NORTHWESTNET'S GUIDE TO OUR WORLD ONLINE

NORTHWESTNETSUB Qattlngen204 939968

96 A 24672

PRENTICE HALL PTRENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NEW JERSEY 07632

Contents

• PREFACE XXV

How to Use Your Internet Passport xxviStylistic Conventions xxviiYour Comments and Suggestions xxx

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xxxiAcknowledgments for the Fifth Edition xxxiAcknowledgments for the Fourth Edition xxxiiSupporters xxxiv

• TRADEMARKS AND COPYRIGHTS XXXV

• ABOUT NORTHWESTNET xxxvii

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • i

SECTION 1 • INTRODUCTION• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • I

1 • INTRODUCING THE INTERNET 3

What Is a Network? 4What Is a Computer Network? 4What Is an "internet"? 5What Is "The Internet"? 5

IV

I • 1

(THE INTERNET PASSPORT)

What Is the Internet Used for? 5Who Uses the Internet? 6

How Does the Internet Work? 7The Internet Protocol Suite (IP) 7About Packet Switching 7Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) 8Internet Hardware (Router Rooters: "Go Internet Go!") 9Bon Appetit at the Information Diner: Internet Applications 9

People and Places, Names and Domains 10Understanding Internet Addresses 10The Major Domains of the Internet. 13

The Structure of the Internet 15Kinds of Internet Networks 15

Who Runs the Internet? 16Administrative Bodies and Organizations 16Standards Bodies 17Internet NICs and NOCs 17

Other Networks 17Corporation for Research and Educational Networking (CREN) 18FidoNet 18Institute for Global Communications (IGC) 19UUCP 19

The Future of the Internet 19Conclusion 19For More Information 20

Online Resources 20Bibliography 20

SECTION II • BASIC INTERNET TOOLS

2 • ELECTRONIC MAIL 25

What Is Electronic Mail? 26Electronic Mail Compared to Postal Mail 26

Interpreting E-mail Addresses 28The Userid 28The Mailbox 29Decoding Internet Addresses 30

Electronic Mail Software (Mail User Agents) 31For Beginners, a Few Words of Advice 32

Contents

NORTHWESTNET'S GUIDE TO OUR WORLD ONLINE• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • a

E-mail Messages from Stem to Stern 32The E-mail Message Header 32More about "To" and "From" 33Optional Message Header Fields that You Can Add 33Message Header Fields Added by Mail Delivery Agents 34The E-mail Message Body 34

Shipping E-mail 35Mail Delivery Agents 35Postmasters 36

Sample E-mail Session with Unix "mail" 36Sending an E-mail Message 36Receiving E-mail Messages ; 37Managing Your E-Mail 39E-Mail and Your Organization 40

For More Information 42Mail Software Programs (Mail User Agents) 42Bibliography 42Technical Information about Internet Mail Protocols 42Usenet Newsgroups about Internet Mail and Mall User Agents 43

• ELECTRONIC MAIL SERVERS 45RETRIEVING FILES VIA E-MAIL

What Is a Mail Server? 46How Do Mail Servers Work? 46Table of Mail Servers 46Sample Mail Server Session Using Almanac 48

Getting Started with Almanac 48Handling the Reply from Almanac 48Requesting Specific Files from Almanac 49

FTP Mail Servers 50Sample FTP Mail Server Session 51Using an FTP Mail Server to Locate and Retrieve Files 52For More Information 52

General Information 52

• ELECTRONIC MAIL ETIQUETTE 55"How TO TALK INTERNET"

The Format of E-mail Messages 57Screen Size 57Stylistic Conventions of Text-Only Messages 58Control Characters and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" Phenomenon .. 58

Contents

VI (THE INTERNET PASSPORT)

The Content of E-mail Messages 58Of Relevance to All Outbound Messages 58The Infamous Signature: John Hancock Lives to See the Internet.... 60Of Relevance to Replies and Forwarded Messages 61

