inovace "NSF Network News"

Vladimir Vrabec vrabec at cs.felk.cvut.cz
Wed May 18 17:39:23 CEST 1994


Vazeni pratele,

prave vyslo prve cislo (MARCH/APRIL Vol. 1, No. 1) inovovaneho casopisu
"NSF NETWORK NEWS" vydavaneho v ramci "InterNIC Information Services".
Prikladam jak puvodni informaci tak i obsah prveho cisla s prispevkem o nove
gopherske indexovaci sluzbe (porizeno z WWW verze). Gopherska verze zatim
neni k dispozici, prislusne menu na "is.internic.net" obsahuje pouze starou,
srpnovou verzi jeste neinovovaneho casopisu z minuleho roku. Tu rovnez
prikladam. Zdravi
                             Vladimir Vrabec

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
***** 1. PUVODNI INFORMACE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 12 May 1994 10:56:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: Karen D. Frazer <kfrazer at is.internic.net>
To: newsletter-dist at is.internic.net
Subject: Mar/Apr issue of _NSF Network News_

Below is your latest issue of the _NSF Network News_!

Thank you for subscribing to the _NSF Network News_, InterNIC (SM)
Information Services' bimonthly publication for the Internet community
which aims to provide up-to-date information on the evolution of the
NSFNET and Internet. The goals of the _NSF Network News_ are to educate
Internet users about network issues, resources, and tools; to announce
new and innovative uses of the Internet; and to inform the Internet
community about the activities of the InterNIC. This bimonthly
newsletter is provided free to nearly 5,000 subscribers in the United
States and 44 countries around the world.

Be sure to try the _NSF Network News_ on the WorldWideWeb at
http://www.internic.net/newsletter/.  This online version includes full
text, graphics, and animation to bring you the newsletter in an exciting
new way.  Issues of the _NSF Network News_ are also available on the
InfoGuide via gopher and anonymous FTP at is.internic.net. (For more about
the InfoGuide, see below.)

Please send suggestions for improving electronic delivery to
newsletter-comments at internic.net.

Copyright (c) 1994 by General Atomics.  See the end of the newsletter for
copyright and reprint information.


***********************************************************************
*                                                                     *
*                            NSF NETWORK NEWS 		              *
*                                                                     *
* MARCH/APRIL Vol. 1, No. 1		       Available in hardcopy  *
* Published by InterNIC 		      and electronic formats  *
* Information Services                            ISSN 1072-5172      *
*                                                                     *
***********************************************************************

Inside this Issue:

The Global Schoolhouse Project
Awards Made for New NSFNET Architecture
Bunyip's New Gopher Indexing Service
Tony Rutkowski New Director of Internet Society
A Report on the Asia-Pacific NIC
How the Internet Stood Up to the Earthquake
Registration Services Update
Connectivity Maps Available on the New InfoGuide
InterNIC Event Calendar
Notes From Directory and Database Services
Seminar Spotlight

[materal deleted]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The _NSF Network News_, ISSN # 1072-5172 is published bimonthly in
electronic and hard copy formats by InterNIC (SM) Information Services,
provided by General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, CA, 92186-9784.
The goal of this publication is to educate Internet users about network
issues, resources, and tools;  announce new and innovative uses of the
Internet; and inform the Internet community of the activities of the
InterNIC. Domestic subscriptions:  Free. International hardcopy
subscriptions: $30/year for postage and handling.

To subscribe, send email to newsletter-request at is.internic.net.  Please
send questions, comments, and suggestions to
newsletter-comments at is.internic.net.

Archived issues are available on the InfoGuide via email, ftp, gopher,
WAIS, and telnet (is.internic.net).  For information about reprints and
permissions, please contact the editors in any of the following ways:
send mail to the address above; call +1.619.455.4600; or send email to
newsletter-comments at is.internic.net.

Editor:               Paul W. Wilson
Associate Editor:     Karen D. Frazer

Contributors: Janet Jaquis, AT&T; John Zalubski, Network Solutions Inc.;
Susan Calcari and Gail McPartland, General Atomics.

Copyright 1994 by General Atomics. Printed in the United States.
Permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of the
following statement: "This article is reprinted with permission from the
NSF Network News, published by InterNIC Information Services."  This
newsletter and its contents may not be sold for profit or incorporated
in commercial documents without the written permission of the copyright
holder. All brand and product names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders. This material is based on work
sponsored by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement
No. NCR-9218749.  The Government has certain rights in this material.
Any  opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in
this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation, General Atomics,
AT&T, or Network Solutions Inc.

