******** ************************************************** * * * * * The independent guide to BITNET * * * * * * July - August, 1989 * * * * * * Volume 4, Number 1 * ******** * * * * *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Hora coctava per protiniam teremeles * * ** * Limagiles teretant et quoque gyrirotant * * Sunt tenuiscopi macrilli; saepeque virci * * * Edomipali etiam vocibus eruditant. * * * * ****** * 'Semper fac caveas, mi fili, Taetriferocem, * * * Morsu qui laniat, unguibus et lacerat! * * * Te procul incursu volucris recipe orbiiubatae * * Devitaque itidem silvirapum frumium!' * ******** * * * * Dextra vorpalem gladium tunc vibrat et effert: * * * Hostem dirificum quaeritat ille diu -- * * * Arborem iners prope tumtumiam * * * stans tum requiescit * * * Secum paulisper res varias reputans. * ******** * * * Dumque manet, * *** * conceptaque mente subarvia fingit, * * * * Taetriferox, flammas eiciens oculis, * * * * Per silvam blaterans argutat turmidulosam, * * * * Et propius veniens burbulat assidue. * *** * * * 'Hoc cape! Et id cape!' * ****** * Sic penitus per Taetriferocem * * * Vorpalem gladium perniciens adigit! * * * Prostratum sic exanimumque deinde relinquit, * * * Et capite arrepto cursiovans revenit * **** * * * 'Tune offere necem quivisti Tetriferoci? * * * Te sine complectar, praehilaris iuvenis! * * * Tempus vero laudificum! Dic "Euge, triumphe!"' * ****** * Ingenio elatus laetitia fritulit. * * * * * * Hora coctava &c * * * ******** * * * * * * * * * * * **** ************************************************** 1 * * ****** ******* * * ***** * * ******* * * ** * * * ** ** * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ***** * * * * * * * * * * ******* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * ** * * * * * ****** * * * ***** * * * * * * * * * *********************** ******************************* Editor: Christopher Condon CONDON @ YALEVM ********************* Contents - Issue 32 ********************* ********* * *** * EDITORIAL PAGE____________________________________ * *** * * *** * Bitnotes ....................................... 1 *** *** Jim Conklin Returns ............................ 3 * *** * * *** * * *** * ********* ********* * *** * FEATURES__________________________________________ * *** * * **** * Athene: The Amateur Creative Writing Journal ... 5 * ***** * Communicating with CompuServe .................. 7 * ****** * Oasis .......................................... 9 * *** *** * Announcing NAMESERV@BRANDEIS .................. 11 * *** **** ********* ********* * * DEPARTMENTS_______________________________________ * ***** * *** * Headlines ..................................... 12 * *** * New Mailing Lists ............................. 15 * *** * Helpdesk ...................................... 20 ***** * Feedback ...................................... 23 * * NetMonth Policies ............................. 24 ********* ********************** 5087 Subscribers ************************ 1 Page 1 ********* * *** * Bitnotes * *** * * *** * by Christopher Condon *** *** * *** * Yale University * *** * * *** * CONDON@YALEVM ********* "There he goes again..." It's summer, and a particularly slow one at that. The typical October to March flood of articles has slowed to a mere trickle. Inevitably, the July issue has been delayed to the point of becoming a July/August issue due to lack of material. When the fall semester begins again I will no doubt have more to print than I can handle. In the meantime, however, this lull provides me with the perfect opportunity to get on my soapbox once again and scream, "CONTRIBUTE TO NETMONTH!!!!" This magazine has always depended on the contributions of its readers. And while I wouldn't dream of trying to make you feel guilty, it strikes me as odd that more you haven't been able to send in articles and editorials. (This is particularly strange when the number of subscribers continues to grow. Can you save five thousand? I knew you could!!!) Now, I know that you are all busy. Hell, *I'm* busy, more so than ever. Yet I can still find the time to trek up to the Yale Computer Center on a sunny weekend (ok, today it's raining) and get the magazine together. If only one tenth of you each contributed one article this year, I'd have more than I'd ever be able to print. Excuse Number One: "I have nothing to write about." You must be kidding. How do you use the network? Whats your opinion on the BITNET/CSNET merger? What ideas do you have to make things better? How does network access help you do your work better? What do you really HATE about BITNET, LISTSERV, etc...? I am always looking for editorials. If you are in EARN, NETNORTH, or some other network altogether, what is your viewpoint? Surely you have an opinion about *something*. Sometimes articles about new servers and network links can be, well, dry. Your editorials add a little life to NetMonth. 