******** ************************************************** * * * * * The independent guide to BITNET * * * * * * September, 1989 * * * * * * Volume 4, Number 2 * ******** * * * * *** * * * * * * * * * * * ******* ******** ********* ** ** * * * * * ********* ********* ********* ** ** * * ** * ** ** ** ** ** *** ** * * ** ** ** ** **** ** * * * ** ******** ******* ** ** ** * * * ** ********* ******* ** ** ** * ****** * ** ** ** ** ** **** * * * ** ** ** ** ** ** *** * * * ********* ** ** ********* ** ** * * ******* ** ** ********* ** ** * ******** * * * * ******* ******** ********* ** ** * * * ********* ********* ********* ** ** * * * ** ** ** ** ** *** ** * * * ** ** ** ** **** ** * * * ** ******** ******* ** ** ** * ******** * ** ********* ******* ** ** ** * * ** ** ** ** ** **** * *** * ** ** ** ** ** ** *** * * * * ********* ** ** ********* ** ** * * * * ******* ** ** ********* ** ** * * * * * *** * ******* ******** ********* ** ** * * ********* ********* ********* ** ** * ****** * ** ** ** ** ** *** ** * * * ** ** ** ** **** ** * * * ** ******** ******* ** ** ** * * * ** ********* ******* ** ** ** * **** * ** ** ** ** ** **** * * ** ** ** ** ** ** *** * * * ********* ** ** ********* ** ** * * * ******* ** ** ********* ** ** * ****** * * * * * * * * * Get used to it. * ******** * * * * * * * * * * * **** ************************************************** 1 * * ****** ******* * * ***** * * ******* * * ** * * * ** ** * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ***** * * * * * * * * * * ******* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * ** * * * * * ****** * * * ***** * * * * * * * * * *********************** ******************************* Editor: Christopher Condon CONDON @ YALEVM ********************* Contents - Issue 33 ********************* ********* * *** * EDITORIAL PAGE____________________________________ * *** * * *** * Bitnotes ....................................... 1 *** *** CREN Press Release ............................. 4 * *** * Flames To: ..................................... 7 * *** * * *** * ********* ********* * *** * FEATURES__________________________________________ * *** * * **** * The Public-Access Computer Systems Review ...... 8 * ***** * Accessing the Nottingham Info Server ........... 9 * ****** * Using Your FINGER ............................. 11 * *** *** * * *** **** ********* ********* * * DEPARTMENTS_______________________________________ * ***** * *** * Headlines ..................................... 13 * *** * New Mailing Lists ............................. 15 * *** * Helpdesk ...................................... 17 ***** * Feedback ...................................... 21 * * NetMonth Policies ............................. 23 ********* ********************** 5320 Subscribers ************************ 1 Page 1 ********* * *** * Bitnotes * *** * * *** * by Christopher Condon *** *** * *** * Yale University * *** * * *** * BITLIB@YALEVM ********* "Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time." -- A sign a Rome laundry Õfrom "Anguished English" by Richard Ledererå * A Tourists Guide To BITNET Are you tired of the same old thing? Bored with the regular routine, the monotonous job, the chore-filled weekends? Are you feeling listess and generally unexcited about the world around you? Of course you are. What you need is a vacation. Some time to get away from it all. A change of pace from those expensive food, wine, and beer fests. Something different to put the curdle back in your cream. What's that? No money? No problem! Yes, you heard right! No airfare, no hotel bills, no snobby porters, no changing exchange rates. In fact, if you're reading this, your vacation may have already begun. You have entered the exciting world of BITNET! Join us in a whirlwind tour of one of the worlds largest computer networks, from its research centers set in sumptuous cathode-ray-green country landscapes to its exquisite cathode- ray-green ivy-league universities! SEE... the messages fly past as you engage in startling intellectual conversations on RELAY! HEAR... the screams of joy from adjacent terminals as your friends receive the ever-popular message LINK CUNYVM NOT CONNECTED. SMELL... the ozone as your terminal bursts into flames! (optional) 1 Page 2 EXPERIENCE... the excitement, the joy, the pain, the anguish, the romance, the mystery, the file queues! Hop onto our electronic tour bus! Here we go...! First stop: The local RELAY. Whether you like it or not, this is the first place people hear about, so it will be the first place we visit. Hello people! FROM RELAY: (Gagger) Hello FROM RELAY: (Doug) Hi FROM RELAY: (Simka) Hola FROM RELAY: (AckMaster) Hey-oh FROM RELAY: (Drool) Welcome. FROM RELAY: (Annette) Hey! ÕA few minutes passå So, what's up people? FROM RELAY: (Gagger) Nothing. FROM RELAY: (Doug) Not