Article 733 of alt.answers: Newsgroups: alt.internet.services,alt.answers,news.answers Path: batcomputer!caen!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!uunet!nwnexus!a2i!news From: savetz@rahul.net (Kevin Savetz) Subject: Internet Services Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (FAQ) Message-ID: Followup-To: alt.internet.services Summary: This posting lists frequently asked questions and answers about Internet services. It should be read by anyone wishing to post to the newsgroup "alt.internet.services". Sender: news@rahul.net (Usenet News) Nntp-Posting-Host: bolero Reply-To: savetz@rahul.net Organization: a2i network Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1993 10:00:09 GMT Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu Lines: 861 Xref: batcomputer alt.internet.services:8050 alt.answers:733 news.answers:11643 Archive-name: internet-services/faq Last-Modified: 1993/8/9 Version: 1.2 INTERNET SERVICES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Version 1.2 - 9 August, 1993 *** COPYRIGHT NOTICE This document is Copyright 1993 by Kevin M. Savetz. All rights reserved. Permission for non-commercial distribution is hereby granted, provided that this file is distributed intact, including this copyright notice and the version information above. Permission for commercial distribution may be obtained from the editor. SHARE THIS INFORMATION FREELY AND IN GOOD FAITH. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT. *** CHANGES IN THIS VERSION: Added section 0.4: WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION IS ON THE INTERNET? (And, WHY ISN'T THERE AN ENCYCLOPEDIA ON THE INTERNET?) Moved old encyclpedia info from 2.7 to 0.4. 2.1: Updated info about mailing to America Online. 3.5: Updated author info for INTERNET: GETTING STARTED *** HOW AM I DRIVING? This document is new and in transition. If you notice that a frequently asked question is missing, please send it (and the answer!) to the editor for inclusion in this article. Text in [square brackets] indicates unanswered questions and problems in this document. If you know the answer or have a comment, e-mail the editor. Please help me out and send it answers to some unanswered questions - for this FAQ, the best answers are _brief_ ones followed by information on where to go for more detailed information. [Someone sent me info on mailing to WWIVnet, but I lost it. How do you do it?] [What questions should be here but aren't?] [1. What are mailing lists? What is a listserver, etc?] [2. How big is the Internet?] [Does anyone want to do either of these?] [I have info for: "How do I access the Federal Register?" Gotta add it to the FAQ.] *** TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 0: THE BASICS 0.1: What is the purpose of this document? 0.2: What is alt.internet.services? 0.3: I'm new to the Internet. Where do I start? 0.4: What kind of information is on the Internet? Why isn't there an encyclopedia on the Internet? SECTION 1: WHAT IS...? 1.1: What is Telnet? 1.2: What is anonymous FTP? 1.3: What is Usenet? 1.4: What is finger? 1.5: What is IRC? 1.6: What is Alex/Archie/Gopher/Hytelnet/Netfind/Prospero/ Veronica/WAIS/WHOIS/WWW/X.500? 1.7: What is MUD/MUSH/MOO/MUCK/DUM/MUSE, etc.? SECTION 2: HOW DO I...? 2.1: How do I send mail from the Internet to another network? 2.2: How do I access other systems from the Internet? 2.3: How do I contact a service provider? 2.4: How do I find out someone's e-mail address? 2.5: How do I get a name resolved? 2.6: How do I send e-mail to the White House? 2.7: How do I get stock market information? 2.8: How do I access the Library of Congress? SECTION 3: I NEED INFORMATION ABOUT... 3.1: Where can I get Internet access in my area? 3.2: I need a BBS (on the Internet or in my area)! 3.3: Is there a list of all the Internet services? 3.4: How do I get information about the Internet online? 3.5: What's a good book to read for more information about the Internet? SECTION 0: THE BASICS *** 0.1: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT? The Internet Services Frequently Asked Questions and Answers List (FAQ) is intended to help reduce the number of often asked questions that appear on the newsgroup "alt.internet.services". It helps users with questions by providing instant access to their answers; it helps other readers of the newsgroup, who will have to read fewer of the questions they see over and over again; it helps everyone by (hopefully) reducing bandwidth. This document should help you find answers to frequently asked questions. Usually, the answers are already available on the Net in one or more detailed documents. In these cases, this document will tell the reader where to find the information in question. Thus, when possible, this document will only point you to another document - that one may have the information you need, or it may point you somewhere else. (This may seem annoying at first, but offers multiple benefits. First, it reduces duplicated work. Second, it increases your chances of finding the most current, reliable information. Most importantly, it shows _how_ to find the information you need rather than simply giving you answers. "Teach a man to fish...") This FAQ is purely a volunteer effort. Although every effort has been made to insure that answers are as accurate as possible, no guarantee is implied or intended. The