Computer and Information Services Helpdesk
Helpdesk: x4480 (409-740-4480)
CIS Front Desk: x4714 (409-740-4714)
Email: helpdesk@tamu.edu
Prospective Students | Current Students | Former Students | Parents & Visitors
Telnet and Tarpon
Telnet to access tarpon, and student web space.
If you would like your own webspace on Tarpon, send a request to helpdesk@tamug.edu with your Name, NetID and contact information.
Note: In order to access tarpon using Telnet, it is necessary to be logged in to the TAMUG network. If you connect to the Internet from a
campus computer or via a your internet provider and a VPN connection, you are on the TAMUG network.
Accessing Telnet in Windows
A Telnet program comes installed in most major operating systems, including all versions of Windows. If you do not have an icon for Telnet
on your desktop or in your Start Menu, the easiest way to reach Telnet is to go to the Start Menu and choose Run.
In the box which comes up, type, "telnet" followed by the host name and hit the return key or push the OK button. For example, to access
Tarpon, you would type, "telnet tarpon.tamug.edu".
If you don't have a telnet application you can search online for a freeware version.
Logging in to Tarpon
When you have a connection to Tarpon you will see a prompt asking for a username. Your username for Tarpon is the same as your NetID.
So, if you are a student, it will be your NetID or neo account login.
Once you have entered a username, you will be prompted for a password. This will be your UIN#.Command Prompt
Once you have successfully logged in, you will be given a command prompt which looks like "tarpon 1%". The command prompt is where
you type in the command you wish Telnet to follow. Every time you enter a command, the number in front of the % will increase by one.
The command prompt may vary in appearance on different servers, but will function in the same way.
Please note that most Telnet applications treat the Backspace button as the character string "^H". If you have typed something at the
command prompt that you need to erase, use Ctrl-Backspace.
Viewing, Moving and Deleting Files stored on Tarpon
Students and Faculty with Tarpon Accounts have an allotted amount of space on Tarpon, which may be used to store website files or files in
general. Please be aware that this space is limited. Each account has a quota, a maximum amount of space that the account may occupy.
If you find that your quota is insufficient to meet your needs, you may visit CIS and request more space. Requests will be received at the
administrator's discretion.
To view files already uploaded to Tarpon, type "ls" at the command prompt. "ls" is the Unix command for "list", and functions in a similar
way to the "dir" command in DOS.
As a default, you will have a folder that includes a few files. Do not delete these files. If thesel files are removed, you will not be able to use
your account and will have to contact the email administrator to have your account reconfigured.
You may change folders by using the "cd" command. "cd" is shorthand for "change directory". To change to your mail directory, type:
"cd mail" To go back one directory, type: "cd .." The two periods indicate the directory (folder) above the current folder. A single period
indicates the directory you are in.
You may rename or move files by using the command "mv" (move). For example, if you have a file called "report.doc" and you want to
rename it, you would type: "mv report.doc new_report.doc" In the same way, if you want to move a file to a new directory:
"mv report.doc www/report.doc" Renaming a file is considered moving the file to a new name or location.
To delete a file, use the command "rm" (remove). To delete a file called "file.txt", you would type: "rm file.txt"
You may create a new directory by using the "mkdir" command. "mkdir" is an abbreviation for "make directory". To create a folder
called "stuff" you would type: "mkdir stuff" You may delete your "stuff" directory using the "remove directory" command, "rmdir", by
typing: "rmdir stuff".
Finding User Information
You may look up information about users on the computer system by using the command "finger" followed by a username or a name.
For example, to look up information about Mary Smith, whose username is smithm, you could type: "finger smith" or "finger smithm"
You will see a list of all matches to your search. For very common names, such as Smith, the list will be very long. Most (but not all)
Telnet programs will allow you to scroll through the list to find the person you are looking for. It is very important that you type the name
or username correctly. Mistyped names will not give correct results.
You may check to see which users are currently online by typing "who". This command will give you a list of users who are currently
logged in to the same server that you are (for example, Tarpon).
Talking to other Users
Tarpon includes a program for talking to other users through Telnet. The command is "talk" followed by the username of the person you
wish to talk to. The person you wish to talk to will have to accept the talk request, at which time you may each type simultaneously, as
in other chat programs.
Exiting Telnet
To close a Telnet connection, you may type "logout".
This will bring up an alert saying "Connection to host
lost". Simply click OK and
use the x button in the upper
right-hand corner of the Telnet window to close the program.
Some Telnet programs will automatically exit
when you type
"logout".
Additional Assistance and Instructions
Additionally the Telnet
connection gives you access to instructional files on the
remote computer. The command to access these files is
"man",
and abbreviation for "manual", followed by the
command you wish to look up information about. For example, to
look up information
about the "talk" function, you
would type: "man talk", which will display
the help file for "talk", including relevant
commands and parameters.
If you find that you have further questions which are not
answered by the files available online or through Telnet, you
may contact CIS and
ask the staff members for assistance.
For More Information
Contact:
HELPDESK at
409-740-4480 or x4480
CIS Front Desk at 409-740-4714 or x 4714
helpdesk@tamug.edu
Report Broken Links
Email:
webmaster@tamug.edu