Today, the Internet is changing so quickly that it's more important than ever for academic users to keep up-to-date on resources and commands. This section of the SDSU Academic Information Technology Guide is only a basic grounding in how to think of the Internet: an interconnected information resource. Hopefully, after perusing this section of the Guide, you will develop a curiosity for exploring the Internet.
To use the Internet, you must be working with a computer that is connected to it. This could be a PC, a MAC, or a mainframe (multi-user host) computer system (e.g. ROHAN). If you're using a mainframe, you must log-on before you execute any Internet commands. If you're using an on-campus personal computer that's attached to the Internet (e.g. Ethernet card to SDSUnet), you do not have to log onto the mainframe computers unless you wish to access data that is not freely available to the Internet community (i.e. your personal account on ROHAN). However, personal computers using modems must log onto either one of the SDSU mainframe computers (Mail Server or ROHAN) or a mainframe at an Internet Service Provider (AzNET, AOL). Refer to the Accessing Computers and Information Technology, and ROHAN sections of this guide for related information.
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Universe
Instruction on the Internet
For learning options, see URL - http://rohan.sdsu.edu/workshop.html and http://rohan.sdsu.edu/~bats/ .
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Universe
There are a wide variety of books covering Internet issues that can be obtained at most bookstores. New ones are published each month and all can assist you with your explorations. For descriptive information on some of these, see handout #0303 Internet Resources (found in BA-110, LL-200, at Malcolm A. Love Library, and available through the ROHAN web server). NOTE: These 3rd party books do not reflect SDSU protocols when discussing the communication connections. See your department or college computer support, or contact Telecommunications and Network Services at 594-5261 for further assistance.
Magazines focusing on the Internet are now available on the newsstands. Some, like WIRED, are available on-line. WIRED is available by pointing your web client application to URL -- http://www.wired.com/. See the Miscellaneous Internet Questions section for an explanation of client application. A list of on-line magazines can be found at URL - http://rohan.sdsu.edu/magazine.html.
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The California Education and Research Federation Network (CERFnet) was funded by the National Science Foundation in response to a proposal submitted by the San Diego Supercompter Center and General Atomics. CERFnet provides enhanced communication among researchers, educators and private industry They allow for high-speed access to the resources available through the National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET) and the Internet. These resources include supercomputer centers, online library catalogs, and specialized databases. CERFnet has also established the first Commercial Internet Exchange (CIX) in cooperation with PSInet and Alternet. The CIX has expanded to include several additional domestic and international networks. It permits the exchange of commercial traffic between these three networks.
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BITNET (Because It's Time NETwork) is a network of research and educational sites separate from the Internet. Most of the original BITNET connections linked IBM mainframes at university data centers. One of the most important contributions made by the founders of BITNET are Listservs, which are now used by thousands of people to share ideas on the Internet. Today, BITNET and its parallel networks in other parts of the world (e.g., EARN in Europe) have several thousand participating sites. In 1987, BITNET and CSNET merged to form the Corporation for Research and Educational Networking (CREN).
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The California State University Network (CSUNET) is a packet-switched network that connects the 24 campuses of the CSU system. The Cal State portion of CERFNET operates over the CSUNET system.
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The Defense Data Network (DDN), the Department of Defense (DOD) long-haul packet-switched computer communications network, includes the MILNET and the ARPANET as two of its sub networks.
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NSFnet is the National Science Foundation network which is a high speed cross country backbone network along with a set of regional networks. These networks provide U.S. researchers and educators access to computer resources and services, including a collaboration with other nations to link U.S. and foreign research and education networks. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy contributed additional backbone facilities in the form of the NSINET and ESNET respectively. In Europe, major international backbones such as NORDUNET and others provide connectivity to over one hundred thousand computers on a large number of networks.
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The San Diego State University Network (SDSUnet) is the backbone network that connects multiple buildings on the SDSU campus. It is presently a campus-wide FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface - A high-speed LAN standard using fiber optics) and Ethernet network and allows high-speed computer-to-computer communications.
