RFC relevance of december

As per Relevance of the word december, we have this rfc below:

Network Working Group G.
Request for Comments: 1739 S.
Category: Informational Hill Associates, Inc
December 1994

A Primer On Internet and TCP/IP

Status of this

This memo provides information for the Internet community. This
does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution
this memo is unlimited

Table of

1. Introduction .................................................. 2
2. A Beginner's Guide to TCP/IP-based Utilities and Applications . 2
2.1. NSLOOKUP .................................................... 3
2.2. PING ........................................................ 5
2.3. FINGER ...................................................... 6
2.4. TRACEROUTE .................................................. 7
2.5. FTP ......................................................... 10
2.6. TELNET ...................................................... 14
2.7. User Database Lookup Tools .................................. 17
2.7.1. WHOIS/NICNAME ............................................. 17
2.7.2. KNOWBOT ................................................... 20
2.7.3. NETFIND ................................................... 21
2.8. Information Servers ......................................... 24
2.8.1. ARCHIE .................................................... 24
2.8.2. GOPHER .................................................... 27
2.8.3. Other Information Servers ................................. 30
2.9. Uniform Resource Locator Format ............................. 31
3. Distribution Lists and Mailing Lists .......................... 32
3.1. Internet Discussion Lists ................................... 33
3.2. Usenet ...................................................... 33
3.3. BITNET/EARN ................................................. 35
4. Internet Documentation ........................................ 36
4.1. Request for Comments (RFCs) ................................. 36
4.2. Internet Standards .......................................... 38
4.3. For Your Information Documents .............................. 39
4.4. RARE Technical Reports ...................................... 40
5. Perusing the Internet ......................................... 40
6. Acronyms and Abbreviations .................................... 42
7. Security Considerations ....................................... 43
8. Acknowledgements .............................................. 43
9. References .................................................... 43
10. Authors' Addresses ........................................... 46

Kessler & Shepard [Page 1]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

1.

This memo is an introductory guide to some of the TCP/IP and
tools and utilities that allow users to access the wide variety
information on the network, from determining if a particular host
up to viewing a multimedia thesis on foreign policy. It
describes discussion lists accessible from the Internet, ways
obtain Internet documents, and resources that help users weave
way through the Internet. This memo may be used as a tutorial
individual self-learning, a step-by-step laboratory manual for
course, or as the basis for a site's users manual. It is intended
a basic guide only and will refer to other sources for more
information

2. A Beginner's Guide to TCP/IP-based Utilities and

This section provides descriptions and detailed examples of
TCP/IP utilities and applications, including actual sessions
these utilities (with some extraneous information removed).
section below describes a single TCP/IP-based tool, it's application
and, in some cases, how it works. The text description is
by an actual sample session

The sample dialogues shown below were made using the Multinet TCP/
software for VAX/VMS or DOS versions of FTP Software's PC/TCP.
the examples below can be used as a guide to using and learning
the capabilities of these tools, the reader should understand
not all of these utilities may be found at all TCP/IP hosts nor
all commercial software packages. Furthermore, the user
for different packages will be different and the actual command
may appear differently than shown here; this will be
true for graphical user interfaces running over Windows, X-Windows
OS/2, or Macintosh systems. The Internet has many exciting things
offer but standardized interfaces to the protocols is not yet one
them! This guide will not provide any detail or motivation about
Internet Protocol Suite; more information about the TCP/IP
and related issues may be found in RFC 1180 [18], Comer [22],
[23], and Kessler [30].

In the commands shown in the descriptions below, any item
in square brackets ([]) is optional and the vertical-bar (|)
"or"; parameters appearing with no brackets or within curly
({}) are mandatory. In the sample dialogues, most user input is
capital letters (only where allowed) and lines containing user
are designated with a "**" in the far-left margin

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The sample dialogues are easier to read in
secondary, Postscript version of this RFC

Kessler & Shepard [Page 2]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

2.1.

NSLOOKUP is the name server lookup program that comes with
TCP/IP software packages. A user can use NSLOOKUP to examine
in the Domain Name System (DNS) database that pertain to a
host or domain; one common use is to determine a host system's
address from its name or the host's name from its IP address.
general form of the command to make a single query is

NSLOOKUP [IP_address | host_name

If the program is started without any parameters, the user will
prompted for input; the user can enter either an IP address or
name at that time, and the program will respond with the name
address of the default name sever, the name server actually used
resolve each request, and the IP address and host name that
queried. "Exit" is used to quit the NSLOOKUP application

Three simple queries are shown in the example below

1. Requests the address of the host named "emily.uvm.edu", a system
the University of Vermont (UVM). As it turns out, this is not
true name of the host, but a shortened version of the name that
accepted as an alias by the network. The full name of the host
the IP address are listed by NSLOOKUP

2. Requests the address of host "emily.emba.uvm.edu", which is
same host as in the first query. Note that NSLOOKUP provides
"non-authoritative" answer. Since NSLOOKUP just queried this
address, the information is still in its cache memory. Rather
send additional messages to the name server, the answer is one
it remembers from before; the server didn't look up the
again, however, so it is not guaranteed to still be
(because the information might have changed within the last
milliseconds!).

3. Requests the name of the host with the given IP address.
result points to the Internet gateway to Australia
"munnari.oz.au".

One additional query is shown in the dialogue below.
examines information that is stored by the DNS. The default
queries examine basic address records (called "A records")
reconcile the host name and IP address, although other information
also available. In the final query below, for example, the
wants to know where electronic mail addressed to the "uvm.edu"
actually gets delivered, since "uvm.edu" is not the name of an
host. This is accomplished by changing the query type to look

Kessler & Shepard [Page 3]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

mail exchange (MX) records by issuing a "set type" command (
must be in lower case). The query shows that mail addressed
"uvm.edu" is handled though a mail server called "moose.uvm.edu".
DNS is beyond the scope of this introduction, although
information about the concepts and structure of the DNS can be
in STD 13/RFC 1034 [12] and RFC 1591 [13]. The "help" command can
issued at the program prompt for information about NSLOOKUP's
advanced commands

TECHNICAL NOTE: There are other tools that might be available on
system or with your software for examining the DNS. Alternatives
NSLOOKUP include HOST and DIG

==================================================================
** SMCVAX$

Default Server:
Address: 127.0.0.1

** > EMILY.UVM.
Server:
Address: 127.0.0.1

Name: emily.emba.uvm.
Address: 132.198.1.7
Aliases: emily.uvm.

** > EMILY.EMBA.UVM.
Server:
Address: 127.0.0.1

Non-authoritative answer
Name: emily.emba.uvm.
Address: 132.198.1.7

** > 128.250.1.21
Server:
Address: 127.0.0.1

Name: munnari.OZ.
Address: 128.250.1.21

** > set type=
** > UVM.
Server:
Address: 127.0.0.1

uvm.edu preference = 10, mail exchanger = moose.uvm.

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RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

moose.uvm.edu internet address = 132.198.101.60

** >

SMCVAX
==================================================================

2.2.