editor and contributors have developed this FAQ as a service to Usenet. We hope you find it useful. Please send your corrections, questions, and comments to the editor, Kevin Savetz, at "savetz@rahul.net" (Internet) or "savetz" (America Online.) Please indicate what version of this document you are referring to. This file is posted weekly to the newsgroup "alt.internet.services" (on the 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th of each month) and posted twice monthly to "news.answers" and "alt.answers" (on the 5th and 19th.) It is also available via anonymous FTP: rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers/internet-services/faq This means to use FTP to open a connection to "rtfm.mit.edu", login as "anonymous", and use your e-mail address as the password. Then, "cd" to the directory "/pub/usenet/news.answers/internet-services" and get the file "faq". This notation is used when appropriate throughout this document. [If I did it right, users of WWW (I think) should be able to point-and-shoot to get listed documents. Someone tell me if it works!] If you do not have FTP access, you can obtain it via email by sending an email message to "mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu" with a line in the body of the message reading "send usenet/news.answers/internet-services/faq". A program at that address will read your mail, process your request, and reply with mail containing the FAQ. *** 0.2: WHAT IS ALT.INTERNET.SERVICES? The following is excerpted from Scott McMahn's (mcmahan@cs.unca.edu) "Welcome to alt.internet.services" charter. [Where on the Net is the full charter available?] The newsgroup "alt.internet.services" was created to handle information about services available on the Internet, for people who have Internet accounts and want to explore beyond their local computers, to take advantage of the wealth of information and services on the net. Services for discussion include: * things you can telnet to (weather, databases, library catalogs...) * things you can FTP (pictures, sounds, programs, data...) * clients/servers (like MUDs, IRC, Archie...) "alt.internet.services" isn't for: * discussion of utility programs like telnet, FTP, mail, and uudecode. * basic new user questions. * pleas for Internet access. (Use alt.internet.access.wanted for this.) This is *NOT* alt.internet.access.wanted or alt.internet.new-users. Before asking a question here: * Ask someone locally! Try the guy siting next to you, your professor, or the system administrator. 9 times out of 10 you won't have to post your question. * Read the Usenet groups "news.newusers.questions" and "news.announce.newusers". * Look through your .newsrc file for a more appropriate group. Questions about mail can go to "comp.mail.misc". Questions about access can go to "alt.internet.access.wanted". And so on. alt.internet.services is *not* some kind of default group to go to if you can't find any others. * Ask yourself: Is this question about a service I can access through the Internet? If so, post. *** 0.3: I'M NEW TO THE INTERNET. WHERE DO I START? Welcome to the wonderful world of the Internet. Although this document may answer some of your basic questions, the Usenet newsgroup "alt.internet.services" isn't the place for questions like "How do I use telnet on my system?" or "How do I send electronic mail?" If you have access to the Usenet, read the newsgroups "news.newusers.questions" and "news.answers". If you have access to FTP, get copies of the introduction to the Internet documents mentioned at the end of this file. If you have access to users around you, ask them to show you the basics. For a comprehensive overview of what the Internet is, how it works and the future of the Internet, read "FYI: What is the Internet?" (This file is available via anonymous FTP, and is listed in the final section of this document.) *** 0.4: WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION IS ON THE INTERNET? (And, WHY ISN'T THERE AN ENCYCLOPEDIA ON THE INTERNET?) The type of information you're likely to find on the Internet is free information, such as government documents, works with expired copyrights, works that are in the public domain, and works that authors are making available on an experimental basis to the Internet community. Conversely, some types of information you are not likely to find on the Internet, most notably, commercial works which are protected by copyright law. For instance, there is no publicly-available Internet encyclopedia. There are indeed encyclopedias on the net, but they all are closed systems available only to students at a specific university, or employees at a certain company. The reason for this is about what you'd expect: the companies that make encyclopedias are in business to stay in business, and you don't stay in business by giving away your product. So, while the Internet does contain a vast array of Good Stuff, it can't always replace a trip to a decent library. If you can't find an online encyclopedia that's available to you, try the following: Ask your own library to make sure they don't have one. Use the encyclopedias on CompuServe, Prodigy, AOL, etc. Use a (gasp!) regular, hardbound encyclopedia. Section 1: What is... *** 1.1: WHAT IS TELNET? Telnet is a program that allows you to login to another computer to run software there. Typically, you login