Network Working Group
Request for Comments: 1290
FYI: 10
J. Martin
Ohio State University
December 1991

There's Gold in them thar Networks!

or

Searching for Treasure in all the Wrong Places

Status of this Memo

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

Abstract

This document was presented at the 1991 ACM SIGUCCS User Services Conference. It appears here in its updated form.

There is a wealth of information on the network. In fact, so much information, that you could spend your entire life browsing. This paper will present some of the "gold nuggets" of information and file repositories on the network that could be of use to end users.

The ultimate goal is to make the route to these sources of information invisible to the user. At present, this is not easy to do. I will explain some of the techniques that can be used to make these nuggets easier to pick up so that we can all be richer.

Table of Contents

   1.0  Introduction................................................   2
   2.0  Lists and Indexes of Network Resources/Bibliographies/
        Information Available over the Network......................   2
   3.0  Libraries Available over the Network........................   6
   4.0  Anonymous FTP Sites.........................................   7
   5.0  Network Information Centers - NICs..........................   8
   6.0  Network Statistics..........................................  10
   7.0  Campus Wide Information Systems - CWIS......................  11
   8.0  Internet Bulleting Board System/Interactive
        Databases/Freenet...........................................  19
   9.0  WHOIS - E-mail white pages..................................  22
   10.0 Books.......................................................  23
   11.0 Free Periodicals/Tabloids/Magazines.........................  23
   12.0 Glossary....................................................  25
   Security Considerations..........................................  26
   Author's Address.................................................  27

1.0 Introduction

This paper is a list of the essential things, in my view, that a person who is responsible for providing network information should have in their hands as reference material. One of the basic problems of information is making it easily available to those who have need of the data. Libraries have been performing a cataloging function for many centuries. Information flow is now being provided at such a fast rate that it is difficult to keep up with it, even partially. Computer networks have only added to the problem by opening up even more information.

Attempting to make this wealth of information available to those who would find it useful poses some problems.

First, we need to know of its existence. To that end, this paper provides an index into the vast realm of network information. Most of the documents listed here are POINTERS to the final information.

Second, even if you know of a document's existence, you may not know if it is important or relevant. Few of us are knowledgeable in more than a limited area. We need to rely on others to make us aware of the importance of databases in a specific discipline. The librarians can be of great assistance here. They are familiar with the research databases that individuals search in Law, Mathematics, and many others.

Finally, once the existence and importance are known, the information needs to be indexed so that researchers can find it. This is the most difficult task to accomplish. Information available on the network is hardly ever static. It is always moving, growing, changing, and dying. Computers should be able to assist us in managing this ever-changing environment. Right now, we have to catalog the information as it passes through the network. In my case, I generally save it in a file somewhere, spending far too much time trying to retrieve it again when needed.

2.0 Lists and Indexes of Network Resources/Bibliographies/

Information Available over the Network

   2.01  Internet Resource Guide (Document)

An excellent guide to major resources available on the network. The Table of Contents includes chapters on Computational Resources, Library Catalogs, Archives, White Pages, Networks, Network Information Centers, and Miscellaneous

      Source:
      Anonymous FTP to NNSC.NSF.NET
      cd resource-guide
      get resource-guide.ps.tar.Z (Postscript) or
      get resource-guide.txt.tar.Z (ASCII Text)

Search:
Telnet to pac.carl.org
(Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries)
Select terminal type
Choose Item 3 (Information Databases)
Choose Item 65 Internet Resource Guide
You can then browse or do a keyword search
To quit type //EXIT

   2.02  Anonymous FTP Sites (Document)

A list of all the sites on the Internet that support anonymous FTP.

      Source:
      Anonymous FTP to pilot.njin.net
      cd pub/ftp-list
      get ftp.list

Search:
Telnet to quiche.cs.mcgill.ca
login as user archie
type help to get a list of commands
type prog topic - where topic is the keyword for the search of

a program or topic

   2.03  INDEX - Index of all RFC's - (Document)
   
      RFC-1118 - The Hitchhikers Guide to the Internet
      RFC-1175 - A Bibliography of Internetworking Information
      RFC-1173 - Responsibilities of Host and Network Managers
      RFC-1206 - Answers to Commonly asked "New Internet User"
                 Questions
      RFC-1207 - Answers to Commonly asked "Experienced Internet User"
                 Questions
      RFC-1208 - Networking Glossary of Terms
   
      Source:
      Anonymous FTP to nis.nsf.net
      cd rfc
      get $index.rfc
      get RFC1118.TXT-1
      get RFC1175.TXT-1
      get RFC1173.TXT-1
      get RFC1206.TXT-1
      get RFC1207.TXT-1
      get RFC1208.TXT-1
   
   2.04  Interest Groups  List-of-Lists (Document)

This is a document that list the mailing lists or groups that exist. To get on the list to receive updates, send e-mail to Interest-groups-request@nisc.sri.com.

