Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) on the usenet. This file contains some of the more frequently asked questions on the net. These are the questions answered in this FAQ. If you have any questions, comments or criticism, please e-mail me at stan@vm.temple.edu. This file is also available via anonymous ftp from ftp.temple.edu. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1) What is archie ? 2) What is telnet ? 3) What is FTP ? 4) What are USENET/BITNET/FREENET/FIDONET/UUNET ? 5) What are *.tar files and what can we do with them ? 6) How can we get to compuserve/MCI mail from the internet ? 7) What is the LISTSERV service ? 8) How can I find someone's e-mail address ? 9) What are the *.gif files and how can we view them ? 10) How can I add my "signature" to outgoing mail ? 11) Interactive commands to write and talk to other users. 12) What is gopher & irc ? 13) Books and Periodicals that may be of use. 14) VMS, BITFTP, and those pesky binary files ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1) What is Archie ? Archie is an experimental search engine and database for locating sources on the Internet. In other words, if you know what you are looking for and it is not on your system, then archie provides a way to find out where you can get the file from. There are many ways of accessing archie. If there's an archie client running on your machine, then all you need to do is type "archie" and it will show you the syntax of the command. Otherwise you may telnet to archie.ans.net and login as archie and follow the instructions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2) What is telnet ? Telnet is used to communicate with another host computer using the telnet protocol. For example, if I would like to use the University of Mich. weather underground service, I would type % telnet downwind.sprl.umich.edu 3000 The most common use of telnet is to login to another machine which also has telnet software. Telnet is not operating system dependant. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3) What is FTP ? FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, and as its name implies it is used to transfer files from one computer to another connected over a network. For exmple, if you have an account on a machine and would like to get or put your file there, then you would type %ftp and at the password prompt, type in your password and then type "get file" to obtain a file and "put file" to transfer a file there. Typing ftp without the address of the machine would go into its command mode and have a "ftp>" prompt. To get help at that prompt type "?". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4) What are USENET/BITNET/FREENET/FIDONET/UUNET ? USENET: USENET is the set of machines that exchange articles tagged with one or more universally-recognized labels, called newsgroups. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BITNET: BITnet (Because It's Time Network) is a service of CREN (Corporation for Research and Educational Networking) and consists of computers called nodes at many locations including major educational, research, and corporate institutions in all 50 states and 32 foreign countries. Using BITnet will enable one to communicate electronically with users at any of the other member institutions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FREENET: Freenets are open-access, free, community computer systems. One such system is the Cleveland Freenet. sponsored by CWRU (Case Western Reserve University). Anyone and everyone is welcome to join and take part in the exciting project -...... There's no charge for the registration process and no charge to use the system. *** To register, telnet to any one of : freenet-in-a.cwru.edu freenet-in-b.cwru.edu freenet-In-c.cwru.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FIDONET: An e-mail group of bbs operators. They operate somewhat like a usenet group with various echoes or conferences on different subjects. People call their local BBS with fidonet and leave messages. The local BBS relays these messages to the net so there is world-wide distribution. This is by phone-line and not instantaneous like an internet connection. Mail routing is normally done for 1 hour each day. Thus, it sometimes takes quite a while for messages to travel long distances. But, the system is pretty cheap, so many BBSes are starting to offer it. You may become a "point" off of your local fidonet BBS by just asking the sysop. When you're a point, you can receive mail directed to you personally (like having your own internet/bitnet address). Until then, you can just read the echoes, which are basically just discussion groups under Fidonet. To send mail from the Internet you need the Fidonet zone, area and node Check my signature file below notice that format for fidonet mail. If you want to mail to someone you need that number on the lesft which you then translate to the format on the right.........Good luck! * Fidonet: 1:273/203 Joe.Johnston@f203.n273.z1.fidonet.org * For anyone interested in FidoNet, there is a whole subdirectory called FIDO in the MSDOS directory on SIMTEL20, containing extensive information, including explanation of FidoNet, guide for its nodes, latest Fido BBS, and gateways between FidoNet and Internet (Text files), in addition to programs and utilities (Binary files). To get these files, either FTP to WSMR-SIMTEL20.Army.Mil (192.88.110.20) or send e-mail (with no subject) directly to: BITNET: LISTSERV@NDSUVM1 or LISTSERV@RPIECS Internet: LISTSERV@VM1.NODAK.EDU or LISTSERV@VM.ECS.RPI.EDU In the body of the mail message write the command: /PDGET format PD:filename.filetype encoding where: format is MAIL, NETDATA, BITSEND, or PUNCH. encoding is ASIS, TRANSLATE, UUENCODE, OLDUUE, or XXENCODE. filename.filetype is the name and extension of the file to get. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ UUNET: UUNET is basically the collection of hosts which connect the internet via modem connections and UUCP software. Its a poor mans internet. Often Usenet news is transferred to some sites via UUCP. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5) What are *.tar files and what can we do with them ? *.tar files are tape archive files that are in an archived format to be stored on tape or some other medium. They allow one to store may files, directories and subdirectories in just one file. Usually they are compressed *.tar.Z and one has to first uncompress (using %uncompress ) them and then prompt% tar -xvf name.tar to extract the files from the tar file. The option x is for extraction, v is for verbose and f is for file name (rather than a tape device). If you need more detailed information do a man tar. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6) How can we get to compuserve/MCI mail from the internet ? COMPUSERVE: To e-mail to someone who has a compuserve account from the internet, you should just type mail account_number@compuserve.com at the prompt. For example, if you know that the account # is 12345,6789 then prompt% mail 12345,6789@compuserve.com would do. To access compuserve through the internet, telnet to hermes.merit.edu and type compuserve at the prompt. There is a fee for this internet access which gets added to your compuserve bill. MCIMAIL: A basic mailbox for MCIMail is $35.00 per year and allows unlimited receipt of Internet mail. So getting that file to my Mac cost me just the dime a day basic mailbox charge from MCI! Call MCIMail at 1-800-444-6245 if you want more info on this. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7) What is the LISTSERV service ? Listservs are programs that act as distribution centers for mail messages and documents. These lists generally focus on a specific topic, often indicated by the name of a list. Almost anyone can access a general listserv. Some listservs, due to nature of the topics that they cover, are restricted access, and a prospective subscriber must apply for access. Listservs are handled via the BITNET links. Many internet users also are able to access Listservs via various gateways. There are a number of commands you can send to listserv which will give you information about a list. To review listserv commands send e-mail to listserv@vm.temple.edu (which is the one you seem to know), and in the body of your mail type: GET LISTSERV REFCARD Listserv will send you a reference card of its commands. Pay particular attention to the LIST command which is how you get information about lists. You can obtain a list of the available archive files by sending an "INDEX HELP-NET" command to LISTSERV@TEMPLEVM. These files can then be retrieved by means of a "GET HELP-NET filetype" command, or using the database search facilities of LISTSERV. Send an "INFO DATABASE" command for more information on the latter. More information on LISTSERV commands can be found in the "General Introduction guide", which you can retrieve by sending an "INFO GENINTRO" command to LISTSERV@TEMPLEVM. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8) How can I find someone's e-mail address ? To find someone's email address, the best thing to do is to find the address directly from that person. If you cannot do this, then try the whois database of nic.ddn.mil which has the addresses of many military personnel, as well as some prominent net personalities. To do this type %prompt whois If you dont have a "whois" program on your system then you can telnet to nic.ddn.mil and run the command "whois" once you are logged in. Help is available. Also, you can use the "netfind" service provided by telneting to bruno.cs.colorado.edu and login as netfind. Menus guide you through the process. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9) What are the *.gif files and how can we view them ? GIF stands for Compuserve's Graphic Interchange Format. It is a format for storing images. In order to view these *.gif files, one can either get a gif viewing utility for pc's or view them using xv,xgif,xloadimage on X-stations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10) How can you add "signatures" to your mail ? If you are using elm mailer on unix systems, then all you have 1) put your signature in a .signature file using a text editor and 2) modify your elmrc file so that the parameters "localsignature" and remote "signature" are set to the right files. To add a signature automatically to outgoing mail in CMS, use the new mail92 feature. When you type mail92 you will get into a screen which has the options menu on the title bar. In the "Options" menu, choose "send" and then "settings" and change the "Signature?" option to "automatic", and the "Signature File" option to the name of your signature file. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11) Interactive commands (Tell, write, talk) Tell is the command that is used on CMS machines to write a message to the terminal of aother user who is also logged on to the system. The syntax TELL userid message is as shown above. It will write a one-line message if the other user is logged in. On unix systems the command is write username message [Control-D] The above command will write a message until you type on a line by itself. The tty is necessary if the user is logged in more than once. To "talk" to another user do just that. Just type %talk username ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12) What are gopher, irc ? IRC is an full-screen interface to the internet relay chat system. It lets people talk to others around the world who are on the internet through specialized interest groups. The Internet Gopher is a distributed document delivery service. It allows a neophyte user to access various types of data residing on multiple hosts in a seamless fashion. This is accomplished by presenting the user a hierarchicalarrangement of documents and by using a client-server communi- cations model. The Internet Gopher Server accepts simple queries, and responds by sending the client a document. Gophers frequently include such services as archive ftp searches, on-line books through project gutenberg, News and Phone directories of many universities. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13) Useful Books: Order direct by calling 800-998-9938. (About $25.00) The Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog, by Ed Krol, O'Reilly and Associates "Zen and the Art of the Internet, A beginners guide", 2nd edition, ISBN 0-13-010778-6, by Brendan Kehoe, is available from Computer Literacy in California for $22 US (softbound) You can contact them by: Phone: 408-435-0744 Fax: 408-435-1823 Email: info@.clbooks.com US Mail: 2590 North 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95131 This book is also in the $25,00 range. "Nysernet: New Users Guide to Useful and Unique Resources on the Internet." NYSERNet, 111 College Place, Syracuse, NY 13244-4100, Attn: Joyce Vandenberg Useful Periodicals: Boardwatch Magazine (5970 S. Vivian St., Littleton, CO 80127 - editorial; 7586 West Jewell Ave, Suite 200, Lakewood, CO 80232 - subscription) Subscriptions: 1-800-933-6038; subscribe online at 303-973-4222, monthly, $36/year. Good coverage of bulletin board systems; some coverage of Internet. Internet (ed.): jack.richard@boardwatch.com Computer Underground Digest; "An open forum dedicated to sharing information among computerists and to the presentation and debate of diverse views." Very good articles on a variety of subjects. Issues posted in Usenet's alt.society.cu- digest newsgroup; can also subscribe by sending mail to TK0JUT2@NIU.BITNET. Back issues available via anonymous FTP from chsun1.spc.uchicago.edu which also has other online periodicals. Electronic Networking: Research, Applications and Policy (Meckler Corp., 11 Ferry Lane West, Westport, CT 06880), quarterly, $35/year for individual; research oriented. Matrix News (Suite 500, 701 Brazos, Austin, TX 78701-3243), monthly, $30/year ($20 for students; $40 overseas). Voice: 512-329-1087, FAX: 512-327-1274, Email: mids@tic.com Emphasizes Internet information, policy-oriented. "Netmonth." This is "the independent guide to Bitnet." It is an electronic monthly magazine. To subscribe, send email to LISTSERV@MARIST and in the body, type SUBSCRIBE NETMONTH Your_real-name, replacing Your_real_name by your name--not your userid or account name. A list of the currently available mailing lists is available in at least two places: the first is in a file on ftp.nisc.sri.com called 'interest-groups' under the netinfo/ directory. It's upadated fairly regularly, but is large (around 840K), so only get it every once in a while. The other list is maintained by Gene Spafford and is posted in parts to the newsgroup news.lists semi-regularly" -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) VMS, BITFTP, and those pesky binary files. Well I found this to be a significant problem, also. The help file the BITFTP@PUCC ships out tells you about how to fix it. I personally found this rather tedious, so I decided to automate the process by writing a small DCL program to do it for me (I am lazy by nature). The problem has to do with the VMS carriage_control attribute getting mangled when the file is sent through other computer types. It MUST be 'none' for the file to be usable on a PC or a MVS machine. The DCL program does it all for you! Once the file that you requested from BITFTP@PUCC gets into your RECEIVE directory -- you would type --> @FB. Then it'll create and/or move to a directory called [.FB] and do all of it's work there -- heck it even cleans up it's mess. The only problem with it is that you need double the room of the file, but you would if you were doing it by hand. The process has to make a brand-new file. Sorry, I can't do anything about it..... The program also has more 'how-to' info (1 or 2 pages inside the file) than the actual code that does the conversion (about 26 lines). You may feel free to contact me if you have any difficulties with it. The command to get this DCL program is (VMS) send listserv@templevm get fb com help-net I hope that it helps you fokls out! Bob Martin -- acsmartin@eku.bitnet or acsmartin@acs.eku.edu -----------------------------------------------------------------------