IPDial21 2.1 (16.04.96)

Short:        Best SLIP/PPP dialer with shell terminal
Author:       Jochen Wiedmann, Stefan Gybas
Uploader:     Stefan Gybas <cab studbox uni-stuttgart de>
Type:         comm/tcp
Version:      2.1 (16.04.96)
Replaces:     comm/tcp/IPDial20.lha
Architecture: m68k-amigaos


-=-=-=-=-=- Introduction -=-=-=-=-=-

IPDial is used to establish a SLIP, CSLIP or PPP connection to an ISP
(Internet service provider). This is done using a script file which consists
of commands like SEND "ATZ" or WAIT "CONNECT". After the connection is
established, IPDial usually logs in with your user account and activates
SLIP/PPP on the remote machine. When all this is successfully done, IPDial
exits and your SLIP/PPP device takes over the line.

When you want to disconnect, you can also use IPDial to make to modem
physically hang up the line after SLIP/PPP has terminated.

Furthermore, IPDial has a built-in terminal mode which uses the current
shell window. If something fails while IPDial is trying to establish a
connection, you can just press Ctrl-F to enter the terminal mode and log in
manually.



-=-=-=-=-=- Features -=-=-=-=-=-

IPDial has several features that many other dialers lack:

- built-in shell terminal mode: You can always interrupt your dial script
  if something went wrong or enter a secret password without writing it into
  your dial script file.

- IPDial can read the serial configuration (device, unit, baud rate and
  handshake protocol) from a SANA configuration file. If you ever want to
  use a different device, unit or baud rate, just change it for your SANA
  device and IPDial will automatically use your new settings.

- own script language: Simple but powerful BASIC-like language. You can,
  for example, scan the input stream for dynamic IP addresses and store them
  in environment variables.

- very small: IPDial is less than 23 KB small and uses very little memory
  while running.

- sample scripts included: Just adapt one of the example scripts to your
  needs. You don't have to write your own programs!

- IPDial is absolutely free of charge with full source code included (see
  the GNU General Public License for details).



-=-=-=-=-=- Changes since IPDial 2.0 -=-=-=-=-=-

- fixed a couple of errors in the documentation (please reread the "Updating"
  and "Common problems" sections)

- included dial script for the German T-Online (examples/T-Online.IPDial)

- EXIT now checks its arguments

- the serial buffer size is now set to 4096 bytes when a device is opened.

- cleaned up code a little bit (executable is now 2 KB smaller)

- removed SET and SHOWPARAMS commands. Some options from the SET command were
  moved to the DEVICE command.

- TIMEOUT in WAIT command is now optional (default: 5 seconds)