) computers you may contact the NPSS trouble desk, available 24 hours a day. Their phone number is (205) 544-1771. If you are able to use FTS, first access FTS, then dial 824-1771.

To Log into a Unix System on the Primary Goddard Subnet

Use this method to log into machines that have addresses that end with gsfc.nasa.gov or begin with 128.183. In the following description, Return refers to your "Return" or "Enter" key. Strings refer to entries you must make.

1. Dial your local SprintNet number. To find your local SprintNet number, call (800) 877-5045, the Sprint Service Management Center. You will be presented with a phone menu system. Press 5 for SprintNet Packet Data information. Then press 1 for local access numbers; press 1 again for domestic access numbers. You will be asked to enter the number from which you wish to place your call.

   NOTE: Some large metropolitan areas are serviced with multiple area codes; be sure to include the area code if required. For example, if you are calling from the local Washington DC metropolitan area, the SprintNet access is located in area code 202.

The SprintNet numbers for the Washington DC area are:

• 300-1200 baud: (202) 429-7800 or (202) 429-7896
• 2400 baud: (202) 429-0956 or (202) 659-2733
• 9600 baud: (202) 659-2733
2. Wait for your modem to connect to SprintNet. Each modem signals connection in its own way: some beep, others will display a message on the terminal screen. For 300 or 1200 baud service, enter:
   

   Return
   Return
   

   For 2400 or 9600 baud service, enter:

   @Return

3. SprintNet (which used to be TELENET) will respond with messages of the form:

    
       TELENET
       202 3211.49
    
       TERMINAL=
   

4. Respond to the TERMINAL= prompt with:

   d1Return

   This is the lowercase letter "dee" followed by the digit "one".

5. SprintNet will respond with its prompt of:

   @

6. When SprintNet (TELENET) presents you with the prompt @, respond with:

   c nasaReturn

7. The system should respond with the following message:

   NASA CONNECTED

8. You will now see messages of the form:

       Entering the NASA Packet Switching System (NPSS)
       Please Report Service Access Problems To (205) 544-1771
    
       ... (additional warning messages)
   
       If You Want to Change Your Password, Type 'PASS' at the 'USERID' Prompt
   

9. At this point you are connected with the NASA Packet Switching System (NPSS), and you will see the prompt:

   USERID>

10. After the prompt USERID>, enter:

    npss_useridReturn

    where npss_userid is your NPSS userid, NOT your NCCS userid.

    If you make a mistake entering the userid, continue until step 11 by entering the "password" and "service". You will then receive an error message. Start again from step 6.

    NOTE: If you don't remember your NPSS userid, try your first initial followed by your last name, with no intervening blank, entered as lowercase characters.

    You will then receive the prompt:

    PASSWORD>

11. After the prompt PASSWORD>, enter:

    npss_passwordReturn

    where npss_password is your NPSS password, NOT one of your NCCS passwords. Remember, the password is case sensitive.

    If you make a mistake entering the password, continue until step 11 by entering the "service". You will then receive an error message. Start again from step 6.

    You will then receive the prompt:

    SERVICE>

12. After the prompt SERVICE>, enter:

    nccsReturn

    At this point you are connected to the NCCS terminal server.

    If you make a mistake entering the "service", you will need to start again from step 6.

    Note: If the "userid," "password" or "service" was incorrect, you will receive messages of the form:

    INVALID USER IDENTIFICATION
    NASA DISCONNECTED 00 40

    @

    Start again from step 6.

    NOTE: If you receive the error message:

    NOT CONNECTED
    OUT OF ORDER 09 99

    This may indicate that the NCCS terminal server is experiencing problems; you will probably not be able to make a connection. Instruct your modem to hangup and contact the NCCS at the phone numbers or email address listed at the end of this article.

13. You will see the following message:

    NETWORK CONNECTION IN PROGRESS

    After the connection is made press Return at least twice, until you receive the prompts:

              - Welcome to the NASA Center for Computational Sciences -
        NCCS>
    

14. At this point, you can telnet to any computer on the primary Goddard subnet.

    To connect to the NCCS Cray, enter:

    telnet charneyReturn

    Note: The default NCCS terminal server two-character escape sequence is: (for the first "character", on many keyboards you will press the Control, Shift and 6 keys simultaneously; then press the lower-case x key). After escaping to the NCCS terminal server, enter a null line (just Return) to resume your Cray session. To end the telnet session, enter the NCCS terminal server command:

    exitReturn

To Disconnect

1. Issue an exit command from your Unix prompt (or, if your login shell environment allows, a Control-d or a logout):

   exitReturn

2. You will see messages similar to:

   [Connection to CHARNEY closed by foreign host]

3. At this point you have been returned to the NCCS terminal server, and you will receive the prompt:

   NCCS>

4. Enter:

   exitReturn

5. You will see messages similar to:

   NCCS tty51 is now available

   Press RETURN to get started.

6. Now you can instruct your modem to hangup the telephone connection.