Copyright: ® Trumpet Software International Pty Ltd


Trumpet Winsock Applications

To complement the Trumpet Winsock, Trumpet Software has developed a number of handy Winsock applications.  Unlike the Winsock, however, these are provided free of charge, but without support.

Ping, Hop, Dig, and Tcpmeter are diagnostic applications that are useful for providing information about the Internet and your connection to it. The rest form a basic suite of utilities that may help you explore the Internet more fully.

For the latest version of this documentation please check our Web site:  http://www.trumpet.com.au/

Please see the Trumpet Winsock Help file for contact details.

  Ping

  Dig

  Hop

  Tcpmeter

  Trmptel

  Winchat

  Winarch

  Ftpw

  View

  WinIRC


Ping

Trumpet Ping is a diagnostic program that allows you to send test packets to a known host on the Internet.  It is useful for checking your TCP/IP connection.

Parameters

Host	Enter the address of  a host machine.
Size	The size of each packet in bytes.
Interval	How long to wait before sending the next packet.

To test your connection, enter a known host name or IP address in the Host field, and press Start.

If you enter the name of a machine, the first thing Ping does is to convert it into a numeric IP address.  This may happen so quickly you don’t even notice it.

If the status line seems to be stuck on a message saying “Looking up <host name>”, this may indicate that there is a problem with the DNS system (DNS is the system convert a the name of a machine on the Internet into its numeric IP address). Check that the Name server address in your Winsock is set correctly.

An “ICMP transmit error” will usually be generated either because the network is down or because of incorrect Comm port settings.

At any time you can press Stop to cancel the test and display statistics.

There is no timeout, so if you’re sending packets and getting no response, the status line will not change from “Trying <some numeric IP address>....”.  In this case, press Stop.

The display will then list how many packets were sent and received and a percentage of how many were lost.  Statistics are also presented that give you an idea of how long it takes for the packets to do the circuit back to your machine.  This is called the round trip time (rtt).


Dig

Dig uses the Domain Name System (DNS) to answer queries about a domain or host on the Internet.

To use this you will need to know the address of a DNS host, or name server.  If you’re not sure, just use the name server from the Trumpet Winsock’s File/Setup dialog.

Once you have entered the address of a name server in the DNS Host, enter the address of a domain (or host machine) in the Target field and select Search.  You can select the Type of record to be requested if you are looking for specific information.

If the DNS host you entered is unreachable (it may not be functioning), the message “Timed out” will be displayed.  In this case, check the address of the name server or try another one.

Parameters

Target	The address of a domain or host.
DNS host	Usually your provider’s name server.
Type	ns	Name server.
	a	Address.
	soa	Status of authority.
	any	Usually the same as address.
	mx	Mail exchange.


Hop

Hop provides a list of the gateways that are traversed by a packet on its way to a destination Host address.

On the Internet, any two machines are joined by a number of physical networks.  A machine that directs traffic between networks is called a gateway.

To generate a list of the machines between yours and a destination machine, enter the name of the machine in the Host field and select Start.

A list of the machines between yours and the destination machine will be displayed.

If “***” is returned, it means that although a gateway has been passed through, no information has been passed back.


Tcpmeter

Tcpmeter provides a graphical representation of incoming and outgoing network traffic.

Incoming traffic is displayed across the top of the screen in green, and outgoing is across the bottom in red.

Each coloured bar indicates a fraction of the vertical scale.  For example, if the vertical scale is 4K bytes/sec and the green bar comes 3/4 of the way down the screen, then you received 3Kb in that second.

The vertical scale is displayed in the title bar of the window and can changed by clicking the left mouse button to increase it and the right mouse button to decrease it.

Many thanks to Stephen Davies for providing the icon for Tcpmeter.


Trmptel

Trmptel is a Telnet program which allows you to connect to machines on the Internet using a command line interface.  It is still under development, but it may be handy to have.

When you start Trmptel, you will be prompted for a Host name.  Just enter the address in the field and press okay.

If you need to specify a port number, then enter: <host name>:<port>

For example: foobah.com:6677

You can open another session by selecting Connect from the menu, and use the options in the Window menu to arrange the screens.


Winchat

Winchat is a very simple chat program.  It allows you to talk to another user on the Internet who is also using Winchat.

To initiate a connection with another Winchat user, select Connect from the menu and enter their machine’s IP address in the Host field.

Admittedly, this could be a problem for a lot of dial-up users since most Internet Service Providers allocate IP addresses dynamically.  That is, they assign a different IP address each time you log in.

This won’t be a problem if one of the users has a fixed IP address.