much here. FROM RELAY: (Simka) *yawn* oh nothing FROM RELAY: (AckMaster) nuthin' honey FROM RELAY: (Drool) You mean, like, a topic? FROM RELAY: (Annette) Hey! ÕA few more minutes passå Well, I guess we'll be going! FROM RELAY: (Gagger) OK, bye! FROM RELAY: (Doug) Later. FROM RELAY: (Simka) Goodbye. FROM RELAY: (AckMaster) Seeya FROM RELAY: (Drool) later, dude. FROM RELAY: (Annette) Hey! Well, enough of RELAY! Let's join one of the mailing lists! Date: Fri, 10 Sep 89 23:52:00 EDT Reply-To: COBOL Discussion List Sender: COBOL Discussion List From: Ted Kord Subject: COBOL as a Way of Life To: Whirldwind Tourists ========================================================== Listen, you slime-eating bucket of scum! I don't care how much you like C! A lot of great PC applications have been written in COBOL! Why, only last week I picked up this neat little card-punching program. Oh, by the way, does anyone know where I can find a card-punch for a PC? 1 Page 3 Perhaps this was a bad choice. Let's try a different one. Date: Fri, 10 Sep 89 28:44:00 EDT Reply-To: Dream Interpreters Sender: Dream Interpreters From: Wally West Subject: help To: Whirldwind Tourists ========================================================== help Hmmm... not our day. I assure you that it's usually more interesting than this. NetMonth? No, you don't want to look at that rag... why don't we check out some file servers instead? What's that? No more time? But really... Well, let me show you one last item, it will only take a moment. Thank you. Now, many people ask how they can find the address of someone in the network. For example, perhaps there is an old high-school chum or a famous researcher to whom you want to drop a note. Well, we have just the tool! Yes, lovely isn't it? We call it a telephone... ***** On a more positive note, Craig White is back with another Flames To: column. If you have complaints about life in BITNET or you want to gripe about most anything that is network related, tell Craig. On the other hand, we are still lacking in the department of editorials. Many people have been kind enough to write about some of the new services in the network, but no one seems to be able to write editorials or letters. Please, send them in! I'd like to see an opinion other than my own on the Editorial Page. Thanks in advance! Virtually, Chris Condon@YaleVM Note the next article. If CREN becomes offical, perhaps we should rename NetMonth: CRENium? CRENdition? CRENola? Send in your ideas! 1 Page 4 ********* * *** * CREN Press Release * *** * * *** * from Jim Conklin *** *** * *** * BITNET Network Information Center * *** * * *** * CONKLIN@BITNIC ********* Õfrom Bitnewså The BITNET-CSNET merger is progressing rapidly, with Bylaw revisions completed and an initial Board of Trustees proposed. It will be easiest, it turns out, to proceed by renaming the BITNET corporation, revising its Bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation, and electing the proposed initial Board as the Board of the revised BITNET corporation, which will have the (proposed) new name: Corporation for Research and Educational Networking. A press release follows, and more information will be forthcoming shortly on the list POLICY-L@BITNIC. **** BITNET/CSNET Announce Merger and Formation of CREN Washington, DC, August 18, 1989: Two of the nation's leading academic and research computer networks announced today that final steps are being taken to merge their organizations. Ira Fuchs, President of BITNET, and Bernard Galler, Chairman of CSNET, jointly reported that the two networks, which together include 600 colleges, universities, government agencies, and private sector research organizations, will unite to form the Corporation for Research and Educational Networking, CREN. Galler, a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan, commented: "The aims of CSNET and BITNET--to support and promote the use of computer networks on campuses and within research organizations--have converged over the last several years. We believe that by bringing these two networks into a single organization, we will be able to provide better service to our network users and more effectively participate in the fastchanging national network environment." Fuchs, Vice President for Computing and Information Technology at Princeton University, sees the move as a strengthing factor: "The need for campus networks and the introduction of new technology make it necessary to build a common base of network services using the most progressive technology available. By 1 Page 5 eliminating overlap between our two organizations, we will become more efficient, and more importantly, we can take a stronger role in the the formation of the national education and research network. We can achieve this goal faster and at lower cost by leveraging