Over the last few months we have rewritten much of the NA-NET
system and moved it to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  It is
running on the same machine that serves netlib@ornl.gov.  We have
added a number of features, such as auto-joining and auto-address
changes. The message below describes the current system in place at
na-net.ornl.gov. You should switch to using the Oak Ridge NA-NET,
na-net.stanford.edu will be turned off soon.

The NA-NET originated at Stanford University by Gene Golub.  Much of
the software we've used up to now was written by Mark Kent.  The
Oak Ridge NA-NET operation will be under the direction of Jack Dongarra. 
Bill Rosener of the University of Tennessee has rewritten the software.
Cleve Moler will continue to edit the NA-NET News Digest.


Beginning January 1, 1991 mail to na-net.stanford.edu will be forwarded
to na-net.ornl.gov for reforwarding.

MOTIVATION:  
   This mail facility was created to allow numerical analysts (na) an 
   easy method of communicating with one another.  The main advantage 
   of the NA-NET is uniformity of addressing.  All mail is addressed 
   to the Internet host "na-net.ornl.gov" at Oak Ridge National 
   Laboratory.  Hence, members of the NA-NET do not need to remember 
   complicated addresses or even where a member is currently located.  
   As long as moving members change their e-mail address in the NA-NET 
   (see feature 5 below) everything works smoothly.
 

FEATURES:

   1).  Individual (unicast) messages 
        ------------------
        This is the most frequently used feature.  Each member of the 
        NA-NET has a unique na-net name.   This nanet name is usually 
        the same as the members last name.  However, if there is more 
        than one member with the same last name then the first initial 
        is usually prepended to their last name to form their na-net name.  
        For example, if John Smith and Mark Smith both wanted to join the 
        na-net then mail addressed to "na.jsmith@na-net.ornl.gov" would 
        be used to send mail to John Smith and "na.msmith@na-net.ornl.gov" 
        would be used to send mail to Mark Smith.  


  2).  NA-NET News Digest
       ------------------
       Any mail sent to "na.digest@na-net.ornl.gov" will be considered
       for distribution to all members of the NA-NET.  About once a week
       the Editor of the NA-NET News Digest will go over the messages which
       have queued up, pick out the ones that are thought to be of general
       interest to the numerical analysis and mathematical software
       community, combine them in a News Digest format, and mail the
       Digest to everyone on the mailing list.


  3).  Joining the NA-NET  
       ------------------
       To join the NA-NET send mail to "na.join@na-net.ornl.gov".   
       In the message body specify the following three fields. 
      
       Lastname:
       Firstname:
       E-mail: 

       The values can be specified in any order.  The subject line of your 
       message is ignored.  One or more spaces can separate the key words 
       from their actual values.  If there is a member of NA-NET
       with the same lastname, then a message will be sent back to you.  
       If this happens try prepending your first initial to your last name.
       In this case the "key" which identifies you will not be your lastname. 
       See Appendix A for an example on how to join the na-net.


  4).  Removing membership
       ------------------- 
       To remove your membership from the NA-NET send mail to 
       "na.remove@na-net.ornl.gov".   In the message body specify 
       the following three fields. 
       
       Lastname:
       Firstname:
       Key:

       The values can be specified in any order.  Again the subject line 
       of your message is ignored.  One or more spaces can separate the 
       key words from their actual values.  A message will be sent to both
       the deleted address and the address making the request informing 
       you that your name has been removed.  See Appendix A for an example 
       on how to remove your membership. 
       

  5).  Changing e-mail address
       -----------------------
       To change your e-mail address send mail to "na.change@na-net.ornl.gov".
       In the message body specify the following four fields. 
       
       Lastname:
       Firstname:
       New-address:
       Key:
        
       The values can be specified in any order.  Again the subject line 
       of your message is ignored.  One or more spaces can separate the 
       key words from their actual values.  A message will be sent to both 
       the old-address as well as the new-address informing you that the
       change has taken place.  See Appendix A for an example on how to 
       change your e-mail address. 


  6).  Help
       ----
         Questions and comments about the NA-NET should be addressed to:

                 nanet@na-net.ornl.gov

         A person will read all mail messages within reason to this 
         account.  

        
         Mail sent to:  

            na.help@na-net.ornl.gov

         will return the message you are currently reading. 

            
   7).  Current list of all members
        ---------------------------
        Mail sent to the following address will result in a mail message
        being sent back to you containing all members of the NA-NET.

               na.sendlist@na-net.ornl.gov



Below are some real examples to give you an idea of how the
NA-NET works.   


1).  For example, to mail to Gene Golub.
 
        mail to:  na.golub@na-net.ornl.gov


 
2).  Mail sent to a nonexistent na-net name.  For example,   
   
        mail sent to:  na.abcde@na-net.ornl.gov

     will result in the following message being returned to you.

     -----------------------------------------------------------
     NA-NET key not found.  Message returned.
       . 
       .
       .
     ------------------------------------------------------------


3).  Mail sent to a non-unique na-net name. For example,  

        mail sent to:  na.fox@na-net.ornl.gov

     will result in the following message being returned to you.
     
     -----------------------------------------------------------
     Ambiguous key: try one of the following

     fox, david = na.dfox
     fox, phyl = na.pfox
     fox, x = na.cfox
         .
         .
         .
     ------------------------------------------------------------

 
4).  An example of how Gene Golub would join the na-net.

     mail na.join@na-net.ornl.gov
     Subject: anything

     Lastname: golub 
     Firstname:  gene 
     E-mail:  golub@patience.stanford.edu 



5).  An example of how Mike Foobar would remove his membership
     in the na-net.

     mail na.remove@na-net.ornl.gov
     Subject: anything

     Lastname: foobar 
     Firstname:  mike 
     key: foobar



6).  An example of how Mike Fox would change his e-mail address. 

     mail na.change@na-net.ornl.gov
     Subject: anything

     Lastname: fox
     Firstname:  mike 
     New-address:  mfox@new.address
     key: mfox

Jack Dongarra
University of Tennessee and
Oak Ridge National Laboratory               
dongarra@cs.utk.edu          