1 Page 2 Excuse Number Two: "I don't have time." Listen, bud, if *I* can find the time to organize this thing every month (or so), you can find the time to write something. Remember, I'm getting paid as much for this as you are (nil, nada, nothing, zilch). Sure, I enjoy it, but its hard to print a newsletter without articles. Excuse Number Three: "You probably already know about this." And you're probably wrong. Remember that to keep BITNET SERVERS up to date I need to know what services are new, what has changed, what has gone the way of NICSERVE (dead). I'm not only interested in servers, but in network related services, too, such as ISAAC. Okay, I think that I've prattled enough. You get the idea. The point is that if you want something to read you have to WRITE. As always, I am also looking for people willing to write regular or semi-regular columns on some network related subject or another, technical or non-technical. Tim Stephen (The Human Factor) and Craig White (Flames To:) had admirable stints here, and I am sure that more of you can do the same. Lastly, I don't want to forget to thank the people who do contribute. You are the people who make this possible. Without you, there wouldn't be a NetMonth at all. Virtually, Chris Condon@YaleVM 1 Page 3 ********* * *** * Jim Conklin Returns * *** * * *** * by Jim Conklin *** *** * *** * BITNET Network Information Center * *** * * *** * CONKLIN@BITNIC ********* Õfrom Bitnewså I'd like to apologize for my invisibility on the network during the last three months, and most particularly for my inability to effectively keep up on my mail and respond to both individuals and list messages in a timely fashion. There simply have not been enough hours for me to accomplish critical tasks and also handle the very large volume of mail sent me, so I've had to put mail aside for future review on more than one occasion. The same has been true of mail to some of the generic BITNIC ID's, unfortunately. The last three months have been a time of desperately trying to accomplish those activities most critical to the operation of the network, namely getting routing-table information updated and distributed. Everything else, including even updating people information not critical to routing-table distribution, has had to take second place to the primary activity. But the rest has not been forgotten. We will continue to have to postpone tasks not critical to the network operation for the next few weeks, but you should soon be seeing improvments. We had a tremendous number of updates to handle during May and June, with a corresponding number of errors to correct and clarifications to pursue. Network and BITNIC 4361 problems have also interrupted our work repeatedly. However, we're now nearly back onto schedule in our completion of the monthly processing. We've corrected several broken procedures and are streamlining others. We've nearly completed implementation of a Fourth Dimension database of BITNET member information, to replace the Ingres database we had been using in Princeton. This will improve our handling of member information. We're developing new procedures for entering and updating mode information; we expect in the longer run, to be moving toward use of the EARN tools for this, and even enhancing some of them. We've been slowly correcting data which works fine for the tools Chris Thomas developed and uses for routing-table generation but is incompatible with GENROUTS -- that process continues. 1 Page 4 You should know that Amanda Spiegel's willingness to give BITNIC and BITNET three months of eighty hour weeks, and her ability to sleuth out the answers to why various procedures didn't work as advertised, deserve most of the credit for the completion of routing-tables during the last three months. Mike Hrybyk's contributions, since he started, have also been significant. Chris Thomas, as always, has been there helping, despite our earlier promise to have him out of the loop by now. Michael Gettes has helped us across several hurdles. And others of you have been of assistance. Thanks to all! 1 Page 5 ********* * *** * Athene: The Amateur Creative Writing Journal * *** * * **** * by Jim McCabe * ***** * * ****** * Michigan Technological University * *** *** * * *** **** MCCABE@MTUS5 ********* I am pleased to announce the formation of a new network "magazine" dedicated to short stories: ** ************ *** *********** **** **** ********* *** **** *********** **** ** *** ** *** *** *** ** *** *** **** ** ***** *** *** *** *** **** *** **** ****** *** ******** ****** ******** **** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** **** ******* *** *** *** *** *** *** ** *** *** **** ********* ***** **** **** ********* **** *** **** *** *** **** ** *** *** ------------------- **** *** ****** ***** The Online Magazine *********** ****** ***** of Amateur Creative Writing ************ --------------------------- * What is Athene? Athene is a free network "magazine" devoted to amateur fiction written by the members of the online community. Athene does not limit itself to any specific