Ping is one of the most widely available tools bundled with TCP/
software packages. Ping uses a series of Internet Control
Protocol (ICMP) Echo messages to determine if a remote host is
or inactive, and to determine the round-trip delay in
with it. The Ping command, referred to as the Packet
Groper in some references, has the following general format

PING [-s] {IP_address | host_name} [size] [quantity

In the first test below, we ping the host "thumper.bellcore.com"
determine whether it is up and running. This simple use of
command contains no optional parameters

In the second test, the "-s" parameter tells the system to send
ICMP Echo message every second. The optional "size"
specifies that each message should be 64 bytes in length (which
the default size); the optional "quantity" parameter indicates
this test will only send 12 messages (the default is to run the
continuously until interrupted). The results of the second
displays the round-trip delay of each Echo message that is
to the sending host; at the end of the test, summary statistics
displayed

==================================================================
** SMCVAX$ PING THUMPER.BELLCORE.
thumper.bellcore.com is

** SMCVAX$ PING -S THUMPER.BELLCORE.COM 64 12
PING THUMPER.BELLCORE.COM (128.96.41.1): 56 data
64 bytes from 128.96.41.1: icmp_seq=0 time=150
64 bytes from 128.96.41.1: icmp_seq=1 time=110
64 bytes from 128.96.41.1: icmp_seq=2 time=130
64 bytes from 128.96.41.1: icmp_seq=3 time=130
64 bytes from 128.96.41.1: icmp_seq=4 time=320
64 bytes from 128.96.41.1: icmp_seq=5 time=110
64 bytes from 128.96.41.1: icmp_seq=6 time=440
64 bytes from 128.96.41.1: icmp_seq=7 time=90
64 bytes from 128.96.41.1: icmp_seq=9 time=100
64 bytes from 128.96.41.1: icmp_seq=10 time=110

Kessler & Shepard [Page 5]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

----THUMPER.BELLCORE.COM PING Statistics----
12 packets transmitted, 10 packets received, 16% packet
round-trip (ms) min/avg/max = 90/169/440

SMCVAX
==================================================================

2.3.

The Finger program may be used to find out who is logged in
another system or to find out detailed information about a
user. This command has also introduced a brand new verb; "fingering
someone on the Internet is not necessarily a rude thing to do!
Finger User Information Protocol is described in RFC 1288 [20].
most general format of the Finger command is

FINGER [username]@host_

The first example below shows the result of fingering an
user at a remote system. The first line of the response shows
username, the user's real name, their process identifier
application, and terminal port number. Additional information may
supplied at the option of the user in "plan" and/or "project"
that they supply; these files are often named PLAN.TXT
PROJECT.TXT, respectively, and reside in a user's root directory (
somewhere in an appropriate search path).

The second example shows the result of fingering a remote system
This lists all of the processes currently running at the
system or other information, depending upon how the remote system'
administrator set up the system to respond to the Finger command

Kessler & Shepard [Page 6]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

==================================================================
** C:\> FINGER KUMQUAT@SMCVAX.SMCVT.
[smcvax.smcvt.edu
KUMQUAT Gary Kessler 20A02991 MAIL TXA
Last login Fri 15-Jul-1994 2:59 PM-

Plan

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Gary C.
Adjunct Faculty Member, Graduate

Senior Member of Technical
Hill Associates +1 802-655-8633 or 655-0940 (office
17 Roosevelt Highway +1 802-655-7974 (fax
Colchester, VT 05446 +1 802-879-5242 (home
INTERNET: kumquat@smcvax.smcvt.edu or kumquat@hill.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

** C:\> FINGER @SMCVAX.SMCVT.
[smcvax.smcvt.edu
Friday, July 15, 1994 4:00PM-EDT Up 21 03:41:31
7+0 Jobs on SMCVAX Load ave 0.24 0.31 0.25

User Personal Name
DENIS Denis Stratford
GOODWIN Dave Goodwin
JAT John Trono
KUMQUAT Gary Kessler
INFO SMC Info Service
SYSTEM System Manager *DCL
SMITH Jim Smith

C:\>
================================================================

2.4.

Traceroute is another common TCP/IP tool, this one allowing users
learn about the route that packets take from their local host to
remote host. Although used often by network and system managers as
simple, yet powerful, debugging aid, traceroute can be used by
users to learn something about the structure of the Internet

The Traceroute command has the following general format (where "#"
represents a positive integer value associated with the qualifier):

TRACEROUTE [-m #] [-q #] [-w #] [-p #] {IP_address | host_name

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RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

where -m is the maximum allowable TTL value, measured as
number of hops allowed before the program
(default = 30)
-q is the number of UDP packets that will be sent with
time-to-live setting (default = 3)
-w is the amount of time, in seconds, to wait for an
from a particular router before giving up (default = 5)
-p is the invalid port address at the remote host (default =
33434)

The Traceroute example below shows the route between a host at St
Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont (smcvax.smcvt.edu) and
host at Bellcore in Red Bank, New Jersey (thumper.bellcore.com).
output has some interesting points

1. NEARnet, the New England Academic and Research Network, is
regional network serving the northeastern U.S. The packets'
runs from St. Mike's NEARnet gateway (smc-gw) to the University
Vermont (uvm-gw), etc. Note that some intermediate systems (
lines 4 and 16) do not have names associated with them

2. From NEARnet (lines 1-6), the packets travel on the
Science Foundation Network (NSFNET) T3 backbone (lines 7-11).
NSFNET backbone nodes are identified as "ans.net" since the
is operated by Advanced Networks and Services, Inc. (ANS).
packets travel within ANS' network on their core nodal
subsystems ("cnss") until ready to jump off the backbone; line 11
indicates an ANS exterior nodal switching subsystem ("enss").
datagrams are then carried on the JvNCnet (lines 12-16), a
network in New Jersey (note the use of SMDS!). Finally,
datagrams are placed on Bellcore's internal network (lines 17
18) for final delivery

3. Note that not all of the datagrams take the same route.
particular, only two of the datagrams go through the ANS
referred to at line 10. Note also line 17; here, the first
datagrams go through one router at Bellcore, while the
datagram goes through a companion router

TECHNICAL NOTE: Traceroute works by sending a sequence of
Datagram Protocol (UDP) datagrams to an invalid port address at
remote host. Using the default settings, three datagrams are sent
each with a Time-To-Live (TTL) field value set to one. The TTL
of 1 causes the datagram to "timeout" as soon as it hits the
router in the path; this router will then respond with an ICMP
Exceeded Message (TEM) indicating that the datagram has expired
Another three UDP messages are now sent, each with the TTL value
to 2, which causes the second router to return ICMP TEMs.

Kessler & Shepard [Page 8]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

process continues until the packets actually reach the
destination. Since these datagrams are trying to access an
port at the destination host, ICMP Destination Unreachable
are returned indicating an unreachable port; this event signals
Traceroute program that it is finished! The Traceroute
displays the round-trip delay associated with each of the attempts

As an interesting aside, Traceroute did not begin life as a general
purpose utility, but as a quick-and-dirty debugging aid used to
a routing problem. The code (complete with comments!) is
by anonymous FTP in the file "traceroute.tar.Z" from the
"ftp.ee.lbl.gov". (See Section 2.5 for a discussion of
FTP.)

