Using TELNET with RATC

TELNET is a computer industry standard network communications protocol which is generally used to connect remote users to a host computer using a text-based interface. The user can then control certain functions on that host computer. TELNET works over both local area networks and the Internet.

RATC can function as a TELNET server. This means that any standard TELNET client program (such as that which ships with Windows NT) may be used to manipulate and monitor Control Group values in MediaMatrix. This is most useful for verifying that things are configured such that a successful RATC connection can be made to the MediaMatrix computer, since it is assumed that a command-line style interface will be enjoyed only by few creaky old UNIX gurus.

To connect a TELNET terminal to RATC, one simply specifies to the TELNET client program the MediaMatrix computer network name or IP address and the TCP port number that RATC has been assigned in the Remote Services dialog box. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority port assignment for RATC is 1632, keyword pammratc.

RATC does not echo data input from the client, so it is advised that local echo be enabled on the TELNET client program so that one can see what one is typing while one types it so as to reduce ones typographical error frequency.

Note that the BEL character that precedes each error response from RATC may very well cause a bell sound in your TELNET client computer.

RATC supports only the minimum TELNET protocol, and thus will refuse any and all TELNET option requests coming from a TELNET client program.