genre, but will publish quality short stories dealing with just about any interesting topic, including: science fiction fantasy religion mystery computers humor psychology sports politics business * Distribution: Hopefully, if all goes well, a new issue will come out every month or so. This will of course depend on how often people submit their stories. Athene will be published by me, Jim McCabe, from MCCABE@MTUS5 on Bitnet. Send mail to me if you would like to subscribe, ask questions, or just make comments. The magazine is NOT restricted to Bitnet-only subscriptions -- hopefully Athene will be able to reach everyone who wants it. 1 Page 6 Right now I am considering distributing Athene in three different formats - PostScript, IBM Script/VS, and straight ASCII. The content of the magazine will be identical across all formats. When you subscribe please indicate which format you would prefer, and if you think this multiple format scheme is a good idea in the first place. * Miscellaneous: This is a brand-new project, and needs your support. Without stories, there can be no magazine. I'd like to kick off the first issue with some great material, so please contact me if you would like to see your work published in Athene. I would like to send out the first issue at the end of August, but again this depends on how quickly the submissions arrive. 1 Page 7 ********* * *** * Communicating with CompuServe * *** * * **** * by Christopher Condon * ***** * * ****** * Yale University * *** *** * * *** **** CONDON@YALEVM ********* ÕAll trademarks of CompuServe are acknowledgedå One of the questions asked on BITNET and the Internet for the past few years has been "How do I send mail to CompuServe?" For a very long time the answers have looked like this: "I don't think you can." "Forget it, there's no gateway." "The question HOW presumes that one CAN. You CANNOT." "Stop asking that question!" "Not today, maybe someday." Well, "someday" has finally arrived. Someone asked the question recently, and lo, there was a positive answer. Actually, there were several. I have combined the responses of Murph Sewall, Thomas Ho, Bill McGown, James Gallagher and others into what is hopefully a coherent explanation. I was able to test this out with my own CompuServe userid and it does, in fact, work. * Sending mail to a user in CompuServe: Userids on the CompuServe network have a numeric format: two numbers separated by a comma. For example, my id is 72317,2337. This comma, of course, would confuse mail systems everywhere else, so a period is substituted instead. Therefore, if someone tells you that they have a userid of 72115,2222 you would address your mail to: 72115.2222@COMPUSERVE.COM + ] +--- Note the period, folks! Simple, right? Well, your mail system might not know the location of the gateway to CompuServe, in which case you have 1 Page 8 to name it explicitly. In this case, you would type the address like so: 72115.2222%COMPUSERVE.COM@SAQQARA.CIS.OHIO-STATE.EDU From the CompuServe side, you would use their EasyPlex mail system to send mail to someone in BITNET or the Internet. For example, to send me mail at my BITNET id, you would address it to: INET:CONDON%YALEVM.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU Or to one of my Internet ids: INET:CONDON@VENUS.YCC.YALE.EDU Now, if you have a BITNET to Internet userid, this is a silly thing to do, since your connect time to CompuServe costs you money. However, you can use this information to let people on CompuServe contact YOU. CompuServe Customer Service says that there is no charge to either receive or send a message to the Internet or BITNET. 1 Page 9 ********* * *** * Oasis * *** * * **** * by Adalma K. Stephens * ***** * * ****** * Educational Computing Network of Illinois * *** *** * * *** **** XAKS@ECNCDC ********* ÕA Project of the Illinois Educational Consortiumå OASIS is a catalog of microcomputer software suited for use in higher education. Faculty can use it for planning curricula; students will find software to supplement their courses, and staff will find it helpful to identify software for research. OASIS is operated by Adalma K. Stevens at the Illinois Educational Computing Network. There is no charge to software publishers for information maintained on the OASIS database. OASIS is interactive; customized searches may be conducted using up to 16 criteria, such as package name, category, machine requirements, pricing, and publisher name and address. Entries consist of a concise description, review citations, and data that is important in determining the value of software products. All information on software products is obtained from publishers or developers. The information is verified for accuracy prior to being listed on OASIS. The database is updated and expanded with new entries on a weekly schedule. OASIS is accessible through a server on BITNET, a toll free number in Illinois (800/552-8699), on the ISAAC network (only the IBM PC compatible software portion of OASIS is on ISAAC), and through laboratory terminals that are connected to the Illinois Educational Computing Network. You can send commands to the OASIS server at the BITNET address OASIS@ECNCDC in the text/body of a mail (the "Subject:" line is ignored) or in the text of an interactive message. The valid commands are: HELP returns a brief list of OASIS server commands. INFO returns information on an OASIS command or a search command criteria. ALL returns all of the information topics as well as a description of the OASIS project. 