==================================================================
** SMCVAX$ TRACEROUTE THUMPER.BELLCORE.
traceroute to THUMPER.BELLCORE.COM (128.96.41.1), 30 hops max, 38
byte
1 smc-gw.near.net (192.80.64.5) 50 ms 20 ms 10
2 uvm-gw.near.net (131.192.152.1) 160 ms 50 ms 30
3 harvard-gw.near.net (131.192.65.1) 470 ms 60 ms 60
4 131.192.32.3 (131.192.32.3) 50 ms 50 ms 40
5 mit2-gw.near.net (131.192.7.1) 50 ms 40 ms 40
6 enss.near.net (192.54.222.6) 60 ms 90 ms 40
7 t3-2.Hartford-cnss49.t3.ans.net (140.222.49.3) 70 ms 100 ms 60
8 t3-3.Hartford-cnss48.t3.ans.net (140.222.48.4) 70 ms 40 ms 40
9 t3-2.New-York-cnss32.t3.ans.net (140.222.32.3) 50 ms 60 ms 70
10 * t3-0.New-York-cnss33.t3.ans.net (140.222.33.1) 340 ms 110
11 t3-0.enss137.t3.ans.net (140.222.137.1) 90 ms 420 ms 190
12 zaphod-gateway.jvnc.net (192.12.211.65) 70 ms 50 ms 70
13 airport1-gateway.jvnc.net (130.94.6.250) 390 ms 110 ms 60
14 airport4-gateway.jvnc.net (130.94.7.4) 70 ms 50 ms 60
15 coreSMDS-gateway.jvnc.net (130.94.7.106) 80 ms 130 ms 100
16 128.96.58.2 (128.96.58.2) 80 ms 70 ms 100
17 lab214b-cisco.cc.bellcore.com (128.96.34.40) 120 ms 120
lab214-cisco.cc.bellcore.com (128.96.34.101) 130
18 thumper.bellcore.com (128.96.41.1) 130 ms 430 ms 80

SMCVAX
==================================================================

Kessler & Shepard [Page 9]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

2.5.

The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) [16] is one of the most useful
powerful TCP/IP utilities for the general user. FTP allows users
upload and download files between local and remote hosts.
FTP, in particular, is commonly available at file archive sites
allow users to access files without having to pre-establish
account at the remote host. The general form of the FTP command is

FTP [IP_address | host_name

As shown, FTP can be initiated in several ways. In the example
below, an FTP control connection is initiated to a host by
a host name with the FTP command; optionally, the host's IP
in dotted decimal form could be used. If neither host name nor
address are supplied in the command line, a connection to a host
be initiated by typing "OPEN host_name" or "OPEN IP_address" once
FTP application has been started

The remote host will now ask for a username and password. If
legitimate, registered user of this host supplies a valid
and password, then the user will have access to any files
directories to which this username has privilege. For anonymous
access, the username "anonymous" is used and the password (not
in actual use) is "guest" (although an increasing number of
ask that anonymous FTP users supply their Internet address as
password).

The first command issued in the example below is "help ?", used
obtain a list of available FTP commands and help topics.
not always shown, nearly all TCP/IP applications have a help command

An example of the help for FTP's "type" command is shown in
sample dialogue. This command is very important one, by the way;
transferring a binary or executable file, be sure to set the type
"image" (or "binary" on some systems).

The "dir" command provides a directory listing of the files in
current directory at the remote host; the UNIX "ls" command may
usually be used. Note that an FTP data transfer connection
established for the transfer of the directory information to
local host. The output from the "dir" command will show a
listing that is consistent with the native operating system of
remote host. Although the TCP/IP suite is often associated
UNIX, it can (and does) run with nearly all common operating systems

The directory information shown in the sample dialogue happens to
in UNIX format and includes the following information

Kessler & Shepard [Page 10]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

o File attributes. The first character identifies this as
directory (d), link (l), or individual file (-). The next
characters list the access permissions for three groups, namely
the owner, the owner's group, and all other users. Three
privileges may be assigned to each file for each of these groups
read (r), write (w), execute (x), and/or search (s).

o File owner and owner's group

o File size, in bytes

o Date of last modification. If the date is followed by a timestamp
then the date is from the current year

o File name

After the directory information has been transferred, FTP closes
data transfer connection

The command "cd" is used to change to another directory, in this
the "Gov" directory (note that file and directory names may be case
sensitive). As in DOS, "cd .." will change to the parent of
current directory. The "CWD command successful" is the
indication that the user's "cd" command was correctly executed;
"show-directory" (may be truncated to fewer characters, as shown
command, if available, may be used to see which directory you are in

Another "dir" command is used to find all files ending with
characters ".act"; note the use of the "*" wildcard character.
can now copy (download) the file of choice (The Fair Credit
Act, 1992) by using the "get" (or "receive") command, which has
following general format

GET remote_file_name local_file_

FTP opens another data transfer connection for this file
purpose; note that the effective data transfer rate is 39.98 kbps

FTP's "put" (or "send") command allows uploading from the local
to the remote. "Put" is often not available when using
FTP

Finally, we terminate the FTP connection by using the "close
command. The user can initiate another FTP connection using
"open" command or can leave FTP by issuing a "quit" command. "Quit
can also be used to close a connection and terminate a session

Kessler & Shepard [Page 11]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

TECHNICAL NOTE: It is important to note that different FTP
have different commands available and even those with similar
may act differently. In the example shown here (using MultiNet
VMS), the "show" command will display the current directory;
another package (e.g., FTP Software's PC/TCP), "show" will display
file from the remote host at the local host. Some packages
nothing equivalent to either of these commands

==================================================================
** SMCVAX$ FTP FTP.SPIES.
SMCVAX.SMCVT.EDU MultiNet FTP user process 3.2(106)
Connection opened (Assuming 8-bit connections
** Username:
** Password:

** WIRETAP.SPIES.COM> HELP ?
Commands may be one of the following
ACCOUNT
APPEND
ASCII
BELL
BYE
CD
CLOSE
CPATH CREATE-
CWD
DIRECTORY
EXIT EXIT-ON-
GET
HELP
LDIR LOCAL-
LOCAL-DIRECTORY LOCAL-
LOGIN
LS
MGET
MODE
MULTIPLE
PORT PROMPT-FOR-MISSING-
PROMPT-ON-CONNECT
PUT
QUIT
RECEIVE REMOTE-
REMOVE-DIRECTORY
RETAIN
RMDIR
SHOW-DIRECTORY
SPAWN
STATUS

Kessler & Shepard [Page 12]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

STRUCTURE
TENEX
USER

** WIRETAP.SPIES.COM> HELP
The TYPE command changes the FTP transfer type. The
arguments to the TYPE command are ASCII, IMAGE, BACKUP,
LOGICAL-BYTE ASCII type is used for transferring ASCII text files
IMAGE type is used for transferring binary files. BACKUP type
used for transferring VAX/VMS backup savesets with 2048 byte
size