      Source:
      Anonymous FTP to ftp.nisc.sri.com
      cd netinfo
      get interest-groups
   
   2.05  Regional Network Policies (Documents)

Many regional networks have developed policies on responsible use of their network. You can retrieve copies of these policies on line by anonymous FTP.

      Source:
      Anonymous FTP to ftp.nsic.sri.com
      cd netinfo
      dir
      get ???.policy

where ??? is the name of the regional network. The dir command will give you a directory of the filenames.

   2.06  Campus ethics/policy statements (Documents)

Many universities have developed more complete policies based on the regional network policies. If you wish to look at some to use as guidelines for your own campus, you can get them through anonymous FTP.

Source:
Anonymous FTP to ariel.unm.edu
cd ethics
dir
get ???.policy

where ??? is the name of the university or college. The dir command will give you a directory of the filenames.

   2.07  VAX book (Document)

Joe St Sauver of the University of Oregon has developed a very complete guide of information on the network available via anonymous FTP. The following is a quote from the README file: "While it is tailored to the University of Oregon's VAX8000 system, the skills it illustrates are general enough to be of interest to users at most other VAX sites, and even users at many non-VAX sites connected to the national networks." There is a major section on Network Topics that is excellent. It is a large document, over 300 pages.

      Source:
      Anonymous FTP to decoy.uoregon.edu
      cd pub/vaxbook
      get vms.ps  (for postscript format)
      get vms.mem (lineprinter format)
   
   2.08  Network Tidbits  COMPUNET BIBLIO (Document)

This is a "Network Bibliography" by Elliott Parker from the Journalism Dept. of Central Michigan University. It contains a bibliography of network related documents that he finds helpful.

Source:
Listserv

Send e-mail to comserve@rpiecs (BITNET)
the message should contain the following one line request

      SEND COMPUNET BIBLIO
      
      You will receive the file "COMPUNET BIBLIO" via return mail as
      well as a "Welcome to Comserve" message and a "Getting started
      with Comserve message."  If you are unfamiliar with how the
      program listserv works on BITNET, these documents are a good
      start.
   
   2.09  Internet Tour Macintosh Hypercard 2.0 Stack (Program)

This is a Macintosh hypercard 2.0 stack that does a nice job of describing some of the functions of the Internet. It has a section that you can modify for your own institutions needs.

      Source:
      Anonymous FTP to nnsc.nsf.net
      cd internet-tour
      get Internet-Tour-README
      get Internet-Tour.sit.hqx

Note this is a stuffed and binhexed file. So you must have the program Stuffit to convert it to an executable file on the Macintosh.

   2.10  A Survey of Educational Computer Networks (Document)

This is a document that list the mailing lists or groups that exist. To get on the list to receive updates, send e-mail to Interest-groups-request@nisc.sri.com.

Source:
Anonymous FTP to ariel.unm.edu
cd library
get networks survey

   2.11  Network Managers's Reading List (Document)

This is a document is an annotated list of books and other resources of use to network managers who are using TCP/IP, UNIC, and Ethernet technologies.

      Source:
      Anonymous FTP to ftp.utexas.edu
      cd pub/netinfo/docs
      get net-read.txt

3.0 Libraries Available over the Network

There are hundreds of libraries available over the network, far too many to list here. There are several documents available that list Internet accessible Libraries. There are two major documents that list many libraries. One is Internet-Accessible Library Catalogs and Databases, coauthored by Dr. Art St. George of the University of New Mexico (stgeorge@bootes.unm.edu [Internet] or stgeorge@unmb [BITNET]) and Dr. Ron Larsen of the University of Maryland. The other is UNT's Accessing On-Line Bibliographic Databases by Billy Barron, (billy@vaxb.acs.unt.edu [Internet]).

   3.1  UNT's Accessing On-Line bibliographic Databases (Document)
   
      Source:
      Anonymous FTP to vaxb.acs.unt.edu
      cd library
      get libraries.ps (postscript format)
      get libraries.txt (ASCII text version)
      get libraries.wp5 (Wordperfect 5.1 source)
   
   3.2  Internet-Accessible Library Catalogs & Databases (Docment)

Source:
Anonymous FTP to ariel.unm.edu
cd library
get library.ps (postscript format)
get internet.library (ASCII text version)

4.0 The Mother Lode of Anonymous FTP Sites

Throughout this document, there are listed sites for specific documents. Most of the documents listed in this paper are only indexes to more information. A big problem is searching through all of this information to find what you want. Listed below are some of the major sites for specific programs.