1 Page 10 SEARCH criteria=value initiates a search of the OASIS database by the criteria specified. You must specify a value for each criterion in which you are interested. All criteria and their values may be abbreviated to the least number of characters which make it unique. The software packages listed in this database are not an endorsement of their usefulness, and we make no warranty of any kind with regard to this written material. For more information on the OASIS Project, please contact: Ms. Adalma K. Stevens, Project Director OASIS Project 2040 Hill Meadows Drive, Suite B Springfield, Illinois 62702 217/782-6392 BITNET: XAKS@ECNCDC FAX: 217/524-7741 1 Page 11 ********* * *** * Announcing NAMESERV@BRANDEIS * *** * * **** * submitted by Matthew Wall * ***** * * ****** * Brandeis University * *** *** * * *** **** WALL@BRANDEIS ********* NAMESERV@BRANDEIS is now up and available for use by the BITNET community. It is a user directory service for the VAX computers at the Feldberg Computer Center of Brandeis University. Every account on these machines is known to the server; no accounts on any other computers are covered. These VAXes are used only by faculty and graduate students. The only undergraduates with accounts are employees of Computing Services. The BITNET nodes are named BRANDEIS and BRANDLOG: either may be used for mail. There is, of course, no guarantee that a person with an account on these machines logs in with any frequency. Commands to NAMESERV must be sent as interactive messages; mail is ignored. There are two commands: HELP and SEARCH. The HELP command asks the server to mail you a copy of this help file. The SEARCH command searches for a name: for example, SEARCH SMITH searches for every user whose last name is Smith. The server sends its response by interactive messages. By default, the server searches a list of last names. These qualifiers may be used to search a different list: /FIRST First names /LAST Last names /FULL Full names /GROUP Group/department names /USER Usernames For example, to search for users in the English department, you would use: SEARCH/GROUP ENGLISH 1 Page 12 ********* * * Headlines - all the news that fits * ***** * *** * edited by Christopher Condon * *** * * *** * Yale University ***** * * * Send your Headlines to BITLIB@YALEVM. ********* * VMSSERV Update: VMSSERV @ UBVMSA - SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York VMSSERV @ UBVMSB - SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York VMSSERV @ UBVMSC - SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York VMSSERV @ SPCVXA - St. Peter's College, Jersey City, New Jersey VMSSERV @ TOWSONVX - Towson State University, Towson, Maryland VMSSERV @ UOFT02 - University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio VMSSERV @ FHCRCVAX - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Last month we reported on VMSSERV@FHCRCVAX. As you can see, it also runs on other nodes, although the contents of each server directory are not the same. VMSSERV is a file server storing many files and utilities of interest to users of Digital VAX systems. * foNETiks Õfrom Eric Kellerå: "With reference to BITNET SERVERS, please note that foNETiks is no longer active and should be removed from the file. I have been unable to find a successor." * BioSphere Newsletter Õfrom Terence Sommervilleå: "Please note that the Biosphere Newsletter is no longer available from the Ozone list, as that list is dead. It is now sent out to members of the new Biosphere Discussion list, called BIOSPH- L@UBVM." To join send the following command to LISTSERV@UBVM via mail or message: SUB BIOSPH-L Your_full_name. * New BITNIC Staffers Õfrom Jim Conklinå: "I am pleased to announce that two new staff members are joining Amanda Spiegel, Michael Hrybyk, and me in our Washington, DC office. "Mary Kate Barone, who started on July 17, will be assisting Amanda in handling the administrative aspects of the Network Information Center: updating node and member information, responding to inquiries, handling membership dues, supporting 1 Page 13 Board activities, etc. Mary Kate has experience with personal computer applications. During the next few weeks she will be learning about the BITNIC office computer environment, BITNET itself, and the BITNET software tools she'll be using. She is enthusiastic about BITNET, and we are delighted that she has joined us. "Andrew Robinson is moving from the University of Maine to join the BITNIC on August 