** WIRETAP.SPIES.COM>
connection for /bin/ls
total 25
drwxr-xr-x 2 9013 daemon 512 Jul 1 1993 .
drwxr-xr-x 4 9013 daemon 512 Jul 1 1993
-rw-r--r-- 1 9013 daemon 791 Apr 6 1993 About_
drwxr-xr-x 3 9013 daemon 512 Jul 12 1993
drwxr-xr-x 13 9013 daemon 512 Jul 1 1993
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root daemon 12 Feb 26 07:02 Economic_
-> Gov/
drwxr-xr-x 4 9013 daemon 512 Jul 1 1993
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root daemon 13 Feb 26 07:01 GAO_Reports ->
Gov/GAO-
drwxr-xr-x 29 9013 daemon 1024 Feb 3 00:15
drwxr-xr-x 16 9013 daemon 512 Jul 1 1993
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root daemon 9 Feb 26 06:56 NAFTA ->
Gov/
drwxr-xr-x 2 9013 daemon 512 Jul 1 1993
drwxr-xr-x 3 9013 daemon 3072 Apr 7 20:59 alt.
drwxr-xr-x 8 root 42 512 Jul 1 1993 ba.
dr-xr-xr-x 2 bin wheel 512 Jul 1 1993
drwxr-xr-x 2 root daemon 512 Feb 15 06:14
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 512 Jul 1 1993
drwxr-xr-x 11 9038 daemon 512 Dec 17 05:37 game_
drwx-wx-wx 3 root daemon 1024 Apr 18 02:09
drwxr-xr-x 3 root ftp 512 Oct 29 02:35
drwxr-xr-x 2 root daemon 512 Jul 1 1992
drwxr-xr-x 3 root daemon 512 Jul 1 1993
drwxr-xr-x 3 9013 42 1024 Jul 1 1993
<Transfer complete
1490 bytes transferred at 4966 bps
Run time = 10. ms, Elapsed time = 2400. ms

** WIRETAP.SPIES.COM> CD
successful

Kessler & Shepard [Page 13]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

** WIRETAP.SPIES.COM>
<"/Gov" is current directory

** WIRETAP.SPIES.COM> DIR *.
connection for /bin/ls
-rw-r--r-- 1 9013 42 32695 Dec 10 21:37 brady.
-r--r--r-- 1 9013 42 168649 Mar 26 1993 disable.
-r--r--r-- 1 9013 42 62602 Mar 30 1993 ecpa.
-r--r--r-- 1 9013 42 29519 Mar 30 1993 faircredit.
-r--r--r-- 1 9013 42 57206 Mar 30 1993 privacy.
-r--r--r-- 1 9013 42 16261 Mar 26 1993 warpower.
<Transfer complete
401 bytes transferred at 7638 bps
Run time = 0. ms, Elapsed time = 420. ms

** WIRETAP.SPIES.COM> GET faircredit.act FAIRCRDT.
connection for faircredit.act (29519
bytes).
<Transfer complete
30132 bytes transferred at 39976 bps
Run time = 40. ms, Elapsed time = 6030. ms

** WIRETAP.SPIES.COM>
SMCVAX
================================================================

2.6.

TELNET [17] is TCP/IP's virtual terminal protocol. Using TELNET,
user connected to one host can login to another host, appearing
a directly-attached terminal at the remote system; this is TCP/IP'
definition of a "virtual terminal." The general form of the
command is

TELNET [IP_address | host_name] [port

As shown, a TELNET connection is initiated when the user enters
"TELNET" command and supplies either a "host_name" or "IP_address";
if neither are given, TELNET will ask for one once the
begins

In the example below, a user logged onto a PC on a LAN will
TELNET to attach to the remote host "smcvax.smcvt.edu". Once
in via TELNET, the user can do anything on the remote host that
could do if they were on a directly-connected terminal or had dialed
up by modem. The commands that are used are those available on
remote system to which the user is attached. In the sample

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RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

below, the user attached to SMCVAX will use basic VAX/VMS commands

o The "dir" command lists the files having a "COM" file extension
o The "mail" command enters the MAIL system (there are no messages).
o "Pinging" the home host shows that it is alive

When finished, "logout" logs the user off the remote host;
automatically closes the connection to the remote host and
control to the local system

It is important to note that TELNET is a very powerful tool, one
may provide users with access to many Internet utilities and
that might not be otherwise available. Many of these features
accessed by specifying a port number with the TELNET command,
addition to a host's address, and knowledge of port numbers
another mechanism for users to access information with Telnet

This guide discusses several TCP/IP and Internet utilities
require local client software, such as Finger, Whois, Archie,
Gopher. But what if your software does not include a needed client
In some cases, Telnet may be used to access a remote client
provide the same functionality

This is done by specifying a port number with the TELNET command
Just as TCP/IP hosts have a unique IP address, applications on
host are associated with an address, called a "port". Finger,
example, is associated with the well-known port number 79. In
absence of a Finger client, TELNETing to port 79 at a remote host
provide the same information. You can "finger" another host
TELNET by using a command like

TELNET host_name 79

Other well-known TCP/IP port numbers include 20 (FTP data transfer),
21 (FTP control), 25 (SMTP), 43 (whois), 70 (Gopher), and 185
(KNOWBOT).

Some services are available on the Internet using TELNET and
port numbers. A geographical information database, for example,
be accessed by TELNETing to port 3000 at
"martini.eecs.umich.edu"; current weather information is available
port 3000 at hosts "downwind.sprl.umich.edu"
"wind.atmos.uah.edu".

Kessler & Shepard [Page 15]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

==================================================================
** C:\> TELNET SMCVAX.SMCVT.
FTP Software PC/TCP tn 2.31 01/07/94 12:38
Copyright (c) 1986-1993 by FTP Software, Inc. All rights

- Connected to St. Michael's College -

** Username:
** Password

St. Michael's College VAX/VMS System
Node SMCVAX

Last interactive login on Thursday, 9-JUN-1994 11:55
Last non-interactive login on Thursday, 9-JUN-1994 08:20

Good Afternoon User KUMQUAT. Logged in on 12-JUN-1994 at 3:27 PM

User [GUEST,KUMQUAT] has 4292 blocks used, 5708 available
of 10000 authorized and permitted overdraft of 100 blocks on $1$DIA

** SMCVAX$ DIR *.
Directory $1$DIA2:[GUEST.KUMQUAT

BACKUP.COM;24 24 16-JUL-1990 16:22:46.68 (RWED,RWED,RE,)
DELTREE.COM;17 3 16-JUL-1990 16:22:47.58 (RWED,RWED,RE,)
EXPANDZ.COM;7 2 22-FEB-1993 10:00:04.35 (RWED,RWED,RE,)
FTSLOGBLD.COM;3 1 16-JUL-1990 16:22:48.57 (RWED,RWED,RE,)
FTSRRR.COM;2 1 16-JUL-1990 16:22:48.73 (RWED,RWED,RE,)
LOGIN.COM;116 5 1-DEC-1993 09:33:21.61 (RWED,RWED,RE,)
SNOOPY.COM;6 1 16-JUL-1990 16:22:52.06 (RWED,RWED,RE,)
SYLOGIN.COM;83 8 16-JUL-1990 16:22:52.88 (RWED,RWED,RE,RE
SYSHUTDWN.COM;1 0 16-JUL-1990 16:22:53.04 (RWED,RWED,RE,)
SYSTARTUP.COM;88 15 16-JUL-1990 16:22:53.21 (RWED,RWED,RE,)
WATCH_MAIL.COM;1 173 10-MAY-1994 09:59:52.65 (RWED,RWED,RE,)

