Getting you started with an Internet connection:

Once you install iClose-Up, your computer is both an iClose-Up Client (the side making the connection) and an iClose-Up Server (the side receiving the connection). A connection between an iClose-Up Client and Server on the Internet is the same as a modem to modem connection.

If the iClose-Up Client or Server has a direct (constant) or dial-up ISP connection to the Internet you have full iClose-Up functionality. If either the Client or Server is behind a Proxy Server, a Router or an Internet Connection Sharing computer then you will have to configure iClose-Up accordingly, see Proxy Servers, Routers or Internet Connection Sharing in the online help.

ISPs (Internet Service Providers):

All major ISP’s support the full use of iClose-Up. The only major ISP that requires a little extra setup is America Online (AOL). If you are using America Online (AOL) see America Online.

Your ISP’s dialer, or iClose-Up’s dialer ?

Your ISP most likely provided you with a Setup or Install program to create a Phone Book entry to get you on the Internet. This Phone Book entry of course has a phone number, as well as your user name and password. After running the Setup program you can then usually either use your ISP’s dialer or Microsoft’s Dial-Up Networking dialer to dial your new Phone Book entry. Some ISP’s go to great lengths to make you use their dialers to connect to the Internet. They encrypt your username or password to try and keep you from using other dialers such as Microsoft’s Dial-Up Networking dialer. If you can use Microsoft’s Dial-Up Networking dialer then you can use iClose-Up’s dialer. Your Phone Book entry from the ISP’s Setup program will automatically appear in the iClose-Up dialer. You should try and use the iClose-Up dialer as described below because it offers several benefits over other dialers.

Three differences between your ISP’s dialer, and iClose-Up’s dialer

If you determine that you must use your ISP’s dialer instead of the iClose-Up dialer, there are 3 differences you should be aware of. First, when you dial the Internet with the iClose-Up dialer if your modem gets disconnected (from line noise or your ISP dropping your connection) iClose-Up will automatically connect back onto the Internet. This is very important if you want to set up your iClose-Up as a Server, to run at night when no one is around to manually reconnect to the Internet. Second, connecting to another iClose-Up computer (Server) is a two step procedure using the ISP’s dialer, rather then a one step procedure with iClose-Up. You would use your ISP’s dialer to connect to the Internet then you would use the iClose-Up’s List to connect to an iClose-Up Server. Third, when you connect to the Internet through your ISP’s dialer it can take up to five minutes to be registered with the Close-Up Internet Name Server. This means iClose-Up Clients on the Internet will not see you immediately unless you register by hand.

Three ways to connect to the Internet

There are three ways to connect to the Internet, depending on your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and the type of service you have:

1) You have a constant connection, you are already on the Internet. (Examples: xDSL Cable Modem, ISDN router or T1 type connection). Go to Internet, iClose-Up Constant Connection.

2) You will use the iClose-Up’s dialer to connect to the Internet.

If you have already been connecting to the Internet using Microsoft’s Dial-Up Networking dialer or your ISP’s dialer, then you already have a phone book entry in the iClose-Up List, and you can try to use the iClose-Up dialer. Go to Internet, iClose-Up dialer.

3) You will use your ISP’s dialer, the one provided to you by your ISP.

You should only use your ISP’s dialer if you have tried iClose-Up’s dialer and it did not work. Go to Internet, ISP’s dialer.