Winarch

Winarch is a program that provides access to the Archie service.  Archie is a service that has been designed to help locate files on the Internet.

A program such as Ftpw can be used to down load any files found with this application.

  Setting up Winarch

  Using Winarch

  Archie servers


Setting up Winarch

To use Winarch you will need to know the address of an Archie server.  This address needs to be appended to the command line of the Winarch program item.

In Program Manager, highlight the Winarch icon and select Properties from the File menu.  Append the following parameter to the command line: -archie=<archie server>:<port>

By default, Archie uses port 191.

For example: c:\trumpet\winapps\winarch.exe -archie=archie.mcgill.ca:191


Using Winarch

To use Winarch, just enter the name of a file you’re trying to locate in the Target field, and select Search.

You can also search for text strings.

If you want to restrict your search to a certain domain on the Internet, use the Suffix field.

For example, if you’re only interested in Australian sites, enter: au


Archie servers

Here is a list of archie servers.

Server	Country
archie.au	Australia
archie.aco.net	Austria
archie.mcgill.ca	Canada
archie.uqam.ca	Canada
archie.funet.fi	Finland
archie.univ-rennes1.fr	France
archie.th-darmstadt.de	Germany
archie.ac.il	Israel
archie.unipi.it	Italy
archie.kyoto-u.ac.jp	Japan
archie.wide.ad.jp	Japan
archie.hana.nm.kr	Korea
archie.sogang.ac.kr	Korea
archie.nz	New Zealand
archie.uninett.no	Norway
archie.rediris.es	Spain
archie.luth.se	Sweden
archie.switch.ch	Switzerland
archie.ncu.edu.tw	Taiwan
archie.twnic.net	Taiwan
archie.doc.ic.ac.uk	United Kingdom
archie.hensa.ac.uk	United Kingdom
archie.ans.net	USA
archie.internic.net	USA
archie.rutgers.edu	USA
archie.sura.net	USA
archie.unl.edu	USA


Ftpw

This is a simple FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program that can be used to down load files from an FTP server.

Often used with a search program such as Winarch.

  Using Ftpw

  FTP commands


Using Ftpw

When Ftpw is loaded, you will be prompted for the name of an FTP server.

Enter a server’s name or IP address and press <Enter>.  After a few seconds you should be connected to the server.

Most servers will prompt you for a username and password before letting you do anything interesting.  If you haven’t been given a username, you should login in anonymously.

To log in anonymously, enter anonymous at the username prompt.  An acceptable password will be generated automatically by Ftpw.

Once logged in you can use dir to list the directory contents of the remote host, and cd <dir> to move between directories on that host.

To move around your own machine and determine where files will be transferred from and to, use ldir and lcd <dir>.

To download a file, first enter either bin or asc, depending on whether you’re downloading a binary (zip, exe, etc..) or ASCII (text) file.  Then type get <filename> to retrieve the file.

Enter quit to close the connection.

If you’re having trouble closing the Ftpw window, press <Esc> to close the session.  Once the program is inactive you will be able to close it normally.


FTP commands

Here’s a list of user commands accepted by Ftpw.

FTP commands

ls	List directory contents.
dir	List directory contents with all file details.
cat	Displays a file online (eg a readme.txt file).
get	Download a file from the remote machine to the local machine.
put	Upload a file.
mget <file>	Multiple get. For example, to get all .zip files in a directory, enter: mget *.zip If prompt is enabled, then you will be asked to confirm whether you want to download each file.
mput <file>	Multiple put.
asc	Switch to ASCII mode (necessary for transferring text, hqx, etc.).
bin	Switch to Binary mode (necessary for transferring exe, zip, etc).
cd <dir>	Change directory.
cdup	Move up directory.
pwd	Give current directory path.
md <dir>	Make directory.
rd <dir>	Remove directory.
del <file>	Delete file.
ren <old> <new>	Rename a file
stat	Server status.
lcd <dir>	Local change directory.
lmd <dir>	Local make directory.
ldir	Local directory listing.
user	Enter a new username and password.
verbose	Toggle verbose output on/off.
prompt	Toggle multiple get/put prompt on/off .  See mget.
debug	Toggle debug mode on/off.
help	List available commands.
quit	Quit


View

This is a very simple text viewer that is capable of displaying very large text files (If you’re thinking that there’s no way that a text viewer could have anything to do with the Winsock...  you’re entirely correct, it doesn’t really).

It doesn’t have an Open function within the program, so to open a file with it you will have to use the command line or the Run command.