For More Information 63Online Information 63Bibliography 64

5 • ELECTRONIC MAIL GATEWAYS 65SENDING MESSAGES TO THE GREAT BEYOND

What Are Electronic Mail Gateways? 66How to Use Electronic Mail Gateways 66

Table of Mail Gateways from the Internet to Other Networks 67Using the Mail Gateways Table 68

For More Information 69Online Table of Gateways 69RFCs about Gateways 69Bibliography 70

6 -TELNET 71USING COMPUTERS THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET

Telnet Basics 72Levels of Telnet Access 72Telnet Etiquette 72

Using Telnet 73Getting Started 73Command Mode 73A Sampler of Destinations 74Login Name and Password 74

. 7e/nef Troubleshooting 75About Terminal Emulation 75About tn3270 76What Is a Telnet Session Like? 77Ending a Telnet Session 78Help! 787e/nef Ports 79

What Happens behind the Scenes? 80For More Information 81

Lists of Telnet Accessible Resources 81Technical Descriptions 82TCP/IP Packages That Include Telnet 83

Contents

VIINORTHWESTNET'S GUIDE TO OUR WORLD ONLINE

7 • MOVING FILES WITH FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL (FTP) 85What Is FTP Used for? 86

Getting Files from Anonymous FTP Archives 86Full Privilege HP 86

Anonymous FTP Archives 87The Organization of Anonymous FTP Hosts 87Case Sensitivity 88

Before Using Anonymous FTP, "README.FIRST"! 88READMEFiles 89INDEXFiles 89"Is-IR" Files 89Anonymous FTP Etiquette 89

Getting Started with Anonymous FTP 90The Essential FTP Commands 91Simple Sample Anonymous FTP Session 91

Full Privilege FTP 94More Details about FTP Commands 95

Is": A Quick Peek at What's in a Directory 95"dir": More Detailed Information about the Contents of a Directory .. 96"cd": Changing Directories 98"get": Variations on a Theme 99"mget" and "mput": Moving Multiple Files 100"ascii", "binary", and "image" 102Help! 103

FTP via E-Mail 104For More Information 105

List of Anonymous FTP Sites 105Usenet Newsgroups 106Mailing Lists 106Technical References 106Bibliography 107

8 • THE ABC'S OF FILE FORMATS 109FROM ASCII TO ZOO

ASCII Files 110Transferring ASCII Files 110

Binary Files 110Recognizing Binary Files I l lTransferring Binary Files I l l

Archived File Groups I l lRecognizing Archived Files I l l"tar" (Tape ARchive) Files 112

Contents

VIII

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • I

(THE INTERNET PASSPORT)

Self-Extracting Archives 112"shar" (SHell ARchive) Files 112

Compressed Files 112GIF Files 113PostScript Files 113Tables of Archive and Compression Programs and Other File Formats. . . . 114For More Information 117

Usenet Newsgroups 117Bibliography 118

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • i

SECTION III • COMMUNITY FORUMS• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • i

9 • USENET 121DISCUSSIONS IN THE CAFES OF THE GLOBAL VILLAGE

What Is Usenet? 122Usenet Basics: Newsgroups, Newsfeeds, and Newsreaders 122

Newsgroups 122Newsfeeds 126Newsreader Software 126

Sample Usenet Session with "rn" 127Starting a Newsreader 127Selecting and Subscribing to Newsgroups 128Scanning Articles within a Newsgroup 130Reading a Usenet Article 131Posting a Message to the Newsgroup 132Finding Newsgroups You REALLY Want to Read 133

Suggestions for First Time Usenet Readers 134StartSimply! 135Read Periodic Postings and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) . . . . 135Read Introductory Newsgroups 136Selective Reading within Newsgroups 136

Suggestions for First Time Usenet Posters 137Learn Usenet's Folkways 137Learn How to Respond 137Get the FAQs First 138How to Followup 138Provide Context 138Send Your Message No Further than Necessary 138Crosspost Only if Necessary 139Specifically Prohibited Usenet Activities 139