Total of 11 files, 233 blocks

** SMCVAX$
** MAIL>

** SMCVAX$ PING HILL.COM /N=5
PING HILL.COM (199.182.20.4): 56 data
64 bytes from 199.182.20.4: icmp_seq=0 time=290
64 bytes from 199.182.20.4: icmp_seq=1 time=260
64 bytes from 199.182.20.4: icmp_seq=2 time=260
64 bytes from 199.182.20.4: icmp_seq=3 time=260
64 bytes from 199.182.20.4: icmp_seq=4 time=260

Kessler & Shepard [Page 16]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

----HILL.COM PING Statistics----
5 packets transmitted, 5 packets received, 0% packet
round-trip (ms) min/avg/max = 260/266/290

** SMCVAX$
KUMQUAT logged out at 12-JUN-1994 15:37:04.29

Connection #0

C:\>
==================================================================

2.7. User Database Lookup

2.7.1. WHOIS/

WHOIS and NICNAME are TCP/IP applications that search databases
find the name of network and system administrators, RFC authors
system and network points-of-contact, and other individuals who
registered in appropriate databases. The original NICNAME/
protocol is described in RFC 954 [4].

WHOIS may be accessed by TELNETing to an appropriate WHOIS server
logging in as "WHOIS" (no password is required); the most
Internet name server is located at the Internet Network
Center (InterNIC) at "rs.internic.net". This specific database,
particular, only contains INTERNET domains, IP network numbers,
points of contact; policies governing the InterNIC database
described in RFC 1400 [19]. The MILNET database resides
"nic.ddn.mil" and PSI's White Pages pilot service is located
"psi.com".

Many software packages contain a WHOIS/NICNAME client
automatically establishes the TELNET connection to a default
server database, although users can usually specify any name
database that they want

The accompanying dialogues shows several types of WHOIS/
information queries. In the session below, we request
about an individual (Denis Stratford) by using WHOIS locally,
specific domain (hill.com) by using NICNAME locally, and a high-
domain (edu) using TELNET to a WHOIS server

Kessler & Shepard [Page 17]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

==================================================================
** SMCVAX$ WHOIS STRATFORD,
Stratford, Denis (DS378) denis@@SMCVAX.SMCVT.
St. Michael's
Jemery Hall, Room 274
Winooski
Colchester, VT 05439
(802) 654-2384

Record last updated on 02-Nov-92.
SMCVAX

** C:\> NICNAME HILL.
Hill Associates (HILL-DOM
17 Roosevelt
Colchester, VT 05446

Domain Name: HILL.

Administrative Contact
Kessler, Gary C. (GK34) kumquat@HILL.
(802) 655-8633
Technical Contact, Zone Contact
Monaghan, Carol A. (CAM4) cam@HILL.
(802) 655-8630

Record last updated on 15-Jun-94.

Domain servers in listed order

NETCOMSV.NETCOM.COM 192.100.81.101
NS.NETCOM.COM 192.100.81.105
** C:\> TELNET RS.INTERNIC.
Connected to RS.INTERNIC.NET, a SUN 670 running SUNOS-4.1.3

******************************************************************
* -- InterNIC Registration Services Center --
******************************************************************

Cmdinter Ver 1.3 Mon Mar 21 13:42:27 1994
** [dec-vt220] InterNIC>
Connected to the rs
InterNIC WHOIS Version: 1.0 Mon, 21 Mar 94 13:42:32

** Whois: DOMAIN
Education top-level domain (EDU-DOM
Network Solutions, Inc
505 Huntmar park Dr

Kessler & Shepard [Page 18]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

Herndon, VA 22070

Domain Name:

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Zone Contact
Network Solutions, Inc. (HOSTMASTER) HOSTMASTER@INTERNIC.
(703) 742-4777 (FAX) (703) 742-4811

Record last updated on 16-May-94.

Domain servers in listed order

NS.INTERNIC.NET 198.41.0.4
AOS.ARL.ARMY.MIL 128.63.4.82, 192.5.25.82
NS1.ISI.EDU 128.9.0.107
C.NYSER.NET 192.33.4.12
TERP.UMD.EDU 128.8.10.90
NS.NASA.GOV 128.102.16.10, 192.52.195.10
NIC.NORDU.NET 192.36.148.17
NS.NIC.DDN.MIL 192.112.36.4

Would you like to see the known domains under this top-level domain
**

There are 1504 known sub-domains

0.EDU Reserved
1.EDU Reserved
2.EDU Reserved
22CF.EDU 22nd Century
3.EDU Reserved
** There are 1499 more matches. Show them?

** Whois:

** [dec-vt220] InterNIC>

Connection #0
C:\>
==================================================================

Kessler & Shepard [Page 19]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

2.7.2.

KNOWBOT is an automated username database search tool that is
to WHOIS. The Knowbot Information Service (KIS) provides a
WHOIS-like interface that allows users to query several Internet
databases (White Pages services) all at one time. A single KIS
will automatically search the InterNIC, MILNET, MCImail, and
White Pages Pilot Project; other databases may also be included

KNOWBOT may be accessed by TELNETing to port 185 at
"info.cnri.reston.va.us" or "sol.bucknell.edu". The "help"
will supply sufficient information to get started. The
dialogue below shows use of the "query" command to locate a
named "Gary Kessler"; this command automatically starts a
through the default set of Internet databases

==================================================================
** C:\> TELNET INFO.CNRI.RESTON.VA.US 185

Knowbot Information
KIS Client (V2.0). Copyright CNRI 1990. All Rights Reserved

Please enter your email address in our guest book...
** (Your email address?) > KUMQUAT@HILL.

** > QUERY KESSLER,

Trying whois at ds.internic.net...
The ds.internic.net whois server is being queried
No match for "KESSLER and GARY

The rs.internic.net whois server is being queried

Kessler, Gary C. (GK34) kumquat@HILL.
Hill
17 Roosevelt
Colchester, VT 05446
(802) 655-8633

The nic.ddn.mil whois server is being queried

Kessler, Gary P. (GK15) sa75@TECNET1.JCTE.JCS.
NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER-AD
Simulation & Control Technology

Patuxent River, MD 20670
301-826-3192 (DSN) 326-3192 (FAX) 301-826-4555
MILNET TAC user (Issued: 11-jul-1994)

Kessler & Shepard [Page 20]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

TAC authorizing host: TECNET1.JCTE.JCS.MIL (NATC-3COM

Trying mcimail at cnri.reston.va.us...
Trying ripe at whois.ripe.net...
Trying whois at whois.lac.net...
No match found for .KESSLER,

** >
KIS
Connection #0
C:\>
==================================================================

2.7.3.

