CS101 - Living with Computers

Using QVTNET(TERMINAL) in Windows 95 to access the VAX and E-mail

1) Find the QVTNET icon and double-click on it.


  1. Select File | Open or click the Open file icon.



3) Click on venus or merlin from the configuration window. If neither is there, type venus.nmhu.edu or merlin.nmhu.edu in the host name box and press OK. You will now be connected to one of the VAX computers.

4) You will now need to enter your username and password [Figure 2].

{If this is your first time on the VAX, your password will be your username. Once you have typed this in, you will be asked to select a password from a list of five or six choices. Pick one, type it in, write it down somewhere safe and then type it again when asked for verification. If you don't like any of these, press Enter for another list.}

5) You are now logged-on to the VAX. To use E-mail, type MAIL. If you have unread mail, you will be in the NEWMAIL folder, otherwise you will be in the MAIL folder. Once you are running the MAIL program, you can see a list of your mail in the folder by typing DIR. Each mail message will be numbered and the sender will be identified. To read a message, either type its number or move to that message and press the Enter key.

6) If you are finished reading a mail message, you should DELete it, otherwise the disk space allocated to you on the VAX will fill up. If you do not delete the mail message, it will be moved from the NEWMAIL folder and saved in the MAIL folder when you exit MAIL. If you have a lot of mail messages that you want to save, it is suggested that you move them to a disk by using Windows CUT/PASTE facilities. You can also print your messages by CUT/PASTE them to Window=s NOTEPAD and printing from NOTEPAD.

7) To send a message, type SEND. You will then be asked to enter the TO: address and the SUBJECT: message. The TO: address can be a campus address like WSUMMERS or an Internet address like SMTP%@WSUMMERS@MERLIN.NMHU.EDU@. Note that the Internet address must be prefixed by SMTP% and be placed in quotes. You should include a simple subject for your message. After you have typed in the Subject, you can type in your message. When you are finished, press CTRL-Z or F10 to send the message. If you want to cancel your message, press F12 and type QUIT at the prompt.

8) When you are finished, type EXIT to leave the mail program and LO to log off the VAX. Close the QVTNET Window.

9) You may want to include a short Asignature@ with your E-mail messages. This can be done by creating a file named .SIGNATURE on the VAX at the VE> or ME> prompt. [Type edit .signature; type in your "signature"; and press F10 when finished.]

10) Other MAIL commands you may find useful are:

FORWARD to forward the message just read to another person;

REPLY to reply to the message just read;

[REPLY can be followed by /EX and FORWARD by /ED to allow you to modify the message you=ve just read]

SELECT to select a different folder of E-mail messages to read;

EXTRACT to save a copy of an E-mail message to a file on the VAX.

11) If you want more information on these or other commands, type HELP from the MAIL prompt on the VAX.

12) If you have any trouble, see the lab assistant/tutor in LH2 or E-mail me at wsummers.