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***** 2. OBSAH PRVEHO CISLA a CLANEK [4]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       MARCH/APRIL 1994 NSF NETWORK NEWS

  VOL. 1, NO. 1

[1]In This Issue

   The Global Schoolhouse Project:  Teachers and Students Learning Together in
   Cyberspace[2],  by Susan Calcari.  The InterNIC (SM) Info Scout interviews
   two key players in the Global Schoolhouse Project, Yvonne Andres and Jane
   Dunlap Smith.

   Awards Made For New NSFNET Architecture:  Sprint Challenges NSF's Choice for
   vBNS[3],  by Karen D. Frazer.  A news brief on the National Science
   Foundation's annoucement of awardees to build, operate and maintain the new
   NSFNET.

   Bunyip Information Systems, Inc. introduces their new gopher indexing service
   in  New Gopher Indexing Service Coming From Buynip, Inc.[4]

   News Bulletin:  Anthony (Tony) Rutkowski is Named Executive Director of the
   Internet Society.[5]

   David Conrad of the Asia-Pacific Network Information Center  gives us an
   update on  A NIC For The Asia-Pacific Region[6], including a 109 K
   connectivity map[7]  for the Asia-Pacific region.

   Find out How the Internet Stood Up to the Earthquake[8]  in Southern
   California, in an article by Pushpendra Mohta of CERFnet.[9]

   InterNIC Registration Services gives us an update[10], by John Zalubski of
   Network Solutions Inc.

   Introducing The InfoGuide[11], InterNIC's new online information server.
   Paul Phillips of InterNIC Information Services tells us about the
   capabilities and information that are available  in the new InfoGuide.
   Included in this article the NSF Network News  is proud to present a map of
   Networks Connected to the U.S. Internet by State[12],  in still frame.  The
   InfoGuide also contains a map of NSFNET traffic in digitized video
   (MPEG)[13]. These maps were contributed by Jarom Smith of InterNIC
   Information Services, drawing on his work for the  San Diego Supercomputer
   Center[14].

   The NSF Network News chronicles the growth of the Internet and NSFNET in its
   maps. In this issue we are proud to present Larry Landweber's International
   Connectivity Map[15], done under the auspices of the Internet Society.

   See the InterNIC Event Calendar[16] for dates and locations of upcoming
   InterNIC seminars and Internet-related events.

   We also have Notes from InterNIC Directory and Database Services.[17]

   The InterNIC Training Director, Gail McPartland, gives the NSF Network News
   the first of a series of Seminar Spotlights[18], articles which highlight
   various components of the InterNIC Seminar Series.[19]

   The InfoGuide can be accessed in a variety ways in addition to the
   WorldWideWeb. See  Contacting the InfoGuide[20] for more information.

   The NSF Network News masthead[21]  offers general information about the
   newsletter, including a list of contributors, copyright information, and how
   to contact us.

   ___________________

        Copyright 1994 General Atomics.  Permission to copy or use is hereby
        granted subject to inclusion of the following statement: "This article
        is reprinted with permission from the NSF Network News, published by
        InterNIC Information Services."  This newsletter and its contents may
        not be sold for profit or incorporated in commercial documents without
        the written permission of the copyright holder.  For additional
        information, see the  masthead[23].
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[4]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              NEW GOPHER INDEXING SERVICE COMING FROM BUNYIP, INC.

by Alan Emtage

   Over the next few months, Bunyip Information Systems will deploy a new gopher
   indexing service which will allow you to perform searches of menu items you
   have become accustomed to seeing in your travels through "gopherspace". The
   new service will be distributed to the general Internet community in the same
   way as our widely used archie system and will be accessed via standard gopher
   clients. Your first question may be "How does it compare to the VERONICA
   system, which performs a similar function?" (Please note that this new system
   is not called "VERONICA", a play on "archie". The name was originally derived
   from the word "archive", not the comic book character).

   To answer that question, it helps to understand a little about how the archie
   system works. Although most people don't realize it, an archie server
   collects (directly) only a fraction of the total data available. There are
   now over 30 archie servers in operation worldwide and each has been given
   responsibility for collecting data from anonymous archive sites in its own
   part of the world. Every night, through a coordinated system, archie servers
   "wake up" and exchange data with one another.

   For example, the server in Australia contacts a server in Boston and sends it
   all of the Australian anonymous FTP archive data it collected that day. In
   turn, the server in Boston gives the Australian server all the data it has
   collected both directly and from other archie servers around the globe. The
   Boston server then makes the Australian data available to other servers at
   the other 30 or so sites. Through this mechanism, network traffic is reduced
   (all the servers in Europe don't have to collect data from every Australian
   anonymous FTP site, pulling the same data across the Pacific several times)
   and each site need only be concerned directly with a part of all the archive
   sites worldwide.