Contents

NORTHWESTNET'S GUIDE TO OUR WORLD ONLINE

What to Do if Something Goes Wrong 140Cancelling a Posting 140Dealing with Flame Wars 140Dealing with Usenet Malfunctions 140

Conclusion 141For More Information 141

Bibliography 141

10-LISTSERV 143Essential Points about LISTSERV 144

List Managers and LISTSERV Software 144LISTSERV Addresses 145LISTSERVers on Internet Hosts 145Moderated and Unmoderated Groups 145

What Discussion Lists Are Available? 146Getting the Global Ust 146Many LISTSERV Groups Are Available through Usenet 148

Using LISTSERV to Subscribe to Discussion Lists 148LISTSERV Etiquette 148Example LISTSERV Subscription Process 149

Using LISTSERV as an Information Server 151Retrieving Files from a LISTSERVer 151Searching LISTSERV Databases with LISTDB 151

Basic LISTSERV Commands 153More about LISTSERV 155

LISTSERV Is a BITNET Service 155Conclusion 155For More Information 155

Bibliography 156

11 • INTERNET MAILING LISTS 157Using Internet Mailing Lists 158

Mailing List Names and Addresses 158Subscribing to Mailing Lists 158Kinds of Mailing Usts 159

Finding Mailing Lists 160Lists of Mailing Lists 160Network "Word of Mouth" 161

Mailing List Etiquette and Ethics 161Get to Know the People in the Group. 161Address Your Messages to the Appropriate Destination! 161Handle Rejection of a Subscription Request Gracefully 161Respect a Group's Request for Privacy 161

Contents

X (THE INTERNET PASSPORT)

Starting an Internet Mailing List 162For More Information 163

Lists-of-Lists 163Other Sources of Mailing List Information 165Bibliography 165

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

SECTION IV • TEXTS AND DATA

12 • ELECTRONIC JOURNALS AND NEWSLETTERS 169

Using Electronic Journals and Newsletters 170Locating Electronic Journals and Newsletters of Interest 170Subscribing to Electronic Journals and Newsletters 170Electronic Journal and Newsletter Etiquette 171

Sample List of E-Journals 171For More Information 172

Lists of Electronic Journals and Newsletters 172Bibliography 174

13 • ELECTRONIC BOOKS 175

Obtaining Electronic Books 176Electronic Book Providers 176

Freedom Shrine 176Online Book Initiative 177Oxford Text Archives 178Project Gutenberg 179

Catalogs of Electronic Book Providers 180American Philosophical Association Subcommittee

on Electronic Texts in Philosophy 180CPET: Catalogue of Projects in Electronic Text 180

For More Information 182Discussion Groups 182Bibliography 182

14 • LIBRARIES ON THE INTERNET 183ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOGS (OPACS)

What Can Be Done with OPACs? 184Searching for References by Subject, Author, and Title 184Obtaining Detailed Bibliographic Information 185Browsing 185

Contents

NORTHWESTNET'S GUIDE TO OUR WORLD ONLINE XI

Saving Search Results 185Catalogs of Special Collections 186Materials Available for Circulation or Interlibrary Loan 186

What Can't Be Done with OPACs (Yet) 186Effective Use of OPACs 187

Selecting the Right OPAC 187Howto ThinkLikean OPAC 188

Accessing OPACs 190Internet Front Ends 190OPAC Access Software 191A Starter Kit for OPAC Exploration 192

Sample OPAC Session 193The Diversity of OPAC Software 193About this Sample Session 193Access an OPAC 193Identify Your Terminal Type 194Welcome to the OPACi 195Request a Listing of Available Services 196Selecting a Database within the OPAC 197Investigate the Online Help 198Starting a Search 198No Search Results!? Time to Think! 199Obtaining Help for Specific OPAC Options 199Displaying a Successful Search: Abbreviated Mode 200Displaying a Successful Search: Expanded Mode 200Refining a Search Based on a Partially Successful Search 201Hitting Pay Dirt. 202...Is Just the Beginning of Effective OPAC Use! 202Ending an OPAC Session 203