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In the U.S., top-domain names can be one of the following: .com, .edu, .gov, .mil, .net, or .org. Non U.S. sites use two letter geographic codes for their top-domain names.
The Domain Name is actually a synonym for the numerical IP address. Domain Names are used because they are easier to remember than the string of numbers that make up the address. IP addresses are written in dotted-decimal notation, e.g. 130.191.3.100. The four parts of the address may each range from 0 to 255. A portion of the address is used to indicate a particular network and the remainder indicates a specific host on the network. For each IP address, there is an equivalent Domain Name.
For example, the IP address 130.191.3.100 and Domain Name rohan.sdsu.edu identifies the ROHAN computer. The first two parts of the IP address, 130.191, are the SDSUnet addresses of all SDSU computers and were assigned to SDSU by the SRI (Stanford Research Institute) Network Information Center (NIC). The third part indicates the SDSU department primarily responsible for the computer; this .3 is Malcolm A. Love Library. The fourth part indicates a specific computer within the SDSU department; .100 is the academic Sun Ultra Enterprise 4000.
Department fields have been assigned and may be obtained by calling Telecommunications and Network Services at 594-5261. See the Miscellaneous Internet Questions section for IP Address and Domain Name questions.
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The best sources to use in locating Internet resources are colleagues and friends from other universities and research institutions. This applies to electronic mail and Web addresses, as well as terminal access and file transfer.
Most host computers require an account and password that must be obtained from the institution responsible for the host. There are, however, many hosts on the Internet which allow Anonymous FTP and a few that allow Anonymous TELNET sessions. Also, many Web sites allow free downloading of information. These hosts are usually repositories for general purpose information concerning the Internet and sources of public domain software. Most hosts that support Anonymous FTP require a user to enter anonymous as the username and their Email address as a password. This will vary on some hosts, however, and you should follow the log-on prompts on each host.
The following information systems are menued systems that provide access to information services and databases without the user knowing exactly how to get to it. To reach these resources, use your web browser or the TELNET command. Further information on using TELNET may be found in the handout, #0300 TELNET Guide (found in BA-110, LL-200, at Malcolm A. Love Library, and available through the ROHAN web server at URL -- http://rohan.sdsu.edu/0300series.html), and the Remote Access Guide (available at reference desks in Malcolm A. Love Library). For more on these systems, refer to the World Wide Web section under Internet Navigating Tools and Commands.
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The California State Library Catalog can be accessed via TELNET. This menued system includes the collections of the Sutro Library in San Francisco, the California History Section, the Law Library, the State Information and Reference Collection and the Government Publications Section (all California state documents) of the California State Library. To access the California State Library Catalog, TELNET to vax.lib.state.ca.us and use the guest login option. California State College and University Libraries can be accessed via the web at http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/sdlib/college.html.
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The Library of Congress' LC Marvel (Machine Assisted Realization of the Virtual Electronic Library) gopher (gopher://marvel.loc.gov/index.html) is perhaps the best-known and most comprehensive menued source for federal- and library-related information. Included are many pointers to congressional sites, directories of personnel, and services of the Library of Congress, including LOCIS (Library Of Congress Information System) and an extensive array of bibliographies. LC Web (http://lcweb.loc.gov/index.html) takes over where LC MARVEL leaves off. It provides pointers to many additional federal, state, and international resources.
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The University of California's MELVYL library system was developed by the Division of Library Automation (DLA) at the UC Office of the President, in consultation with UC campuses. This menued system can search the UC union catalog (materials at all UC campuses plus other locations), the California Academic Libraries List of Serials (periodical titles at California academic libraries), and other databases and Internet resources. To access MELVYL, either TELNET to melvyl.ucop.edu or go to URL -- http://www.melvyl.ucop.edu/ and access MELVYL via the Web.
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ROGER is UCSD's Online Library Catalog that can be accessed either by TELNET or via the World Wide Web. ROGER allows users to search by author, title, subject, call number, etc. using a very easy to use menu system. To access ROGER, TELNET to roger.ucsd.edu and login as library. To access ROGER via the Web, go to URL -- http://roger.ucsd.edu.
