TECHNICAL BULLETIN #79 - Rev 1.00 (5/13/96)

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TITLE   : TCP/IP Support
PRODUCT : PROCOMM PLUS for Windows 2.1x
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PROCOMM PLUS for Windows 2.1 is the first DATASTORM product to include
TCP/IP support.  This document explains the basics about TCP/IP and how it
works with PROCOMM PLUS for Windows.

THE TCP/IP BASICS
PROCOMM PLUS for Windows 2.1 is a Windows Sockets (Winsock) compatible
application which provides FTP and Telnet client applications for
communicating using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
TCP/IP is a protocol which allows computers to communicate with each other
and is implemented as a "stack"; TCP and IP are two separate components which
work together to communicate information across network lines.  Many Local
Area Networks (LANs) use TCP/IP and the world's largest network, the Internet,
also uses this protocol.

To communicate across a network using TCP/IP, you must first install a
TCP/IP stack on your computer.  Many network software packages offer TCP/IP
stacks.  For example, Novell offers a stack to communicate over a Novell
network using TCP/IP.

In addition, Windows users must also install Winsock compliant software.
This software is an additional component which communicates to both the
TCP/IP stack and Winsock applications such as PROCOMM PLUS for Windows.
In all cases, Winsock compliant software will install a dynamically linked
library called WINSOCK.DLL on your system, and Winsock applications interact
with this library to send and receive information.

Winsock applications such as PROCOMM PLUS for Windows offer graphical user
interfaces which provide TCP/IP functionality for users.  These applications
interact with the underlying Winsock compliant software that handles all
TCP/IP communication.

For example, PROCOMM PLUS for Windows offers two Winsock applications: an FTP
client and a Telnet client.  When you use PROCOMM PLUS for Windows' FTP client
or Telnet client, PROCOMM PLUS for Windows interacts with the WINSOCK.DLL,
which in turn interacts with the TCP/IP stack.  The three software layers
work together so that users can functionally communicate across a TCP/IP
network.  If any of these three layers are missing or non-functional, TCP/IP
network communication is impossible.

PROCOMM PLUS for Windows VERSION 2.1 provides only one of the three layers
you need to communicate via TCP/IP: the application layer.  Before you can use
PROCOMM PLUS for Windows' FTP client and Telnet client, you must install a
TCP/IP stack and Winsock compliant software.  Winsock compliant software may
provide the TCP/IP stack in addition to components such as WINSOCK.DLL.
Some vendors even combine the TCP/IP stack into the WINSOCK.DLL.  However, the
method WINSOCK.DLL uses to access the TCP/IP stack depends on the network or
Winsock package provided by your vendor.  There are many vendors which provide
Winsock compliant software, including Novell and Microsoft.  In addition,
there are popular Winsock compliant shareware products which are very
affordable.

THE BASICS OF CONNECTING
To connect to a service via TCP/IP, you will need to find a service provider.
How you connect to this provider depends on the configuration of your
computer as well as the services that are available in your area.
Typically, you will connect to services by modem or through a network.

Network Connections
If you are connected to a network which is directly connected to a TCP/IP
network such as the Internet, you can communicate through the network to
various network services.  First, you must install a TCP/IP stack and Winsock
compliant software which is configured for your network setup.  Once this is
accomplished, you can use PROCOMM PLUS for Windows' FTP and Telnet
features to access various services such as Internet FTP and Telnet servers.
If you need help configuring your Winsock compliant software for your
network, please contact the vendor of the Winsock software for more details.

Modem Connections
If you are not currently connected to a network but you wish to access a
TCP/IP network such as the Internet, you will need to contact an IP service
provider.

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