On Sat, 4 May 2002 10:10:19 -0500, Lyle Syverson
<lyleREMOVE@foxvalley.net> wrote:

>Most local BBS's can be accessed using a IIe, IIc,or IIgs with a
>com program such as ProTERM.  Some local BBS's have an Internet Menu
>that allows you to telnet and FTP from the system.
>
>There are sites that allow you access to Lynx via telnet.  See:
>http://www.trill-home.com/lynx/public_lynx.html
>

If getting an ISP that offers shell access is a problem, a simple
solution would be to essentially provide your own shell connection.
This can be done by using a package called FreeSCO.  FreeSCO is a very
easy to set up Linux based router that can allow any computer set up
on the same LAN to share a dialup Internet connection.

The minimum hardware requirements for FreeSCO are extremely modest;
386, 6 MB RAM, 3.5" floppy disk (a hard drive is not absolutely
required, though it would be desireable if you want to install various
packages such as Samba, FTP, Lynx, BitchZ (IRC client), PINE, etc.)

FreeSCO can support up to 3 NICs (Ethernet, Token Ring, ArcNet) and 2
modems.  The first modem, naturally, is the network's gateway to the
Internet.  The second one can be used for remote dialin access to the
LAN; or it can be used locally to provide a serial (modem to modem)
connection for systems that can't otherwise access the LAN via a NIC.
Alternatively, the second modem can be replaced with a serial port for
a direct null-modem connection.

My current FreeSCO configuration (whom I've christened Articuno), is
built on a 486/DX-33 with 24MB RAM, dual IDE hard drives (540 and
345MB), 3Com EtherLink III (connected via cat-5 cable to an old AT&T
StarLAN 10 hub), 56K modem, and a 19.2 modem that will be used
eventually to provide shell access for my old systems.  I haven't
experimented yet (at least not much) with the modem to modem
connection; but that is on my list of things to do real soon.

I've also got a second router in the works, that I'm calling a Net
Vixen.  This one is eventually going to be put up for sale in kit form
(no keyboard, case, or monitor) for folks who want a dialup router,
but don't want to go through the process of installing FreeSCO and its
associated packages themselves (naturally, some configuration on the
end-user's part will be required, such as setting up the connection to
the ISP and changing default passwords, but the majority of the
installation will be accomplished already.)

More info on FreeSCO can be found here:

http://www.freesco.org/

-- Scarletdown