the efforts of the two major academic networking organizations." The merger of CSNET and BITNET has been studied for more than a year by a planning group consisting of representatives from both networks. CSNET currently lists 145 institutional and corporate members, and BITNET 480 members. Together, the two networks cover all 50 states and 32 foreign countries, including Japan, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Both maintain gateways to EARN (European Academic Research Network), NetNorth (Canada), and the National Internet. The planning group's recommendations to merge were approved by the BITNET, Inc. Trustees and the Directors of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, operators of CSNET for the last five years. An information packet on the merger is being mailed to all members of both networks this week, with a ballot for BITNET members, who must approve the final legal steps under the provisions of BITNET By-Laws. In an advisory vote last winter, BITNET members approved the merger in principle by more than 90% of those voting. A gradual transition period is planned to bring together CSNET and BITNET services. CREN plans to continue use of EDUCOM and Bolt, Beranek and Newman (BBN) to provide technical and general management services to its members. EDUCOM President Kenneth M. King commented, "We are entering a particularly challenging period in the creation of an advanced national network infrastructure for research and education. CREN will play a major role in the future of these computer networks, which are becoming more and more important to the conduct of research and the quality of education. EDUCOM is pleased to have an opportunity to support the services and activities of CREN. " Frank Heart, Senior Vice President, BBN Systems and Technologies Corporation, said, "In keeping with its long involvement in the development of networking technologies, BBN is pleased to play a major supporting role in the evolution of BITNET and CSNET." The proposed CREN Board includes Fuchs and Galler; Douglas Bigelow, Wesleyan University, William Curtis, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research; David Farber, University of Pennsylvania; Suzanne Johnson, INTEL Corporation; Mark 1 Page 6 Laubach of Hewlett-Packard Corporation; Philip Long, Yale University; Dennis Ritchie, AT&T Bell Laboratories; Martin Solomon, University of South Carolina; Douglas Van Houweling, University of Michigan; and William Yundt, Stanford University. For more information, contact CREN, Suite 600, 1112 16th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20036; 202 872-4215. 1 Page 7 ********* * *** * Flames To: * *** * * *** * by Craig White *** *** * *** * University of Alabama * *** * * *** * CWHITE@UA1VM ********* Hello again, I hope that everyone's summer break was nice and that things are going smoothly for you. My work has been keeping me much too busy since you've last heard from me. More about that later. Perhaps there are new readers to Net Month since the last "Flames To:" appeared here. Just in case, let me say a word or two about this column. First of all, "Flames To:" is *YOUR* column much more than it is mine. What I mean by this is that most of the subject matter in "Flames To:" comes from people in NetLand who tell me about changes they would like to see in the network, or network activity or behavior that angers them. Topics have ranged from "PLEASE send requests to be added/deleted from lists to the LISTSERV not the list" to "Why you should avoid speedy replies to a flame." I want to continue to be your voice, so if you have a topic for a future "Flames To:" please feel free to send me mail. Much of my time at work has been dedicated to establishing and correcting our INTERnet connection. We have also been setting up a campus wide local area network which also uses the TCP/IP protocol. Because of this, I have not had as much time to keep up with the current happenings on BITNET as I would have liked to. However, the time seems well spent in terms of new knowledge about the mechanics and politics of networks. Since I don't have any flames this month, other than to myself for neglecting my duties as a columnists, the column will be short this month. Next month, we will be back with real Flames once again. As always send questions, comments and flames to CWHITE@UA1VM. 1 Page 8 ********* * *** * The Public-Access Computer Systems Review * *** * * **** * by Charles Bailey * ***** * * ****** * University of Houston * *** *** * * *** **** LIB3@UHUPVM1 ********* ÕThanks to Itzchak Gilboa for forwarding this information.