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Network Information Centers are organizations that provide information (downloadable documents), assistance and services to network users.
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The c|net site has regular news, departments, and feature articles in addition to product reviews and resources. The site is updated daily and has thorough coverage of everything having to do with computers. To visit c|net, go to URL -- http://www.cnet.com/
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InterNIC, the Internet Network Information Center, is a source of information for locating Internet resources. InterNIC provides Directory and Database Services (AT&T) and Domain Name Registration Services (Network Solutions) to networks that wish to be part of the Internet. To visit InterNIC, go to URL -- http://www.internic.net/
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The Virtual Computer Library is a directory for on-line information about computers and computing. It includes links to academic computing, documentation, book reviews, Internet information, conferences, vendors, and much more. To visit VCL, go to URL -- http://www.utexas.edu/computer/vcl/
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Finger, a UNIX program, can be used to search for log-on names and other information on a remote host computer connected to the Internet. It doesn't always work - the remote host computer may refuse the finger request. But it is easy to use. Just type finger thenameyouwant@host. If your target has an account on the host computer, and the host allows finger, you'll get the user names you are after and the last time they logged on. To finger someone with Eudora, use the Directory Services tool and type in their complete Email address. Eudora will find the same information available from your account on ROHAN.
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Navigating Tools and Commands
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a tool which allows users to download public domain software, research tools, games, music, movies, utilities and documents for a variety of platforms from the thousands of publicly accessible archive sites across the Internet. The /pub directory is generally the directory in which to look for these transferable files.
If you're using a TELNET program to FTP files, you need to know the Domain Name or IP Address of the remote host to which you want to connect. With this information, at the ROHAN prompt type ftp. After entering the Domain Name, you will be connected to the remote site. If the site allows anonymous login, you can login with the username anonymous and your Email address as a password. For more information about using FTP in your ROHAN account, see handout #0301 FTP Guide (found in BA-110 and 134, at Malcolm A. Love Library, and available through the ROHAN web server at URL -- http://rohan.sdsu.edu/0300series.html).
Web browsers can also act as FTP clients. The Domain Name of the FTP site is typed into the URL Location line on your browser for a connection to the remote site. Most archives available via the Web will not require you to login, but if they do, using anonymous as your login name and your Email address as your password is the standard protocol. To change directories or download a file, click on the link to that directory or file and the browser will handle the transfer for you.
An excellent site that contains links to thousands of FTP locations is Tile Net/FTP located at URL - http://tile.net/ftp-list/
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Navigating Tools and Commands
LISTSERV is a distribution list management package whose primary function is to operate mailing lists. It allows groups of computer users with a common interest to communicate among themselves. Anyone who can send electronic mail can use a LISTSERV. LISTSERV discussion groups are similar to USENET groups, but LISTSERV messages are sent directly to your Email account instead of residing on a host computer to be accessed on demand.
There are two different addresses to use when subscribing and posting to a LISTSERV. The host address (usually beginning with the name "LISTSERV" or "LISTPROC") is used for subscribing and unsubscribing to the list. The LISTNAME address is used only for sending messages. To subscribe to a list, you would send an Email message to the LISTSERV@domain-name of your choice with the following line:
subscribe list-name <full-name>
where list-name is the name of the list you want to join and the optional <full-name> is your full, real name (first and last). The LISTSERV will generally send Email back telling you if your request to subscribe was successful. If your request failed, check the message for clues. Perhaps the mailing list- name was typed incorrectly, or you did not include your full, real name. When you receive your welcome message, you usually receive the rules of the list and instructions on how to unsubscribe, as well as how to set the no mail and mail options. Warning: Some LISTSERVs will send a lot of mail. Be sure to keep the information on how to unsubscribe in case you find the information is not useful to you.
After you subscribe to a list, you can read or reply to any of the messages that are posted to the list, or post your own message to the list. A lot of lists are gatewayed to USENET newsgroups, which means that all the messages that you would receive if you subscribed would appear as items in the newsgroup, and vice versa.