The simplest way to do this is to highlight the file to wish to view in the File Manager, then select Run from the File menu and enter view before the file name: view <filename>

For example: view bigfile.txt

If you get an error message saying that File Manager cannot find the specified file, it is probably because view.exe couldn’t be found.  In that case, you will need to move view.exe into a directory that is listed in the path command of your autoexec.bat file (If you do this, don’t forget to update the command line of the View program item in File Manager) or you can enter the full path: c:\trumpet\winapps\view bigfile.txt


WinIRC

WinIRC is an easy to use IRC program.

If you want to meet people on the Internet and have a chat, then you will find IRC to be the ideal environment.

  Features

  What is IRC?

  Using WinIRC

  Menu Commands

  Server commands

  Public IRC servers


Features

WinIRC has the following features:

1) Windows for accessing multiple channels at once.

2) Full command compatibility with all servers.

3) Optional continuous display of current channel users.


What is IRC?

IRC (short for Internet Relay Chat) is a global network that is like a phone party line.  Anybody on the Internet can hook into it from anywhere in the world as long as they know the address of an IRC server.

Using IRC is like going to an international convention centre where you may meet and talk to any number of other Internet users.  To use IRC, it is important to grasp the concept of channels.

If using IRC is like being in a convention centre, then joining a channel is like going into a meeting room.  Sometimes you will be the only person in a channel, waiting for someone else to arrive.  Sometimes you will be talking to just one other person.  If you join a populated channel, it is likely that there will be many conversations going on at once.

Sometimes the name of a channel will relate to what the people inside it are talking about, but not always.  Channels also have topics, that may provide a more current description of what people in the channel are talking about.


Using WinIRC

This section provides a general introduction to IRC and outlines the basics of using WinIRC.  If you’re using IRC for the first time, then you should work through each step in turn.

  Setting up WinIRC

  Joining a channel

  Talking to everyone in a channel

  Talking to one person

  Moving between screens

  Leaving a channel


Setting up WinIRC

Before you can use WinIRC, you will need to know the name (or IP address) of  an IRC server.

1.	Open WinIRC by double-clicking on its icon, and select Setup from the File menu to open the Setup dialog.

•	The first time you run WinIRC, this dialog will appear automatically.

2.	Enter the address of an IRC Server in the Host field.

•	The Host and Port determine the IRC server you will be connected to.

•	Unless you have been instructed otherwise, leave the Port set to 6667.

3.	Enter your User name, Email address, and Nick name.

•	Although you need to enter a username, it’s not really used for anything.  Set it to either your dial-up user name or the first part of your email address.

•	Your nickname is what other IRC users will refer to you as, so it is worthy of some thought.  It should be a unique name that identifies you, and must be 9 or less characters long. We will deal with what happens if your nickname is being used by someone else later.

4.	Select OK to continue.

5.	WinIRC will then automatically connect to your server and display the server’s welcome message in the Main window.

•	Depending on how busy the server is, this may take some time.

•	You may need to use the scroll bar on the side of the window to move to the bottom.

6.	If your nickname is currently in use by someone else, you will probably be asked to change it.

•	You can change it temporarily by typing the following server command at the bottom of the window: /nick <new nickname>

•	To change it permanently, you will need to edit the Setup dialog.


Joining a channel

To get a listing of the current channels, either select List from the menu, or type: /list

This will open a new window that lists the current channels. Note that channel names always begin with a "#" symbol.  After each channel name is the number of users currently in the channel and the channel’s topic.

Only the channels with more users than the number specified in the List threshold setting of the Setup dialog will be listed.  For example, if you only want to know about channels with 5 or more users, then set the List threshold to 5.

Next you will probably want to join a group. Either select Join from the menu bar and enter a channel name, or type: /join <#channel>

Alternatively, you can join a channel by double-clicking on its name in the Listing window.

Whenever you type in a channel name, remember to start its name with a "#" symbol.  For example, to join the channel #trumpet, enter: /join #trumpet

A new screen will appear with the channel’s name and topic in the title bar.  On the right hand side of the screen is a list of the people currently in the channel.

If the channel didn’t previously exist, you will have just created the channel.  In this case only your nickname will be listed in the right hand column.


Talking to everyone in a channel

If you’ve joined a populated channel, your screen is probably starting to fill with messages from people in the channel.

Notice that each line in the main part of the screen is preceded by the nickname of whoever typed it.

To have your say, type something in the strip that runs across the bottom of the screen and press <enter>.

Any line you type that doesn’t start with the “/” symbol will be displayed on the screens of all the other users of that channel.  Lines starting with a “/” are treated as server commands.


Talking to one person

Occasionally you will prefer to have a private conversation with just one other person. You can do this by opening a query session.