1, as a Network Analyst. Many of you know Andy through his responsibility for the creation and maintenance, while at Maine, of the UMNEWS/CSNEWS server, the BITNAUTS list, and other useful services. Andy will be assisting Michael Hrybyk with technical and operational aspects of the BITNIC activities: providing technical assistance to BITNET members' support staff, developing software and documentation, improving procedures, keeping mailing lists and other network services operating effectively, providing BITNET training, etc. He will assist Mike in site planning and preparation for EDUCOM's forthcoming 9370, which will eventually become the new BITNIC machine in DC, and in software installation and maintenance on that machine. "As everyone knows, management performs no useful work, so the addition of Mary Kate and Andy will double the size of the working BITNIC staff, immediately solving all our problems, right? Well, not quite... We've been very fortunate to have had the assistance, for most of the summer and continuing at least until August 1, of Martin Goldstein, a law student at George Washington U.; and for a few weeks early in the summer, of David Conklin, a student at Carnegie-Mellon with some network experience. We're now hoping to locate network- experienced students from the DC area schools to fill out our staff, as the college/university year begins again this fall (anyone listening out there?). And it may take a day or two for the new staff to come up to speed. "Work to be completed by the BITNIC staff, in addition to the normal activities, includes preparation for the 9370; installing and testing all the BITNET related software and files on the new system, a task complicated by the fact that its tape drive will be the one now in use on the Princeton BITNIC machine; developing and implementing policy suggestions; planning for the BITNET-CSNET Merger, about which progress reports should soon be again appearing on POLICY-L; and, of course, fixing software and operational glitches which become apparent with a major staff turn-over such as we have had. "The BITNIC bids adieu to Scott Early, and to Ricky Hernandez (who divided his time between EDUCOM and BITNIC responsibilities); both have left Princeton for greener 1 Page 14 pastures. Scott is now in Texas with the Superconducting Supercollider, and Ricky has started his own consulting business in New York City. We wish them well in their new careers." * South Florida Environmental Reader Õfrom A. E. Mossbergå: The South Florida Environmental Reader is primarily intended for people in South Florida to keep abreast of local environmental issues. The newsletter is published on a fortnightly basis, and distributed both electronically and physically. To receive the electronic edition, send your request to SFER@UMIAMI. 1 Page 15 ********* * * New Mailing Lists * ***** * *** * edited by Christopher Condon * *** * * *** * Yale University ***** * * * Send list announcements to NEW-LIST@NDSUVM1 ********* Each of the lists described here is maintained on a LISTSERV machine unless otherwise noted. To subscribe to one of these lists you would send the following command to the the appropriate server via mail or message. SUBSCRIBE listname Your_full_name For example, if your name is Kristen Shaw and you want to subscribe to a list described as "DIAPERS@YALEVM" you would send the following command to LISTSERV@YALEVM: SUBSCRIBE DAIPERS Kristen Shaw To make contributions to the list you would send mail to DIAPERS@YALEVM. Please note that this is just and example and to my knowledge there are no mailing lists about diapers (although you never know). ***** MLA-L@IUBVM - Music Library Association Indiana University is now hosting a mail distribution service for the Music Library Association on a trial basis. The name is MLA-L. We intend that the list be used for various activities of MLA that can benefit by wide-scale distribution (such as announcements of deadlines for NOTES and the Newsletter, news items, general inquiries about MLA activities, etc.). The list could also be used for reference inquiries, and other topics of interest to the music library community. The list will initially be limited to mail distribution. No archives will be maintained and no file/document server capability will be utilized (these additional features may be considered at a later time). 