Chapter 2 - Logging In and Out of Windows 3.1 Client
Logging in to a VINES network is the process of identifying and registering yourself to the network to access files and applications stored on VINES file volumes. Logging in requires a user name and a password, which are provided by your system administrator.
Before you log in to VINES, make sure you have:
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Windows software installed on your workstation ![]()
VINES network software installed on your workstation ![]()
Your user name ![]()
Your password
If you have these three items, continue reading. If you do not, consult your system administrator before proceeding.
This user's guide assumes you have installed Windows 3.1 on your workstation. If your workstation has Windows 3.0 installed, note the few differences that are called out. For the most part, the topics and procedures described in this guide pertain to both versions of Windows.
Your system administrator most likely installed VINES network software on your workstation that lets you log in and use the network, whether you run Windows or DOS.
In addition, your administrator most likely configured the VINES software so it loads automatically when you turn on your workstation.
This software can reside on:
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Your workstation's fixed disk. ![]()
A diskette that is inserted into the diskette drive when you turn on your workstation.
Your system administrator provides a user name that identifies you whenever you log in to the network. This user name is created by the StreetTalk naming system.
StreetTalk is the VINES global naming system that identifies every user and component of the network. In this section, you learn the StreetTalk information you need to log in to the network. Additional information is provided in later chapters.
A StreetTalk user name consists of three parts, each separated by an at-sign (@). The three parts are:
Item Name
The most specific part of the user name, such as your full name.
Group Name
The name of the group to which you belong, such as a department.
Organization Name
The name of the organization to which the group belongs, such as a company division.
A name can be a maximum of 63 characters long, including the at-sign separators.
Example StreetTalk Name
Duncan Fraser, a salesperson at the Chicago headquarters of World Commodity Trading (WCT), logs in with this StreetTalk user name:
duncan fraser@sales@wctus
Figure 2-1 illustrates the three parts of Duncan's StreetTalk user name.
When logging in, you can type:
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Your complete StreetTalk name, as in the previous example. ![]()
Just your item name (for example, Duncan Fraser) if your administrator configured the VINES software on your workstation with a login search list. ![]()
Your StreetTalk nickname (for example, DuncanF), if your administrator gave you a shorter name to log in with.
The network accepts user name entries in any combination of upper- and lower-case letters. For example, Duncan Fraser can enter his user name as DUNCAN FRASER, duncan fraser, duncan FRASER, and so forth.
If you have questions about user names and nicknames, ask your administrator for assistance.
After you type your user name, the system prompts you for a password. Your password protects your user name so that only you can access the information and resources assigned specifically to you.
Passwords are created by your system administrator. Depending on the security features of your network, passwords may have length restrictions and may expire under certain conditions. Make sure you understand and follow the correct password procedures at your site.
Passwords are case-sensitive. You must type them exactly as defined. For example, if Duncan Fraser's password is DuncF, he must type DuncF. The network will not accept entries such as duncf or DUNCF.
For security reasons, your password is not displayed as you type it on the screen.
After the first login, you may be authorized to change your own password. Instructions are included in "Changing Your Password" later in this chapter.
This section describes how to log in to the network, whether from the DOS system prompt, or from a Windows MS-DOS window.
You must run BAN before you start Windows. The BAN program loads network software into workstation memory and connects the workstation to the network. It locates and loads the LAN card software and other network software, then executes the LOGIN.EXE program.
Your system administrator has most likely placed the BAN command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. This automatically displays the login screen when you start your workstation.
If you want to configure BAN not to execute LOGIN.EXE, replace BAN with BAN/NL in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. This loads VINES software into memory but does not execute LOGIN.EXE. You can later log in by entering login in an MS-DOS window. If you do not know how to modify your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, ask your system administrator for assistance.
Note: If you run Windows 3.0, you must log in to the VINES network before running Windows. With Windows 3.1, you can log in to the network either before or after running Windows.
To log in to the network, follow these steps:
1. If you are logging in from Windows, open an MS-DOS Prompt window.
2. Type login and press ENTER. The following screen appears.
3. At the login prompt, type your StreetTalk user name and press ENTER. The Password prompt appears underneath the login prompt.
4. At the password prompt, type your password and press ENTER.
Remember: You must type your password exactly as it is defined.
If you enter your user name and password correctly, a sequence of messages, including a summary of your user profile, appears.
With Windows 3.1, any persistent connections you make to file or print services are re-created. Persistent connections are network connections you make that are re-created every time you start Windows. For more information, refer to Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.
Once you successfully log in to the network, skip to "Your User Profile" for more information about your user profile and the initial screen display.
Immediately after you successfully log in to the network, a summary of your user profile appears on your screen.
Every user of the VINES network has a user profile, which is a special file set up by the system administrator.
