Some communication equipment require a communications program to transfer data between the serial port on the PC and device. You can also use Windows Hyperterminal to telnet to your Linux system as well. Windows comes with a communications program called HyperTerminal which is installed with Windows by default.

If not then you can add HyperTerminal via Add/Remove Windows Components’ in the Windows 2000/XP Control Panel.

Start HyperTerminal by clicking on Start –> Programs –> Accessories –> Communications –> HyperTerminal.

The first screen that appears is the New Connection dialog box. Here you can enter a name for this configuration of HyperTerminal. In this case, I will call it Ubuntu Linux because the setup will be for communication to our Ubuntu Linux. Select an icon then press OK.

The Connect To dialog box appears. In the last box Connect using select the TCP/IP that you will be using and press OK. In the Host Address field, enter the Linux system IP address, and port number is 23.

Press OK when done. That’s simple.

The next screen is the actual communications window. You should see a login prompt appear on the screen. Login with your Linux user id and password, then you are ready to go.

You can also connect and disconnect by clicking on one of the telephone icons just below the menu bar. One of them will be greyed out depending on whether you are currently connected or not.

If you are connected when trying to exit HyperTerminal you will be asked if want to disconnect first. Click Yes.

If this is the first time you have run this particular setup of HyperTerminal you will also be asked if you want to save the connection. You MUST click Yes, otherwise your HyperTerminal will be lost.

Your connection will be saved as a shortcut called Ubuntu Linux.ht under Start –> Programs –> Accessories –> Communications in a new HyperTerminal folder. Use this shortcut to run HyperTerminal. You can move or copy this shortcut to the desktop for easier access if you like.

[tags]HyperTerminal, Telnet, Linux[/tags]