You can also use Archie for searching for specific programs. (See Search: category under Anonymous FTP sites above.)

   4.1  Washington University (Anonymous FTP)

Washington University represents perhaps one of the most popular sites for software on the network. The mirrors directory is where a copy of all of the wsmr-simtel20.army.mil files are kept. Wsmr-simtel20-army.mil is the originator and keeper of major amounts of public domain software. Their site, however, is often overloaded with connections and difficult to make connection to.

You will find enough software here to keep you busy for the rest of your life. The mirrors directory MSDOS and Macintosh directories contain files for those specific machines.

Anonymous FTP to wuarchive.wustl.edu
cd mirrors

      cd msdos

for Income tax time cd taxes
for unzipping files cd zip, type binary, and get pkz110eu.exe for education software cd education
for graphics files cd giff, tiff or graphics

      cd macintosh

for the macintosh there are directories for applications, inits, sounds, reviews and many more.

   4.2  KERMIT (Anonymous FTP)

Kermit is a public domain file transfer protocol that is available for just about all microcomputers, minicomputers, and mainframes. It is very popular and has been has been utilized by many computer facilities everywhere.

Anonymous FTP to watsun.cc.columbia.edu

cd kermit
get read.me

For executable versions of kermit

      cd bin

get READ.ME file and read for specifics of what file to get

For the IBM PC I get msvibm.exe after typing binary to activate the binary transfer mode.

   4.3  NCSA Software for Network Access from PC's
       (Anonymous FTP)
   
      Source:
      Anonymous FTP to ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu
      cd NCSA_Telnet
      cd PC/Telnet  (for IBM PC Software)
      get telxxbin.zip
      where xx is the current version number
      (in binary format, I also suggest getting readme files)
   
      cd Mac/Telnet
      get telnet.x.sithqx  or
      where x is the current version number
      (in binary format, I also suggest getting readme files)

5.0 Network Information Centers - NICs

These are the individuals to contact if you want information on what networking is all about, and how you can connect. They can put you in contact with the individuals in your area that can assist you in obtaining a network connection.

They can also provide assistance if you don't know who else to ask about network topics.

   5.1  Defense Data Network (DDN)
   
      Goverment Systems, Inc. (GSI)
      Attn: Network Information Center
      14200 Park Medow Drive
      Suite 200
      Chantilly, VA 22021
      (800) 365-3642 or (703) 802-4535   FAX (703)-802-8373
   
      NIC@NIC.DDN.MIL

The main NIC on the Internet. The source for network numbers, domain names, and much more.

   5.2  NSF Network Service Center (NNSC)

NSF Network Service Center
Bolt Baranek and Newman Inc.
10 Moulton St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 873-3400

      NNSC@NNSC.NSF.NET

Corinne Carroll
NNSC Staff

Publishes Newsletter called NSF Network News; to subscribe, contact them at address above.

   5.3  NSFNET Information Services (NIS)

NSFNET Information Services
Merit Network, Inc.
ITI Building
2901 Hubbard, Pod G
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2016
(313) 936-3000 or 1-800-66MERIT

      NSFNET-INFO@MERIT.EDU
      
      Publishes Newsletter called Linkletter, to subscribe send e-mail
      to NSFNET-linkletter-Request@merit.edu.
   
   5.4  SRI International Network Information Systems Center (NISC)

SRI International
Network Information Systems Center
333 Ravenswood Avenue, Room EJ291
Menlo Park, CA 94015
(415) 859-6387 or (415) 859-3695
Fax: (415) 859-6028

      NISC@NISC.SRI.COM
   
   5.5  BITNET (NIC)

BITNET Network Information Center
Corporation for Research and Educational Networking (CREN) 1112 16th Street, N.W.
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 872-4200

      INFO@BITNIC

Lisa Covi, BITNET Support

6.0 Network Statistics

If you would like to publish statistics in your newsletter about your institutions network traffic into and out of the NSFNET backbone, you can obtain information on either the packets or bytes sent. I prefer the bytes since that can be translated into some sort of understandable figure.

   6.1  Files containing monthly information on NSF Internet
        backbone traffic by packets or bytes (Document)
   
      Source:
      Anonymous FTP to nis.nsf.net
      cd stats
      get nsfyy-mm.ptraffic  where yy is year, 91 and mm is month, 06
      get nsf91-06.ptraffic  ptraffic is the packet traffic
   
      get nsfyy-mm.btraffic  where yy is year, 91 and mm is month, 06
      get nsf91-06.btraffic  btraffic is the byte traffic

7.0 Campus Wide Information Systems - CWIS

The information provided in this paper is primarily intended for the individuals who will use this information to then provide methods for access from their own computing environment. Although standards have been proposed, there are no "packages" that give you access to all of the information presented here. What we at Ohio State University have done, as have several other universities, is to provide a menu to the user that accesses these services and databases behind the scenes. In fact, Ur had to go into the shell scripts to look up the network addresses of these machines, because I rely on the menu for access as well.