   The new Gopher indexing service will gather and distribute information
   through the same mechanism. As a result, the indices can be updated more
   often than existing services (which do periodic "sweeps" from central
   locations) and therefore the information searched will be more current. The
   full range of archie search  functions (substring, exact and regular
   expressions), plus a few  extra will also be available.

   The new gopher index servers are expected to be made available to the
   community in the same way as archie - the service will be included in the
   standard archie license and the licensees will allow access from the Internet
   community. The "end user" will access the gopher index through his/her own
   gopher client. The service will appear as a small gopher tree with search
   menu items. Once a desired item is found, you will be able to select the item
   and connect directly with the gopher server which originally provided the
   information. As with the anonymous FTP database, we will only index sites
   which have given permission specifically for us to do so - no surprises in
   finding your gopher server being advertised over the Internet without your
   knowledge.

   While the archie system is available through gopherspace now, it can be quite
   slow due to the gateways between the gopher server that you are using and the
   archie server that actually processes the query. Since all archie servers
   potentially will have gopher interfaces under the new system, this should
   become much less of an issue. Last but not least, because of the number of
   archie servers available (and more coming online all the time) you should
   always be able to find a gopher index which returns up-to-date information in
   a timely manner.

   If you would like more information, or to find out how to add your site to
   the index, send mail to gopher-index-info at bunyip.com.

   Alan Emtage (bajan at bunyip.com[1]) is co-creator of the archie Internet
   directory service and co-founder of Bunyip Information Systems, where he
   holds the position of Vice-President, Research and Development.

   ___________________

        Copyright 1994 General Atomics.  Permission to copy or use is hereby
        granted subject to inclusion of the following statement: "This article
        is reprinted with permission from the NSF Network News, published by
        InterNIC Information Services."  This newsletter and its contents may
        not be sold for profit or incorporated in commercial documents without
        the written permission of the copyright holder.  For additional
        information, see the  masthead[3].

   Return to March/April Home Page[4] Next article: Tony Rutkowski is named
   Executive Director of ISOC.[5]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
***** 3. SRPNOVE CISLO z 1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================================
InterNIC Information Services                            Hotline: 800-444-4345
General Atomics (GA)                               Email: info at is.internic.net
P.O. Box #85608                                            Phone: 619-455-4600
San Diego, CA 92186-9784                                     FAX: 619-455-4640
==============================================================================
Date Updated: 10/11/93

Below please find the September issue of the _NSF Network News_.
This file contains ASCII text with <Ctrl-L> page breaks.  For
best viewing and printing results, use a 9-pt monospace font.

The _NSF Network News_ contains two maps, the United States and
the International Connectivity Map, which have not been included
due to space considerations.  In order to view the maps, look for
the PostScript version of the _NSF Network News_ on the InfoSource
soon (gopher is.internic.net).

Send suggestions for improving electronic delivery to
newsletter-comments at internic.net.

******************************************************************************
*                            NSF NETWORK NEWS                                *
*                                                                            *
* SEPTEMBER - NO. 13                             Available for delivery in   *
* PUBLISHED BY                                   hard copy, PostScript, and  *
* InterNIC INFORMATION SERVICES                  ASCII formats.  Available   *
*                                                online via the InfoSource   *
*                                                at is at internic.net          *
******************************************************************************

Inside this Issue:

InterNIC Information Services
InterNIC Bookstore
InterNIC Seminars
Directory and Database Services
Directory and Database Access
Registration Services
NIC Fest '93

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

InterNIC: ONLINE AND READY TO SERVE YOU

On April 1, 1993, InterNIC began helping users and non-users from across the
Internet and around the world.  The toll-free  hotline connected a steady
stream of callers with the InterNIC services:

*  Information Services started helping new and inexperienced users find out
more about the Internet.

*  Directory and Database Services began providing Directory Services,
Database Services, and access to the Directory of Directories.

*  Registration Services started assigning IP and Domain addresses.

The stream soon turned into a flood.  Showing increased interest in the
Internet, several major newspapers have published  articles about the Internet
over the past few months.  The articles, which included the InterNIC hotline
number, have  resulted in a deluge of calls from people wanting to get
connected to the Internet.  The first point of contact for most new users, the
Information Services Reference Desk received over 3000 calls in a ten- day
period in August as a result of articles appearing in the Los Angeles Times and
the New York Times. This increased volume was 300% greater than the largest
previous weekly average, a clear indication of the need for the services the
InterNIC was created to provide.