NETFIND is another tool that may be used to locate people on
network. NETFIND's advantage is that it searches for users
utilizing extant tools such as Finger and SMTP, thus providing
potential to find any user on any host without relying on databases
For NETFIND to be successful, however, the system manager of
systems must set up Finger and SMTP to respond correctly to NETFIND'
queries. NETFIND is still relatively new and use will grow
time

NETFIND is a menu-driven, text-based system. Users need to TELNET
an available NETFIND server. Once connected, login as "netfind
(must be lower-case; no password required) and follow the
prompts. The sample dialogue below shows the search for "
Maufer", who is known to work at Goddard Space Flight Center ("gsfc")
at NASA ("nasa.gov").

The primary NETFIND server is located at the University of
in Boulder (bruno.cs.colorado.edu); alternate servers include

archie.au (AARNet, Melbourne, Australia
dino.conicit.ve (Nat. Council for Tech. & Sci. Res., Venezuela
ds.internic.net (InterNIC Directory & DB Svcs., S. Plainfield, NJ
eis.calstate.edu (California State University, Fullerton, CA
krnic.net (Korea Network Information Center, Taejon, Korea
lincoln.technet.sg (Technet Unit, Singapore
malloco.ing.puc.cl (Catholic University of Chile, Santiago
monolith.cc.ic.ac.uk (Imperial College, London, England
mudhoney.micro.umn.edu (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
netfind.anu.edu.au (Australian National University, Canberra
netfind.ee.mcgill.ca (McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
netfind.fnet.fr (Association FNET, Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France
netfind.icm.edu.pl (Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland
netfind.if.usp.br (University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Kessler & Shepard [Page 21]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

netfind.oc.com (OpenConnect Systems, Dallas, Texas
netfind.sjsu.edu (San Jose State University, San Jose, California
netfind.vslib.cz (Liberec Univ. of Technology, Czech Republic
nic.uakom.sk (Academy of Sciences, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
redmont.cis.uab.edu (University of Alabama at Birmingham

==================================================================
** C:\> TELNET DS.INTERNIC.
SunOS UNIX (ds

** login:

===================================================
Welcome to the InterNIC Directory & Database
===================================================

Top level choices
1.
2.
3. Seed database
4.
5. Quit (exit server
** --> 2

** Enter person and keys (blank to exit) --> MAUFER GSFC NASA

Please select at most 3 of the following domains to search
0. gsfc.nasa.gov (goddard space flight center, united
national aeronautics and space administration, greenbelt, maryland
1. antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov (compton gamma ray
science support center, goddard space flight center, united
national aeronautics and space administration, greenbelt, maryland
2. enemy.gsfc.nasa.gov (compton gamma ray observatory
support center, goddard space flight center, united states
aeronautics and space administration, greenbelt, maryland
3. upolu.gsfc.nasa.gov (goddard space flight center,
states national aeronautics and space administration, greenbelt
maryland

** Enter selection (e.g., 2 0 1) --> 0
( 1) SMTP_Finger_Search: checking domain gsfc.nasa.
Mail is forwarded to tom@stimpy.gsfc.nasa.
NOTE: this is a domain mail forwarding arrangement - mail
for "maufer" should be addressed to "tom@gsfc.nasa.gov
rather than "tom@stimpy.gsfc.nasa.gov".

Kessler & Shepard [Page 22]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

( 1) SMTP_Finger_Search: checking host stimpy.gsfc.nasa.
------
Domain search completed. Proceeding to host search
------

SYSTEM: kong.gsfc.nasa.
Login name: maufer In real life: Tom Maufer -
Directory: /vault/maufer Shell: /bin/
Last login Fri Sep 24, 1993 on ttypc from rocinante.gsfc.
No unread
No Plan

FINGER SUMMARY
- The most promising email address for "maufer
based on the above finger search
tom@gsfc.nasa.gov

** Continue the search ([n]/y) ? -->
** Enter person and keys (blank to exit) -->

Top level choices
1.
2.
3. Seed database
4.
5. Quit (exit server
** --> 5
Exiting Netfind server...

Connection #0
C:\>
==================================================================

Kessler & Shepard [Page 23]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

2.8. Information

2.8.1.

Archie is a tool for locating files on the Internet,
developed at the Computer Science Department at McGill University
Montreal. Archie allows users to find software, data, and
information files that reside at anonymous FTP archive sites
the Internet; the name of the program, reportedly, is derived
the word "archive" and not from the comic book character.
tracks the contents of over 1,000 anonymous FTP archive
containing over 2 million files. The Archie server
updates the information from each registered site about once a month
providing relatively up-to-date information without unduly
the network

Before using Archie, you must identify a server address. The
below all support Archie; most (but not all) Archie sites support
"servers" command which lists all known Archie servers. Due to
popularity of Archie and its high processing demands, many
limit access to non-peak hours and/or limit the number
simultaneous Archie users. Available Archie sites include

archie.au 139.130.4.6
archie.edvz.uni-linz.ac.at 140.78.3.8
archie.univie.ac.at 131.130.1.23
archie.uqam.ca 132.208.250.10
archie.funet.fi 128.214.6.100
archie.th-darmstadt.de 130.83.22.60
archie.ac.il 132.65.6.15
archie.unipi.it 131.114.21.10
archie.wide.ad.jp 133.4.3.6
archie.hana.nm.kr 128.134.1.1
archie.sogang.ac.kr 163.239.1.11
archie.uninett.no 128.39.2.20
archie.rediris.es 130.206.1.2
archie.luth.se 130.240.18.4
archie.switch.ch 130.59.1.40
archie.ncu.edu.tw 140.115.19.24
archie.doc.ic.ac.uk 146.169.11.3 United
archie.unl.edu 129.93.1.14 USA (NE
archie.internic.net 198.48.45.10 USA (NJ
archie.rutgers.edu 128.6.18.15 USA (NJ
archie.ans.net 147.225.1.10 USA (NY
archie.sura.net 128.167.254.179 USA (MD

Kessler & Shepard [Page 24]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

Archie servers may be accessed using TELNET. When TELNETing to
Archie site, login as "archie" (you MUST use lower case); just
if a password is requested

Once connected, the "help" command assists users in obtaining
information about using Archie. Two more useful Archie commands
"prog", used to search for files in the database, and "whatis",
searches for keywords in the program descriptions

In the accompanying dialogue, the "set maxhits" command is used
limit the number of responses to any following "prog" commands;
this is not done, the user may get an enormous amount of information

In this example, the user issues a request to find entries related
"mpeg", ISO's Moving Pictures Experts Group video
standard. Armed with this information, a user can use anonymous
to examine these directories and files

The next request is for files with "security" as a
descriptor. These responses can be used for subsequent "prog
commands

Exit archie using the "exit" command. At this point, TELNET
the connection and control returns to the local host