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Navigating Tools and Commands
Another common way to use the network is to log into a remote host from a local host or personal computer by using TELNET to emulate a terminal (VT100 is the usual default terminal type). Once connected and logged into the remote host, the user can enter data, run programs, or do any other operation, just as if he/she were connected to the host via a VT100 terminal.
Further information on using TELNET may be found in the handout, #0300 TELNET Guide (found in BA-110, LL-200, at Malcolm A. Love Library, and available through the ROHAN web server at URL -- http://rohan.sdsu.edu/0300series.html).
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Navigating Tools and Commands
USENET (Netnews) is a world-wide distributed discussion system that exchanges messages electronically around the world in a standard format on a wide variety of topics. Messages exchanged on USENET are arranged by topic into categories called newsgroups. There are thousands of newsgroups with the major hierarchical categories being alt, bionet, bit.listserv, biz, comp, misc, news, rec, sci, soc, and talk. These are then further broken down into subjects and articles. This newsgroups naming convention allows users to have an idea of the information discussed in the newsgroups. A newsgroup named rec.woodworking would have discussions on woodworking, and one named soc.culture.celtic would have discussions on Celtic, Irish, & Welsh culture.
USENET is available at SDSU on gondor.sdsu.edu (also known as news.sdsu.edu. There are thousands of newsgroups now available. While gondor.sdsu.edu carries almost 24,000 newsgroups, it doesn't carry all by any means. Further information on the newsreaders that ROHAN provides, and how to use USENET can be found in the handout, #0302 USENET - A Guide to Netnews and #0304 Electronic Communication Forums at SDSU (found in BA-110, LL-200, at Malcolm A. Love Library, and available through the ROHAN web server at URL -- http://rohan.sdsu.edu/0300series.html).
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Navigating Tools and Commands
WHOIS is both a database and a command. The databases and services at whois.internic.net are available on ROHAN. To search the internic site, at the ROHAN prompt type: whois name. Where name can either be the first or last name of the person you are looking for. If you want to search San Diego State only, at the ROHAN prompt type: whois -h ph name. This will find everyone at SDSU with the first or last name that you specified.
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Navigating Tools and Commands
The World Wide Web (Web) is a system of Internet servers that support documents formatted in a programming language called HTML (HyperText Markup Language). HTML supports links to other documents, as well as graphics, audio, and video files. The Web allows you to jump from one document to another by clicking on hot spots called links. It automatically contacts servers as needed, when you link to materials that they contain. In doing this, the Web also provides access to other network services, such as TELNET, FTP, etc.
World Wide Web access at San Diego State University is available through the following campus servers:
The software used to access the World Wide Web is referred to as a web browser. Browsers are operating system/platform dependent, but the information they can access can be on any machine with any operating system located anywhere on the Internet. The browser uses a URL (Universal Resource Locator - a Web address) to retrieve a piece of information on the Internet or to start an operation based on the contents of the URL (download software, play a sound file, etc.). The browser uses the URL to request the document, waits for the server to return the document, and then processes and displays the document along with any images, sound files, movies, etc. that the document contains. A browser also allows you to read news and mail without leaving its point-and-click interface.
There are numerous web browsers available that function in a similar way. They vary slightly with regards to their user interface, and the features and functions they support.
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Navigating Tools and Commands
Netscape is probably the most commonly used browser on the Internet. It is available both to be downloaded to your PC or Mac (http://rohan.sdsu.edu/Netscape.html) or it can be used in X-Windows from your ROHAN account. Many Web publishers use Netscape extensions in their HTML, so other browsers may not display their pages correctly. Netscape does not support Active-X technology, so pages utilizing this language may not display properly. It does support Java and Javascript.
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Navigating Tools and Commands
Microsoft's browser, Internet Explorer, is becoming more and more popular due to various agreements between Microsoft and product vendors. Some newspapers give free on-line subscriptions to Internet Explorer users. Internet Explorer supports Active-X technology. Internet Explorer also allows users to read news and mail without leaving its point and click interface.
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Navigating Tools and Commands
Lynx is a text-only World Wide Web browser for users on UNIX platforms via VT100 terminals and is available on ROHAN. Lynx has full screen viewing, arrow keys, and highlighting capabilities; and will display HTML documents containing links to files on local and remote systems. Lynx can access other text-only network services, such as TELNET, FTP, etc.