For More Information 203Worldwide Lists of OPACs 203Topically Oriented Lists of OPACs 204FTP Archives Specializing in OPAC Related Materials 205Online Discussion Groups and Lists via FTP 205Bibliography 206

15 • DATABASES AND BIBLIOGRAPHIES 207

Database Access 208Online Bibliographies? Why Not Just Use an OPAC? 208Database Etiquette 208Related Resources 209General Interest "Databases" 209

Contents

XII (THE INTERNET PASSPORT)

Agriculture 213Area Studies 214Artificial Intelligence 216Astronomy / Space Science 217Biology 221Business and Economics 226Computer Software 230Ecology and Environment 232Education 234Genetics and Molecular Biology 235Geography and Geology 236Grants and Awards 237History 239K-12 Education 242Library and Information Science 243Literature 246Mathematics 248Medical 251Meteorology 252Miscellaneous 253Music 254Oceanography 256Paleontology 256Political Science 257Social Sciences 260Statistics 265For More Information 265

Fellow Internet Users and Peers 265Database Maintainers 266Other Online Compendia of Internet Databases 266Bibliography of Commercial Online Databases and Search Issues .. 267

SECTION V • RESOURCE DISCOVERY AND RETRIEVAL TOOLS

16-ARCHIE 271THE FTP ARCHIVE GURU

How Does Archie Do It? 272What Kinds of Questions Can Archie Answer? 272

Name Searches 273

Contents

xiiiNORTHWESTNET'S GUIDE TO OUR WORLD ONLINE• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • i

File Description Searches 273Site Searches 273

Using Archie 273Basic Archie Command Syntax 274Locations of Archie Servers 277Archie from a Local Client 277Archie by E-mail 278Archie by Telnet ?. 278

Customizing Archie Sessions with "Set" Commands 280For More Information 280

Definitive Archie Documents 281Bibliography 281

17 • GOPHER, VERONICA, AND JUGHEAD 283THE INTERNET ON YOUR DESKTOP AND YOUR DESKTOP ON THE INTERNET

What Do Gophers Have in Their Burrows? 284Accessing Gopher 285

Gopher via Client Software 286Gopher via Other Internet Front Ends 286Gopher via Telnet 286

Sample Gopher Session: Putting the Internet on Your Desktop 288Accessing a Gopher Client 288Gopher Menus 288Asking Gopher for Help 290Moving Around within a Menu 292Selecting a Directory 292Selecting and Viewing Documents 293Launching Telnet Sessions from Gopher 295Searchable Databases 296Searching <CSO> Directories ("Phone Books") 299

Field Guide to the Gophers of the World 300Veronica: Searching through Gopherspace 301

Working with Veronica 302Veronica's (Current) Limitations 303"Veronica, Where in Gopherspace ARE We??" 305

Jughead: Veronica's Best Friend 306Putting Your Desktop on the Internet 307

Getting the Software 307Howto Care For and Feed Your Gopher 307

For More Information 308Gopher, Know Thyself 309Usenet Newsgroups 309

Contents

XIV (THE INTERNET PASSPORT)

Internet Mailing List 309FTP Archive 309Bibliography 309

18 • WAIS (WIDE AREA INFORMATION SERVER) 311EASY ACCESS TO INTERNET DATABASES

How WAIS Works 312Accessing WAIS 313

WAIS Client Software 313Gopher, WWW, and CWISs 314Telnet 314Sample WAIS Session Using SWAIS 314The Menu of WAIS Sources 314Commands for Working with SWAIS Menus 315Moving Around in the Source Menu 316Selecting a Source 317Searching Selected Sources 317About Relevance Feedback 320Determining Which Sources to Search 320Ending an SWAIS Session 322