either to access a "shell" command environment or some other utility, like a weather server or game. To telnet to a computer, you need to know it's name. This can either be in words, like "steer.sdsu.edu" or as a numeric address, like "130.191.1.11". Some services require you to connect to a specific "port" on the remote computer. Type the port number, if there is one, after the Internet address. (For example, "telnet nri.reston.va.us 185".) For more information, anonymous FTP to ftp.sura.net:/pub/nic/network.service.guides ftp.sura.net:/pub/nic/how.to.telnet.guide *** 1.2: WHAT IS ANONYMOUS FTP? FTP stands for file transfer protocol. FTP allows you to copy files from a remote computer to your local host. Thousands of sites provide anonymous FTP service, allowing you to download everything from online books, to satellite pictures of the weather, to public-domain utilities and games for your personal computer. Unless your computer is directly connected to the Internet (that is, if you are connected through an intermediary remote host) software for use on your home computer needs to be FTPed to your local host, then downloaded to your PC using Xmodem, Zmodem, Kermit or some other system -- a two-step process.) There is an FTP primer (and lots of other good information) in the "alt.bbs.internet" FAQ, which is posted periodically on "alt.bbs.internet" and "news.answers". The following files are available on the Net to teach the basics of FTP. If you don't know how to use FTP to receive them, try asking someone else at your site. For more information, use anonymous FTP to get ftp.sura.net:/pub/nic/network.service.guides/how.to.ftp.guide The document "FYI: Searching for Treasure" (listed at the end of this file) lists some of the best FTP sites to find Macintosh, IBM, UNIX, virus-related and other software. *** 1.3: WHAT IS USENET? The Usenet is a global bulletin board, of sorts, in which millions of people exchange public information on every conceivable topic. For more, FTP to: rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers/what-is-usenet/part1.Z The file is also posted regularly to the Usenet newsgroup "news.answers.newusers". *** 1.4: WHAT IS FINGER? Finger is a program that returns information about a registered user on a computer. Typing "finger" alone will show the users logged into the system you are using. "finger @host.domain.foo" will show you who's currently using some other computer. Certain computers have variations on finger support, where "finger ron" will show info on ron at your site, and "finger ron@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu" will show you all the Rons with accounts on a certain computer at MIT. Note that some finger programs don't take arguments, some will accept only a userid (the exact login name of a user,) and still others will search using a first or last name. If your system has manual pages installed, type "man finger" for more information. If your system has Internet access but not finger, there are several freely distributable versions, including GNU finger and BSD finger. *** 1.5: WHAT IS IRC? IRC is the Internet Relay Chat, a service where users can "talk" via typing to people around the world. See Scott Yanoff's "Internet Services" list for public IRC servers, or find out if your own system has the server installed. There are newsgroups specifically devoted to IRC, including: alt.irc Internet Relay Chat material. alt.irc.bot Discussion of creating irc bots. alt.irc.ircii Discussion of the IRC II client program. alt.irc.recovery For those recovering from IRC addiction. alt.irc.corruption Is nowhere safe? alt.irc.corruption.log.log.log Discussions of corrupted loggers. alt.irc.sleaze Internet Relay Chat flamage. alt.irc.sleaze.mark More Internet Relay Chat flamage. For more information, anonymous FTP to: cs.bu.edu:/irc/support/tutorial* *** 1.6: WHAT IS ALEX/ARCHIE/GOPHER/HYTELNET/NETFIND/PROSPERO/VERONICA/ WAIS/WHOIS/WWW/X.500? These are all part of a new generation of network information resources. For complete information, check John December's "internet-tools" list, available via anonymous FTP to ftp.rpi.edu:/pub/communications/internet-tools That document will point you to detailed information about each of these services. Scott Yanoff's "Internet Services List" list will tell you how to access these services. Most feature on-line help and information. *** 1.7: WHAT IS MUD/MUSH/MOO/MUCK/DUM/MUSE (etc.)? These are multi-user, text based, virtual reality games. According to the MUD FAQ: "A MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) is a computer program which users can log into and explore. Each user takes control of a computerized persona/avatar/incarnation/character. You can walk around, chat with other characters, explore dangerous monster-infested areas, solve puzzles, and even create your very own rooms, descriptions and items." There are an astounding number of variations on the MUD theme. Please see rec.games.mud for more information about them -- there are several very good FAQ postings there that detail MUDs, MUD clients and servers, and offer a complete, current MUD-list. The most recent versions of the MUD FAQs are archived as: ftp.math.okstate.edu:/pub/muds/misc/mud-faq/* rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/alt.mud/* [rec.games.mud]:_FAQ_#2_3:_MUD_Clients_and_Servers [rec.games.mud]:_FAQ_#3_3:_RWHO_and__mudwho_ [rec.games.mud]:_FAQ_#1_3:_MUDs_and_MUDding A few of the newsgroups out there related to muds: rec.games.mud.announce Informational articles about MUDs. (Moderated) rec.games.mud.diku All about DikuMuds. rec.games.mud.lp Discussions of LPMUD rec.games.mud.misc Various aspects of multiuser computer games. rec.games.mud.tiny Discussion of Tiny muds, IE MUSH, MUSE and MOO alt.mud.bsx BSX VR system. alt.mud.german For German-speaking MUD-er's. rec.games.mud.admin Administrative issues of multiuser dungeons. SECTION 2: HOW DO I...? *** 2.1: HOW DO I SEND ELECTRONIC MAIL FROM THE INTERNET TO ANOTHER NETWORK? To learn the basics of e-mail on the Internet, FTP to: ftp.sura.net:/pub/nic/network.service.guides/how.to.email.guide In the best of worlds, our "global village" of electronic mail would be linked by one main street. Alas, it is actually composed of hundreds of small networks linked using "gateways." One main street is the Internet, but jutting off of it are dozens of side roads leading to other networks. It's always simplest to send mail to a recipient on the same online service as yourself - say, from your America Online account to another - but sometimes you may need to send mail to someone who doesn't have an account on the system you use. While it's usually possible to mail from one network to another, you need to know the right route to navigate. In order to send any mail, you need to know the online service your recipient uses, and her name (or username) on that service. For a more complete listing of how to send mail from any random network to any other random network, read the "Inter-Network Mail Guide" edited by Scott Yanoff (formerly edited by John J. Chew.) It also tells how to mail from networks other than the Internet - which is beyond the scope of this document. You can fetch this guide by anonymous FTP in: csd4.csd.uwm.edu:/pub/internetwork-mail-guide AMERICA ONLINE: "user@aol.com" Use all lower case and remove spaces. For example, "savetz@aol.com". AOL splits long Internet e-mail messages into chunks under 27K. (In the past the America Online gateway software truncated incoming files at 27K, which put a damper on receiving long text files BinHexed programs.) Users of the DOS-based PC/AOL software are limited to a maximum mail size of 8Kb. For all AOL users, funky characters are replaced with spaces: use printable ASCII only. APPLELINK: "user@applelink.apple.com" AT&T MAIL: "user@attmail.com" BITNET: "user@host.BITNET" (Note that the bitnet hostname is not necessarily the same as the Internet host name.) If this fails, try directing your mail through a gateway such as "cunyvm.cuny.edu", "pucc.princeton.edu", or "wuvmd.wustl.edu". The address would be as follows: "user%domain.BITNET@pucc.princeton.edu" (or cunyvm or wuvmd). This should help those with SMTP servers that are not quite up to date. BIX: "user@bix.com" BMUG: "First.Last@bmug.fidonet.org" COMPUSERVE: "userid@compuserve.com". Use the numeric CompuServe identification number, but use a period instead of a comma to separate the number sets. For example, to send mail to CompuServe user 17770,101 - mail to "177770.101@compuserve.com". CONNECT: "user@dcjcon.das.net" DELPHI: "user@delphi.com" FIDONET: "firstname.lastname@point.node.net.zone.fidonet.org". To send mail to a FidoNet user, you not only need the name, but the exact FidoNet address s/he uses. FidoNet addresses are broken down into zones, net, nodes, and points. To send to John Doe, who uses point 1 of node 2, which is in net 3 of zone 4 - you would send your mail to "john.doe@p1.f2.n3.z4.fidonet.org". GENIE: "user@genie.geis.com" where "user" is their mail address. If a user tells you their mail address is "xyz12345" or something similar, it isn't. It usually looks like "A.BEEBER42" where A is their first initial, BEEBER is their last name, and 42 is a number distinguishing them from all other A.BEEBER's. As of July 1, 1993, All GEnie users may send and receive electronic mail. INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS (IGC, or "PEACENET"): "user@igc.org" INTERNET: send mail to "user@domain", where user is the recipient's login name, and domain is the full name and location of the computer where s/he receives e-mail. Examples are "savetz@rahul.net" and "an017@cleveland.freenet.edu". MCI MAIL: send your mail to "user@mcimail.com". "User" can be a numeric identification, or first and last names separated with an underline. (E.g. "10101@mcimail.com" or "john_doe@mcimail.com".) PC LINK: "user@aol.com". Incoming mail is limited to 27K. (There is no pclink.com domain. All mail to the America Online, Inc. owned systems goes to aol.com.) PRODIGY: Prodigy has been promising network mail for months, but hasn't delivered it yet. So currently, Prodigy users are cut off from mail to the outside world. Perhaps by the end of the year, Prodigy users will be able to send and receive mail to and from other networks. [This should start working any time now, stay tuned.] QLINK: Q-Link, a Commodore 64/128-based service offered by America Online, Inc., is not on the Internet for technical reasons. WELL: "user@well.sf.ca.us" [Someone sent me info on mailing to WWIVnet, but I lost it. How do you do it?] *** 2.2: HOW DO I ACCESS OTHER SYSTEMS FROM THE INTERNET? AMERICA ONLINE: You can't use AOL from the Internet due to the special graphics