------------------------------------------------------------------------ Internet Tools Summary ======================================================================== Created/copyright John December(decemj@rpi.edu) Release 1.19; 24 Jul 93 Comments welcome. This document's updates are available via anonymous ftp host: ftp.rpi.edu, file: pub/communications/internet-tools ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PURPOSE: to compactly summarize tools available on the Internet that are used for network information retrieval (NIR), Computer- Mediated Communication (CMC), or other services. This is not meant to be a strict categorization, rather more of a catalog. In other words, some of these tools accomplish similar functions. AUDIENCE: those involved in using NIR or CMC tools and services and beginners who want a compact list of what is available. ASSUMPTIONS: the reader knows the basics of anonymous ftp, telnet, how to navigate on on-line menu; the information is oriented to UNIX or similar O/S. ENTRY FORMAT: Each tool entry in this list corresponds to the format: *Tool Name Sum: A one-line description of what this tool does Act: A representation of the action of this tool using my notation Demo: (UNIX) instructions for trying out tool Doc: source of further documentation; (aftp = anonymous ftp)host:file Runs: network protocol, platform, or operating system, required/supported MY NOTATION: In order to summarize the action of these network tools, I've developed a notation to express the essential information/ communication action of each of the tools. NOUNS F File(s) H Host/computer I Interface G Graphical User Interface L List M Message(s) R Receiver S Server U User/sender VERBS := has read access only == has read and write access :: interacts with user interface (synchronous) (()) sound in interface * video interface <- copys (over network) from <-> copys (over network) to and from <+ linked from <= created by [] contains () consists of CONJUNCTIONS ; and NOUN PHRASES S[F] Server containing file(s) M(L) Message consisting of a List S[U] Server containing users(s) = other users using this server H[U] Host containing users(s) = other users logged into this host NOTATION EXAMPLES: File Transfer Protocol: U == F <- H[F] Narration: The user gets read/write access to a copy of a file that was copied over the network from a host containing that file. Electronic mail: R == M <- H[M <= U] Narration: The Receiver gets read/write access to a copy of the Message that was copied over the network from an (originating) Host on which resides the original Message created by the User (Sender). WORKS CITED: indicated by [n] in text, listed in Sources Cited section at end of this document. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ =-NIR Tools ======================================================================== -- These are described extensively in [2], and in [1] and [3]. *Alex Sum: provides transparent read of remote files at anonymous FTP sites Act: U := F <- S[F] Demo: See [2] Doc: aftp alex.sp.cs.cmu.edu:doc/README Runs: UNIX machine and FTP *Archie Sum: locates files at anonymous FTP sites by filename search Act: U := M(L <= S[F]) Demo: telnet archie.ans.net; login as 'archie' Doc: aftp archie.ans.net:pub/archie/doc/README Runs: TCP/IP, Prospero implementation based on UDP *Astra Sum: retrieve documents from databases known by ASTRA. Act: U == M2 <- S[F] <- M1 <= U Demo: mail ASTRADB@ICNUCEVM.BITNET; Message body: "help" Doc: mail ASTRADB@ICNUCEVM.BITNET; Message body: "GET META DOCUMENT" Runs: *Biomix Sum: presents network resources as locations on screen maps Act: Demo: Doc: aftp mailbase.ac.uk:pub/unite/biomix.txt Runs: *Cello Sum: DOS-based Internet browser incorporating WWW, Gopher, FTP, Telnet, News. Act: Demo: Doc: aftp fatty.law.cornell.edu:pub/LII/Cello/readme.1st Runs: DOS *Compass Sum: system for Internet access to resources and tools for CERFnet subscribers Act: Demo: Doc: aftp mailbase.ac.uk:pub/unite/compass.txt Runs: *Essence Sum: resource discovery system using indexes Act: Demo: Doc: aftp ftp.cs.colorado.edu:pub/cs/distribs/essence/README Runs: *Gopher Sum: locates and retrieves resources using a graph of menus Act: U :: I(L <= S[F]); U := M <- S[F] Demo: telnet consultant.micro.umn.edu; login as 'gopher' Doc: aftp boombox.micro.umn.edu:pub/gopher/00README Runs: TCP/IP *Hytelnet Sum: gives Internet access info by hypertext terminate-stay-resident browser Act: U :: I(L) Demo: telnet access.usask.ca; login as 'hytelnet' Doc: aftp access.usask.ca:pub/hytelnet/README Runs: DOS *Jughead Sum: gets menu information from various gopher servers Act: ? Demo: none ? Doc: aftp ftp.cc.utah.edu:pub/gopher/GopherTools/jughead/jughead.ReadMe Runs: *Mosaic for X Sum: provides network distributed hypermedia system for information discovery Act: U :*(()): G(L <= S[F]..S[F]); U := M <- S[F]; U :: I(L <= S[F]); Demo: get binaries aftp ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu:/Mosaic/xmosaic-binaries/ Doc: aftp ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu:/Mosaic/mosaic-papers/getting-started.ps.Z Runs: TCP/IP *Netfind Sum: searches for info about people on Internet by name and org/location Act: U :: I(L <= S[F]) Demo: telnet bruno.cs.colorado.edu; login as 'netfind' Doc: aftp ftp.cs.colorado.edu:pub/cs/distribs/netfind/README Runs: TCP/IP *Netserv Sum: a server for access to data files and programs of general interest Act: U == M2 <- S[F] <- M1 <= U