In terms of the geographic impact of the InterNIC, the Reference Desk has
received email messages from 29 countries representing 6 of the 7 continents.
(we think that Antarctica may not have heard of the InterNIC yet.)  The _NSF
Network News_ has an even wider audience. The total number of subscriptions is
nearing 5000 and includes readers from 44 countries, all 50 of the United
States, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Beginning with this issue, Information Services has taken over publication of
the _NSF Network News_ from the NNSC. The  activities and services of the
InterNIC will be a new theme of the _NSF Network News_. While this issue
focuses on introducing the services of the InterNIC, future issues of the
newsletter will continue to report on the growth of the NSFNET and the
Internet. The connectivity maps will continue to appear, as will articles on
network tools and resources.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NNSC: HAIL AND FAREWELL                                       by Stephen Wolff

In the second year of the NSFNET program (1986), when the Backbone, running at
56 kb/s, came up with five Fuzzball nodes, the NSF made an award to the
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), with a substantial
subaward to BBN, to establish  and operate an ÒNSFNET Network Service Center.
The award combined BBN's talents and skills honed in operating CSNET for six
years with UCAR's background in dealing with supercomputer users.

At the same time, regional networks were being established to serve the
academic community, often with shoestring funding from the NSF. The NNSC staff
not only worked with regionals to help them get up and running, they also
served the user community by keeping the regionals and their many campuses on
track by counseling their expanding base of end users, as well as by
promulgating a list of phone numbers and email addresses of points of contact
and other responsible persons of the regionals. This list subsequently grew
into to the first Internet Manager's Phonebook.  A generation of networkers
learned the basics of the DNS from the NNSC, and nnsc.nsf.net served as primary
or secondary nameserver for a staggering  number of new networks.

The NNSC staff represented NSFNET interests at networking meetings when the
ARPANET and MILNET were still the big kids on the block. When it became clear
that folks were using NSFNET for more than just supercomputer access, the NNSC
beat the bushes and published the first Internet Resource Guide. They
experimented with hypercard stacks for training, and they commissioned an
esoteric NSFNET poster that is still in demand by non-computer-scientists and
other suit-wearing persons.

In that "prespecialization" era, the NNSC did it all. They gave in-depth
seminars and training to ecologists, botanists, radiologists, and health
science professionals; to big schools and small and to minority institutions;
in obscure venues as well as in urban centers. They answered the questions of
naive users as well as those of naive government officials, and they coun-
seled and advised nascent network builders, managers, and wannabees the world
over. Dick Edmiston, Laura Breeden, Karen Roubicek, Craig Partridge, Corinne
Carroll and others all spent time "on the phones," and they did it with a
patience and grace and professionalism of which they, BBN and UCAR, and the NSF
are justifiably proud.

And in their spare time, often with little, late, or no funding from the NSF,
they produced the _NSF Network News_ which chronicled in its centerfold the
growth of the NSFNET community, and to which this new publication is the proud
successor.

<Dr. Stephen Wolff is the Director of the NSF's Division of Networking and
Communications Research and Infrastructure.>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
InterNIC INFORMATION SERVICES:  YOUR GUIDE THROUGH THE INTERNET

In recent years the Internet has evolved from a specialized network serving
science and academia to a global information highway serving people from all
walks of life.  As a result, it is more and more difficult to find answers to
questions about this expanding network of resources.  Need to know how to get
connected to the Internet?  How to locate resources?  Want to know what tools
are available on the Internet and how to use them? InterNIC Information
Services (IS) can be your guide.

InterNIC IS, managed by General Atomics, provides three categories of services:
Reference Desk, Education Services, and  Coordination Services.

Reference Desk

The Reference Desk acts as the ÒNIC of first and last resort.Ó
Information Representatives answer ÒstarterÓ questions from
novice users who are unfamiliar
with the Internet, but we also help intermediate and advanced users with their
specialized questions.  You can contact the Reference Desk via the toll-free
hotline, which is staffed Monday through Friday from 6:00  AM to 6:00 PM,
Pacific Time.  After hours, you can leave a message on the  round-the-clock
voice-mail service. Electronic mail, postal mail and fax services  are also
available.

