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Network Working Group
Request for Comments: 1463
FYI: 19
E. Hoffman
Merit Network, Inc.
L. Jackson
NASA
May 1993

FYI on Introducing the Internet--

A Short Bibliography of Introductory Internetworking Readings

for the Network Novice

Status of this Memo

This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does not specify an Internet standard. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Abstract

This bibliography offers a short list of recent information resources that will help the network novice become familiar with the Internet, including its associated networks, resources, protocols, and history. This FYI RFC includes references to free sources of information available on-line as well as traditional publications. A short section at the end includes information for accessing the on-line files. This FYI is intentionally brief so it can be easily used as a handout by user services personnel.

Acknowledgments

This document is based upon the work of the User Documents Working Group in the User Services Area of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

Bibliography of Introductory Readings

The following list includes a number of sources for learning about the Internet. If you have more questions about the Internet, the best source of information is your network service provider. For those interested in finding out about getting Internet connectivity, the books listed will help you locate a network service provider.

  • Items with an asterisk are available at no charge on-line on the Internet--see the final section for information on how to obtain these.

1a. Introductory Papers

  • Kehoe, Brendan P. (1992) "Zen and the Art of the Internet: A Beginner's Guide to the Internet," (first edition) 95 p.
  • Krol, E. and E. Hoffman. (1993) "What is the Internet?" 11 p. (FYI 20, RFC 1462).
  • Malkin, G. and A. Marine. (1992) "FYI on Questions and Answers: Answers to Commonly Asked 'New Internet User' Questions," 32 p. (FYI 4, RFC 1325).
  • LaQuey, Tracy with Jeanne C. Ryer. (1992) "The.Internet. Companion," 30 p. (on-line chapters from book published by Addison-Wesley)

1b. Introductory Books: Basic User Guides

Kehoe, Brendan P. (1993) Zen and the Art of the Internet: A Beginner's Guide, (second edition) 112 p. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. 

      Krol, Ed. (1992) The Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog,
      400 p. O'Reilly & Assoc., Inc. Sebastopol, CA.

LaQuey, Tracy with Jeanne C. Ryer. (1992) The Internet Companion: A Beginner's Guide to Global Networking, 208 p. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA.

1c. Introductory Books: Connection Starters

      SRI International. (1992) Internet: Getting Started, 318 p. SRI
      International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Rm. EJ291, Menlo Park,
      CA 94025.

2. Internet services and resources

    * Martin, J. (1993) "There's Gold in them thar Networks! or Searching
    
      for Treasure in all the Wrong Places," 39 p. (RFC 1402/FYI 10).
    
    * Merit Network, Inc. (1992) "Cruise of the Internet," Merit Network
      Inc., Ann Arbor, MI. (Disk based tutorial available for Macintosh
      or Windows).

Metz, Ray (1992) Directory of Directories on the Internet, 175 p. Meckler, Westport, CT.

  • NSF Network Service Center. (nd) "Internet Resource Guide," NSF Network Service Center, Cambridge, MA.

3. Internet networks

      Frey, Donnalyn and Rick Adams. (1991) !%@:: A Directory of
      Electronic Mail Addressing and Networks, (second edition) 436 p.
      O'Reilly & Assoc. Inc. Sebastopol, CA.

LaQuey, Tracy L. (1990) User's Directory of Computer Networks, 653 p. Digital Press, Bedford, MA.

Quarterman, John S. (1990) The Matrix: Computer Networks and Conferencing Systems Worldwide, 746 p. Digital Press, Bedford, MA.

4. Introducing the Internet Protocols

      Comer, Douglas E. (1991) Internetworking With TCP/IP: Volume I,
      Principles, Protocols, and Architecture, (second edition). 547 p.
      Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
    
    * Hedrick, Charles L. (1987) "Introduction to the Internet
      Protocols," 34 p. Rutgers University Computer Science Facilities
      Group, Piscataway, NJ.
    
      Lynch, Daniel C. & Marshall T. Rose (eds). (1993) The Internet
      System Handbook, 822 p. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA.

6. Further Reading

    * Bowers, K. L. et al. (1990) "FYI on Where to Start: A Bibliography
      of Internetworking Information," 42 p. (RFC 1175/FYI 3).
    
    * Malkin, G. & T. LaQuey Parker. (1993) "Internet Users' Glossary,"
      53 p. (RFC 1392/FYI 18).

Getting Articles On-Line

All the documents marked with an asterisk (*) in this bibliography are available on-line at no charge if you have access to the Internet. To find out more about accessing documents in introducing.the.internet, send electronic mail to: nis-info@nic.merit.edu, with the text: send access.guide. 

   If you know how to use Anonymous FTP, you can get the Access Guide
   from one of several sites, including nic.merit.edu, nic.mr.net,
   ftp.nisc.sri.com, or ftp.hawaii.edu. Check the directory
   introducing.the.internet for the file titled access.guide. The Access

Guide includes information about obtaining documents through dial-up service using a modem for those who do not have direct Internet access.

In addition to the listed publications, many network providers publish excellent user guides and newsletters which cover Internet topics. Contact your Internet network service provider for more information. A longer bibliography with more comprehensive references and abstracts, FYI 3, RFC 1175 is listed above for those who may need more detailed materials.

Security Considerations

Security issues are not discussed in this memo.

Authors' Addresses

Ellen S. Hoffman
Merit Network, Inc.
2901 Hubbard, Pod G
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 

   Phone: (313) 936-3000
   E-mail: ellen@merit.edu

Lenore Jackson
NASA Ames Research Center
m/s 233-8 T-1191
Moffett Field, CA 94035 

   Phone: (415) 604-0455
   E-mail: jackson@nsipo.arc.nasa.gov