software. BIX: telnet "x25.bix.com". At the "username" prompt, enter "bix". COMPUSERVE: CompuServe is accessible from the Internet through the Merit system, but it is quite expensive. CompuServe does not distinguish logins from MERIT from other SprintNet logins. Merit is a service local to Michigan residents so all connections will be Eastern Standard Time regardless of where in the world you access Merit from. Pricing for using Merit: From 7PM - 8AM EST: $1.70/hour. From 8AM - 7PM EST: $11.70/hour. These prices are in addition to your normal CompuServe prices. The billing is all be handled by CompuServe. For further info about this service, contact : CompuServe (1-800-848-8199), SprintNet (1- 800-877-5045), or Merit, Inc.: (1-313-764-9430). DELPHI: telnet delphi.com DIALOG: telnet dialog.com GENIE: They don't provide for logging in from the Internet, citing "security issues." INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL COMMUNICATION (IGC, or "PEACENET"): telnet igc.org MCI MAIL: Cannot be accessed via the Internet. The only way users can currently access MCI mail is by dialing in via SprintNet/Tymnet or MCI Mail's own numbers. A tech support rep said that letting people check their MCI mail accounts from Internet isn't a high priority for now. NEXIS/LEXIS: telnet lexis.meaddata.com or telnet 192.73.216.20 or telnet 192.73.216.21. terminal type = .vt100a If characters do not echo back, set your terminal to "local" echo or "half duplex." You can also connect through Merit. PC LINK: Can't be accessed due to the special graphics software. PRODIGY: Can't be accessed due to the special graphics software. QLINK: Q-Link, a Commodore 64/128-based service offered by America Online, Inc., is not on the Internet for technical reasons. WELL: telnet well.sf.ca.us *** 2.3: HOW DO I CONTACT A SERVICE PROVIDER? AMERICA ONLINE: (800) 827-6364 voice CONNECT: (408) 973-0110 voice COMPUSERVE: (800) 848-8990 voice DELPHI: (800) 544-4005 voice DIALOG: (800) 334-2564 voice DOW JONES NEWS/RETRIEVAL: (800) 522-3567 voice GENIE: (800) 638-9636 voice INSTITUTE FOR GLOCAL COMMUNICATIONS: (415) 923-0220 voice NEXIS/LEXIS: (800) 227-9597 voice. Government Customers: 513-865-7223 MCI MAIL: (800) 444-6245 voice PC-LINK (800) 827-8532 voice. PRODIGY: New account information (800) 766-3449 voice [?] Membership services (800) 759-8000 voice WELL: (415) 332-4335) voice. E-mail: support@well.sf.ca.us *** 2.4: HOW DO I FIND OUT SOMEONE'S E-MAIL ADDRESS? With so many computer systems and users in the world, it is impossible to keep a complete "white pages" of the Internet. The problem is compounded because people come and go from the net all the time. (Students are notorious for this.) Storing and updating that much information would be an impossible, daunting task. But, it's not impossible to find people on the net. Programs exist that, given some amount of information about your associate, can help you track down his or her e-mail address. These tools include Netfind, X.500, rtfm's usenet-addresses search, and WHOIS. The more information you know about your associate - name, place of business or school, and so on - the better your chances are. For a very complete answer to this question, read: "FAQ: How to find people's E-mail addresses", available from mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu by sending "send usenet/news.answers/finding-addresses". This document is posted regularly to the Usenet group "news.answers". There is another long document specifically for finding college students' e-mail addresses. It is also posted to "news.answers". It's available by anonymous FTP on "a.gp.cs.cmu.edub" as: /afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/mkant/Public/Email/college-email-1.text /afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/mkant/Public/Email/college-email-2.text /afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/mkant/Public/Email/college-email-3.text *** 2.5: HOW DO I GET A NAME RESOLVED? There should be a name resolver on your system. On UNIX, look for a program called "nslookup". Failing that, send an electronic message to "resolve@cs.widener.edu". In the body of the message, include a line like "site foo.bar.baz", where foo.bar.baz is the name of the site in question. You'll receive a mail message with the IP (Internet Protocol) address for the site. *** 2.6: HOW DO I SEND E-MAIL TO THE WHITE HOUSE? The official Party Line: "The White House e-mail system is under construction. This is a new project and suffers from all of the problems common to a startup operation. The Communications office is currently working on defining what this system will do, as well as trying to come up with equipment and staffing to make sure that it works. E-mail messages are currently being printed out and responses are being sent out via US Mail. "Nobody wants this new venture to work more than the staff that has devoted so many hours to getting it up and running. But much time and effort will be required before the system is truly interactive. In the mean time, they will need a little patience from the electronic community. If you send a message to the White House, please include a US Post office address for replies." On the Internet, send to: president@whitehouse.gov or vice.president@whitehouse.gov *** 2.7: HOW DO I GET STOCK MARKET INFORMATION? Scott Yanoff's "Internet