ACSS NEWSLETTER Academic Computing Services and Systems Volume 23, Number 6 University of Minnesota, Twin Cities June, 1989 Networking at ACSS Paul D. Tranby Internet: [email protected] •. BITNET: PDT@UMNACVX This issue of the ACSS Newsletter concentrates on the net­ The Campus Internet and Beyond elsewhere in this issue working and communications aspects of the ACSS central further discuss this network. systems and on some of the applications and services that use these networks. MSUSnet Over the past few years, networking at the University has MSUSnet is a network that provides interactive access to the grown dramatically. A great deal of work has been done by Minnesota State University Systems. The article MSUSnet/ many University departments to facilitate high-speed commu­ University Internet Gateway describes how users on MSUS­ nications between computer systems and between users of net and on the University Internet can access systems on the these systems. This work has included access to systems and other network. users at other institutions around the state and around the country. BITNET The greatly simplified diagram on page 120 logically repre­ sents some of the networking and communications technology BITNET is an international network of educational institutions in use at ACSS. Each cloud in the diagram actually represents connected together, as the BITNET charter states, for the a complex network of interconnected computers. Each of purpose of facilitating the exchange of non-commercial infor­ : these networks has its own individual characteristics and appli­ mation in support of member institutions' missions of educa­ cations. tion and research. The article Introduction to BITNET Utilities and Services describes BITNET, how to use it, and also discusses some points of "BITNET etiquette" to keep in The University Internet mind when using it. The University Internet is an ethernet-like network that inter- Among other things, articles in this Newsletter discuss such . connects most of the computer systems at the University of topics as interactive access to the ACSS central systems, file Minnesota. This network has connections to similar regional transfer between microcomputers and the central systems, file and national networks. Among other things, the Internet is transfer between central systems, using the Electronic Post­ used for interactive computer access, inter-machine file trans- master, and connecting departmental printers to the ACSS , fers and electronic mail. The articles What's an Internet? and printer network. 1 I HELP PAGE HELP-LINES CONSULTING Central Systems (CA,NV,UX,VX): Walk-In 626-5592 8 am to 5 pm weekdays East Bank: Artificial Intelligence: 128C Lind Hall; 11 am to 4 pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday and Thursday 625-8332 3 to 4 pm weekdays West Bank: Data Base: 140 Blegen Hall; 10 am to noon, Tuesday; 626-1887 10 to 11 am weekdays 1 to 2 pm, Wednesday Graphics: Microcomputer and Workstations: 626-5592 8 am to 5 pm weekdays 125 Shepherd Lab; 9 am to 4 pm, weekdays (Closed from 12:00 to 1:30, Monday, Tuesday, Liberal Arts, Text Analysis: and Friday.) 625-8332 3 to 4 pm weekdays LUMINA (communications questions) Electronic Mail Consulting 626-2272 8 am to 5 pm weekdays 7 pm to 10 pm Thursdays Consulting is now available via the mail facility on all ACSS systems (the CA, NV, UX, and VX). Send mail to user name Microcomputer and Workstation Networks: CONSULT for questions after hours and for low-priority questions that are not critical to your immediate computing work. Replies 626-4276 9 am to 4 pm, weekdays will be sent to your account through the mail facility on your (Closed 12:00 to 1:30pm, system. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.) Statistics: Instructional Computing Consultant 626-1887 1 to 3 pm weekdays Department instructors may call626-0200 for assistance in choos­ Text Processing: ing ACSS systems (CYBER/NOS, CYBER/VE, ENCORE/UNIX, V AXNMS), software, and for answers to any other inquiries on 625-1391 10 am to noon, Tuesday, using computers for instructional computing. Wednesday, Friday COMPUTING INFORMATION CENTER 128A Lind Hall, 625-7397, MAo@UMNACCA, MAD@UMNACUX, MAD@UMNAC VX 8 am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday Computing account and grant applications available for CYBER, Complete documentation collection. Reference copies of vendor ENCORE, and VAX computers. and all other documentation for ACSS software. Short course enrollment. Short course schedules and class descrip­ Free ACSS documentation. General information, and central tions available. system and microcomputer information available. Assistance in ordering vendor documentation. Vendor Computing Newsletters. Subscribe to theACSS Newsletter and the documentation is not always available in the University bookstores ACSS Microcomputer Newsletter. Newsletters from other and may be ordered directly from the company. computing centers