Dear LSTOWN-L readers,
 
Some questions posted to this list suggest (to me at least) that there are
listowners around with little insight in the basics of (bit/inter)networking.
This is not to criticise them (I was one myself, once), but to indicate in
a summary fashion how `the net' provides on-line assistance without having
to ask a large number of fellow list-owners to read another, posted item.
 
(a) BITNET
 
Site information is available for all known BITNET sites (including those in
integrated nets like EARN, GULFNET, JPNET, NORTHNET) in file BITNET NODELST
(*not* NODELiST!) which can be retrieved from any, but preferably the
nearest NETSERVer.  If you don't know where that is, just send the one-line
request
 
   QUERY SERVICE node_name
 
to NETSERV@BITNIC (USA), NETSERV@HEARN (NL), or any other NETSERVer - usually,
the National node of any country will host an NETSERVer.  If you omit the
node_name, general information is provided only; if a node_name is supplied,
information is also returned which NETSERVer serves that particular node.
Further information can be obtained by sending the requests
 
   SEND NETSERV REFCARD
   SEND BITNET NODELST
   SEND NODENTRY node_name
 
to a NETSERVer.  Thus, in the case of the recent query on McMasters Univer-
sity in Hamilton, Ont/CND, I first scanned my archive copy of BITNET NODELST
for McMaster (8 chars at most!), and subsequently retrieved its NODENTRY as
copied below.
 
Admittedly, POSTMAST@MCMASTER is all-right, but the NODENTRY provides all
sorts of additional information, including (depending on local policy) which
persons (with email addresses, tel and/or fax numbers) are responsible for
particular tasks.
 
The address POSTMAST on BITNET sites, and postmaster on Internet sites should
always work.  However, notes to identified persons tend to be replied to
sooner: even networkers are human!
 
(b) Internet
 
Some NODENTRY items now contain a BITNET site's equivalent Internet addres;
this can be useful if one wishes to know whether a particular BITNET
site has FTP and/or TELNET/RLOGIN.  Thus, MCMASTER.BITNET is known as
sscvax.cis.mcmaster.ca on the Internet.
 
Lacking such information, one could TELNET to nic.ddn.mil and use its WHOIS
service.  For information on public-access, anonymous FTP sites, one can
TELNET (email and FTP exist, too) into archie.mcgill.ca and some fellow-
archies world-wide, login as archie, and issue a list command, e.g.,
 
   list \.nl$
 
will provide known anonyomus FTP servers in The Netherlands.  Unfortunately,
the various archies are not very synchronized, so it may be useful to try
some other archie as listed in the opening screen of the first, selected
archie.
 
Users on BITNET without access to the Internet can invoke a server at
Princeton University: just send HELP to BITFTP@PUCC for further details.
 
(c) UUCP/EUnet:
 
Various FTP servers have country/statewise organized databases on sites
under subdirectories uumap(s), usually in (Unix) compressed format; one
of them is psi.com in Reston/Va/USA.
 
 
Finally, some useful books on networking were recently published by Digital
Press, 12 Crosby Drive, BEDFORD, MA 01730, USA, +1(800)343-8321:
 
- John S. Quarterman (1990), The Matrix - Computer Networks and Conferencing
  Systems Worldwide, ISBN 1-55558-033-5 (DP, 0-13-565607 (PH)
 
- Tracey L. LaQuey, Ed. (1990), The User's Directory of Computer Networks,
  ISBN 1-55558-047-5 (DP), 0-13-950262-9 (PH).
 
 
Regards -- Herman J. Woltring, Biomch-L moderator.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
:node.MCMASTER :a_member.1280 Main Street West;Hamilton, ON  CA;L8S 4K1
:admin.p_cwu :connect.19840919 :country.CA :dir.p_jbryce :fclass.N :fformat.ND
:internet.sscvax.cis.mcmaster.ca :lastup.REP 19890621 someone@MCMASTER
:links1.TANDEM(P,1M) UTORVM(P,64K) :machine.DEC VAX 6420
:member.McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada :memdate.19840919
:net.NETNORTH :netsoft.JNET
:nodedesc.McMaster University Computing and Information Services :nodenum.0326
:nsv.CA :p_cwu.Colin Wu;WUCOLIN@MCMASTER;+1 416 525.9140 x4050
:p_dklama.Dennis Klama;KLAMA@MCMASTER;+1 416 525.9140 x4025
:p_jbryce.Jim Bryce;BRYCE@MCMASTER;+1 416 525.9140 x3048 :ref.MCMASTER
:routtab.JNET (NETSERV,POSTMAST@MCMASTER)
:servers1.SMTPUSER@MCMASTER(MAIL,PU,M,BSMTP,p_jdipaolo) :system.VMS :type.NJE
:cks.50197 :netop.p_dklama
:p_jdipaolo.John Dipaolo;POSTMAST@MCMASTER;+1 416 525.9140 x4090