Demo: mail netserv@frmop11.bitnet; Message body: "get netserv helpfile" Doc: mail netserv@frmop11.bitnet; Message body: "get netserv helpfile" Runs: *Prospero Sum: provides user-centered view of remote files Act: U := F <+ S[F] Demo: See [2] Doc: aftp prospero.isi.edu:pub/prospero/doc/README-prospero-documents Runs: Prospero message delivery later based on UDP *Veronica Sum: locates titles of Gopher items by keyword search Act: U :: I(L <= S[F]); U := M <- S[F] Demo: telnet consultant.micro.umn.edu; login 'gopher'; choose 'Other..' Doc: aftp veronica.scs.unr.edu:veronica/veronica-faq Runs: TCP/IP *WAIS Sum: retrieves resources by searching indexes of databases Act: U :: I(L <= S[F]); U := M <- S[F] Demo: telnet quake.think.com; login 'wais' Doc: aftp think.com:wais/README Runs: TCP/IP, product versions on X.25 *WHOIS Sum: provides info on registered network names Act: U := M <= S[F] Demo: telnet rs.internic.net Doc: aftp gopher.ucdavis.edu:pub/IETF/WNILS/Discussion.Paper Runs: TCP/IP *WWW Sum: retrieves resources by hyptertext browser of databases Act: U :: I(L <= S[F]); U := M <- S[F] Demo: telnet info.cern.ch Doc: aftp info.cern.ch:pub/www/doc/ Runs: TCP/IP *X.500 Sum: provides globally distributed directory service Act: U :: I(L <= S[F]) Demo: telnet 128.86.8.56; login as 'dua' Doc: aftp nic.merit.edu:documents/rfc/rfc1308.txt Runs: ISO down to TCP/IP (transport), others see [2] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ =-CMC Forums ======================================================================== *IRC Sum: real-time discussion divided into channels Act: U :: I(M <-> S[R]) Demo: telnet 140.117.11.1; login 'irc' Doc: aftp cs.bu.edu:irc/support/tutorial.* Runs: *LISTSERV Sum: retrieve messages from server via electronic mail Act: U == M2 <- S[F] <- M1 <= U Demo: mail listserv@bitnic.bitnet; Message body: "get listserv tips" Doc: mail listserv@kentvm.kent.edu; Message body: "send listserv memo" Runs: *Mail Sum: send message from one user to another (or many (mailing list)) Act: R == M <- H[M <= U] Demo: mail your-user-id@your-host.your-domain Doc: aftp ftp.sura.net:pub/nic/network.service.guides/how.to.email.guide Runs: *Mbone Sum: live audio and video multicast virtual network on top of Internet Act: U :*(): M <-> H[R] Demo: ? Doc: aftp venera.isi.edu:mbone/faq.txt Runs: *MUD Sum: real-time interaction usually for social role-playing Act: U :: I(M <-> S[R]) Demo: telnet susan.mit.edu 4000 Doc: aftp ftp.math.okstate.edu:pub/muds/misc/mud-faq/part* Runs: *Talk Sum: real-time interactive talk with another user Act: U :: I(M <-> H[R]) Demo: talk other-user@host.domain Doc: man talk Runs: *USENET Sum: discussion on many topics separated into newsgroups Act: U := I(M <- S[F]) Demo: rn Doc: aftp pit-manager.mit.edu:pub/usenet/news.answers/what-is-usenet/part1.Z Runs: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ =-Services ======================================================================== *Finger Sum: retrieve info about user registered on a host computer Act: U := M <= H[R] Demo: finger decemj@rpi.edu Doc: man finger Runs: *Ftp Sum: retrieve copies of files at remote FTP sites Act: U == F <- H[F] Demo: ftp nic.merit.edu; login 'anonymous'; get READ.ME; quit Doc: aftp ftp.sura.net:pub/nic/network.service.guides/how.to.ftp.guide Runs: *Ping Sum: requests echo from network host; see if remote host is up Act: U := M <= H Demo: ping uiuc.edu Doc: aftp uxc.cso.uiuc.edu:utils/ping/README; man ping Runs: *Telnet Sum: login to a remote computer to use applications Act: U :: I(L <= H) Demo: telnet downwind.sprl.umich.edu 3000 Doc: aftp ftp.sura.net:pub/nic/network.service.guides/how.to.telnet.guide Runs: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --Sources Cited ======================================================================== [1] Krol, Ed. The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog. Sebastapol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, 1992. [2] Foster, Jill, George Brett and Peter Deutsch, Eds. "A Status Report on Networked Information Retrieval: Tools and Groups." Draft version 4.1, 20th July 1993. Aftp: mailbase.ac.uk:pub/nir/nir.status.report. [3] Hahn, Harley. A Student's Guide to Unix. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993. [4] EARN Association. Guide to Network Resource Tools. Aftp: ds.internic.net: pub/internet-doc/EARN.nettools.txt. [5] UNITE Systems List. Aftp: mailbase.ac.uk:pub/unite/systems-list.txt. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --UNIX Scripts Useful for filtering this document ======================================================================== --To get tool name and one of (Summary, Action, Demo, or Doc) lines: egrep "^\*|^ Act:" internet-tools egrep "^\*|^ Sum:" internet-tools egrep "^\*|^ Demo:" internet-tools egrep "^\*|^ Doc:" internet-tools egrep "^\*|^ Runs:" internet-tools --Tool categories and names: egrep "^\*|^=-" internet-tools ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This document is Copyright 1993 by John December (decemj@rpi.edu). Permission to use, copy, or distribute this document for non-commercial, educational purposes is hereby granted, provided that this copyright and permission notice appear in all copies. I make no representations about the suitability, stability, or accuracy of this document for any purpose. It is provided "as is" without expressed or implied warranty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------