The Online World, Odd de Presno [simple ebook reader txt] 📗

on, called its subnet. For example, all of the computers for Wesleyan University in the U.S.A. are in the subnet 129.133, while the number in the previous paragraph represents a full address to one of the university's computers.

IRC

Internet Relay Chat is a worldwide "party line" protocol that allows one to converse with others in real time.

ISDN

An emerging technology being offered by many telephone carriers of the world. ISDN combines voice and digital network services in a single medium, making it possible to offer customers digital data services as well as voice connections through a single "wire." The standards that define ISDN are specified by CCITT.

ISO

The International Organization for Standardization. A voluntary, nontreaty organization responsible for creating international standards in many areas, including computers and communications. Its members are the national standards organizations of the 89 member countries, including ANSI for the U.S.

ISO is coordinator of the main Internet networking standards that are in use today. ISO@NIC.DDN.MIL is a mailing list focusing on the ISO protocol stack.

JIS

A Japanese industry standard code for presenting the Japanese character set Kanji on computers. JIS defines special ranges of user-defined characters. Only the most popular ones are included.

The newer Shift JIS standard sets aside certain character codes to signal the start of a two-character sequence. Together, these define a single Kanji metacharacter. There are many oddities to be found in handling Kanji over the network. Sending JIS-encoded messages through the Internet is done using a 7-bit code (standardized on JUNET). Unfortunately, it incorporates the ESC character, which some systems will filter out. (This problem can be overcome by using UUENCODing.) Some services, like APICNET in Tokyo, converts outgoing Kanji messages automatically to 7-bit format.

JVArcServ

Archive server for FidoNet modelled after Archie for the Internet. It maintains file lists from FidoNet systems throughout its area and will do searches on these file lists based on netmail requests made to it by remote systems. JVArcServ lets you search through file listings for the program you are looking for. It will send you an email message back telling you the BBS name, phone number, and file section of all the systems in the network that match the given criteria.

KB

Kilobyte. A unit of data storage size which represents 1024 characters of information.

Kbits

1,000 bits.

Kermit

Protocol designed for transferring files between microcomputers and mainframe computers developed by Catchings at Columbia University.

There are both public domain, and copyrighted Kermit programs. Some of these programs are complete programs in themselves offering the communication functions needed for the particular machine on which they are running. The complete Kermit protocol manual and the source code for various versions are available from: Kermit Distribution, (212) 854-3703 Columbia University Center for Computing Activities 612 West 115 Street, New York, NY 10025

Knowbot

Experimental directory services using intelligent computer programs that automate the search and gathering of data from distributed databases. The concept behind the Knowbot is that it is supposed to be a Knowledge Robot -- something that goes hunting for information on the Internet.

To reach a Knowbot: telnet CNRI.Reston.va.us port 70

LAN

Local Area Network. A data network intended to serve an area of only a few square kilometers or less.

LAP-M

Link Access Procedure for Modems is a CCITT standard for modem modulation and error control. It is the primary basis for the CCITT V.42 protocol.

Library

is used on online services about a collection of related databases (that you may search in) or files (that may be retrieved).

List

File-viewing program for MS-DOS computers (see chapter 14). Registration: US$37 to Buerg Software, 139 White Oak Circle, Petaluma, CA 94952, U.S.A. (1993).

LISTSERV

An automated mailing list distribution system enabling online discussions of technical and nontechnical issues conducted by electronic mail throughout the Internet. The LISTSERV program was originally designed for the BITNET/EARN networks. Similar lists, often using the Unix readnews or rn facility, are available on the Internet.

LOOKFOR

Fast and flexible shareware program for boolean searches in text files. Registration: US$15 plus postage to David L. Trafton, 6309 Stoneham Rd., Bethesda, Md. 20817, U.S.A.

Lurking

No active participation by a subscriber to a mailing list, a conference, or Usenet newsgroup. A person who is lurking is just listening to the discussion.

MAILBASE

A program functioning like a LISTSERV. For more information about the Mailbase at Newcastle University (England), send email to MAILBASE@MAILBASE.AC.UK containing the following commands:

send mailbase overview (for a general guide to Mailbase) send mailbase userhelp (for a User Guide) lists (for a list of available forums)

This mailbase managed 403 mailing lists in July 1993.

Mail Gateway

A machine that connects to two or more electronic mail systems (including dissimilar mail systems) and transfers messages among them.

Mailing list

A possibly moderated discussion group on the Internet, distributed via email from a central computer maintaining the list of people involved in the discussion. Anyone can send a message to a single mailing list address. The message is "reflected" to everyone on the list of addresses. The members of that list can respond, and the responses are reflected, forming a discussion group.