As the name "Information Systems" implies, the user wants access to the information without having to know exactly how to get to it. In this way, the network is invisible to the end user. All they need to know is what they want, not the command structure needed to actually get the information.

At the present, the menu system seems to be the easiest way in which to lead the end user to the information. A term "knowbot" has been used to describe the ability to indicate what information you wish in free form, and have a "knowbot" which knows what is available, go out and retrieve it.

The following are some of the places you can connect to for a demonstration of their capabilities.

   7.1  Appalachian State University
   
      conrad.appstate.edu (152.10.1.1)
      Login as info.
      Emulate a VT100.
   
      Hardware/software:  DEC/VTX
      Contact:  Ernest Jones (jonesel@appstate.bitnet)
   
   7.2  Arizona State University PEGASUS and ASEDD
   
      asuvm.inre.asu.edu
      Login as helloasu.
      Use tn3270.
   
      Hardware/software:  Running PNN News Network Software under
      VM/CMS
      (with Profs and FOCUS).
      Contact:  Joy Kramer (iejxk@asuvm.inre.asu.edu)
      Contains two databases:  PErsonal Guide to ASU Stuff (PEGASUS)
      and Arizona State Economic Development Database (ASEDD).
   
   7.3  Clemson University

eureka.clemson.edu
Login as public.
Emulate a VT100.

      Hardware/software:  DEC/VTX
      Contact:  Amy Slankard (amy@clust1.clemson.edu)
      
      System contains information on: Weather for SC, NC, and GA;
      economics; plants; animals; engineering; food; home, health,
      family and youth.
   
   7.4  Columbia University

cal.cc.columbia.edu
Login as calendar.

      Contact:  David Millman (dsm@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu)
   
   7.5  Cornell CUINFO

cuinfo.cornell.edu
Connect to port 300.
Use telnet or tn3270. Different versions of telnet or tn3270 have different syntax for defining the port. The following are the most common:

      TELNET cuinfo.cornell.edu 300
      TELNET cuinfo.cornell.edu::300
      or TELNET cuinfo.cornell.edu..300
      
      Hardware/software:  VM/CMS; IBM S/370 assembler; locally written
      Contact:  Steve Worona (slw@cornella.bitnet)

CUINFO of interest to non-Cornell community members:

      Uncle Ezra     The Electronic Counselor - first program of its
                     kind; a must see
      
      Directories    Student and Staff directories includes staff
                     electronic addresses
      Ski Reports    Up to the minute Upstate New York Ski Reports
                     (Seasonal)
      Jobs Listings and Descriptions of jobs at Cornell
      Computing Extensive on-line information regarding computing at
                     Cornell
      Patents   Descriptions of current patents held by Cornell
      Various Newsletters Newsletters from numerous campus groups
      Weather   Up to the minute local weather forecast
   
   7.6  Lafayette Integrated, Networked Campus - LINC

lafibm.lafayette.edu (139.147.8.4)
Use telnet or tn3270. When you see the LINC logo, ignore the ALT-L advice and clear the logo by pressing Enter. On next screen, instead of logging on, type DIAL MUSIC (case does not matter). On login screen that appears, use GUEST as ID, and GUEST as password.

      Hardware/software:  IBM 9375 running MUSIC/SP
      Contact:  Patrick Ciriello  (ciri@lafayacs.bitnet)
   
   7.7  Lehigh

ibm1.cc.lehigh.edu
Use tn3270.
At the VM prompt, type DIAL MUSIC, and at the /ID prompt, type LUNA.

      Hardware/software:  IBM 4381 running MUSIC.
      Planning to move to AIX on RS/6000s.
      Contact:  Timothy J. Foley (tjf0@ns.cc.lehigh.edu)
   
   7.8  Mississippi State University (MSUinfo)
   
      isis.msstate.edu (130.18.164.2)
      Login as msuinfo.
      Terminal type: enter yours, most supported.
   
      Hardware/software:  UNIX/TechInfo
      Contact:  Bennet George (George_Bennet@admin.msstate.edu)
   
      Contains:  announcements, campus events, community events,
      continuing education offerings, jobs, recent press releases,
      research funding opportunities, etc.
   
