Date: Thu, 5 Aug 93 13:57:26 EDT
From: guest@internic.net (GUEST USER)
Message-Id: <9308051757.AA17953@internic.net>
To: rdshydur@Athena.MIT.EDU
Subject: InterNIC Information Services (General Atomics)

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InterNIC Information Services                            Hotline: 800-444-4345
General Atomics (GA)                               Email: Info@is.internic.net
P.O. Box #85608                                            Phone: 619-455-4600
San Diego, CA 92186-9784                                     FAX: 619-455-4640
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Updated: 7/15/93 


                    InterNIC Information Services

InterNIC Information Services provides services to the NSFNET community
under the National Science Foundation supported InterNIC project. A
wide range of services are offered to midlevel and campus NIC
organizations and to the networking community at large. Included is
information about how to get connected to the Internet, pointers to
network tools and resources, and seminars on varied topics held in
locations around the country.

For a more detailed description of the project, refer to the document
"Information Services Project Summary", located in the directory "About
Information Services" in the InterNIC Info Source. For a complete listing
of Information Services offerings, see the same directory. Access to the
Info Source via various methods is described below.

InterNIC Information Services can be contacted by phone, fax, hardcopy
mail, and electronically via several access methods. The primary
interfaces used by the InterNIC to exchange information with the
community are the Referral Desk, the Info Source, and electronic and
hardcopy mailing lists. Complete contact information is listed below.
Please use any or all of these methods to request information, submit
contributions, or make suggestions.


1. The Reference Desk
----------------------

The InterNIC Information Services Reference Desk responds to requests
for information about the Internet via telephone, e-mail, FAX, and
hardcopy mailings. The Reference Desk can provide listings of Internet
Network Providers in the U.S. and abroad; books and documents to assist
organizations and individuals in getting connected; and pointers to
network tools and resources. When appropriate, contact information for
local NIC and NOC organizations will be offered.

The Reference Desk is in operation Monday through Friday, from 6:00 A.M.
to 6:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time.


Telephone:  800.444.4345
            619.455.4600
FAX:        619.455.4640

E-mail:    info@internic.net

Mail:

InterNIC Information Services
General Atomics
P.O. Box #85608
San Diego, California 92186-9784


2. InterNIC Information Services Mailboxes and Mailing Lists
----------------------------------------------------------------

* mailbox: info@internic.net

The place to send general questions about getting connected to the
Internet and how to locate and access information for using the network
more effectively. Also for any questions concerning Information
Services offerings. Queries sent to this mail-box are answered by the
Reference Desk staff.


* mailing list: announce@is.internic.net

An announcements-only mailing list for anyone interested in getting
up-to-date information about the InterNIC and the services it provides.
Everyone is welcome to subscribe, and network administrators and NIC
staff are encouraged to establish local exploders at their institutions
for re-distribution of this list. This will be a moderated,
announcement-only mailing list, and volume will be low.

send mail to listserv@is.internic.net

in the body of the message type:

subscribe announce your name


* mailing list: nics@is.internic.net

Intended for staff at midlevel, campus, and discipline-specific NICs.
Content will include InterNIC services aimed specifically at NICs, and
mail sent to this list will be oriented towards providing services to
end users, including new training resources and documentation. All NIC
staff are encouraged to subscribe. This will be a moderated list, and
volume will be low.


send mail to listserv@is.internic.net

in the body of the message type:

subscribe nics your name


* nis@is.internic.net

Formerly nis@cerf.net, this list aims to serve network information
service providers and end users. This list is a group effort of people
all over the Internet to concentrate announcements of new resources
onto one list. It is moderated, and contains only announcements of new
tools and resources available over the Internet. The goal is to keep
the volume low, therefore this is not a discussion list.
                                                                              
f you would like to stay current on network services without having to
read every mailing list, join the nis-list. If you would like more
information about participating in the nis-list by becoming a monitor,
send a note to scout@internic.net.


send mail to listserv@is.internic.net

in the body of the message type:

subscribe nis your name


* mailbox: scout@internic.net

The place to send information about any new tools or resources on the
network for possible distribution on the nis mailing list or inclusion
in the Info Source. Also the place to send for information regarding
participating in the nis-list by becoming a list monitor.


* hardcopy or electronic mailing list: The InterNIC InterActive

InterNIC Information Services publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, the
InterNIC InterActive, covers network information services issues of
interest to the entire community, such as tools, resources, training
opportunities, and networking organizations. InterNIC InterActive also
details existing and new services provided by all three areas of the
InterNIC: Information Services, Directory and Database Services, and
Registration Services.