For More Information 322Mailing Lists 323Usenet Newsgroup 323Bibliography 323

19 • CAMPUS WIDE INFORMATION SYSTEMS (CWIS) 325The Benefits of CWISs 326

Information at Any Time 326One-Stop Information Shopping 326Up-to-Date Information 326Information for Remote Users 327Community (and Commonsense) In a Distributed

(and Complicated) World 327A Lighthearted Introduction to CWIS Exploration: ALICE 327CWIS Access 328

CWIS Access via Telnet (or tn3270) 328CWIS Access through "Network Wide Information Systems" 329

CWIS Etiquette 330Sample CWIS Session 330

Accessing a CWIS 331Providing Login Information 331CWIS Main Menus 332

Contents

XVNORTHWESTNET'S GUIDE TO OUR WORLD ONLINE

Obtaining Help in a CWIS 333Exploring a CWIS: Diving into the Menus 333Exiting a CWIS 334

Conclusion 335For More Information 335

CWIS Usenet Groups and LISTSERV Mailing Lists 335Master Lists of CWISs 336Bibliography 336

20-WORLD WIDE WEB 337A HYPERTEXT-BASED VIEW OF THE INTERNET

What Is Hypertext? 338The Printed Word as Fossil Hypertext 339Hypertext, WWW, and the Internet 339How Many Texts, Could a Hypertext Text,

if a Hypertext Could Text Text? 340World Wide Web Access 340

Client or "Browser" Software 340Telnet Access 341

Sample Session 341Entering the Web 341What Resources Are Available in the Web? 344Getting Help 345Table of World Wide Web Commands 346The Recall Command 347Seeing Hypertext Links in a List 348Using the Web as a Resource Discovery and Access Tool 349Exiting 351WWW Indexes 351

Working with the World Wide Web Initiative 351For More Information 351

LISTSERV Lists 351Mailing Lists 352Usenet Newsgroups 352Software Archives 352Bibliographies 355

21 • A BIG BLACK BOOK 357DIRECTORIES OF INTERNET USERS AND HOSTS

Challenges to Internet Directory Services 358Volatility of Computer Information 358Local Information Services Are Still Embryonic 358

Contents

XVI ( T H E I N T E R N E T P A S S P O R T )

Privacy and Security Issues 359Competing Paradigms 359Scalability 359

Strategies for Using Directory Services 359Finding Addresses of "Average Users" 359Finding Addresses for Administrators 360

General Purpose Directories of E-mail Addresses 362Institution-Specific Directories of E-mail Addresses 376Discipline-Specific Directories of E-mail Addresses 377Directories of Computer Addresses 381Administrative Directory Services 383Internet Directory Services: Where Do We Go from Here? 383For More Information 384

Bibliography 384

SECTION VI • TARGETED INTERESTS

22 • BECOMING AN INFORMATION PROVIDER 387

The Internet Publishing House 388Who Is Your Audience? 389What Format Best Suits YourNeeds? 389What Materials Should Be Included on Your Server? 389Who Will Provide the Information? 389Howls the Work Distributed? 390Who Will Be Responsible for Installing

and Maintaining the Information? 390What Information Should Be Kept Private? 390What Kinds of Equipment and Software Are Available? 390What Kinds of Usage or Readership Statistics Do You Want or Need? 391Conclusion 391

Using E-Mail to Distribute Information 391Advantages of E-Mail Distribution 392Disadvantages of E-Mail Distribution 392Types of E-Mail Lists 394Special Issues to Consider 396Technical Requirements 396

Establishing Your Own FTP Archive 396Advantages of Establishing Your Own FTP Archive 397Disadvantages of Establishing Your Own FTP Archive 397

Contents l

XVIINORTHWESTNET'S GUIDE TO OUR WORLD ONLINE

Special Issues to Consider 398Technical Requirements 399

Joining the Gopher Revolution 400Advantages of Having Your Own Gopher 400Special Issues to Consider 402Technical Requirements 406