   7.9  MIT TechInfo

Accessible either via telnet, or via a native Macintosh application that uses the MacTCP drivers to access the TechInfo server. MacPlus with 1 Meg memory or better required, System 6.0.3 or better, and licensed MacTCP drivers.

Source code available freely to other schools looking to get started quickly - contact folks listed below.

For telnet access:

telnet techinfo.mit.edu (18.72.1.146)
No username/password is required.
Once you're in, you can use upper or lower case commands. To exit the system, use the QUIT command.

For native Macintosh access:

anonymous ftp to net-dist.mit.edu, look in the /pub/techinfo directory, fetch techinfo.hqx Binhex (public domain tool) required to decode the binary.

      Contact:  Tim McGovern (tjm@mit.edu), (617) 253-0505
      Bugs:  bug-techinfo@mit.edu
      Comments:  comment-techinfo@mit.edu
      Administration:  admin-techinfo@mit.edu
   
   7.10  New Mexico State University NMSU/INFO

info.nmsu.edu
Login as info.
Emulate a VT100.

      Hardware/software:  DEC/VTX
      Contact:   D. Brian Ormand (bormand@nmsuvm1.bitnet) or
      (bormand@nmsu.edu)
   
   7.11  North Carolina State University Happenings!
   
      ccvax1.cc.ncsu.edu (128.109.153.4)
      Login as info.
      Emulate a VT100.
   
      Hardware/software:  DEC/VTX
      Contact:  Harry Nicholos (hmn@ncsuvax.bitnet) MIT TechInfo
   
   7.12  NYU ACF INFO system

info.nyu.edu (information.nyu.edu) (128.122.138.142) Emulating a VT100 or better enables some additional suboptions.

      Contact:  Stephen Tihor (tihor@ACFcluster.nyu.edu) or
      (tihor@nyuacf.bitnet)
   7.13  Pima Community College

pimacc.pima.edu
Login as pimainfo.
Emulate a VT100.

      Hardware/software:  DEC/VTX
      Contact:  Terry Loftus (tloftus@pimacc.pima.edu) or Al Camberos
      (acamberos@pimacc.pima.edu)
   
   7.14  Princeton News Network PNN

pucc.princeton.edu
Use telnet or tn3270. When you see the VM 370 logo, clear it, and instead of logging on, enter pnn (case does not matter). Clear the information screen that appears.

      Hardware/software:  VM/CMS - locally written. A UNIX version and
      a Mac HyperCard version are up, running, and available. All
      versions (CMS, UNIX, HyperCard) are available to universities at
      no cost.
      Contact:  Rita Saltz (rita@pucc.bitnet)
      System and Development:  Howard Strauss (howard@pucc.bitnet)
   
   7.15  Rutgers University

info.rutgers.edu 98
No password required.
Can be accessed from any microcomputer or terminal.

      Hardware/software:  written in lush (a public domain program);
      runs on any SUN workstation.
      Contact:  Leny Struminger (struming@zodiac.rutgers.edu)

INFO contains university wide activities, graduate courses catalogs, Faculty/Staff phone directory, computer services, libraries online catalog, weather, news, bus schedules, etc.

   7.16  San Diego State University

wintermute.sdsu.edu
Login as sdsuinfo.
Emulate a VT100.

      Hardware/software:  pnn & nmm
      Contact:  Richard Caasi (caasi@sdsu.edu)
   7.17  University of Arkansas

uafsysb.uark.edu
Login as info.

      Hardware/software:  IBM 4381-14, VM/HPO 6.0, Cornell's CUINFO
      module
      Contact:  Susan Adkins (sa06037@uafsysb.bitnet) or
      (sa06037@uafsysb.uark.edu)

System contains information on: Calendar of events, campus e-mail directory, and hours and services.

   7.18  University of Colorado at Boulder

culine.colorado.edu 852 (128.138.129.2 852)
Login as CULINE.

      Contact:  Donna Pattee (pattee@spot.colorado.edu)
   
   7.19  University of Denver

du.edu
Login as atdu.

      Contact:  Bob Stocker (bstocker@ducair.bitnet)
   
   7.20  University of Minnesota at Duluth
   
      ub.d.umn.edu
      Login as info.
      Emulate a vt100.
   
      Contact:  Frank Simmons (fsimmons@ub.d.umn.edu)

System contains over 700 documents ranging from athletic schedules to micro-computer prices to art gallery showing schedules. All commands are displayed at the bottom of each screen and separate on-line help is available. Keyword searching is available, although at this time only words in the titles of documents are used.

   7.21  University of New Brunswick, Canada, INFO

unbmvs1.csd.unb.ca (131.202.1.2)
Login with application id INFO.
There is no password required.
INFO is a full-screen CICS application running under MVS.

tn3270 emulation.