Services" list tells you how, but this question comes up so often its worth mentioning here. If you use a terminal with VT100, ANSI, or some other full-screen terminal emulation, "telnet rahul.net" and log on as "guest". Request the full-screen guest menu; request system information; request the market report. Note that this system, a2i Communications, sells full UNIX accounts with Internet access - the stock service is a feature for guests and paying users, and isn't guaranteed to be reliable. People keep asking where to find historical stock information. As far as I know, this isn't available on the Net. *** 2.8: HOW DO I ACCESS THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS? (Thanks to Kathryn D. Ellis (kell@seq1.loc.gov) for the following info.) Library of Congress Online Search: Telnet to "locis.loc.gov" (140.147.254.3). This will connect you to LOCIS (Library Of Congress Information System). You will see a menu for the Library of Congress Catalog Files, Federal Legislation, Copyright Information, Foreign Law, Braille and Audio Files, and a file of selected Organizations. This system is available Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (all times USA, Eastern Time). Searching manuals are available by anonymous FTP and for sale. LOCIS accepts both 3270 and VT100 modes, but 3270 works better. Library of Congress MARVEL: Telnet to "marvel.loc.gov" (140.147.2.15), login as "marvel", or point your gopher client to "marvel.loc.gov", port 70. LC MARVEL is a gopher-based campus wide information system that presents information about the Library of Congress such as facilities and services, reading rooms, copyright, services to libraries and publishers, etc., as well as many electronic resources accessible through the Internet. Library of Congress Anonymous FTP site: FTP to "seq1.loc.gov" (140.147.3.12), login as "anonymous", send your email address as a password, "cd /pub" to get to the public directory. From the public directory, you can access several subdirectories such as online exhibits, information about the Library of Congress, information from the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC), etc. SECTION 3: I NEED INFORMATION ABOUT... *** 3.1: WHERE CAN I GET INTERNET ACCESS IN MY AREA? Check out PDIAL, a list of public access service providers offering dialup access to Internet connections. PDIAL lists both free and pay services all around the world. The PDIAL list is posted semi-regularly to alt.internet.access.wanted, alt.bbs.lists, ba.internet, and news.answers. To receive PDIAL via e-mail, send mail with a subject line of "Send PDIAL" to "info-deli-server@netcom.com". To receive future editions as they are published, send email with the subject "Subscribe PDIAL" to the same address. The most recent PDIAL is also available by sending mail with a message body of "send usenet/news.answers/pdial" to "mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu". To get PDIAL via FTP: ftp.netcom.com:/pub/info-deli/public-access/pdial rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/alt.internet.access.wanted/P_D_I_A_L_(P) For more information about service providers and getting on the Internet, read "FYI: Searching for Treasure" (FTP info at the end of this document.) Another list of service providers, and tips on getting Internet access, is provided in the "alt.bbs.internet" FAQ, available via FTP as rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers/inet-bbs-faq.Z If you are a college student or faculty, check with your campus computer center to learn about the online facilities available to you. Many schools offer free accounts to students and staff. Next, turn to the Usenet community for assistance. Find out if there is a local newsgroup for your area or state. For instance, Columbus, Ohio users can check on the "oh.general" and "cmh.general" newsgroups. Many other areas have regional newsgroups. Ask the locals questions about the area - who better to know the answers? If all else fails, post your plea on the Usenet newsgroup "alt.internet.access.wanted". Note that such requests aren't looked kindly upon if posted elsewhere. *** 3.2: I NEED A BBS (ON THE INTERNET OR IN MY AREA)! This is covered extensively in the "alt.bbs.internet" FAQ, available on the Usenet group "alt.bbs.internet" or via FTP as rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers/inet-bbs-faq.Z Also look for information on the Usenet newsgroups "alt.internet.access.wanted" and "alt.internet.services". Get the PDIAL list, mentioned at the end of this document. Also available is NIXPUB, a listing of freely accessible UNIX systems. It is posted regularily to the Usenet newsgroups "comp.misc", "comp.bbs.misc", and "alt.bbs". It is available via anonymous FTP as: vfl.paramax.com:/pub/pubnet/nixpub.long vfl.paramax.com:/pub/pubnet/nixpub.short Or, you can receive it via e-mail. Send mail to "nixpub@access.digex.com" (subject/message body unimportant.) Also, for BBS information for your area code or specific interest, FTP to: wuarchive.wustl.edu:/mirrors/msdos/bbslists *** 3.3: IS THERE A LIST OF ALL INTERNET SERVICES? No. There are just too many computers and too many services for anyone to accurately maintain a complete list. However, Scott Yanoff edits a great list of Internet services: the "Special Internet Connections List" is updated biweekly and is posted periodically to