To subscribe to the InterNIC InterActive, send a message to
interactive-request@is.internic.net. Please indicate in your message if
you would like to receive the newsletter in harcopy format, electronic
format, or both.


3. The InfoSource
----------------------

The InfoSource is a collection of information designed to make finding
out about the Internet easier. There are sections for getting started,
for NICs, and for general information which may be of interest to
everyone. Also included is info on all the services offered by InterNIC
Information Services. Browsing the "InfoSource Table of Contents" file
will provide details on what is available.

In many cases the InfoSource contains actual documents on a given topic,
and in other cases pointers are given to alternate archives of
information. The InfoSource contents will be maintained regularly to keep
it current, and new information will be added as it becomes available. If
you have a document or resource you'd like to submit for inclusion, or a
suggestion for a topic which should be included, let us know by sending
mail to: scout@internic.net.

There are several ways to access the InfoSource, which include FTP,
Gopher, e-mail, and telnet.


Accessing the InfoSource
---------------------------

The InfoSource can be accessed electronically using FTP, telnet, Gopher,
WAIS, and e-mail. Below are instructions for each access method. Included
under each access method are instructions for retrieving a file which
lists the documents available. An overview of each of these tools and how
to use them is available under the directory "Learning to Use the
Network".

If you have any questions or problems, send mail to info@internic.net
or call 800.455.4345.


1. FTP Access
----------------

To retrieve documents from the InfoSource using anonymous FTP:

ftp is.internic.net

login: anonymous

password: your e-mail address

cd infosource

get INDEX
                The INDEX file contains a complete listing of what's
contained in the InfoSource so that you can browse for the things you
may find useful. After you have identified a document you wish to
retrieve, standard FTP commands can be used to retrieve the file, such
as change directory (cd), directory listing (dir), and send file (get
filename).


2. Gopher Access
----------------


If you have a gopher client, point it at:  is.internic.net


If you don't have a Gopher client, telnet to:

is.internic.net

login:  gopher
                                                                          
This command will allow you to use the Gopher client on the 
is.internic.net machine.*

Once in gopherspace you can move up and down the menu system to see
what's available. Browsing the "InfoSource Table of Contents" on the
main menu will let you see the entire heirarchy at a glance. The Table
of Contents also indicates where direct links have been established to
other Gopher servers.

Copies of documents contained in the Gopher server can be sent to you
electronically via e-mail. To receive a copy of a document you are
reading:

quit out of the file

type "m" as indicated

type your e-mail address in the space provided

hit enter
                    continue browsing in gopherspace


* We encourage the installation of a Gopher client on your local host if
possible, since this will provide faster and more efficient access to the
InfoSource and many other archives. To learn more about Gopher and how to
acquire the freely accessible Gopher client software, go to "Learning to
Use the Network" under the "Getting Started" menu, and look under "CNIDR".


3. Telnet Access
------------------

For individuals without access to a Gopher client, several telnet ports on
the is.internic.net machine are configured for direct access to a Gopher
client located on that machine. By using this local Gopher client it is
possible to browse the menus and documents in the Info Source before
moving them to your local host.

To access the Gopher server via the local client:

telnet is.internic.net

login: gopher

Follow the instructions listed above under "Gopher Access".  Please also
note the footnote at the end of that section regarding acquiring Gopher
client software.

4. WAIS
---------

The InfoSource is registered in the Directory of Servers and can
therefore be accessed through a public WAIS client, or directly by using a
WAIS client located on your own host.

source name: internic-infosource

server name: is.internic.net

Another option is to use WAIS through the Gopher Server on the
InfoSource.  To use this option, select "Search the InfoSource by Keyword"
located on the top level Gopher menu.


5. E-mail Access
------------------

The documents archived in the InterNIC InfoSource can be retrieved via
electronic mail using a mail-server program running on the is.internic.net
machine. The purpose of a mail-server program is to read an e-mail message
sent as reqests to the server, decipher the commands located in the body
of the message, and execute those commands - which usually entails sending
particular files back to the requester in another e-mail message.

To receive complete instructions for using all the commands available from
the InfoSource mail-server, send mail to:

mailserv@is.internic.net

in the body of the message, type:

send help
                                              

To receive a file with the filenames of all documents available from the
InfoSource mail-server, send to the same address, and in the body of the
message type:

INDEX

Note that both upper and lower case syntax will be  accepted by the
mail-server program for commands. However, when typing filenames, be
careful to use the exact case syntax used for the filename.

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

As noted above, if you have any questions, problems, or suggestions
concerning access to the InfoSource, contact the InterNIC Information
Services Staff at info@internic.net or 800.444.4345.
                              
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