WAIS and Means 406Advantages of Using a WAIS Database 406Disadvantages of Using a WAIS Database 408Special Issues to Consider 408Technical Requirements 409

What Tangled Webs We Can Weave 409Advantages of Establishing a World Wide Web Server 409Disadvantages of Establishing a World Wide Web Server 410Special Issues to Consider 410Technical Requirements 411

You Don't Have to Be a Campus to Have a CWIS 413Advantages of Running Your Own CWIS 413Disadvantages of Running Your Own CWIS 414CWIS Software 414Special Issues to Consider 416Technical Requirements 417

Copyright and Other Legal Issues 418Copyright 418Maintaining Control After the Document Has Left Your Hands 419Liability 419

Commercial Activities on the Internet 420The Rules 420Internet Culture 421Examples of Commercial Activity on the Internet 422Charging for Materials on the Internet 422

For More Information 423Mailing Lists on Internet Publishing 423More Information on CWISs and Listservers 424Usenet Newsgroups on Publishing Systems 425Bibliography 425

23 • A SCHOOLHOUSE FOR THE WORLD 427USING THE GLOBAL INTERNET IN K-l 2 EDUCATION

Why Use Global Networks in K-12 Schools? . , 428Educational Opportunities for the Students 428Resource Sharing 429In-Service Education and Teacher Enrichment 429

Contents

XVIII (THE INTERNET PASSPORT)

•

To What Network Should a K-12 School Connect? 429Internet Networks 430Not-for-Profit Cooperative Networks 431

Getting Started with K-12 Networking 432Network Etiquette and Ethics 433

Communicating in the Global Schoolhouse 433Usenet and K-12 Education 433Mailing Lists 436LISTSERV Discussion Groups and K-12 Education 439K-12 Oriented Gophers 441K-12 Oriented World Wide Web Servers 445

Collaborative Projects 447Disabled Data Link Group and Chatback 447Global Schoolhouse Project 447I*EARN (International Education and Research Network) 448TERC 449Independently Developed Projects 449

The Library 450Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs) 450Electronic Books 450Electronic Journals 450

K-12 Oriented Databases 451PENpages , 452Spacelink 452ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) 452

The Supply Room: Teaching Aids and Educational Tools 453Anonymous FTP Hosts 454K12Net Libraries 454Software and Courseware Online Review 454K-12 Oriented Information Systems 455

Field Trips without Buses 455Easy to Use Internet Front Ends 455Some Fun Places on the World Wide Web 456

Supercomputer Training 458Distance Education Programs for K-12 Educators 458Conclusion 458For More Information 459

Bibliography 459Printed Journals 462Educational Conferences 463Organizations 463A Sampler of K-l 2 Related LISTSERV Discussion Groups 463Cooperative Not-for-Profit K-12 Network Providers 469

Contents

XIXNORTHWESTNET'S GUIDE TO OUR WORLD ONLINE

24 • MINDING THE BODY 473THROUGH HEALTH CARE, MEDICAL, AND RELATED SCIENCE RESOURCES

Something for Everyone 474Conducting Basic Research 474Providing and Gathering Information 474Open Lines of Communications, Personal and Professional 475Crossing Geographic Boundaries 475Forums and Resources on the Internet 476

Health Care and Medical Science Resources 476Health Care and Medical Databases 476LISTSERVs in Medicine 487Mailing Lists in Medicine 499MAILBASE Lists in Medicine 500Other Types of Lists in Medicine 501Usenet Newsgroups in Medicine 502BITNET Listserv Echoes 503Electronic Journals in Medicine 504

Genetics and Molecular Biology 506General Information about Genetics

and Molecular Biology Databases 506Genetics and Molecular Biology Databases 506LISTSERVs in Genetics and Molecular Biology 516