Additional information about Archie can be obtained by sending e-
to Bunyip Information Systems (archie-info@bunyip.com).
software is not required to use Archie, but can make life a
easier; some such software can be downloaded using anonymous FTP
the "/pub/archie/" directory at host "ftp.cs.widener.edu" or
"/pub/archie/clients/" at "ftp.sura.net". Most shareware
commercial Archie clients hide the complexity described in
section; users usually connect to a pre-configured Archie
merely by typing an "ARCHIE" command line

==================================================================
** C:\> TELNET 129.93.1.14
SunOS UNIX (crcnis2)

** login:
** Password

Welcome to the ARCHIE server at the University of Nebraska -

# Bunyip Information Systems, 1993

** unl-archie>
These are the commands you can use in help

Kessler & Shepard [Page 25]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

. go up one level in the

? display a list of valid subtopics at the current

done, ^D, ^C quit from help

help on a topic or
Eg
"help show

will give you the help screen for the "show"

"help set search

Will give you the help information for the "search" variable

The command "manpage" will give you a complete copy of the
manual page
** help>

** unl-archie> SET MAXHITS 5
** unl-archie> PROG
# Search type: sub
# Your queue position: 1
# Estimated time for completion: 02:18

Host ftp.germany.eu.net (192.76.144.75)
Location: /pub/applications/
DIRECTORY drwxrwxr-x 512 bytes 00:00 7 Jul 1993
Location: /pub/comp/amiga/
DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 bytes 00:00 7 Sep 1993

Host stsci.edu (130.167.1.2)
Location: /stsci/
DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 bytes 12:55 21 Jun 1994

Host ftp.nau.edu (134.114.64.70)
Location: /
DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 bytes 04:51 3 Apr 1994

Host gum.isi.edu (128.9.32.31)
Location: /share/in-notes/media-types/
FILE -rw-r--r-- 15 bytes 18:45 11 Jan 1994

** unl-archie> WHATIS
RFC 1037 Greenberg, B.; Keene, S. NFILE - a file
protocol. 1987 December; 86 p

Kessler & Shepard [Page 26]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

RFC 1038 St. Johns, M. Draft revised IP security option
1988 January; 7 p
cops System Security analysis
forktest Find security holes in shell-
kerberos Host security
safe-mkdir mkdir() and security hole *****FIX****

** unl-archie>
# Bye
Connection #0
C:\>
==================================================================

2.8.2.

The Internet Gopher protocol was developed at the University
Minnesota's Microcomputer Center in 1991, as a
information search and retrieval tool for the Internet. Gopher
described in RFC 1436 [1]; the name derives from the University'
mascot

Gopher provides a tool so that publicly available information at
host can be organized in a hierarchical fashion, allowing it to
perused using a simple menu system. Gopher allows a user to view
file on demand without requiring additional file transfer protocols
Gopher also has the capability to "link" gophers on the Internet,
that each Gopher site can be used as a stepping stone to access
sites and reducing the amount of duplicate information and effort
the network

In many cases, users can access Gopher by TELNETing to a valid
location; if the site provides a remote Gopher client, the user
see a text-based, menu interface. The number of Gopher sites
growing rapidly; as the dialogue below shows, most Gopher sites
a menu item that will allow you to identify other Gopher sites.
using TELNET, login with the username "gopher" (this MUST be
lowercase); no password is required. Note that not all Gopher
provide a remote Gopher client; users may need local Gopher
software on their system

The Gopher server at "ds.internic.net" has a tremendous amount
information for the new user, including lists of frequently
questions and pointers to various Internet discussion lists. In
sample dialogue below, the remote Gopher client is accessed
TELNETing to the host. With the menu interface shown here, the
merely follows the prompts. Initially, the main menu will appear
selecting item 2 causes Gopher to seize and display the "
Information Services" menu. Move to the desired menu item by

Kessler & Shepard [Page 27]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

the item number or by moving the "pointer" (-->) down to the
entry using the key on the keyboard, and then
. To quit the program at any time, press "q" (quit); "?"
"u" will provide help or go back up to the previous menu
respectively. Users may also search for strings within files
the "/" command or download the file being interrogated using the "D
command

Menu item 7 (selected in the dialogue shown here) is
"Beginners: Start Here", an excellent place for new users to
information about the Internet, available tools, terms and concepts
and, perhaps most importantly, some of the cultural aspects of
Internet community

Further information about Gopher can be obtained by contacting
Internet Gopher Team at the University of Minnesota in
(gopher@boombox.micro.umn.edu). This is also the site of the
Gopher server (consultant.micro.umn.edu). A Gopher-
discussion list is maintained at gopher-news@boombox.micro.umn.
(see Section 3.1 for information on subscribing to
discussion lists). More information on Gopher clients can be
in the Gopher Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file, which can
downloaded using anonymous FTP in
"/pub/usenet/news.answers/gopher-faq" at the host "rtfm.mit.edu";
this FAQ also lists sources for a number of Gopher clients for a
range of hardware/software platforms

==================================================================
** SMCVAX$ TELNET DS.INTERNIC.

SunOS UNIX (ds

** login:
SunOS Release 4.1.3 (DS) #3: Tue Feb 8 10:52:45 EST 1994

******************************************************************
Welcome to the InterNIC Directory and Database Server
******************************************************************

Internet Gopher Information Client v1.11
Root gopher server: ds0.internic.

--> 1. Information About the InterNIC
2. InterNIC Information Services (General Atomics)/
3. InterNIC Registration Services (NSI)/
4. InterNIC Directory and Database Services (AT&T)/

Press ? for Help, q to Quit Page: 1/1

Kessler & Shepard [Page 28]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

** View item number: 2

Internet Gopher Information Client v1.11
InterNIC Information Services (General Atomics

--> 1. README
2. About the InfoGuide
3. About InterNIC Information Services
4. About the Internet
5. Getting Connected to the Internet
6. Beginners: Start Here
7. Using the Internet
8. Internet Resources
9. Advanced Users: NIC Staff, System Administrators,
10. Frequently Asked Questions at InterNIC IS
11. Scout Report
12. WAIS search InfoGuide (and elsewhere) by keyword
13. InfoGuide INDEX

Press ? for Help, q to Quit Page: 1/1
** View item number: 6

Internet Gopher Information Client v1.11
Beginners: Start

--> 1. About This Directory
2. Introductions to the Internet
3. Glossaries And Definitions
4. Network Tools
5. Further Reading
6. Collection of Usenet FAQs
7. Internet Culture and Netiquette

Press ? for Help, q to Quit Page: 1/1
**
Really quit (y/n) ?
**

Connection closed by Foreign
SMCVAX
==================================================================

Kessler & Shepard [Page 29]

RFC 1739 Primer on Internet & TCP/IP Tools December 1994

2.8.3. Other Information

There are a number of other information servers that are growing
popularity and use. The problem with being blessed with so
information from Archie, Gopher, and other sources is exactly that -
too much information. To make it easier for users to locate
system on which their desired information resides, a number of
tools have been created

Veronica (Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Net-wide Index to
Archives) was developed at the University of Nevada in Reno as
adjunct to Gopher. As the number of Gopher sites continues to grow
it has become increasingly harder to find information
"Gopherspace" since Gopher is designed to search a single database
a time. Veronica maintains an index of titles of Gopher items
performs a keyword search on all of the Gopher sites that it
knowledge of and access to, obviating the need for the user
perform a menu-by-menu, site-by-site search for information. When
user selects an item from the menu of a Veronica search, "sessions
are automatically established with the appropriate Gopher servers
and a list of data items is returned to the originating Gopher
in the form of a Gopher menu so that the user can access the files

Veronica is available as an option on many Gopher servers,
"internic.net".