alt.internet.services and elsewhere. His list is as comprehensive as any list could ever be. It includes everything from where to FTP pictures from space, how to find agricultural information, public UNIX, online books and dictionaries, you name it. Check this list before posting the question "Where can I get online?" - chances are, it's in there. Finger "yanoff@csd4.csd.uwm.edu" to find ways to receive this list. There's also John December's "internet-cmc" list, which serves as a pointer to a slew of resources. Its purpose is to list pointers to information describing the Internet, computer networks, and issues related to computer-mediated communication. It points to Internet documents for new users, comprehensive Internet guides, as well as specialized and technical information (for instance, Internet growth studies, maps, and statistics.) It also lists electronic journals and tons of other good things. (FTP info at the end of this document.) Also, check out the Internet Resource Guide: this is an excellent guide to major resources available on the network. Includes chapters on Computational Resources, Library Catalogs, Archives, White Pages, Networks, Network Information Centers, and Miscellaneous. (FTP info at the end of this document.) *** 3.4: HOW DO I GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE INTERNET ONLINE? Once you have an account, several good texts are available via FTP: "FYI: New Internet User Questions" (RFC-1325) is FTPable as: nic.merit.edu:/documents/fyi/fyi_04.txt "FYI: Experienced Internet User Questions" (RFC-1207) is FTPable as: nic.merit.edu:/documents/fyi/fyi_07.txt This file is dated February 1991, and some of the information may be out of date. Many of the Q&As are of a technical nature. Covers the Domain Name System, SLIP & PPP, network management, routing and the like. "FYI: Searching for Treasure" is FTPable as: nic.merit.edu:/documents/fyi/fyi_10.txt This document (dated January 1993) presents some of the "gold nuggets" of information and file repositories on the network. Very useful. "FYI: Internet Users' Glossary" (RFC-1392) is FTPable as: nic.merit.edu:/documents/fyi/fyi_18.txt This is a comprehensive glossary concentrating mostly on terms specific to the Internet. "FYI: What is the Internet?" is FTPable as: nic.merit.edu:/documents/fyi/fyi_20.txt This comprehensive paper covers the Internet's definition, history, administration, protocols, financing, and current issues such as growth, commercialization, and privatization. (May 1993.) "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Internet" (RFC-1118) will interest users who are more into the technical bits of the Internet. This document, also written by Ed Krol, explains how Internet addresses work and discusses issues such as trust and carrying capacity of the Internet. It is pretty much out of date, but people keep asking for it. The "Guide," as well as other useful texts for new users, is available at wuarchive.wustl.edu:/mirrors/EFF/internet-info/* "Internet Basics" is available by FTP as: nnsc.nsf.net:/nsfnet/internet-basics.eric-digest "Internet-cmc list", by John December, is a pointer to a slew of resources. Its purpose is to list pointers to information describing the Internet, computer networks, and issues related to computer-mediated communication. It points to Internet documents for new users, comprehensive Internet guides, as well as specialized and technical information (for instance, Internet growth studies, maps, and statistics.) It also lists electronic journals and tons of other good things. It is available via anonymous FTP as: ftp.rpi.edu:/pub/communications/internet.cmc "The Internet Companion" a beginner's guide to the net, is available by FTP. This is part 1 of the Tracy LaQuey book mentioned in the previous section. world.std.com:/OBS/The.Internet.Companion "Internet Resource Guide" is an excellent guide to major resources available on the network. Includes chapters on Computational Resources, Library Catalogs, Archives, White Pages, Networks, Network Information Centers, and Miscellaneous. nnsc.nsf.net:/resource-guide/resource-guide.txt.tar.Z nnsc.nsf.net:/resource-guide/resource-guide.ps.tar.Z "Internet Services Frequently Asked Questions and Answers". That's the file you're looking at now. For the most recent version, FTP to: rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers/internet-services/faq or send an email message to "mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu" with a line in the body of the message reading "send usenet/news.answers/internet- services/faq". "Internet-tools list", by John December, contains information about a variety of network tools and information resources (such as Archie, Gopher, Netfind, WWW and so on.) It is available at: ftp.rpi.edu:/pub/communications/internet-tools "Inter-Network Mail Guide", contains a possibly-complete listing of how to send mail from any random network to any other random network. It also tells how to mail from networks other than the Internet - which is beyond the scope of this document. You can fetch this guide by anonymous FTP in: csd4.csd.uwm.edu:/pub/internetwork-mail-guide "List of Lists". For a list of some of the currently available electronic mail mailing lists, FTP to: nisc.sri.com:/netinfo/interest-groups To be notified of future additions to the list, send mail to