For More Information 520Mailing Usts 520Online Resources 521Bibliography 522

25 • USING SUPERCOMPUTERS 523

Supercomputers: Growth and Future 524Supercomputers—Always a Need 525Supercomputer Sites 525The National MetaCenter for Computational Science

and Engineering 526The NSF Backbone 526

Supercomputer Hardware 526Cache Memories 527Independent Memory Banks 527Vector Hardware 527Parallel Hardware 528Impact on Debugging and Graphics 528Other Hardware Issues 529

Contents

XX (THE INTERNET PASSPORT)

Supercomputer Software 529Operating Systems 529Workstation Support 529

Supercomputer Performance Gains 529Performance Gains through Specialized Hardware 530

Vector Processing 530Parallel Processing 531

Interaction with Optimizing Compilers 533Migrating Programs to Supercomputers 535Supercomputer Access 536Supercomputer References 537Supercomputer Site Descriptions 537Cornell Theory Center (CTC) 538

Hardware 538Software 539Training 540Collaborative Research 542Documentation 542Consulting .' 542Graphics Support 542Administration 543Contact Summaries 543Login Script 543

National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) 544Hardware 544Software 545Training 545Collaborative Research 545Documentation 546Consulting 546Graphics Support 547Strengths and Limitations 547Administration 547Contact Summaries 548

National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) 548Hardware 548Software 549Software On the CRAYs 550Training 551Collaborative Research 552Documentation 552Consulting 552

Contents

XXINORTHWESTNET'S GUIDE TO OUR WORLD ONLINE

Graphics Support 552Strengths 553Administration 553Contact Summaries 554Login Script 555

National Energy Research Supercomputer Center (NERSC) 556Hardware 556Software 557Training 557Collaborative Research 557Documentation 558Consulting 558Graphics Support 558Strengths 558Administration 558Contact Summaries 558Login Script 559

Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) 559Computer Hardware 560Software (on Y-MP8 only) 561Training 561Collaborative Research 562Documentation 562Consulting 562Graphics Support 563Strengths 563Administration 563Contact Summaries 563

Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC) 565Hardware 565System Software 566Application Software 566Andrew File System 568File ARchiver (FAR) 568The Biomedical Initiative 569The High School Initiative 569Training 569Documentation 570Consulting 570Graphics Support 570Administration 571Login Script 571

Contents

XXII (THE INTERNET PASSPORT)

San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) 573Hardware 573Software Available on the Cray C90 573Training 574Education 574Collaborative Research 574Documentation 574Consulting 575Graphics Support 575Strengths 575Administration 575Contact Summaries 576Login Script 576

For More Information 577Supercomputer Information on the Web 577LISTERV Lists on Supercomputing 577Newsgroups on Supercomputing 577

SECTION VII • APPENDICES• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

A • LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE INTERNET 579

Requests For Comments (RFCs) 580The FYI (For Your Information) Notes 582

The National Research and Education Network (NREN) 583Some Organizations and Conferences for Internet Users 583

B • CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET 591

Obtaining Current Lists of U.S. Internet Service Providers 593Multi-User Service Providers 593Public-Access Internet Hosts 593Obtaining Current Lists ofNon-U.S. Internet Service Providers 595Bibliography 595

C • THE USER'S PERSPECTIVE ON INTERNET SECURITY 597

Passwords: Your First Line of Defense 598fjz*l;)9S: Using Encryption to Scramble Your Data 599Using a Digital Signature 600What is a Firewall? 600

Contents

XXIIINORTHWESTNET'S GUIDE TO OUR WORLD ONLINE

D • UNIFORM RESOURCE LOCATOR 601

E • NORTHWESTNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICIES 605

NorthWestNet Acceptable Use Policy for Research and Education 606NorthWestNet Acceptable Use Policy for Commercial Enterprise 607

F • NSFNET BACKBONE SERVICES 609ACCEPTABLE USE POLICIES

General Principle: 610Specifically Acceptable Uses: 610Unacceptable Uses: 610

•GLOSSARY 611

Internet Symbols, Terms, and Acronyms 611Letters, Symbols, and Numbers 611Words and Acronyms 612

• INDEX 631

Contents