      Contact:  Bonita Mockler (bgm@unb.ca)
      
      System contains:  University Calendar, class timetable, phone/fax
      numbers for faculty/staff/students, faculty and staff email ids,
      seminar schedules, minutes, newsletter, etc.
   
   7.22  University of New Hampshire's VideoTex
   
      unhvtx.unh.edu (132.177.128.58)
      USERNAME:  student (no password required).
      Control-z to log off.
      VT100/VT200 terminal emulation.
   
      Hardware/software:  DEC/VTX
      Contact:  Robin Tuttle (r_tuttle1@unhh.unh.edu)

System includes: phone directories, campus calendar, job listings, off-campus housing list, undergraduate catalog, class schedules, newsletters, services and programs, rights and rules of conduct, athletics and recreation information, activities and workshops.

   7.23  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill INFO
   
      info.oit.unc.edu (128.109.157.1)
      Login as info.
      Emulate a VT100.
   
      Hardware/software:  DEC/VTX
      Contact:  Judy Hallman (hallman@unc.bitnet)
   
      System contains:  Campus directory; job openings; "The Independent
      Study" catalog (courses people can take by correspondence);
      undergraduate catalog; continuing education classes; several
      campus newsletters, including "Newsbrief," the weekly campus
      computing newsletter.
   
   7.24  University of North Carolina at Greensboro MINERVA

steffi.acc.uncg.edu
Login as info or MINERVA.
Emulate a VT100.

      Hardware/software:  DEC/VTX
      Contact:  Norman Hill (hillnr@uncg.bitnet)
   7.25  University of North Carolina at Wilmington SEABOARD

vxc.uncwil.edu (128.109.221.3)
Log in as info.
Emulate a VT100.

      Hardware/software:  DEC/VTX
      Contact:  Eddy Cavenaugh (cavenaughd@uncwil.bitnet) or
      (cavenaughd@vxc.uncwil.edu)
      
      System includes:  class schedule listings, institutional
      statistics, library services, faculty & staff publications,
      current university news releases, phone directories, facilities
      schedules.
   
   7.26  University of Northern Iowa

infosys.uni.edu
Log in as public.
Prefers a vtxxx terminal, but works with unknown terminal types.

      Hardware/software:  The program uses UNIX tput clear, tput mc4,
      and tput mc5 (for printing).
      Contact:  Mike Yohe (yohe@iscsvax.uni.edu)
   
   7.27  University of Pennsylvania - PennInfo

In final testing phase; due for release at the beginning of November, 1991.

penninfo.upenn.edu
(no login id is needed).
Emulate a VT100.

      Hardware/software:  MIT's Techinfo; type HELP for directions
      Human contact:  Valerie Glauser (glauser@dccs.upenn.edu)
      Comments:  penninfo-comments@dccs.upenn.edu
      Bugs:  penninfo-bugs@dccs.upenn.edu
      Human contact:  Valerie Glauser (glauser@dccs.upenn.edu)

PennInfo can be accessed via MIT's TechInfo MAC client program as well. We've modified the MAC client slightly because we have different contact information at Penn than MIT does.

8.0 Internet Bulleting Board System/Interactive

Databases/Freenet

There are several systems you can establish a connection with, sometimes referred to as an "anonymous telnet" session, that provide a variety of services/information. In some respects they resemble Campus Wide Information Systems, in others they are more like bulletin boards or interactive databases.

A file containing the most frequently asked questions about Bulletin Board systems is available via anonymous ftp.

   Source:
   Anonymous FTP to polyslo.calpoly.edu
   cd pub
   get alt.bbs.faq

Listed below are some of these types of systems:

   8.1  Cleveland Freenet - Case Western Reserve University

Telnet to freenet-in-a.cwru.edu
Follow the menu driven instructions.

   8.2  Heartland Freenet
   
      heartland.bradley.edu (136.176.10.10)
      Login as fnguest
   
   8.3  Youngstown Freenet - Youngstown State University
   
      Telnet yfn.ysu.edu

Type visitor at userid prompt and follow menu driven instructions.

   8.4  Ocean Network Information Center

Telnet delocn.udel.edu
When the Userid: prompt appears type INFO and press Enter/Return key.

   8.5  Geographic Name Server
   
      Telnet martini.eecs.umich.edu 3000

To use just type the name of the city and state you would like information on, just like you would on the last line of a postal address. Example: Zanesville, OH

   8.6  ISAAC

ISAAC, the Information System for Advanced Academic Computing, serves as a clearinghouse for information about the use of IBM- compatible hardware and software as aids to instruction and research in higher education. Membership is free to all students, faculty, and staff at institutions of higher education.