interest- groups-request@nisc.sri.com. "PDIAL", a list of public access service providers offering dialup access to Internet connections. PDIAL is posted semi-regularly to alt.internet.access.wanted, alt.bbs.lists, and news.answers. To receive PDIAL via e-mail, send mail with a subject line of "Send PDIAL" to "info-deli-server@netcom.com". To get it, FTP to either: ftp.netcom.com:/pub/info-deli/public-access/pdial rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/alt.internet.access.wanted/P_D_I_A_L_(P) "Special Internet Connections List", edited by Scott Yanoff, is updated monthly and is posted periodically to alt.internet.services and elsewhere. It includes everything from where to FTP pictures from space, how to find agricultural information, public UNIX, online books and dictionaries, you name it. Check this list before posting the question "Where can I get online?" - chances are, it's in there. Finger "yanoff@csd4.csd.uwm.edu" to find ways to receive this list. "Surfing the Internet" is available as: nysernet.org:/pub/guides/surfing.2.0.2.txt "Zen and the Art of Internet" is the first edition of Kehoe's Book, detailed in the next section. The book is much longer, updated and improved over this online version. It is available as: world.std.com:/obi/Internet/zen-1.0/zen-1.0.txt.Z ftp.uu.net:/doc/internet/zen-1.0.txt.Z If you have Usenet access, read some of the many newsgroups for new users and frequently asked questions: "news.answers", "comp.answers" and "news.newusers.questions". *** 3.5: WHAT'S A GOOD BOOK TO READ FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE INTERNET? (All prices in U.S. dollars.) "Crossing the Internet Threshold: an Instructional Handbook" by Roy Tennant, John Ober and Anne Lipow. Library Solutions Press, 1993. (510) 841-2636. An instructional package for librarians teaching Internet basics. $45. FTP for info: simsc.si.edu:/networks/crossing.ad "Exploring the Internet: a Technical Travelogue" by Carl Malamud. Prentice-Hall Publishers. (515) 284-6751. "The Internet Companion, A Beginner's Guide To Global Networking" by Tracy LaQuey with Jeanne C. Ryer (Addison-Wesley Publishing.) The Companion includes a detailed history of the Internet, a discussion on "netiquette" (network etiquette), and how to find resources on the net. Useful for the computer-literate Internet novice. ISBN: 0-201-62224-6. 1993. $10.95. "Internet: Getting Started." Authors: Marine, Kirkpatrick, Neou, Ward. SRI Internet Information Services, PTR Prentice Hall. Published by PTR Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Explains how to join the Internet, the various types of Internet access, and procedures for obtaining a unique IP address and domain name. An extensive list of Internet access providers of all types is provided, including access outside of the United States. The guide explains many concepts essential to the Internet, such as the Domain Name System, IP addressing, protocols, and electronic mail. ISBN: 0-13-327933-2. 1993. Paperback, 360 pages. $28.00. "Internet: Mailing Lists 1993 Edition." Franklin F. Kuo, Series Editor. SRI Internet Information Services. Published by PTR Prentice Hall, New Jersey. ISBN: 0-13-327941-3. Copyright 1993. Paperback, 356 pages. (Note that a current "list of lists" is also available online, both via Usenet and FTP. See the next section.) "The Internet Passport: NorthWestNet's Guide to Our World Online,4th ed.". This is published by NorthWestNet and the Nortwest Academic Computing Consortium, Inc. It is 516 pages and covers everything from net etiquette to supercomputers; very comprehensive. It costs $39.95 but schools and not-for-profit organizations can buy it for $19.95 plus shipping. NorthWestNet, 15400 SE 30th Place, Suite 202, Bellevue, WA 98007. (206) 562-3000. E-mail for info: "passport@nwnet.net". "Internet Primer for Information Professionals: A Basic Guide to Internet Networking Technology". By Elizabeth Lang and Craig Summerhill, Meckler Publishing. ISBN: 0-88736-831-X. 1993. $37.50. "Internet System Handbook" by Danial Lynch and Marshall Rose. Addison- Wesley Publishing, 1993. $54.95. "The Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog" by Ed Krol (published by O'Reilly & Associates.) This book covers the basic utilities used to access the network and then guides users through the Internet's "databases of databases" to access the millions of files and thousands of archives available. It includes a resource index that covers a broad selection of approximately 300 important resources available on the Internet. ISBN: 1-56592-025-2. 1992. 400 pages. $24.95. "Zen & the Art of Internet" by Brendan Kehoe. Published by Prentice Hall. This guide should give you a reference to consult if you're curious about what can be done with the Internet. It also presents the fundamental topics that are all too often assumed and considered trivial by many network users. It covers the basic utilities and information reaching other networks. An earlier, much less comprehensive version is available via FTP; see previous section. ISBN: 0-13-010778-6. 112 pages. 1993. $22.00. In August, McGraw-Hill will release "The Internet Guide for New Users," by Daniel P Dern. Along with the obligatory topics such as telnet, FTP, and Archie, the book suggests how to get an Internet account and teaches enough UNIX to survive on the net. ### End of document ###