are also available for reference. June,1989 118 University of Minnesota 1 I 1 "f 1' University of Minnesota, Twin Cities t l ! t ACSS NEWSLETTER i Volume 23, Number 6 June, 1989 1--------------------------------------------------------l # i j 0' I ACSS NEWStEITER Contents Acting Director, ACSS: Michael Skow 118 HELP PAGE Guest Editor: Roger Gulbranson Editors: Steven Brehe, Paula Goblirsch NETWORKING Photographer: Fran Howard 117 Networking at ACSS TheACSS Newsletter is published monthly by Academic Computing Services and ACCESS Systems of the University of Minnesota, 121 Interactive Access to ACSS Central Systems Twin Cities. Deadline for articles is the 5th 121 Access by Phone of the month preceding publication; 122 Access by Hardwired Terminal deadline for short announcements is the 123 Access by Internet lOth. The ACSS Newsletter is produced 123 Using the Network Terminal Server with an Apple Macintosh Plus running Microsoft Word, FullPaint, CricketDraw, Adobe Illustrator, and Aldus PageMaker INTERNET software, with camera-ready copy produced 128 What's an Internet? on an Apple LaserWriter Plus. 129 The Campus Internet and Beyond 132 MSUSneVUniversity Internet Gateway ELECTRONIC MAIL 135 Using E-Mail Direct comments, suggestions, articles, and 137 Introduction to BITNET Utilities and Services announcements to the editors at the address 140 The Electronic Postmaster on UX and VX below, or call (612) 626-1828, or 626-1093. BITNET: SKB@UMNACVX, PMG@UMNACVX. OF SPECIAL INTEREST 144 Transferring Files Using FTP For a free subscription call (612) 625-7397, 146 Transferring Files Using Kermit or send your name and address to the Com­ 149 Connecting Printers to ACSS Systems puting Information Center, 128A Lind Hall. BITNET: MAo@UMNACCA, MAo@UMNACUX, or MAo@UMNAcvx. On-campus address JUNE NEWS changes must include your department name Svstems and address. 150 System and Rate Changes for Fiscal Year 1990 152 New VX Disk Drives The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal Software access to its programs, facilities, and em­ 152 Final Reminder: Varian Plotter to be Removed ployment without regard to race, religion, 153 New Version of PCL on VX color, sex, national origin, handicap, age, 153 Final Reminder: IMSL 9.2 Will be Dropped from CA and VX veteran status, or sexual orientation. 154 NBS Core Math Library (CMLIB} on UX and VX 156 Help for TeX Users 156 HOLIDAY HOURS 156 CORRECTION Copyright© 1989 University of Minnesota. 157 SHORT COURSES l Permission to copy is hereby granted, pro­ vided proper acknowledgement is given. 159 PHONES/HOURS/LABS J 1~----------------------------- tACSS 119 June,1989 I NETWORKING UofM Internet CDC NOS 626-1630 d;al-;n access ca.acss.umn.edu 300/1 200/2400 bps off campus U of M 300 - 1 9200 on campus phone system 626-1631 d;al-; n access and CDC NOS/VE 1200/2400 bps off campus modem nv .acss.umn.edu 300 - 19200 on campus d;al-; n SLIP access Encore Umax ha rdr,,,..; red term; nal access ACSS ux .acss. um n .ed u campus pubHc labs and staff (by fall 89) MSUSnet legend 0 External net"Work Ethernet router from I c;sco Systems Inc. BITNET (:] Ethernet term; nal servers U from c;sco Systems Inc. Net'Worlc gate"Way runn; ng ~ on a Sun 3/60. BITNET router runn;ng ~ on a DEC M;croVAX Figure 1: ACSS Networking and Communications University of Minnesota June,1989 120 f ACCESS Ii Interactive Access to ACSS Central Systems Paul D. Tranby Internet: [email protected] BITNET: PDT@UMNACVX During the past year, many changes have taken place, and are both the dial-in and hardwired access methods involve the use continuing to take place, which have improved both the variety of ethernet terminal servers, the last section of this article of methods and the capabilities of interactive access to the summarizes how to use the specific terminal server that we ACSS central systems. We have gone from a dial-in configu­ have in place. ration that had separate rotaries for each system to a new con­ figuration using ethernet terminal servers, which in turn can create any number of connections to one or more of the central systems. Over the summer we will be converting our hard­ wired terminals in the ACSS staff offices and campus public Part One: labs to use ethernet terminal servers as well. Access from j microcomputers and workstations on campus, both from staff Access by Phone and faculty offices and from public labs, has improved dra­ matically due to the rapid growth of the campus ethernet network. Access from other campuses around the state and The first two configurations I mentioned in the list above around the country has also improved greatly because of these involve some form of dial-in access-that is, communicating changes to the ethernet network. with the central systems via phone lines. ACSS currently has two dial-in rotaries that enable you to access any of the ACSS As the above indicates, interactive access to the ACSS systems systems by dialing a single phone number.