--InfoSource-- A particularly useful resource is the InfoSource, an online col-
lection of Internet reference data. It contains starter materials, references
to network tools, pointers to other Internet groups and service providers, and
much more.  You can access the InfoSource electronically via gopher, WAIS,
archie, telnet, ftp, or electronic mail. For those who don't have access to the
Internet, a summary of InfoSource data is available on a CD-ROM service called
NICLink.  Updated quarterly, NICLink provides a  user-friendly interface with a
hypertext format for easy access to extensive Internet reference information.

Education Services

Although most early Internet users were engineers and computer scientists who
understood the principles of computers and networking, most new users are less
technical.  IS provides training on what the Internet is, and how it can
benefit these users.

--Seminars-- InterNIC IS offers seminars on various topics aimed at new,
intermediate, and advanced users.  These fee-based seminars, held throughout
the country, are often hosted by local network providers or campus
organizations. If you are interested in attending or hosting an Internet
seminar, contact the Reference Desk for more information. See the Seminar
Announcement on page 3 for a list of offerings.

--Publications-- InterNIC Information Services publishes a variety of materials
to keep users up-to-date with current Internet developments. These include the
_NSFNET Network News_, the CD-ROM-based NICLink, InterNIC IS Fact Sheets,  and
electronic mailing lists.  A wide range of books by Internet professionals are
also available.

Coordination Services

InterNIC IS offers services to NIC staff at campuses and network service
providers around the country.  IS provides training materials, documentation
and online services to these organizations, including corporate, government and
international NICs, in order that they may better serve their users.

InterNIC IS supports these organizations by acting as a focal point for
Internet reference information.  Items from the Internet are collected and
redistributed in both electronic and hard copy format.

--NIC Fest-- NIC Fest, a workshop specifically designed for NIC staffers,
brings together individuals from around the country to learn about the latest
network tools, NIC services and projects. NIC personnel from various
organizations interact, exchange experiences and provide direct input to
InterNIC team members.  In this way the InterNIC stays attuned to the needs of
service providers and end users.

InterNIC Liaison Council

Input to the InterNIC also will be provided through the InterNIC Liaison
Council.  Serving a role similar to a Board of  Directors, the Liaison Council
will be composed of individuals from all Internet communities, including
education, government, industry and discipline-specific interests. Liaison
Council members will act as a bridge between their communities and the
InterNIC. They bring the needs of their group to the InterNIC staff, and
return updates and plans for InterNIC IS to their communities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
InterNIC BOOKSTORE

For your convenience, InterNIC Information Services offers a selection of
Internet books from our Bookstore.  Our Bookstore is actually a branch of the
InfoSource, our online information server.  The InfoSource Bookstore contains a
list of the books offered and their descriptions, the price list, and an order
form for ordering via email.

To order books, call our toll-free hotline at 800-444-4345, email a completed
order form to order at is.internic.net, or fax the  order form to us at
619-455-4640. You can use your Mastercard or Visa to pay for your purchase.
Please include $3.00 for shipping and handling. Checks and purchase orders
should be made payable to General Atomics, and must be sent to:

InterNIC Information Services
General Atomics
P.O. Box 85608
San Diego, CA  92186-9784
Attention: Order Desk

List of Books

The Internet Companion                            $10.00
The Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog       $24.00
A Student's Guide to Unix                         $25.00
TCP/IP Network Administration                     $27.00
Campus Strategies for Libraries and
 Electronic Information                           $31.00
Exploring the Internet: A Technical Travelogue    $26.00
Zen and the Art of the Internet                   $22.00
Connecting to the Internet:
An O'Reilly Buyer's Guide                         $15.95


              *******************************************
              *                                         *
              *                                         *
              *               EDUCOM '93                *
              *        Crafting New Communities         *
              *                                         *
              *  October 17-20, 1993 * Cincinnati, Ohio *
              *                                         *
              *                                         *
              * For more information call 202-331-5375  *
              *     or send email to CONF at EDUCOM.EDU    *
              *                                         *
              *                                         *
              *******************************************

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNOUNCING THE InterNIC SEMINAR SERIES:  TRAINING FOR RESIDENTS OF THE GLOBAL
VILLAGE


InterNIC IS offers a series of seminars covering a range of topics for new,
intermediate, and advanced Internet users. These courses are intended for the
benefit of staff and users of midlevel, regional, or campus networks.  InterNIC
IS will be hosting these seminars throughout the year in cooperation with NICs,
campuses, government agencies, and network service providers.