For more information call 206-543-5604.

ISAAC requires that you register before you can access the system. To register, type register for the userid and password and fill in the information, using the TAB key to go from field to field. Once registered you will be assigned a userid and password; you must connect again, this time typing your assigned userid and password.

To access ISAAC, you need to establish a telnet connection over the network. If you do not have network access, you also can call over phone lines. Call 1-800-237-5551 in the U.S. or, within the local Seattle are or outside the United States, call 1-206-543- 3761.

      telnet isaac.engr.washington.edu  or  128.95.32.61
   
   8.7  FEDIX

FEDIX is an on-line information service that links the higher education community and the federal government to facilitate research, education, and services. The system provides accurate and timely federal agency information to colleges, universities, and other research organizations.

There are no registration fees and no access charges for using FEDIX. The only cost is for the phone call.

FEDIX provides daily information updates on:

Federal education and research programs (including descriptions, eligibility, funding, deadlines).

Scholarships, fellowships, and grants.

Available used government research equipment.

New funding for specific research and education activities from the Commerce Business Daily, Federal Register, and other sources.

Minority assistance research and education programs.

News and current events within participating agencies.

General information such as agency history, budget, organizaitonal structure, mission statement. etc.

For more information, contact the HELPLINE at 301-975-0103 Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm EST, except on federal holidays.

telnet 192.111.228.1
At the login: prompt type fedix

   8.8  STIS

Science and Technology Information System at the National Science Foundation.

Information includes: the NSF Bulletin, Guide to Programs, grants booklet - including forms, program announcements, press releases, NSF Telephone Book, reports of the National Science Board, descriptions of research projects funded by NSF - with abstracts, and analytical reports and news from the International Programs Division.

Publications may be searched by using a keyword, such as japan or volcano; using a phrase, such as exchange of scientists and soviet union; or by selecting a broad topic like biosciences.

      For more information, contact the National Science Foundation,
      Phone (202) 357-7555, FAX (202) 357-7745, TDD (202) 357-7492 or
      via E-Mail stis@nsf.gov (Internet), stis@nsf (BITNET).

telnet stis.nsf.gov
At the login: prompt type public

At the terminal type prompt type vt100nkp.

      Enter your terminal type [blank=vt100]: vt100nkp

You are then asked for a userid of up to 8 characters. If you are a new user, you will be asked to supply your name and address for record keeping. You can then search the NSF publications for information and have the information sent to your e-mail address if you wish. STIS provides a menu system. To get back to the main menu, press the esc key until you have the main menu on the screen. Press the arrow key until Exit is highlighted, and press enter to exit STIS.

   8.9  Weather
   
      Source:
      Telnet madlab.sprl.umich.edu 3000

9.0 WHOIS - E-mail white pages

WHOIS is a program available on many workstation/mini/mainframe computers that can connect to another computer. By supplying a persons name, it will respond with information it has on the person. A similar program called finger does the same type of thing, except it only supplies information on individuals with an account on that specific computer. Whois generally is operating on a database containing most of the individuals at the university, not just on the machine you connect.

The following is a list of universities that have a whois service working. It is not, by any means exhaustive, and I would be interested in knowing about others that may exist so I can add to this list.

   9.1  The Ohio State University
   
      Telnet to osu.edu or
      Use Whois command whois -h osu.edu
      Enter firstname.lastname
      Example: whois -h osu.edu jerry.smith
   
   9.2  University of Oregon
   
      Use Whois command whois -h oregon.uoregon.edu
      Enter firstname.lastname
      Example: whois -h oregon.uoregon.edu Rose.Smith
   
   9.3  University of Virginia
   
      Use Whois command whois -h whois.virginia.edu
      Enter lastname, firstname middlename
      Example: whois -h whois.virginia.edu Smith, John James
   
   9.4  University of Pennsylvania
   
      Use Whois command whois -h whois.upenn.edu
      Enter lastname, firstname
      Example: whois -h whois.upenn.edu Smith, Judy
   
   9.5  University of Wisconsin

Use Whois command whois -h wisc.edu
Enter firstname lastname
Example: whois -h wisc.edu Jane Smith

   9.6  MIT

Use Whois command whois -h mit.edu
Enter firstname_lastname
Example: whois -h mit.edu Robert_Smith

   9.7  Indiana University
   
      Use Whois command whois -h iugate.ucs.indiana.edu
      Enter firstname_lastname
      Example: whois -h iugate.ucs.indiana.edu Gerald_Smith

10.0 Books

For a more complete listing, see sections 3.08 and 3.11.