å An electronic journal, the Public-Access Computer Systems Review, has been established on the Public-Access Computer Systems Forum (PACS-L@UHUPVM1). The PACS Review will cover all computer systems that libraries make available to their patrons, including CAI and ICAI programs, CD-ROM databases, expert systems, hypermedia systems, information delivery systems, local databases, online catalogs, remote end-user search systems, and other systems. The editorial staff of the PACS Review are: Editor: Charles W. Bailey, University of Houston Editorial Board: Nancy Evans, Carnegie Mellon University David R. McDonald, University of Michigan Paul Evan Peters, New York Public Library Mike Ridley, McMaster University R. Bruce Miller, University of California, The PACS Review will contain short articles (1-7 single-spaced pages), bibliographies, columns, and reviews. If you are interested in writing an article or contributing other material, please contact the editor (see below). The PACS Review will be sent to all members of the PACS Forum. To join the PACS Forum, send the following command to LISTSERV@UHUPVM1 vis mail or message: SUBSCRIBE PACS-L Your_full_name I welcome all relevant contributions to the PACS Review. Articles that deal with innovative projects in libraries, even those at an early stage of development, are especially welcome. Please keep in mind that the focus of the PACS Review is on public systems that are made available to patrons. 1 Page 9 ********* * *** * Accessing the Nottingham Info Server * *** * * **** * by Julian Onions * ***** * * ****** * Nottingham University * *** *** * * *** **** JPO@CS.NOTT.AC.UK ********* Nottingham University runs an information server and software archive. The server will send out files contained in mail messages, in response to a request contained in a mail message sent to INFO-SERVER@CS.NOTT.AC.UK. Requests are of the form: Request: subject Topic: topic within that subject Request: end As an example suppose you want to be mailed information about gnuemacs in the subject software. You would send a message of the form: Request: catalogue topic: gnuemacs request: end and the gnuemacs information would be mailed back to you. The key words supported by the information server are: request, topic and line-limit. These can be upper or lower case or a mixture. They are separated from the remainder of the line by tabs, spaces or : this is optional. Line-limit is for use by people who have mail systems that can only deal with small messages. Consider the following request: line-limit 1000 Request: catalogue topic: xtrek topic: gcc request: end This would mail out xtrek and gcc information in 1000 line chunks (Not including message header information). The line limit must lie between 1000 and 200000000. The default is send 1 Page 10 the file in 1 message. Everything after the "request end" is ignored. A complex request could look like this: line-limit 2000 Request: catalogue topic: gcc topic: xtrek line-limit 3000 Request: sources topic: software.ms topic: index request: end A list of the "top level" requests can be obtained by sending the following request to the info-server: request: index topic: index request: end Within a request subject, an index and also help information are available. These would be (using software as the subject example). request: catalogue topic: index (or help) request end All blank lines are ignored, and the "request end" is optional, however if it is omitted and there are other lines in the message an automatic error message will be sent to you. 1 Page 11 ********* * *** * Using Your FINGER * *** * * **** * by Christopher Condon * ***** * * ****** * Yale University * *** *** * * *** **** CONDON@YALEVM ********* FINGER is a user directory server at Saint Peter's College. While it contains many features and commands which are useful to local users (listing of active jobs, etc.) the most important feature is its ability to give you the usernames of people at SPCVXA. There are no commands associated with a name search. You simply send FINGER@SPCVXA an interactive message (not mail) with the name for which you are searching. For example, I was searching for Shirley Jones, so (being lazy) I sent a message with the text JONES. The reply: FROM SPCVXA: SPCVXA VAX/VMS, Saturday, 16-Sep-1989 13:59 FROM SPCVXA: FROM SPCVXA: 0JONES_L - Lila M. Jones FROM SPCVXA: 2JONES_B - Barbara A. Jones FROM SPCVXA: 3JONES_J - Jacqueli Jones FROM SPCVXA: 6JONES_J - Julianne Jones FROM SPCVXA: 8JONES_S - Shirley Jones FROM SPCVXA: 9JONES_M - Marcia K. Jones FROM SPCVXA: Finger command complete The server also accepts wildcards. Note that when I asked the server to search for CHRIS* that it searches in both the first and last name: FROM SPCVXA: SPCVXA VAX/VMS, Saturday, 16-Sep-1989 14:00 FROM SPCVXA: FROM SPCVXA: 0CUNNING_C - Christin R. Cunning FROM SPCVXA: 0GILCHRIST_J - Janet M. Gilchrist FROM SPCVXA: 1BREEN_C - Christa L. Breen FROM SPCVXA: 1ECONOMIDE_C - Chris Economides FROM SPCVXA: 2CHRISTMAN_D - Douglas H. Christmann