Currently the series includes:

*  Welcome to the Global Village: An Introduction to the Internet

*  Locating Information on the Internet: Using Network Tools Effectively

*  Building an Electronic Network Information Center: Implementing Network
     Tools

*  Building a Distributed Directory: Establishing an X.500 Directory System
     Agent

*  Hello Internet: Tools for the Classroom

*  Making and Managing Global Learning Projects: Using the Internet
     Effectively in the Classroom

Detailed descriptions of each seminar are available online in the InfoSource.
Several of the courses offered can be tailored to accommodate the staff and
members of a given organization. Additional classes will be added as requested.

Instructors for all seminars are Internet leaders with years of experience
teaching the given topic. Class content has been tested and reviewed by
InterNIC staff members. All seminars will be updated regularly to keep pace
with the fast changing Internet environment.

If your organization is interested in scheduling or hosting a seminar, or if
you would like to attend, please contact InterNIC IS at 800-444-4345.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIRECTORY AND  DATABASE SERVICES:   A ROAD MAP THROUGH THE INTERNET

Over the years, the Internet has grown tremendously, now representing over
13,000 networks used by an estimated 15 million people. Once you are connected
to the Internet, you have access to an almost indescribable wealth of
information.

All kinds of users need to know how to find what they're looking for on the
Internet:  A college student doing a thesis; a  doctor who needs to discuss a
case with an expert in a specific area of medicine; a university professor who
needs to remain current; a chef who needs a special spice... Even more
experienced users are getting lost in the uncharted frontiers of the Internet.
As the user profile has grown more diverse, so has the array of resources.

InterNIC Directory and Database Services is your road map through this mas-
sive "library". InterNIC Directory and Database Services will serve as your
pointer to numerous resources on the network through the following services:

Directory of Directories

The Directory of Directories enables even novice users to obtain references to
information, resources, products and services associated with the Internet.  It
includes pointers to such resources as computing centers, network providers,
information servers, white and yellow page directories, library catalogs, data
and software archives, training services, etc., and Directory Services are
actively working to add new entries.

Directory Services

Directory Services provide you with white and yellow pages-type services
allowing for easy access and communications with other people and
organizations, as well as providing you with large volumes of information at
your fingertips.  Directory Services' X.500 System is registered with the White
Pages pilot, and is being populated with registration information.

Database Services

Database Services provides three categories of materials:  documents recom-
mended or contributed by the National Science Foundation, such as introductory,
tutorial and policy documents; communications documents such as RFCs and
Internet drafts; and databases supplied by other groups.

If you have a resource who would like to be listed in the Directory of
Directories, or a database you would like to share with the Internet community,
please contact the Directory and Database Administrator at 800-862-0677,
908-668-6587 or send electronic mail to admin at ds.internic.net.  Special
arrangements for customized database, and database design, maintenance and
management are also available.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCESS MADE EASY

Access to the InterNIC Directory and Database server will be freely available
to  all Internet users 24 hours a day, 7 days a  week. The server is a UNIX
processor and can be accessed with host name ds.internic.net. It contains the
files and databases which make up the Directory of Directories, Directory
Services and Database Services. Several different interfaces are available to
allow easy access to these services for both sophisticated and novice users.

1.     WAIS

The Wide Area Information Server (WAIS) client/server application (developed by
Thinking Machines, Inc. and others) is implemented to allow WAIS searching of
text files stored on the server. The server is registered at the central WAIS
server maintained by Thinking Machines, Inc. at quake.think.com. Our WAIS
server may be accessed by remote WAIS clients or through a local WAIS client
available through telnet. Just telnet to ds.internic.net and login as user id
"wais". No password is required. This client contains an online tutorial and
help information for all commands.

2.     Archie

The archie system, developed by Bunyip Information Systems, Inc., is also
implemented to allow searches of the Directory and Database server directory
structure.  Archie is accessible through telnet (login with user id "archie",
no password required) or electronic mail (send mail to archie at ds.internic.net).
Archie's online help facilities are available for the new user.

3.     X.500 DUA and NETFIND

The X.500 QUIPU Directory Service Agent (DSA) and an X.500 Directory User Agent
(DUA) are implemented to allow searching for white pages listings of  persons
or organizations currently participating in Internet X.500 pilot projects. The
DUA may be accessed via telnet by logging in as user "x500". No password is
required and online help is provided. The DSA may also be accessed from any
remote DUA. A NETFIND client is also available to get information about
individuals. Telnet to ds.internic.net and login as user "netfind". Again, no
password is required.

4.     Tutorial Telnet Client

A special tutorial login is available to allow new users to access any of the
online services on the Directory and Database server without the specific login
id. Just telnet to ds.internic.net and login as "guest" (no password
required). The tutorial will guide the user through the various services and
connect him/her to the client they request.