You can open a query session to a single person either by selecting Query from the menu and entering their nickname, or by entering: /query <nickname> <text>

Alternatively, you can double-click on their nick-name in the channel list.

This will open a new screen in which everything you type will be seen by only that person.

If you want to send just one line to another user, but you don’t want to open a query session, use: /msg <nickname> <text>


Moving between screens

Before long your screen will be full of screens.  In addition to a screen for each channel you have joined you’ll also have the main window as well any list windows to contend with.  Some care will need to be taken otherwise you’ll get totally lost.

You can resize the screens using the normal Windows methods.  Don’t forget that you can minimise screens that you’re not currently interested in, and use the options under the Window menu to help arrange the screens.

To move between screens you can use any of the following methods:

•	Click on a screen to bring it to the foreground.

•	Select the screen’s title from the Window menu.

•	Use Ctrl+Tab to cycle through the Windows.


Leaving a channel

Whether you’ve got bored of a channel that you’re on, or you’ve decided that it’s time to go back to the real world, eventually you’ll need to say goodbye to your new friends and leave a channel.

The easiest way to leave a channel is by closing that channel’s window.  Don’t forget to say goodbye first!


Menu Commands

Most of the menu commands automate server commands.  Only the exceptions are listed here.

  File/Setup

  Window

  Special


File/Setup

  IRC Host

  IRC Port

  User name

  Email

  Nick name

  List threshold


IRC Host

The name or IP address of an IRC server.

If you don't know the name of your local IRC server, either contact your local network administrator, or read the Usenet newsgroup alt.irc to find a list of servers that will accept your client.


IRC Port

An optional port number.


User name

This should be your real login name or the first part of your email address.  Using a bogus name will make you unpopular and could result in you being regularly kicked off IRC.


Email

Not adding your email address will make you unpopular with administrators and result in you being kicked out of IRC.  This is a must!!!


Nick name

Your nickname is what other IRC users will refer to you as.  IRC limits you to 9 characters, and some characters can't be used.  You will get an error message should it be incorrect.


List threshold

The list threshold determines the minimum number of users in a channel before the channel will show up in a /list command.


Window

Contains a sub-menu of commands to change your window layout.


Special

Contains a sub-menu of some helpful server commands and a debug option.

While the debug option is enabled, a trace of messages between WinIRC and the IRC server is displayed in the Main window.


Server commands

Server commands are commands recognised by a server and allow control of most aspects of IRC.

They are preceded by the “/” symbol, and are entered in the field at the bottom of the screen (either the Main screen or a channel’s screen).

Here are some of the more useful and common commands:

IRC Server Commands

/help	Show a full list of the server's commands.
/info	Get some info on current server.
/list	List all the current channels.  A new window is created for this, and only those channels with more users than the number specified in the List threshold are listed.
/join <#channel>	Join a channel.  A window is created for each channel joined.
/part <#channel>	Leave a channel.  Equivalent to closing a channel’s window.
/whois <nickname>	Display more information on a nickname.
/whowas <nickname>	Display information on someone who was connected to a channel.
/who <nickname>	Different format to /whois.
/query <nickname> <text>	Open a query session window to another user.
/msg <nickname> <text>	Send a private message to a user.
/ignore +<nickname>	Don't display any public messages from a certain user in a channel.
/ignore -<nickname>	Don't display any private messages from a user.
/names <#channel>	Display names of users in current channel.
/quit	End IRC session and exit program.

Note that the output for some of these commands will appear only in the main window.


Public IRC servers

Here’s a list of servers that have provided public access to IRC.

Its accuracy is questionable, so for the most up-to-date information, please check the IRC newsgroup, alt.irc.
Public IRC Servers

irc.ais.net	irc.mcs.net	irc.mo.net
irc.csci.unt.edu	irc.apk.net	dutch.apk.net
irc.neosoft.com	irc.primenet.com	irc.texas.net
irc.hacks.arizona.edu	irc.eskimo.com	irc.portal.com
irc.escape.com	mickey.cc.utexas.edu	alfred1.u.washington.edu
tramp.cc.utexas.edu	dewey.cc.utexas.edu	irc.colorado.edu
irc-2.mit.edu	organ.ctr.columbia.edu	cs-pub.bu.edu
eff.org	irc.virginia.edu	irc.ecn.uoknor.edu
irc.wu-wien.ac.at	irc.funet.fi	irc.unb.ca
CISMhp.Univ-Lyon1.FR	jello.qabc.uq.oz.au	ircserver.cltr.uq.oz.au
irc.io.org