FROM SPCVXA: 2HART_C - Chris W. Hart FROM SPCVXA: CUTRONA_C - Christene Cutrona - Chal. FROM SPCVXA: Finger command complete 1 Page 12 The FINGER source code is available by sending the command GET FINGER.PACKAGE to VMSSERV@SPCVXA. A version for PDP-11's running RSTS/E is available from the same server as file FINGER11.PACKAGE. There is also a discussion list, I- FINGER@SPCVXA: "I-FINGER is a discussion of the Finger program and related utilities. Finger is a utility which performs username lookup, WHOIS functions, and system status functions. This list is hosted on the system where VMS Finger and RSTS/E Finger are maintained, so initial discussions will probably center around these versions. However, discussions about any Finger variant or similar utilities are welcomed. "Requests to be added to or deleted from this list, problems, questions, etc., should be sent to I-FINREQ@SPCVXA." ÕThanks to Terry Kennedy for the additional information.å 1 Page 13 ********* * * Headlines - all the news that fits * ***** * *** * edited by Christopher Condon * *** * * *** * Yale University ***** * * * Send your Headlines to BITLIB@YALEVM. ********* * Errata: In last month's issue of NetMonth, the description of how to send mail to BITNET from CompuServe is incorrect. This was due to a change on CompuServe's part and a missing character on mine. The corrected examples should read as follows: 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: >INTERNET:CONDON%YALEVM.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU Or to one of my Internet ids: >INTERNET:CONDON@VENUS.YCC.YALE.EDU Thanks to the many people who told me of the error. In another mess up, I incorrectly advised people in the Helpdesk column to send mail to the LSTSRV-M@CEARN when they want to set up a new mailing list. The correct address is LSTSRV-L@RUTVM1. Thanks to Eric Thomas for catching that. * The NutWorks electronic magazine is no longer available. Apparently it hasn't been availablr for quite some time. Thanks to Karen O'Quin for telling me. * CREN Bylaws Õfrom Jim Conklinå: For those who are interested, the revised Bylaws proposed for the Corporation for Research and Educational Networking are available from LISTSERV@BITNIC as CREN BYLAWS. Just send a message or mail file with any subject and one line of text: SEND CREN BYLAWS and the bylaws will be sent as a file. The "Purpose" section of the proposed Bylaws now replicates that of the present BITNET Bylaws, since the new Bylaws are designed to carry the BITNET corporate entity forward rather than to start a new corporation, and counsel suggests that having the "Purpose" unchanged is wise. Advise of counsel 1 Page 14 (both BITNET and UCAR counsel) has resulted in a number of other changes to the previously posted Bylaws, though the intent is consistent. The proposed Board of Trustees for the revised corporation, consisting of six members of the present BITNET Board, five representatives from the present CSNET Executive Committee, and one representative from UCAR, is listed, with e-mail and postal addresses and telephone numbers in the file CREN BOARD available from LISTSERV@BITNIC. 1 Page 15 ********* * * New Mailing Lists * ***** * *** * edited by Christopher Condon * *** * * *** * Yale University ***** * * * Send your 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). ***** ECONOMY@TECMTYVM - Economic Problems The economy and economic problems of Less Developed Countries (LDCs) have become real laboratories for both the economic discipline, and economic policy measures. This discussion list is aimed at analyzing economic problems, theories, policies, social conditions, political settings, etc., of LDCs and their relationship with the industrial world. Any opinions, discussion, questions in this and related areas are welcomed. This discussion list amplifies a former list called SWAPS-L, which had a narrower objective: Debt Restructuring in LDCs. The agenda for the present list is less structured and broader. 1 Page 16 NOVELL@SUVM - Novell Netware Users This list is for folks in higher education who use the Novell Netware (c) Network Operating System (NOS). This list is especially good for folks in multi-vendor environments. We focus on questions and helpful hints about hardware, software and administration of Novell Networks in Higher Ed. Since the list focuses on support we try to keep *FLAMES* to a minimum (*FLAMES* can be sent to BIG-LAN@SUVM). This is a user supported list. DISSPLA@TAUNIVM - DISSPLA Users and Maintainers DISSPLA (Display Integrated Software System and Plotting LAnguage) is a high-level FORTRAN graphics subroutine library designed for programmers in engineering, science and business. The list is intended for users and maintainers of DISSPLA. Topics include programming hints, bugs and fixes, implementation on various operating systems and I/O devices. 