
          HOW TO USE INTERLINK TO CONNECT TWO COMPUTERS
          
          Microsoft's DOS 6.0 and later come with a program called
          INTERLINK, and it is one of the best kept secrets around.
          INTERLINK provides a fast and efficient way to exchange
          data between IBM-compatible computers. You do not even
          use a modem when you use INTERLINK.

          All you need is an inexpensive cable. This can be a serial
          null modem cable or a bi-directional parallel cable (a
          Laplink type of cable). You can find such a cable at your
          local super computer store. You can also purchase a cable
          from a mail-order firm like Dalco Electronics:
          
          Dalco Electronics
          275 Poineer Boulevard
          Springboro, Ohio 45066
          513-743-8042 (phone)
          800-445-5342 (toll-free)
          513-743-9251 (fax)
          
          I have bought several cables from Dalco and have always
          found the people there very helpful. Ask for a free
          catalog.
          
          A bi-directional parallel cable (Laplink type) will be
          your best selection because it will transfer data faster.
          Both computers need to be IBM-compatible. Choose a
          computer with DOS 6 or later to be the "client" computer.

          The CLIENT computer is the computer at which you type
          commands from the keyboard. 
          
          The other computer is called the "SERVER" computer.
          
          So, the server computer is the computer connected to the
          client computer via the cable, and its purpose is to
          serve the client. When connected with INTERLINK, you use
          the client computer to control both the client's disk
          drives and printers and also the server's disk drives and
          printers. This is all done from the keyboard of the
          client computer. It really doesn't matter which computer
          you designate as client or server as long as you keep a
          few rules in mind:
           
          *    You need DOS 6 or later on the client computer.
          *    The server computer must have DOS 3.0 or later.
          *    You will need at least 16K of free memory on the
               client computer.
          *    You will need 130K of free memory on the server
               computer.
          *    You will need either a null modem cable or a bi-
               directional parallel cable (a Laplink type).
          *    The computers need to have a free serial port on each
               computer or a free parallel port on each computer. 
               You will use the cable to connect the two computers.
          
          Check the above list to make sure both computers will
          meet the requirements.
          
          
          
          PREPARING THE CLIENT FOR INTERLINK
          
          On the client computer, change to the C:\DOS directory by
          typing at the C prompt:
          
                                cd \dos <ENTER>
          
          Do a directory to make sure that INTERLINK is on the
          client computer.
          
                                dir inter*.* <ENTER>
          
          In order to use the INTERLINK program, you will need to
          modify the CONFIG.SYS file on the client computer. To be
          safe, you should make a backup of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and
          CONFIG.SYS files on the client computer and have a boot
          diskette. The boot diskette can provide a way to boot the
          computer should you find your machine will not start up
          on the C drive.  
          
          *    Make a boot diskette. Place a blank diskette in drive
               A and issue:
          
                                format a:/s <ENTER>
                  
               This can be used to start the computer in an
               emergency. To use it, start the computer with this
               diskette in your A drive.
          
          *    Use another diskette and copy the AUTOEXEC.BAT and
               CONFIG.SYS files to it. Here is how: Place a blank
               formatted diskette in drive A and type:
          
                                copy c:\autoexec.bat a: <ENTER>
                                copy c:\config.sys a: <ENTER>
          
          The INTERLINK program (INTERLINK.EXE) should be located
          in the C:\DOS directory. Use the DOS EDIT program to
          change the client computer's CONFIG.SYS file.  Before you
          modify a CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT file, always have a
          boot diskette (for safety), and save copies of the
          CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files on a diskette. These
          can be used in an emergency.
          
          Next, you need to add a line to the client computer's
          CONFIG.SYS file like:
          
          device=c:\dos\interlnk.exe /drives:5
          
          To figure out the number for the /drives switch, you need
          to add up the number of drives on the server computer.
          The default for the /drives switch is 3. So, if the
          server does not have over 3 drives, then you do not even
          have to specify a drive number. Then the device line
          would look like so:
          
          device=c:\dos\interlink.exe
          
          The drives on the server will be reassigned new drive
          letters. Suppose you had two drives on the client
          computer and six drives on the server computer. Then the
          /drives switch should be set at 6. In that case you could
          add a line to the client computer's CONFIG.SYS file like:
          
          device=c:\dos\interlnk.exe /drives:6
          
          Let's use an example that calls for 6 drives on the
          "server." Suppose you issued the command:
          
                                edit c:\config.sys <ENTER>
          
          And you observed that the client computer's CONFIG.SYS
          file looked like:
          
          DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
          DOS=HIGH,UMB
          DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
          DEVICEHIGH=C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.SYS
          FILES=30
          BUFFERS=20
          STACKS=9,256
          NUMLOCK=OFF
          
          To add the INTERLINK device line, you may insert it near
          the other device line. The modified CONFIG.SYS file would
          look like:
          
          DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
          DOS=HIGH,UMB
          DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
          DEVICE=C:\DOS\INTERLNK.EXE /DRIVES:6
          DEVICEHIGH=C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.SYS
          FILES=30
          BUFFERS=20
          STACKS=9,256
          NUMLOCK=OFF


          If you are using EDIT and you have the CONFIG.SYS file
          the way you want it, you can save the changes like so:
          
                                <ALT>
                                f
                                s
          
          Then restart the computer so the changes in the
          CONFIG.SYS file will take effect. 
          
          
          TIPS
          
          Another option is to use a Query command in the
          CONFIG.SYS file like:
          
          DEVICE?=C:\DOS\INTERLNK.EXE /DRIVES:6
          
          Note the question mark after DEVICE. This results in the
          computer prompting you each time you re-start the
          computer, giving you the option to select INTERLINK. The
          prompt will look like so:
          
          DEVICE=C:\DOS\INTERLNK.EXE /DRIVES:6 [Y/N]?
          
          Then answer Y to load INTERLINK or N to not load it.
          
          If you want to load the DEVICE line into high memory (and
          the client computer has this capability), you will save
          about 9K of RAM. To accomplish this, you insert the line
          using a DEVICEHIGH statement like this:
          
          DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\INTERLNK.EXE /DRIVES:6


          PREPARING THE SERVER COMPUTER
          
          If the computer that you plan to use as the server has
          DOS 6 or later, you will not have to do anything special
          to prepare it for use with INTERLINK. In such a case all
          you do is, at the C prompt type:
          
                                intersvr <ENTER>
          
          This assumes that the file INTERSVR.EXE is in the C:\DOS
          directory of the server computer and that the C:\DOS
          directory is in the PATH. (With DOS 6.0 and later, this
          is the way DOS installs itself.) 
          
          If you are using a computer with an earlier DOS, you can
          copy the INTERSVR.EXE file to a floppy disk, then copy it
          to a directory that is in the PATH of the server
          computer. The C:\DOS directory would be a good choice to
          copy the file to, as this directory should be in the
          computer's PATH. To see what directories are in the
          computer's PATH, at the C prompt type:
          
                                path <ENTER>
          
          You can also copy the INTERSVR files to another computer
          using the cable:
          
                 1.  Connect the two computers with the cable you
                     plan to use for INTERLINK. This can be either
                     a null modem cable or a bi-directional
                     parallel cable (Laplink cable).
          
                 2.  On the computer that does not have INTERSVR,
                     change to the directory where you want to copy
                     the files. A good choice would be the C:\DOS
                     directory.
          
                 3.  If you are using the serial ports and not
                     COM1, you may have to disable the SHARE
                     command in the AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS
                     file. You do this with the DOS EDIT program
                     using a REM statement.
          
                 4.  At the DOS prompt on the computer where you
                     have INTERLINK files, type:
          
                            intersvr /rcopy <ENTER>
          
                 5.  Then just follow the prompts to copy the
                     INTERSVR files onto the other computer. They
                     will be copied to the current directory on the
                     other computer.
          
          
          USING INTERLINK
          
          Once you have prepared the client and server computers,
          you are ready to test INTERLINK. With the cable installed
          and connecting both computers, do the following:
          
                 1.  On the server computer, at the DOS prompt
                     type:
          
                            intersvr <ENTER>
          
                 2.  Restart the client computer. INTERLINK will
                     run on start up as the DEVICE line is executed
                     on startup.
          
                 3.  On the client computer change to the drive of your
                     choice, making one of the redirected drives the
                     active one.
          
          With everything working properly, INTERLINK will detect
          the cable connection, and you will be presented with a
          screen of information on the server computer. This screen
          will show which drives are assigned different drive
          letters. To get familiar with the different drives, you
          can change to various drives and issue DIR commands for
          your confirmation. You can then use standard DOS commands
          or a "shell" program to copy files from one machine to
          another. 
          
          
          BREAKING THE INTERLINK CONNECTION
          
          To break the connection between the two computers, use
          the server computer and press:
          
                                <ALT> <F4> 
          
          INTERLINK is very easy to use once you have it installed.
          The next time you use it, you can just connect the cable
          and type the INTERSVR command on the server computer. 
          
          
          TIP
          
          For more INTERLINK options and information, at the DOS
          prompt type:
          
                                help interlnk <ENTER>

          ========================================================
