You are using an older browser, which may not load bcpl.net properly. We recommend that you upgrade to the latest version of your browser. The latest version of Internet Explorer can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx. The latest version of Netscape can be found at: http://www.netscape.com.

Baltimore County Public Library logo
Home Tech Support WebMail Contacts Search BCPL.info

Accessing your UNIX Shell Account on a Mac


OS 9 and below

Before OS X Macs did not automatically come with the software needed to connect to the BCPL UNIX host. You will probably need to download one from the Internet. There are many kinds of telnet programs available for free online. Try going to sites like http://www.download.com/ or http://www.macorchard.com/.

Once you have a telnet program installed, connect to the Internet and then open the telnet program. At some point, you will have to enter the server name, mail.bcpl.net. Sometimes this can be entered in a box that pops up when you open the telnet program, in some programs you will have to search for a place to put a server name.

  • A login prompt should now appear. Type your username and then press Return.
  • A password prompt will appear. Type your password and then press Return.
  • A menu will appear. Type 1 and then hit Return.
  • You are now logged into your UNIX shell. You should see a prompt similar to /u1/help $. The $ prompt signifies that UNIX is ready to take your commands. Click here for a list of things you can do within UNIX. When you are ready to leave your UNIX shell, type exit at the $ prompt.

OS X

OS X and above comes with a telnet program called Terminal. To use this program to access your UNIX shell account, do the following:
  • First, locate the Terminal application. It can normally be found by going into the Hard Drive, then Application, then Utilities.
  • Open Terminal.
  • At the prompt, type telnet mail.bcpl.net and then press Return on the keyboard.
  • A login prompt should now appear. Type your username and then press Return.
  • A password prompt will appear. Type your password and then press Return.
  • A menu will appear. Type 1 and then hit Return.
  • You are now logged into your UNIX shell. You should see a prompt similar to /u1/help $ The $ prompt signifies that UNIX is ready to take your commands. Click here for a list of things you can do within UNIX. When you are ready to leave your UNIX shell, type exit at the $ prompt.
Home | Tech Support | WebMail | Contacts | Search | BCPL.info
BCPL.NET Internet Services - 320 York Road, Towson, Maryland 21204-5179, U.S.A.
Copyright © 2000-2008, BCPL. All rights reserved.
Last modified : July 19, 2005 04:23 PM EDT