1 Page 16 AREXX-L@UCF1VM - Amiga REXX TSO-REXX@UCF1VM - TSO REXX PC-REXX@UCF1VM - Personal REXX In addition to REXXLIST, the existing VM/SP REXX discussion list, 3 new lists have been created to discuss the REXX programming language. They are AREXX-L (for Amiga REXX users), TSO-REXX (for TSO), and PC-REXX (for Personal REXX) users. STATLG-L@SBCCVM - Neon-Sign Baseball Statistic Leauge A BITNET rotisserie league for the ultimate baseball fans. The Neon Sign Stat League (NSSL) is a head-to-head rotisserie league which pits fan against fan in the goal of assembling the best baseball team from among ML players. Weekly performance is determined based upon player performance and wins-losses are determined by comparing two teams which 'play' each other each week. Two or three NSSL seasons are played during each ML season. Choosing lineups and trading players requires strategy and a lot of luck. Users interested in Rotisserie League Baseball are invited to subscribe. KIDSNET@CCNYSCI - A Global Network for Children Businesses and universities have come to appreciate the value of electronic data networks. The inexpensive technology which underlies these networks could be of equal value for pre- college education. I propose that we should provide this facility to the world's children by establishing a global network for the use of children and teachers in grades K-12. Reading and writing provides us with the means to communicate on a global level. Electronic networks provide an immediacy to global communication and allow us to sort the resulting flow of information. This lets us direct our remarks to an appropriate audience and gain access to information on any subject we may seek. If we begin to teach reading and writing in conjunction with the use of an electronic network, we will provide children with a new global outlook as we teach them the skills needed to exploit it. Children who grow up with this outlook will learn that many human problems are universal and that solutions to these problems may often be found through global communication and cooperation. They will learn that knowledge is distributed around the world and that this knowledge exists to be shared within the human community. Simultaneously they will master the skills which will permit them to distribute and organize the vast store of information that will be available via electronic media. 1 Page 17 The technology that is required to set up a global children's network already exists. It is in the national interest of all developed and developing nations to extend and apply this technology. The establishment of a children's network would give an international scope to these efforts. It would provide a focus for technological development and for resolving the problems of language, standards, etc. that inevitably arise in international communications. The first steps toward establishing a global children's network are being taken by a group which may be reached via KIDSNET mailing list. If you would like to join this group, send a note expressing your interest to the mailing list administrator, Patt Haring, at PATTH@CCNYSCI. BELIEF-L@BROWNVM - Personal Ideologies Discussion List This list is designed to be a forum where personal ideologies can be discussed, examined, and analyzed. Topics for the list can range from "what is good" to "what happens after death" to "is there a god". This list is designed to be open to members of ALL religious and political faiths or non-faiths; we do not discriminate based on religion, race, sex, or sexual preference. The list is open for all discussion pertaining to ideological, religious, moral, and ethical topics. There are only two general rules: 1. Treat everyone's faith as if it were as sacred as your own. In fact, to be safe, treat their faiths BETTER than your own. 2. Excessively rude, obnoxious, or abusive posting will not be tolerated. The first "rule" is really a guideline. Proselytizing is OK, so long as you remember that you get what you dish out. With respect to the second rule, please remember that you are a professional, and professionals don't get abusive to others. If you violate either rule in the opinion of the List Owners more than twice, you will be asked to stop. If you continue to be abusive, you will be removed from the list. POSIX-FORTRAN@SANDIA.GOV - IEEE POSIX Specification Primarily intended for working group members of IEEE 1003.9, the group that is involved in developing the FORTRAN binding to the IEEE POSIX specification. 1 Page 18 All requests to be added to or deleted from this list, problems, questions, etc., should be sent to posix-fortran- request@sandia.gov. WP50-L@UBVM - WordPerfect 5.0 This list is intended to be used for discussing WordPerfect 5.0 and it's related products. Although the main focus of this list will be WP V5.0, it will not be limited to this in the beginning. Any WP Corp products can be discussed. SLART-L@PSUVM - Second Language Acquisition Research, Teaching SLART-L is a network for those involved in or interested in second or foreign language acquisition research and/or teaching (SLART). This list is intended as a means of forming a "community of scholars" in SLA. Individuals may choose to discuss research in progress, "publish" papers for feedback, solicit advice on teaching methods, etc. Anyone interested in issues in second or foreign language acquisition is encouraged to join. HPMINI-L@UAFSYSB - Hewlett-Packard Minicomputers The University of Arkansas has added a new list, HPMINI-L. This list will address hardware and software issues, as they relate to the Hewlett Packard 9000 series (9000/825, 9000/835, 