From: Charlotte Mooers To: resource-guide-lists: ; cc: nnsc@NNSC.NSF.NET Subject: AN-93-1 RESOURCE-GUIDE moves to ds.internic.net (AT&T) Date: Mon, 29 Mar 93 22:24:57 -0500 Sender: mooers@NNSC.NSF.NET ****************************************************************************** NSF Network Service Center (NNSC) Hotline: 617/873-3400 10 Moulton Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 Email: nnsc@nnsc.nsf.net ****************************************************************************** The Internet Resource Guide is moving from nnsc.nsf.net to ds.internic.net. The staff of the NNSC wants to thank you for your interest in the Resource Guide and to assure you that the staff of the Directory and Database Services of AT&T will continue and expand the effor to keep you informed about resources on the Internet. Here are detailed instructions for using the new facility at ds.internic.net. ----------------------------------------------------------------- INTERNET RESOURCE GUIDE TRANSITION NSFNET NNSC to InterNIC Directory and Database Services. Starting April 1, 1993, the Internet Resource Guide (IRG) compiled and maintained by BBN, Inc. for the NSFNET Network Service Center (NNSC) is being transitioned to the InterNIC Directory and Database Services being provided by AT&T. This document provides details of this transition for users and entry providers of the IRG. Transition Overview: --------------------- The Internet Resource Guide has been moved from nnsc.nsf.net to host ds.internic.net in the /resource-guide directory. The format is the same as it was on nnsc.nsf.net. It is available via anonymous FTP, WAIS, and electronic mail. During 1993 the Internet Resource Guide will be incorporated into the InterNIC Directory of Directories. The first step will be to move the ASCII text chapters into the Directory of Directories as they currently appear in the IRG so that these entries may be available to users of the Directory of Directories. AT&T is contacting the IRG entry providers and inviting them to convert their entries to Directory of Directories format. No more new or updated entries will be accepted for the IRG, but if any are submitted, BBN Inc. will send them to the InterNIC Directory and Database Administrator. The Directory and Database Administrator will contact the provider about putting the entry into the new Directory of Directories format. The IRG will remain intact for at least one year. The mailing lists maintained by the NNSC (irg-ftp, irg-ps, irg-txt) will be taken over by Directory and Database Services and merged into one list (dirofdirs-announce). This mailing list will be used to announce changes in the status of the IRG and updates to the Directory of Directories. Contact Information ------------------- Any questions or concerns may be directed to: The InterNIC Directory and Database Services Administrator AT&T 5000 Hadley Road Room 1B13 South Plainfield, NJ 07080 Email: admin@ds.internic.net Phone: (908) 668-6587 Putting an Entry in the Directory of Directories ------------------------------------------------ The request form for placing an entry in the Directory of Directories may be obtained from host ds.internic.net via anonymous ftp. Issue the following commands: cd pub/InterNIC-info get dirofdirs-request.template Or, send mail to mailserv@ds.internic.net and include the following command in the body of the message: file /ftp/pub/InterNIC-info/dirofdirs-request.template This form contains a description of the new format, the terms and conditions which apply, and a template for providing the information. A completed form may be returned to: Email: request@ds.internic.net FAX: (908) 668-3763 Mail: The InterNIC Directory and Database Services Administrator AT&T 5000 Hadley Road Room 1B13 South Plainfield, NJ 07080 Accessing the InterNIC Directory of Directories: ------------------------------------------------ You may use WAIS, anonymous FTP or electronic mail to access the InterNIC Directory of Directories. Using WAIS ---------- To access the Directory using WAIS, telnet to ds.internic.net and login with userid "wais." No password is required. The default database is "resources" which is the database name for the Directory of Directories. An online tutorial and a help interface are available to new users of the Directory and Database Services WAIS client. Using anonymous FTP ------------------- FTP to host ds.internic.net. The Directory of Directories is stored in the "resource/" directory as ASCII text files in resource category subdirectories (e.g. NIC, ftpsite, compcenter, archive, etc.). The IRG entries will have the same file names as they have in the IRG directory (e.g. section1-1.txt). Each chapter in the IRG is stored in the following Directory of Directories subdirectory: Chapter 1: compcenter Chapter 2: library Chapter 3: archive Chapter 4: directory Chapter 5: provider Chapter 6: nic Chapter M: nirserver Entries in the new Directory of Directories format have file names based on an abbreviation of the name of the resource. Using electronic mail --------------------- Entries in the Directory may also be obtained through electronic mail by sending a message to mailserv@ds.internic.net. To retrieve individual files, include the FILE command in the message body. FILE has the following format: FILE - This command initiates a file transfer by emailfor each file specified. It requires a fully qualified pathname for each desired file. examples: file /ftp/resources/newsletter/SimpleTimes.b file /ftp/resources/compcenter/section1-1.txt A directory list may be obtained by including the LD (or DIR) command which has the following format: LS/DIR - This command initiates a directory listing for each directory specified. It requires a fully qualified pathname for each desired directory listing. example: ls /ftp/resources A users guide for the Directory and Database Services Mailserver may be obtained by sending email to mailserv@ds.internic.net and including the command HELP in the message body. Accessing the IRG ----------------- The Internet Resource Guide may be accessed using anonymous FTP, WAIS or electronic mail. Using FTP --------- FTP to host ds.internic.net and cd to /resource-guide. The IRG is stored in the same directory structure as it appeared on nnsc.nsf.net. Using WAIS ---------- The IRG may also be scanned using WAIS by telneting to ds.internic.net and logging in with userid "wais". No password is required. When you receive the "search->" prompt, issue the command: database resource-guide to point you to the IRG database. An online tutorial and a help interface are available to new users of the Directory and Database Services WAIS client. Using Electronic Mail --------------------- The files which make up the IRG may also be obtained through electronic mail by sending a message to mailserv@ds.internic.net. To retrieve individual files, include the FILE command in the message body. Some examples are: file /ftp/resource-guide/overview file /ftp/resource-guide/chapter.1/section1-14.ps The LS (or DIR) command may also be used to get a directory listing of the IRG. Use the following command in the message body: ls /ftp/resource-guide A users guide for the Directory and Database Services Mailserver may be obtained by sending email to mailserv@ds.internic.net and including the command HELP in the message body.