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Navigating Tools and Commands
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The type of information you're likely to find is free information (government documents, public domain software, works available on an experimental basis, and works with expired copyrights). You're not likely to find commercial works that are protected by copyright law, unless they charge in some way for their services. Companies that make encyclopedias are protected by copyright law and in the business of making a profit. Encyclopedias can be found on CompuServe, America Online, etc., or bought on CD-ROMs.
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No. There are just too many computers and too many services for anyone to accurately maintain a complete up-to-the-minute list. Even with this guide, you don't have a complete or fully accurate list. The Internet is under continual construction and maintenance, so services and locations change or are replaced regularly. Internet users are blessed with both the joys and pain of discovery every time they enter the Information SuperHighway.
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Email that the Internet has been unable to deliver to a recipient's address after several tries is returned (bounced) to the sender. This can happen for a number of reasons and the header of the bounced message may have one of these clues: user unknown (check your spelling), host unknown (check your spelling), network unreachable (gateway or network backbone problems), user's mailbox quota is exceeded, connection timed out (software problem on the destination mailserver), or connection refused (problem with destination mail server).
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The easiest way to find an Email address is to go to Four 11 - the Internet white pages. At this site, you can find Email addresses, phone numbers, maps, etc. There is also a FAQ: How to find people's Email addresses that is posted regularly to the USENET group news.answers, and the Internet Yellow Pages is a good hardcopy source (check your favorite bookstore). Other suggestions related to finding Email addresses can be found in handout #0303 Internet Resources (found in BA-110 and 134, and available through the ROHAN web server at URL -- http://rohan.sdsu.edu/0300series.html), or call the person and ask.
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This is information typed into a file named .sig that can be appended to a user's USENET (netnews) postings and Email messages. Generally, it is the user's name, address, and Email address (3 lines long). Some users include their Voice and FAX numbers and a quote.
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In general, a client application (e.g. Netscape) is one that resides on a user's computer (e.g. MAC), but sends requests to a remote system (e.g. www.sdsu.edu) to execute a designated procedure using arguments supplied by the user. The computer that initiates the request is the client and the computer responding to the request is the server. Many network services follow a client and server protocol. FTP and TELNET are just a couple.
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RFC is Request For Comment document. FYI means For Your Information, a subset of the RFC series of on-line documents. STD equals Standards (Internet), the newest sub-series of RFCs. FAQ is short for Frequently Asked Questions (like these).
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Often common expressions are abbreviated in informal network postings. These abbreviations stand for: By The Way, In My Humble (or Honest) Opinion, With Respect To, Or Best Offer, Rolling On The Floor Laughing, and Read The F*ing Manual.
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IRC is Internet Relay Chat, a service where users can talk via typing to people around the world. There are newsgroups specifically devoted to IRC and begin with alt.irc in their names.
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In many Email messages and USENET or IRC postings, it is sometimes useful to indicate that part of a message is meant in jest. It is sometimes useful to communicate emotion which simple words do not readily convey. A collection of smiley faces has evolved to provide these nuances. Some of the more common faces are:
Campus microcomputers with Ethernet cards and IP addresses can obtain a matching, unique Host Name by registering with the SDSU-NIC Nameserver. To request a name, use the SDSU Domain Name Registration form available on the World Wide Web at URL - http://tns.sdsu.edu/network/. Once all your information is input, received and accepted, your host name will be registered with SDSU-NIC.
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The SDSU Academic Information Technology Guide focuses on academic users of computing, multimedia, and information technologies for the academic community. We would appreciate hearing your comments, corrections, additions, deletions, and suggestions on its content. The information you share with us will allow SDSU students, faculty and academic staff to maximize their use of campus technology. Please submit your comments via Email to:
Send comments/suggestions about this web page to webmaster@rohan.sdsu.edu
SDSU Faculty and Students may send questions about software on ROHAN or ROHAN UNIX problems to problems@rohan.sdsu.edu
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