9000/840, etc). At the present time we will limit the operating system to HP/UX. FAMLYSCI@UKCC - The Family Science Network The FAMLYSCI LIST is for researchers and scholars whose work focusses on family science, marriage and family therapy, family sociology, and the behavioral science aspects of family medicine. The purpose of the list is to enhance communication among family scientists and to support research programs. The list is a service provided by the Department of Family Studies at the University of Kentucky. To join, send your address to GWBROCK@UKCC. MDS32-L@INDYCMS - Menu Design System MDS32-L is a new LISTSERV list for discussion of creative ideas and techniques using MDS32, Menu Design System from Ergodic, Inc., for VAX/VMS systems. 1 Page 19 XEDIT-L@UGA - VM System Editor Discussion This list has been created for the discussion of the IBM VM System Editor (XEDIT). It is not for discusison of the TSO editor, the PDF editor, QED, KEDIT, QEDIT, EVE, VI, or EMACS. If and when XEDIT is made available under TSO, it will be included here. REXX, as utilized by XEDIT as its macro language is acceptable here also. COM-ALG@NDSUVM1 - Commutative Algebra Distribution List The COM-ALG list is intended to be used for discussion, inquiry, and the dissemination of information by professionals in the field of commutative algebra. Archives of COM-ALG and related files are stored in COM-ALG FILELIST. To receive a list of files send the command INDEX COM-ALG to LISTSERV@NDSUVM1. SHAKER@UKCC - Shakers Study List This interest group is for those interested in the history, culture, artifacts, and beliefs of the Shakers (The United Society of Believers). Discussions will cover a broad range of subject matter including, but not limited to: social analysis, history, shaker women's studies, antiques and furniture, and organization. 1 Page 20 ********* * * Helpdesk - a Question and Answer column * ***** * *** * intelligent answers by Murph Sewall * *** * * *** * smarmy answers by Chris Condon ***** * * * Send your questions to BITLIB@YALEVM. ********* First the important stuff: Murph Sewall of the University of Connecticut has agreed to take over most of the question answering in this column. Every time someone asks me a question that I can't answer (most of the time), I send it to him and he comes back with a lucid, informed answer. This is particularly true of questions about gateways and such, about which I know only enough to get myself in trouble. *Q* The Internet has the equivalent of listserver type conferences. I was wondering if you knew what those were called, and where I can get a help file on them. *A* ÕChriså Well, genericly speaking, both BITNET and the Internet have what we call mailing lists and digests, and LISTSERV just happens to be the tool that we in BITNET use to maintain them. You can get a list of these mailing lists from LISTSERV@BITNIC by requesting the files ARPANET SIGS01 through ARPANET SIGS07. Pay particular attention to the explanations of how to subscribe and send mail to these lists, as many of them have LISTSERV redistribution points. You can also pick up the file LISTSERV GROUPS. At the end of the file list a listing of Internet mailing lists that are redistributed in this way. *Q* Is there a gateway between BITNET or the Internet to QuantumLink, and how do I use it if it exists? *A* ÕMurphå Quantum operates Q-Link (for Commodore-64's & 128's), AppleLink-PE (personal edition) and beginning this month a Macintosh Link (whether that's part of AppleLink-PE or not, I'm not sure. Along with Genie, *none* of the Quantum services are linked to ANY other net. I believe the Quantum services can be called over Telenet. 1 Page 21 *Q* On some occasions when I use BITNET, I notice that some nodes are shut down, therefore making message- and file-sending to another node not as instantaneous as it could be. Some servers are shut down for a whole day! Have you heard about any software developments that re-route BITNET traffic around a shut-down node? Is it possible, taking in account the amount of list servers, relays and links existing in the world? Hey, if AT&T can do it with telephone calls, I bet somebody else can do it with BITNET. *A* ÕChriså For the most part, there is only one way from point A to point B in BITNET. Redundant links are a nice idea, but they cost money, both in fees payed for leased lines between nodes, plus the the leasing or purchase costs of related equipment. *Q* I am thinking about creating a mailing list, but don't know how to start one or who to contact, or even what is required for one. So, what do I need to do? *A* ÕChriså If you don't have a LISTSERV at your own node, you should send a polite request mail to LSTSRV-M@CEARN. One of the Listserv managers may be willing to take on your list. *Q* Is there a gateway to the international UNISYS-Network from BITNET? If so, how can it be used? *A* ÕMurphå Evidently UNISYS has several networks. You need a specific address. Unisys Corporation (UNISYS-DOM) UNISYS.COM Unisys ISF Network 10 (NET-SDC-PRC-SA) UNISYS-ISF-10 192.26.23.0 Unisys ISF Network 11 (NET-SDC-PRC-CR) UNISYS-ISF-11 192.26.24.0 Unisys ISF Network 7 (NET-SDC-PRC-NET) UNISYS-ISF-7 192.12.195.0 Unisys ISF Network 8 (NET-SDC-PRC-SW) UNISYS-ISF-8 192.26.21.0 Unisys ISF Network 9 (NET-SDC-PRC-LBS) UNISYS-ISF-9 192.26.22.0 Unisys Restion 1 (NET-UNISYS-RES1) UNISYS-RES1 192.39.11.0 Unisys Restion 2 (NET-UNISYS-RES2) UNISYS-RES2 192.39.12.0 To single out one record, look it up with "!xxx", where xxx is the handle, shown in parenthesis following the name, which comes first. Send mail to SERVICE@SRI-NIC.ARPA with a WHOIS command as the subject. For example: WHOIS !UNISYS-DOM 1 Page 22 *Q* Does anyone on the net have a file containing the list of nodes, node names, and contact people? I am not looking for a names file. On the system we have, we cannot process that type of names file that we could get from a Netserv. I am actually looking for a text file with this info from the BITEARN NODES (I think) file already processed. Any help would be appreciated. There are several separate files that contain the information you want, but none of them have everything you want. They are available from LISTSERV@BITNIC (the NETINFO FILELIST): NODES INFO1 Nodes, sites, & systems sorted by node name NODES INFO2 Nodes, sites, & systems sorted by site name MEMBER SITELIST BITNET institutions sorted by membername-USA STATE SITELIST BITNET institutions sorted by state-USA INTERNTL SITELIST BITNET/EARN/NETNORTH member/country not USA BIRREP LISTINGS Appointed BITNET Instituional Reps TECHREP LISTINGS Appointed BITNET Technical Reps INFOREP LISTINGS Appointed BITNET Information Services Reps 1 Page 23 ********* * * Feedback - a Letters Column * ***** * *** * edited by Christopher Condon * *** * * *** * Yale University ***** * * * Send your letters to BITLIB@YALEVM... or else! ********* From: Penny Ward Subject: Correction to June NetMonth Please credit the real author of the "Toadsuckers" poem you ran as the header for the June NetMonth. The original poem was written by Mason Williams (yes, the guy who writes music for the Smothers Brothers) and appears in one of his books of poetry (I believe it's called The Mason Williams Reader?). * Ed. note: Acknowledged. I pulled the poem from our online bulletin board, and since there was no credit, I assumed it was written by a frustrated Yalie. Thanks for the info! While I'm at it, why aren't you people writing more letters? If you can't write articles, at least write letters. Sheesh! 1 Page 24 ********* * * NetMonth Policies * ***** * *** * Everything you ever wanted to know... * *** * * *** * ...but were afraid to ask. ***** * * * BITLIB@YALEVM ********* NetMonth is a network service publication distributed free of charge to students and professionals in BITNET and other networks. This magazine and its companion file, BITNET SERVERS, are the work of the BITNET Services Library (BSL) staff and contributors from around the network. BITNET SERVERS is BITNETs list of servers and services. If you know of servers not listed in BITNET SERVERS, or if some listed are no longer available, please contact the NetMonth Editor. * Subscribing to NetMonth and BITNET SERVERS: Send the following command to LISTSERV@MARIST by mail or messgage: SUBSCRIBE NETMONTH Your_full_name A subscriber can delete him/herself from the mailing list by sending LISTSERV@MARIST the command: UNSUB NETMONTH Internet users may use these methods, but must address the mail to LISTSERV@MARIST.BITNET * Back issues: BITNET users may get NetMonth back issues from the file server LISTSERV@CMUCCVMA. For a list of files, send the server the the command: INDEX NETMONTH * Letters to the Editor: If you have questions or comments about BITNET or NetMonth that you would like to see printed here, mail your letter to BITLIB@YALEVM. Make sure that you specify in the "Subject:" header or somewhere in the letter that it is for the NetMonth letters column. 1 Page 25 * Article Submissions: The only requirements for NetMonth articles and columns are that they be informative, interesting, and concern some BITNET-related topic. Send your articles and to BITLIB@YALEVM. * Printing this file: VM users can print this file by using the "( CC" option of the PRINT command. VAX/VMS users should RECEIVE NetMonth with a format of FORTRAN. John McMahon of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has written a program or VAX/VMS users which changes Fortran form feeds in an issue of NETMONTH to ASCII form feeds. This allows a user on a VAX/VMS system to RECEIVE a copy of NETMONTH, reformat it using this procedure, and print it using the standard VMS PRINT command. The program is internally documented, and you can get a copy by sending the following command to LISTSERV@CMUCCVMA or MARIST: SENDME NETMONTH COM _ __- __--- The __----- BITNET __------- Services ___________ Library "Because We're Here." ***************************************************************