Your user profile contains special commands that execute each time you log in to your VINES network. These commands are the default commands used to provide you with direct access to the network facilities you use most often.
A typical user profile may contain the following information:
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The network printer used when you send a file to print ![]()
DOS commands automatically executed at login ![]()
The location of the files you use ![]()
The name of your mail service ![]()
The connections you can make from your workstation to a host computer
Depending on the security of the network, you may or may not be able to change your user profile. If you have questions, ask your system administrator.
After the user profile appears, you may see one of the following screens:
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The Windows Program Manager ![]()
The VINES Main Menu ![]()
A system prompt, with or without your user name (for example, F:\DuncanF> or A:>) ![]()
A customized menu or Windows shell
This display is your interface, or doorway, to using the network. You can use your workstation almost exactly as you have in the past. You now have access to more data and resources, and can communicate with other users on your network.
If You Have Problems Logging In
If you cannot log in successfully, a short explanatory message appears:
Invalid username/password pair or server is unavailable.
Appending your group and organization name may help.
Wrong User Name
Most likely, the network does not recognize your user name. Try again, making sure to type your complete StreetTalk user name (item@group@organization).
Wrong Password
Perhaps your password is typed incorrectly or no longer valid. Try again, making sure to type your password using the correct upper- and lower-case letters. Once you enter a valid user name and password combination, the VINES software lets you proceed as usual.
Unavailable
The server that maintains your user name and password information may be unavailable. The server might be shut down for maintenance, or could be shut down to correct network problems, for instance.
To maintain security, the network allows three attempts to log in. After three attempts, the same message is repeated even if you enter a correct user name and password pair.
If you cannot determine why you cannot log in, consult your system administrator.
VINES and Windows Upgrade Messages
Occasionally your system administrator upgrades VINES networking software. There are two occasions when you might see upgrade messages:
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When you first start your workstation before logging in or starting Windows ![]()
When you start Windows after logging in
Messages When Starting Your Workstation
If you receive a caution message at login concerning the revision of VINES software running on your workstation, it means that a different or new revision of VINES software is installed on the network.
You may see this message:
The software revision that matches your workstation
software cannot be found on the network.
This means that the VINES software installed on your workstation does not match the software installed on the server. You must either upgrade or downgrade your workstation software. If you see this message, ask your system administrator what action to take.
Messages When Starting Windows
VINES network software supports Windows 3.1 by installing certain files on your local fixed disk. This software detects when the VINES software version or the Windows version has changed since you last logged in. If the revision of VINES software changed, a dialog box similar to this one appears.
Click Install to let VINES install the files that match your present version of VINES in your workstation. If you click Cancel, the VINES software does not load, and you cannot access network drives.
When you click Install, VINES displays a dialog box informing you that it is copying files to your workstation. When the upgrade is complete, a dialog box prompts you to restart Windows.
If the Windows version changed since the last time you logged in, a similar dialog box appears. Click Install to automatically match your workstation to the proper revision. If you click Cancel, the VINES software does not load. When the upgrade is complete, a dialog box prompts you to restart Windows.
The password procedure you use depends on the security enforced at your site. Consult your system administrator for information. You can change passwords from an MS-DOS window.
You must be logged in to change your password. If you are authorized to change your password, follow these steps:
1. From the system prompt, type password and press ENTER.
2. When prompted, type your [current password] and press ENTER.
3. When prompted, type your [new password] and press ENTER.
Note: A password can include any combination of letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation, and may be subject to length restrictions.
4. When prompted, type your [new password] again and press ENTER.
Once you complete this procedure, the network changes your password and verifies the change with a message.
If you do not complete the procedure correctly, the system informs you with a message and prompts you to re-enter the correct information.
Note: Depending on the security enforced at your site, VINES system software maintains a record of the last 10 passwords you use, and may not let you change a password to one used previously. An error message appears if you try to enter an old password. Consult your system administrator for information.
When you finish your session on the network, end the session by logging out. You can log out of the network from Windows by typing the logout command from a MS-DOS window.
Type logout at the system prompt and press ENTER. If you logout of the network from Windows, the network displays a message like this:
Note: Your Microsoft Windows session is still active.
Come back soon..
Z:\>
If you receive a message that files are open, check that you have quit all your network-based Windows applications. Some network-based applications, like the VINES Messages application, maintain open files on the network. You need to quit these applications before you can log out of the network.
If you want to log in again, type login at the system prompt and press ENTER. The system prompts you for your user name and password. Follow the steps for logging in.
Note: It is recommended that you always end a session by typing the logout command instead of turning off your workstation. This command frees up network resources more efficiently.
Loggin In from Remote Location
If you are logging in from a workstation at a remote location, refer to the PC Dial-in Guide for instructions. Also refer to Chapter 6 for special instructions for using the PC Dial-in option with Windows.