1 Page 17 ********* * * Helpdesk - a Question and Answer Column * ***** * *** * by Murph Sewall * *** * * *** * University of Connecticut ***** * * * SEWALL@UCONNVM ********* Have a question? Send it to BITLIB@YALEVM! *Q* I have heard that one can send mail to India on BITNET. However, I do not know what nodes are active, and how I can get through. Could you help me? *A* ÕMurph Sewallå India is a BIG place. Consequently, the number of nodes is in the hundreds. Access is via the UUCP network. The "how can I reach India" question comes up regularly on the INFO-NETS list. You can "explore" by getting some of the INFONETS archives and rummaging through the UUCP nodemaps stored on NETSERV and LISTSERV. You can send the following commands to their respective servers: LISTSERV@BITNIC: GET INFONETS LOG8905 GET INFONETS LOG8906 GET INFONETS LOG8907 NETSERV@BITNIC: GET UUCP $HELP GET UUCP $README GET UUCP DUINDIA GET UUCP USAINDIA If you have a SPECIFIC question about how to get mail to a SPECIFIC ADDRESS in India; you can email your question to: info-nets@Think.COM, but please remember that saying "how can I send mail to India?" is rather like saying "how can I send email to California?" Even asking how to reach, say "the University of Bombay" isn't really helpful because you still need the username of someone who's there. The best way to get email addresses from an individual you wish to contact is by telephone or surface mail. 1 Page 18 *Q* I'm fairly new to doing anything but sending mail to other users on BITNET. However, I am now interested in getting access to some files that are on various INTERNET servers. Two questions arise. First, I have been told that the way to get these is to "FTP" them. What is this FTP? Can I do it on BITNET. Second and more generally, is there a way to ask a server at, say, SIMTEL20 on INTERNET to send me files? *A* ÕChris Condonå FTP is the File Transfer Protocol for the Internet. Users in the Internet can "sign on" to FTP servers at various nodes in their network(s) and transfer files. It is very much like dialing up a bulletin board with a PC and downloading files. Many BITNET nodes (for example, YALEVM) are linked to both BITNET and the Internet and can access this feature. The SIMTEL20 server will send you files. You can get more information by sending the server the HELP command. However, you can get many of the same files by using the /PDGET commands on LISTSERV@RPIECS. *Q* Your tip on getting to and from CompuServe was/is wonderfully timely. How about MCI? Can I send mail to it also? Or is that asking too much? *A* ÕChris Condonå You can send mail to MCI by using the DASNET link. I beleive that this will work for many other services as well, such as APPLELINK, BIX, etc. The syntax, as I understand it, looks like this: To: XB.DAS@STANFORD Subject: user@MCI For example, to send mail to my MCI id, your subject would be CMCONDON@MCI. *Q* How do I reply to an address of the form: host!notherhost!yetanotherhost!user@someplace.domain *A* ÕMurph Sewallå UUCP addresses can be somewhat idosyncratic. As a general rule it's better to let the gateway "path alias" software figure it out. When you see an address of: host3!host2!host1!user@node.domain, the user is at 'host1' and user@host1.uucp usually is the most appropriate reply path. Your mailer will 'automagically' convert that to 1 Page 19 user%host.uucp@PSUVAX1 (the UUCP gateway). It's also possible to use: host3!host2!host1!user@PSUVAX1 UUCP is case sensitive (doesn't understand upper case at all). PSUVAX1 will convert addresses of the form user@host.uucp to all lower case, but the other forms are used "as is." If you send PSUVAX1 nothing but lower case in addresses, you'll avoid grief on that account. Generally, those truly messy UUCP addesses get delivered with list mail that's wandered around USENET. Those addresses typically are not the most efficient return path (they often get bounced). UUCP is a hoot, there are few rules which don't have exceptions. When you have trouble with a specific address, send a *detailed* query (exactly what address you're trying to reach) to INFO-NETS@THINK.COM and you'll get help. Eventually, you'll acquire enough experience to answer questions yourself. *Q* I had a question regarding the actual hardware being used by BITNET. Is all the information sent via existing Ma Bell/baby bell lines? And, if so, who pays the bill(s)? And now a pie-in-the-sky query: would it be feasible to use a telecommunications satellite to send all the data and do away with links (and down links), or is the cost just too much? *A* ÕChris Condonå The lines which connect nodes are "conditioned" leased lines (regular phone lines are too noisy) available from AT&T and probably the other long distance companies as well as the