Another Gopher-adjunct is Jughead (Jonzy's Universal Gopher
Excavation And Display). Jughead supports key word searches and
use of logical operators (AND, OR, and NOT). The result of a
search is a display of all menu items which match the search
which are located in the University of Manchester and
Information Server, working from a static database that is re-
every day. Jughead is available from many Gopher sites (
"internic.net"), although Veronica may be a better tool for
searches

Archie and Gopher are primarily used for the indexing of text-
files. The World Wide Web (WWW or W3) Project, initiated by the
Institute for Particle Physics in Geneva, Switzerland, is designed
combine aspects of information retrieval with
communications. The WWW Project is intended to allow users to
information in many different types of formats, including text
sound, image, and video. WWW treats all searchable Internet files
hypertext documents. "Hypertext" is a new term which merely
to text that contains pointers to other text, allowing a user
one document to jump to another document for more information on
given topic, and then return to the same location in the
document. The original WWW site is at CERN and may be accessed

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Telnet at "nxoc01.cern.ch". The user will be automatically logged
and a help menu can be displayed by entering the "h" command

To generally access WWW servers, users must run client
called a "browser". The browser reads documents from WWW servers
can access files by FTP, gopher, and other methods. WWW can
handle hypermedia documents; "hypermedia" is another new term
referring to a file using any medium that contains pointers
another medium. WWW browsers, then, are able to display images
sound, or animations in addition to text. WWW sources and
information may be accessed via anonymous FTP from the "/pub/WWW
directory at "info.cern.ch" or the "/Web" directory
"ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu".

The most commonly used WWW browser is Mosaic, developed at
National Center for Supercomputer Applications (NCSA) at
University of Illinois. Mosaic provides a uniform mechanism
finding the location of information, as well as determining the
type, presentation method, and linkages to other information.
large number of shareware Mosaic clients are available
"ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu". It should be noted that commercial versions
Mosaic will also become available for a variety of platforms
the summer of 1994.

The Wide Area Information Server (WAIS, pronounced "ways")
initiated jointly by Apple Computer, Dow Jones, KMPG Peat Marwick
and Thinking Machines Corp. It is a set of free-ware, share-ware
and commercial software products for a wide variety
hardware/software platforms, which work together to help users
information on the Internet. WAIS provides a single
through which a user can access many different information databases

The user interface allow a query to be formulated in English and
WAIS server will automatically choose the appropriate databases
search. Further information about WAIS can be obtained by
the WAIS FAQ, from host "rtfm.mit.edu" in
"/pub/usenet/news.answers/wais-faq".

2.9. Uniform Resource Locator

As more and more protocols have become available to identify files
archive and server sites, news lists, and other information
on the Internet, it was inevitable that some shorthand would arise
make it a little easier to designate these sources. The
shorthand that is employed is called the Uniform Resource
(URL) format

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The list below provides information on how the URL format should
interpreted for the protocols and resources that have been
in this document. A complete description of the URL format may
found in [2].

file://"host"/"directory"/"file-name
Used to identify a specific file. E.g., the file "htmlasst" in
"edu" directory at host "ftp.cs.da" would be denoted with URL as

ftp://"user":"password"@"host":"port"/"directory"/"file-name
Used to identify an FTP site. E.g.:

gopher://"host":"port"/"gopher-path
Used to identify a Gopher site and menu path. E.g.:
Government/Factbook92>

http://"host":"port"/"directory"/"file-name"?"searchpart
Used to identify a WWW server location. "http" refers to
HyperText Transport Protocol; file names commonly use the ".html
extension, indicating use of the HyperText Markup Language. E.g.:

mailto:"e-mail address
Identifies an individual Internet mail address. E.g.:

telnet://"user":"password"@"host":"port"/
Identifies a TELNET site (the trailing "/" is optional). E.g.:

3. Discussion

Among the most useful features of the Internet are the
lists that have become available to allow individuals to
topics of mutual concern. Discussion list topics range from
diving and home brewing of beer to AIDS research and foreign policy
Several, naturally, deal specifically with the Internet, TCP/
protocols, and the impact of new technologies

Most of the discussion lists accessible from the Internet
"unmoderated", meaning that anyone can send a message to the list'
central repository and the message will then be
forwarded to all subscribers of the list. These lists provide
fast turn-around between submission of a message and delivery,
often result in a lot of messages (including inappropriate "
mail"). A "moderated" list has an extra step; a human list

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examines all messages before they are forwarded to ensure that
messages are appropriate to the list and not needlessly inflammatory

Users should be warned that some lists generate a significant
of messages each day. Before subscribing to too many lists, be
that you are aware of local policies and/or charges governing
to discussion lists and e-mail storage

3.1. Internet Discussion

A list of the known interest groups may be found by Gophering
"ds.internic.net". Follow the menu path "InterNIC
Services" | "Using the Internet" | "Basic Internet Services" |
"Electronic Mail" | "Mailing Lists" to find the 8-part list of lists

Be careful if you download these files; the list is nearly 1.5 MB
size, listing over 800 lists! Along the way, you will find a
of other information

Mail can be sent to an Internet list at an address with the
form

list_name@host_

The common convention when users want to subscribe, unsubscribe,
handle any other administrative matter is to send a message to
list administrator; do NOT send administrivia to the main
address! The list administrator can usually be found at

list_name-REQUEST@host_

To subscribe to a list, it is often enough to place the
"subscribe" in the main body of the message, although a line with
format

SUBSCRIBE list_name your_full_

will satisfy most mail servers. A similar message may be used to
off a list; just use the word "unsubscribe".

Not every list follows this convention, but it is a safe bet if
don't have better information

3.2.

Usenet, also known as NETNEWS or Usenet news, is another
source with its own set of special interest mailing lists
into "newsgroups". Usenet originated on UNIX systems but

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migrated to many other types of hosts, although most Usenet
are still UNIX-based. Usenet clients, called "newsreaders",
available for virtually any operating system

While Usenet newsgroups are usually accessible at Internet sites,
prospective Usenet client host must have appropriate
software to be able to read news. Users will have to check
their local host or network administrator to find out what
newsgroups are locally available, as well as the local policies
using them

Usenet newsgroup names are hierarchical in nature. The first part
the name, called the "hierarchy", provides an indication about
general subject area. There are two types of hierarchies,
"mainstream" and "alternative"; the total number of newsgroups is
the thousands. The "news.announce.newusers" newsgroup is a
place for new Usenet users to find a detailed introduction to the
of Usenet, as well as an introduction to its culture

Usenet mainstream hierarchies are established by a process
requires the