(See LISTSERVers)

Mail path

A series of machine names used to direct electronic mail from one user to the other.

Mail server

A software program that distributes files or information in response to requests sent by email.

MHS

(1) Message handling Service. Electronic mail software from Action Technologies licensed by Novell for its Netware operating systems. Provides message routing and store and forward capabilities. MHS has gateways into PROFS, and X.400 message systems. It has been augmented with a directory naming service and binary attachments.

(2) Message Handling System. The standard defined by CCITT as X.400 and by ISO as Message-Oriented Text Interchange Standard (MOTIS). MHS is the X.400 family of services and protocols that provides the functions for global email transfer among local mail systems.

MNP

Microcom Networking Protocol. A proprietary standard of error control and data compression.

Modem

An acronym for MOdulator-DEModulator. It is a device that converts digital data from a computer or terminal into analog data that can be sent over telephone lines. On the receiving end, it converts the analog data back to digital data.

Most modern modems can handle the dialing and answering of a telephone call and generate the speed of the data transmission, measured in bits per second, or baud rates. The telephone industry sometimes refers to a modem as a dataset.

Moderator

A person, or a small group of people, who manage moderated mailing lists and newsgroups. Moderators are responsible for deciding which email submissions are passed on to list.

MUD

Multi-User Dungeon. A multi-user, text based, virtual reality game.

NAPLPS

North American Presentation-Level Protocol Syntax. A text and graphics data transmission format for sending large amounts of information between computers.

It was designed for the encoding of alphanumeric, alpha-mosaic, alpha-geometric and alpha-photographic constructs. The standard is resolution independent and device independent, and can easily accommodate international character sets, bit-mapped images in color, animation and sound. NAPLPS was originally developed for videotext and teletext systems through the Canadian Standards Association (CSA-T500-1983. It was later enhanced by AT&T, and in 1983 became an ANSI standard (ANSI-X3.110-1983). Some videotext systems, including Prodigy (U.S.A.), are based on NAPLPS. On CompuServe, NAPLPS has been replaced with a newer protocol called GIF, Graphics Interchange Format.

Netfind

Internet directory services that allow users to get information about individuals. Search by name and organization/location. For more information, send email to LISTSERV@brownvm.brown.edu with the following text in the body of your mail "GET NETFIND HELP".

Netiquette

A pun on "etiquette" referring to proper behavior on a network.

Netnews

See: Usenet.

Network

A data communications system which interconnects computer systems at various sites.

NIC

Network Information Center. An organization that provides users with information about services provided by the Internet network.

NREN

The National Research and Education Network. A proposed computer network to be built in the U.S.A.

NUA

Network User Address. The network address in a packet data network. The electronic number that is sent to the network to connect to an online service. Also, called X.121 address.

NUI

Network User Identification. The user name/password that you use to get access to (and use) a commercial packet switched network.

Offline

has the opposite meaning of "Online" (see below). It signifies that your computer is not in direct communication with a remote online service.

Offline Reader

A computer program making the handling of mail and files from online services easier (and cheaper). Some also provides automatic mail and file transfers.

Typically, you first connect to an online service (often a BBS) to capture new mail in a compressed file (typically through a "QMail door program.") Many offline mail reader programs are idle while this goes on, while others can do communications as well. When disconnected from the service, the offline reader works as a combination message data base and message editor. It gives you the feeling of still being connected to the online service, while actually being completely disconnected. When you have read and replied to all messages offline, the offline reader creates a compressed "packet" containing any replies entered. Some also let you prepare packets containing commands to join or leave conferences, subscribe to or signoff from special services, and download files. Then, you dial back to the BBS to upload (send) the packet, either using the offline reader's communications module, or another communications program. Readers are available for MS-DOS, MS-Windows, Macintosh, Amiga, Atari ST, Unix, and CP/M computers. The programs may be downloaded from many BBSes, and commercial services.

Online

In this book, it signifies the act of being in direct communication with a remote computer's central processing unit. An online database is a file of information that can be directly accessed by the user.

OSI

Open System Interconnection. A set of protocols designed to be an international standard method for connecting unlike computers and networks.

OZCIS

DOS-based program that automates access to CompuServe using an elaborate array of menus. Free for personal use. Contact: Ozarks West Software, 14150 Gleneagle Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921, U.S.A.

Packet

(1) A group of bits sent by a modem that comprise a byte of information. (2) A group of bytes sent by a file transfer protocol.

Packet data networks

Also called Packet Switching Networks (PDN). Value added networks offering long distance computer communications. They let users access a remote computer, by dialing a local node, or access point.

The packet data networks use high speed digital links, which can be land lines