5.     Anonymous FTP

All files accessible through the telnet clients listed above are available
using anonymous FTP.

6.     Electronic Mail

An electronic mail application, developed by AT&T, is available which provides
batch access to our services. To obtain user information, send mail to
mailserv at ds.internic.net and include the command HELP in the body of the
message.

7.     Gopher

The InterNIC gopher services are accessible through internic.net on port 70.
All databases are WAIS indexed and can be searched from the gopher menu.

8.     Whois

A whois server, developed by AT&T, is available which provides a unified access
point to the three official Internet whois servers for person and organization
queries. The server, which accepts queries to the standard whois port, searches
the InterNIC Directory and Database Services server for non-Mil domain and
non-Point-Of-Contact (nonPOC) data, the DISA NIC server for MIL domain data and
the InterNIC Registration Services (RS) server for POC data. The results from
all three searches are returned to the user.

The Directory Services whois server is accessed via the "whois" command using
the -h <host name> option as follows

whois -h ds.internic.net ".smith, john"

For detailed information regarding the  query syntax, as well as general server
information, use the following command:

whois -h ds.internic.net help

Additional access interfaces will be added in the future. If you are interested
in more information about access to InterNIC Directory and Database Services,
or wish to have your database included in the InterNIC database, please contact
the Directory and Database Administrator at  800-862-0677, 908-668-6587 or send
electronic mail to admin at ds.internic.net.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
InterNIC REGISTRATION  SERVICES

Joining the Internet Community

After learning about the tremendous range of services and resources available
on the Internet, most people elect to get connected.  At that point, InterNIC
Registration Services (RS) takes over.  Administered by Network Solutions
Incorporated, a leading network integration firm, Registration Services assists
in registering domains, IP addresses, autonomous system numbers (ASN) and
inverse addresses.  RS also provides users with assistance on policy issues and
the status of their existing registration  requests.  The role, capabilities,
and various activities of RS concerning registration are as follows:

--Administer the IP address space and interpret policy and guidance to the
Internet community concerning address allocations.

--Register top- and second-level domains and produce the root zone file three
times each week (Monday,  Wednesday and Friday). RS also administers a root
domain server, rs.internic.net.

--Provide a whois service to the Internet community.  Whois is an electronic
"white pages" of Internet network entities such as domains, IP addresses,
ASNs, and their associated points of contact.

--Operate, maintain, and administer the registration host computer
rs.internic.net.  This host computer is a Sun SparcServer running the Sun
operating system and is accessible via a T-1 link.

--Provide various online documents, including registration-related RFCs,
templates and various network information files.  Many of the online document
files are available through our automatic mail service,
mailserv at rs.internic.net.

Access

RS provides toll-free telephone assistance Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to
7:00 PM Eastern Time.  RS staff answer questions concerning policy issues and
provide a status of current requests.  Gopher and WAIS interfaces are available
to query for information on the registration host computer.  Using gopher,
users can obtain information on registration and access archival data, netinfo
files and policy related documents.  The WAIS interface enables a user to
access the whois database and search using a specific search string.

Domain Name Registration

RS will administer the ROOT domain, top-level country domains and second- level
domains under .us, .edu, .gov, .org, .com, and .net. In addition, RS will
assist groups such as K-12 educators by explaining the basic concepts of the
domain naming system, offering suggestions on naming conventions and
recommending appropriate documents for further information.

Name Server Registration

RS will register any new name servers that are specified for a domain.  At
minimum, this information will include the fully qualified name and IP address
of the server.

Network Number Assignments

A vital link to proper network operation is the dispensing of unique network
numbers (IP addresses).  RS conducts comprehensive checks and balances to help
ensure that the numbers it assigns are completely accurate.

Autonomous System Number Assignments

ASNs allow organizations to manage their networks and interfaces to the Inter-
net.  The application for an ASN requires information on administrative and
technical points of contact (POCs) along with specification of the networks to
be interconnected.

Point Of Contact (POC) Registration

It is necessary to register at least one person as the POC for each domain,
network, name server and autonomous system.  Each POC record will contain a
full name and several "addresses" where the POC can be reached by post, phone,
fax or email. POC records will be kept in a separate database associated with
the appropriate network entity.

