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