local companies. Each university pays the cost of its link to the network. I suppose that it would be feasable to use satellites, but it probably *would* be too expensive to use for everything. Sometimes it just wouldn't make sense, if the next university is only 20 miles away (In the northeast this is the rule, not the exception). *Q* How could we, from Milnet, find the address of someone on Bitnet? *A* ÕMurph Sewallå On BITNET you get what we pay for (practically nothing). NETSERV@BITNIC does have a UDS (User Directory Service), but it's so poorly promoted/publicized/attended-to that your ability to identify folks is slim (I am, last time I checked the ONLY UCONNVM user in the USA directory, and I don't even work for our Computer Center). Your best bet is send email to LISTSERV@MARIST: (subject ignored) /WHOIS string 1 Page 20 Some LISTSERVs (including MARISTs) keep track of everyone who's ever subscribed to any list on that server. LISTSERV@MARIST is the home of one of the largest lists in Christendom (surely the largest on BITNET) - NETMONTH (with almost 5,400 subscribers the last time I checked). Sooo... LISTSERV@MARIST should 'know' almost any BITNET user that's learned how to use LISTSERVs. BUT 1) that's not everyone, and 2) *some* of those names@nodes are obsolete (/WHOIS lists don't seem to have an expiration date). BITNET makes life difficult by not having a consistent postmaster address (such as POSTMAST). You can identify the postmaster (or inforep, or SOMEbody) at each BITNET node by sending email to NETSERV@BITNIC: (subject ignored) GET NODENTRY nodename NETSERV@BITNIC also has BITNET NODELST containing all the nodenames and minimal info about what/where each is. 1 Page 21 ********* * * Feedback - a letters column * ***** * *** * edited by Christopher Condon * *** * * *** * Yale University ***** * * * Send your letters to BITLIB@YALEVM. ********* From: Marcia Miskimen Subject: BITNET and all that Hi. I just read this month's NETMONTH, which I only happened across because I got lucky. Anyhow, I don't know who to contact, but here goes. I will be leaving the University world in a few short weeks, and I will really miss having BITNET. I've only been here a year, but I've learned a lot because of the lists on BITNET (namely REXXLIST and PROFS-L) and the people have been always helpful and usually polite, and I even made some new electronic friends. I just wanted SOMEONE out there to know that I appreciate that BITNET is there and that I don't take it for granted. Happy BITNETting! From: Pierre Wauters Subject: Are User Directory Servers useful? I am a Belgian scientist working in the field of biomedical sciences and specialized in a technique (you have probably never heard of) called "flow cytometry". It is a hot topic in biology and we are many all over the world working in this particular area to the point that there is a journal (Cytometry, Alan R. Liss Inc.) dedicated to flow cytometry, an american organization (SAC: The Society for Analytical Cytology) having thousands of members and also a french organization (ACF: Association de Cytometrie en Flux). The reason I tell you this is that I found quite amazing not to get a single match for the keyword "cytometry" either from ANY COUNTRY NETSERV or from BITSERVE@CUNYVM! There seem to be so many user directory servers that they become useless since you have to know where the person you're looking for has registered (if he has). Or am I wrong ? 1 Page 22 Couldn't you discuss this topic in a future netmonth and tell the people where and how they should register first ? We should also agree on some sort of standard format for the entries. Isn't it possible to build a list of basic keywords the people would choose from. I know, I know . It not so easy ! But I said *basic* . The users would choose one or more keywords from the list and still add one or more words that better describe their interest. Let me take one example: Looking for people sharing my interest in operating systems, shall I look for *operating* for *system* for *OS* ? Some people might have just put *VM/CMS*. * Editor's Response: I agree, this is a problem, and no one seems to have taken it under their wing. Part of the problem goes back to privacy laws: Requiring people to register in servers apparently would cause some legal problems, although the reasons why are beyond me. It seems that each new user directory server that comes out reduces the effectiveness of the others. This is one of those areas where we need either some leadership from the BITNIC or a "white knight" to write and promote a distributed user directory server. 1 Page 23 ********* * * 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 24 * 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." ***************************************************************