Registration Help Services

Registration Services personnel are available 12 hours a day, 5 days a week, to
process incoming registration requests in a timely manner, to answer questions
regarding policy and procedures, and to provide in-depth information on
registration issues.  Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) will respond to
queries received by phone, email, fax or postal mail, and will open a
"call-ticket" for each query.  In some cases, the CSR will  forward the query
to another Network Information Center/Network Operation  Center (NIC/NOC), but
in all cases, the CSR will maintain responsibility for helping to ensure that
the caller's questions are answered satisfactorily.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NIC FEST 93                                                   by Susan Calcari


InterNIC Information Services, in cooperation with the SIGUCCS Networking  Task
Force, announces the first annual NIC Fest to be held Saturday, November  6, in
conjunction with ACM SIGUCCS '93 in San Diego.  Register now for the  day-long
workshop designed for network information center management and staff, as well
as other personnel who provide support to Internet users.

NIC Fest will offer interactive tutorials and discussions on topics of
immediate relevance to NIC personnel. The goal is to leave you informed and
up-to-date on NIC tools, projects, and futures. Instructors will be leading NIC
staffers from around the Internet, including InterNIC Information Services,
Directory and  Database Services, and Registration Services; the Clearinghouse
for Networked Information Discovery and Retrieval (CNIDR); and the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF) User Services Working Group.

Topics to be covered include:

*     The InterNIC:  A major goal of the InterNIC is to provide support to
midlevel and campus NIC organizations.  Therefore the first session of NIC Fest
will be a two-way exchange between the InterNIC and NIC staffers. This is your
chance to hear what the InterNIC is doing and provide input on future services
directly to InterNIC staff.

*     Network Tools : The latest methods for information retrieval, organiza-
tion, and display and how they can be integrated together from the service
provider's perspective.  Jane Smith of the CNIDR will discuss CNIDR and
network tools.

*     NIC Projects around the World : discussions on all the projects currently
underway to make using and managing networked information easier:  IETF, CNI,
RIPE, and more. Panel chair: Joyce Reynolds, IETF Area Working Group Chair -
User Services.

*     Upcoming Developments in Cyberspace : future developments to watch for,
so you can plan ahead.

Attendance at the NIC Fest is encouraged for all attendees of SIGUUCS and all
network information center management, staff, and support personnel including
individuals from campus, government, corporate, and network service providers.
The topics will be approached from the  providers' point of view, and basic
knowledge of the Internet and Internet terms will be assumed.

NIC Fest will be held at the Doubletree Inn, just two blocks from the Pan
Pacific Hotel, the site of the SIGUCCS conference. The registration fee has
been kept low:  only $89.00.

Register soon. A high response to the workshop is expected. For a registration
form, or additional information on NIC Fest '93 or the InterNIC, please contact
InterNIC Information Services at info at internic.net or 800-444-4345, or look in
the InfoSource under Information Services/InterNIC Services.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the _NSF Network News_

_NSF Network News_ is published bimonthly in electronic and hard copy formats
by InterNIC Information Services, provided by General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608,
San Diego, CA, 92186-9784. The goal of this publication is to promote the
activities of the  InterNIC; educate Internet users about network issues,
resources, and tools; and announce new and innovative uses of the Internet.
Domestic subscriptions:  Free. International hardcopy subscriptions:  $30/year
for postage and handling. To subscribe, send email to
newsletter-request at internic.net. Please send questions, comments, and
suggestions to newsletter-comments at internic.net. Archived issues are available
on the InfoSource via email, ftp, gopher, WAIS, and telnet (is.internic.net).

Editor:                     Paul W. Wilson
Associate Editor:           Karen D. Frazer

Contributors:  Janet Jaquis, AT&T; Susan Calcari,  General Atomics.  Special
thanks to Corinne  Carroll, Alanna MacDonald, and Carol Endicott of BBN Systems
& Technologies for their assistance  in transferring this newsletter to
InterNIC.

Copyright 1993 by General Atomics. Printed in the United States. Permission to
copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of the following statement:
"This article is reprinted with permission from _NSF Network News_, published
by InterNIC Information  Services."  This newsletter and its contents may not
be sold for profit or incorporated in commercial  documents without the written
permission of the copyright holder. All brand and product names are  trademarks
or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This material is based on work sponsored by the National Science Foundation
under Cooperative  Agreement No. NCR-9218749. The Government has certain rights
in this material. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations
expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation, General Atomics,  AT&T,
or Network Solutions Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**************************************************
*                                                *
* Contacting the InfoSource                      *
*                                                *
* The InfoSource, InterNIC Information Services' *
* online information server, is available at     *
* is.internic.net.  To access the InfoSource,    *
* use gopher, anonymous ftp, telnet, or mailserv.*
* The InfoSource is also indexed for Archie      *
* and WAIS searches.                             *
*                                                *
**************************************************



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