      Internetworking with TCP/IP Principles, Protocols, and
      Architecture by Douglas Comer, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-470154-2.

The Matrix, Computer Networks and Conferencing Systems Worldwide by John S. Quarterman, Digital Press, ISBN 0-13-565607-9.

      !%@:: A Directory of Electronic Mail Addressing and Networks, by
      Donnalyn Frey and Rick Adams, O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., ISBN
      0-937175-39-0.

The User's Directory of Computer Networks, Edited by Tracy L. LaQuey, Digital Press, ISBN 0-13-950262-9.

11.0 Free Periodicals/Tabloids/Magazines

Below are just a few of the periodicals qualified subscribers can receive free. I find the first four, PCWeek, MacWeek, Info World, and Network World, the ones I try to glance over routinely. Others are dedicated to specific network, LAN, or UNIX topics that are useful if you have need for that information.

      PC Week
      P.O. Box 1767
      Riverton, NJ 08077-9767
      MacWEEK
      P.O. Box 1764
      Riverton, NJ 08077-9764
      
      Info World
      P.O. Box 3013
      Northbrook, IL 60065-3013

Network World
161 Worchester Road
Framingham, Mass. 01701

      Computer System News
      Circulation Dept.
      P.O. Box 2030
      Manhasset, NY 11030-7030

Network Management
Circulation Department
Box 2417
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74101-2417

Unix Review
Circulation Department
P.O. Box 7439
San Francisco, CA 94120-7439

Communication News
2504 North Tamiami Trail
Nokomis, Fl 34275-9987

LAN Times
P.O. Box 652
Hightstown, NJ 08520

Communications Week
Circulations Dept.
P.O. Box 2070
Manhasset, NY 11030

LAN Computing
101 Witmer Road
O.O. Box 322
Horsham, PA 19044-0322

      Midrange Systems
      P.O. Box 445
      Horsham, PA 19044-0445

Unix Today!
Circulation Dept.
P.O. Box 2170
Manhasset NY 11030-4376

12.0 Glossary

I use some concepts here that may not be familiar to all. The following is a brief explanation of some of the concepts.

   12.1  BITNET:

A network of normally mini or mainframe computers. BITNET connects many universities and colleges together. It provides e-mail and file transfer capabilities. It does not have the ability to do remote login (Telnet sessions).

   12.2  Internet:

A very large network that connects just about any type of computer together. It supports e-mail, file transfer (FTP), and remote login (Telnet).

   12.3  Anonymous FTP:

The ability to transfer a file from a remote computer connected to Internet without having an account on the remote computer. The program that performs the file transfer is normal FTP. To connect to a remote computer offering anonymous FTP you can use the following commands from a computer connected to Internet:

      FTP Internet computer name
      When prompted for a userid:  type anonymous
      When prompted for a password type your e-mail address
      To get a listing of files type dir
      To change directory type cd directory name
      To get a file type get filename
      To get a binary file type binary then get filename
      To end session type quit
      
      Example:
      FTP pilot.njin.net
      Username:  anonymous
      Password:  yourname@computer.edu
      cd pub/ftp-list
      get ftp.list
      quit
   
   12.4  Telnet:

The ability to establish a connection to a remote computer connected to the Internet network. There are two types of programs that are used to do this. One, normally referred to as Telnet, normally establishes a VT100 type terminal emulation to the remote computer. The second, TN3270, establishes a full screen IBM 3270 type terminal connection.

   12.5  Listserv:

A program available on many BITNET connected computers that can act as a mail forward system and as a file repository. BITNET is another network that links many colleges and universities together. It does not normally link to military or government institutions as does the Internet. To subscribe to a listserv, you normally send mail to the machine which has the mailing list with the command to subscribe. As an example, to subscribe to a list for discussion of topics pertinent to Mechanical Engineering, you would send e-mail to listserv@utarlvml with the content of the message containing the one line command to subscribe:

      SUB MECH-1 John Doe  (Where John Doe would be your full name)

The document "Interest Groups" listed below contains the list of the majority of these lists that you can subscribe.

Disclaimer

The information provided in the previous sections has been put together from multiple sources acquired from the network. Much of it came from reading newsgroups and trying things out to see how they worked. The information is as accurate as I have been able to determine, as of December 5, 1991.

I used a DEC5500 system running Ultrix to check most of these sources. Most of the information is oriented toward Internet, since it has the ability to remote login (Telnet) and File Transfer (FTP).

Security Considerations

Security issues are not discussed in this memo.

Author's Address

Jerry Martin
Leader, Network Information Center
Ohio State Univ. ACS, 1971 Neil Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210-1210

   Phone: (614) 292-4843
   EMail: jmartin@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu