Connect to your MLS via the Internet

Quick Contents

Introduction

You can use PC Access to connect to your MLS using your Internet connection when:

• You have PC Access version 4.10, 4.20, or 4.30.
• You have a Dial-up Networking connection or a direct connection to the Internet. (If you can browse to sites on the World Wide Web and send Internet e-mail then you have a working connection to the Internet.)
• Your MLS is accessible via the Internet.
• Your MLS provided you with an IP address.

Connect to your MLS via the Internet

1. From the PC Access Main Menu, click Setup Menu | Advanced | MLS Setup.
2. In the MLS Setup window, select the TCP-Telnet option in the Connection dialog box.
3. Click the TCP/IP tab. In the Host Name or IP Address field, enter the IP address of your MLS system.
   • Note: Contact your MLS to obtain the Host Name or IP Address and the Telnet TCP Port to your MLS system. Your Host Name or IP Address is not mfm.com or support.mfm.com. You must obtain the Host Name or IP Address from your MLS. The Host Name or IP Address you use to access your MLS system is unique to your MLS system. If you need information about what an MLS is, or what a Host Name or IP Address is, see the links in this section: Related Information.
4. Click OK to close the MLS Setup window.
5. From the Advanced Setup Menu window, click Internet.
6. From the Internet Setup window click on one of the following radio buttons:
   • Use LAN to Access the Internet: if you use a cable modem, DSL line or other high-speed Internet connection to access the Internet, select this radio button.
   • Use Dial-up Networking to Access the Internet: if use a modem and phone line to access the Internet, select this radio button.
     • Note: if you use an Online Service like AOL, CompuServe, or MSN, select the Use LAN to Access the Internet radio button.
7. Click OK to close the Internet Setup window.
8. Click Close to close the Advanced Setup Menu.
9. Click Call MLS to connect to your MLS via the Internet.

If you have trouble connecting to your MLS via the Internet, see: Checking Your Internet Connection with PING.

Checking Your Internet Connection with PING

• Note: PING may not show "Reply from ..." results if the your hosting provider blocks this command. The "Reply from ..." results indicate that the IP address or host name is valid and probably accessible via the Internet. If PING shows "Request timed out", one of two things are possible. Either the IP address or host name is invalid; or the hosting provider is blocking the PING command. Contact your local MLS office to verify that the IP address or host name is valid and that it is not experiencing any technical difficulties.

1. Click Start | Programs | MS-DOS Prompt.
2. In the MS-DOS Prompt window, type PING followed by the numerical IP address or hostname of your MLS. This example shows a numerical IP address:

        PING 216.54.206.13
        

3. Your MLS should respond with reply messages and statistics, such as:

        Pinging rigel.mfm.com [216.54.206.13] with 32 bytes of data:
   
        Reply from 216.54.206.13: bytes=32 time=36ms TTL=252
        Reply from 216.54.206.13: bytes=32 time=28ms TTL=252
        Reply from 216.54.206.13: bytes=32 time=27ms TTL=252
        Reply from 216.54.206.13: bytes=32 time=28ms TTL=252
   
        Ping statistics for 216.54.206.13:
            Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
        Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
            Minimum = 27ms, Maximum =  36ms, Average =  29ms
        

4. If PING reports errors or lost packets, contact your ISP (Internet Services Provider) for assistance.
   • Note: if PING indicates lost packets, this may cause problems connecting, accessing, and using your MLS system via the Internet. Contact your Internet Server Provider (ISP) for assistance in solving the lost packet issue. The "lost packets" results should show 0%.

Related Information

• What's an MLS?
• How to Determine your PC Access Version and Build Number
• MLS Setup Menu (General Tab)
• Connection Method Radio Button Group
• MLS Setup Menu (TCP/IP Tab)
• MLS Setup: Host Name or IP Address
• MLS Setup: Telnet TCP Port
• Check your Internet connection with PING
• What is an Online Service?
• ISP (Internet Services Provider)

Last modification date: Thursday, February 6, 2003 11:48:27