Shareware Supreme Volume 6 #1/swsii.zip/swsii/151/BASICINT.ZIP/BASICINT.PP

Text File | 1993-01-20 | 16KB | 309 lines

                      ___ _  _
                       | |_)|_). The Propaganda Press
                       | |  |  . File By: The Pyro (612)


          -+[ The Very BASIC Guide to Internet and Related Areas ]+-


                           -+-[  INTRODUCTION  ]-+-

     So, you want to learn more about Internet but you have no idea where
to start.  Most files you have read in an attempt to gain useful knowledge
has left you more confused than ever.  Questions you ask of others are
often answered as if you are nothing more than a useless clump of clay who
doesn't deserve to know anything.  And so, in your final attempt to
understand this thing known as Internet you stumble upon this file, hoping
that is provides the insight you have been so eager to obtain....

     This story is all too common.  And the end result is, in many cases,
the end of your dream of becoming an Internet guru.  While this file will
get you started in the right direction, it is by no means the final word.
Internet is huge, and there are thousands of files on its complex nature.
This file serves one purpose:  To peak your interest and provide you with a
solid base of understanding.  A base that can be built upon through further
study and experimentation.  I will attempt to answer the MOST BASIC of
questions.  This file contains laymen definitions and explanations.  It is
by no means 100% correct and factual in its content.  As I have stated
already:  it simply provides a solid base of basic understanding.

     I will attempt to discuss a number of topics, and I will keep it as
informal as possible.  So, read on and open your mind....


                       -+-[  WHAT IS INTERNET?  ]-+-

     Internet is simply a large network of computer systems.  I have
described Internet in the past by using a common example:  WWIVNet.
WWIVNet is the large network of individually operated bulletin board
systems throughout the United States (and Canada).  It supports net message
bases, and net mail.  By this I mean you can send mail to a friend in
California if your friend has an account on a WWIV system connected to
WWIVNet, and you also have such an account.  Internet is for the most part
the same thing, on a much larger scale.  Instead of connecting small BBS's
it connects large systems such as Universities, Corporations, Military
Bases and Posts, and the list could go on.  There are a number of public
BBS's connected to Internet.  Some are small systems (your common BBS)
which support only mail, others are actual systems that you can connect to
through Internet (Such as Mindvox, The WELL, TeleRama, etc...).

     Internet was originally started as a network for Military and Defense
Department systems.  It is, as for as I know, the largest network in the
world.  The amount of data sent via Internet is staggering, and I will not
even attempt to describe it.

     Internet can also be described as the trunk for any number of other
networks.  Such nets as BitNet and UseNet send their information via
Internet.  It is the basic connection between these systems.  Terms here
can be confused greatly.  So, from now I will describe everything as
Internet (such things as UseNet mail, and BitNet mail will be known as
Internet mail).


                    -+-[  WHAT'S AN INTERNET ACCOUNT?  ]-+-

     One of the most asked questions I see is "How do I get an Internet
account?"  An Internet account is no actual account on Internet.  For
example, I will compare it to WWIVnet (as I will do many times in this
file).  To be able to send and receive mail and WWIVNet message groups you
need only to have an account on a WWIV system that is part of the WWIVNet.
It is no actual account labeled as a WWIVNet account, but a simple account
on a BBS.

     Internet accounts are the same thing.  There is no "Internet account"
out there.  It is simply an account you have on a system that is connected
to Internet.  Whether it be a college Unix or VAX system, to a Internet BBS
such as Mindvox or the WELL, or a BBS that supports Internet Mail.  So,
once again, an "Internet Account" is nothing more than an account you have
on a system connected to Internet.

     Once you have an account on such a system you are then the proud owner
of an Internet address.  An address in which you may receive messages from
people all over the world.  Your account address contains some vital
information.  It tells others the name of your account and the exact
location of it.  It is in the format:

                                username@address

Where username is any name you choose, but must be one word and in lower-
case.  The address is the location of the system.  For example, if you were
user #34 on a WWIV BBS known as "The Ultimate BBS" that is part of WWIVNet
and has the net number 7234 you would have a WWIV account address of:

                                    34@7234

Where 34 is your user number and 7234 is the location of the system.  It is
possible to have a number of Internet addresses, depending on the number of
systems you currently have access to.



                    -+-[  WHAT'S AN INTERNET ADDRESS?  ]-+-

     In order to use Internet you must know what a net address is (also
known as an IP address).  It is the most important piece of information you
must have to do basic Internet functions.  Once again, I will attempt to
define an IP address by comparing it to a WWIVNet address.

     WWIVNet systems are given an address that is a number.  For example,
to continue with "The Ultimate BBS" the WWIV address is 7234.  Internet
uses a different system to identify system locations.  It can take one of
two forms, either the IP number or IP name.  For example I will use the
Internet system MindVox, a public system run by Phantom Access, Inc.  It
has the following address:

                         IP name:    phantom.com
                         IP number:  38.145.218.228

The IP number or IP name serves a specific purpose, and the numbers and
words actually mean something.  I will not go in to that here since it is
not relevant.

     In order to send mail or messages across Internet you need to know two
things:  First, the username you are sending it to, and second the IP name
or IP number.  So, for example, if you wanted to send me (The Pyro) a
message to my account on Mindvox you would address it to:

                              [e-mail]

I would then receive the letter from you.  I would also be told that it
came from you and give me the address of the system you sent it from.


                -+-[  HOW DO I USE SYSTEMS ON INTERNET?  ]-+-

     Internet offers much more than simple mailing of letters to people
across the world.  There are a number of systems on Internet that you can
access via the Internet login protocol: TELNET.  While having an Internet
account simply means having the ability to send and receive messages and
mail some systems allow users with accounts to use the TELNET protocol.
There are also a number of places were you can obtain TELNET access without
having to have an Internet account.

     If you have access to TELNET, either by having an account on a system
that supports it, or by using a system that does not require an account,
you can then connect to many of the systems connected to Internet.  You
cannot connect to all of them, but most of them are available.  We call
this telnetting.  Telnetting is simply a means of hooking up with a system,
the same as if you were calling it by phone line.  Say, for example, that
PROPAGANDA (the Propaganda Press' BBS) was available through TELNET (it is
NOT, by the way) and it had an address of:

                                propaganda.com

You could TELNET to it by using its IP name.  You would then be hooked to
PROPAGANDA just as if you had dialed it with your modem (612-379-1517,
cheap plug).  You would still need to have an account to use the system

     So, to keep it simple.  TELNET is an alternate form of dialing a
system.  It is intended for people who are using terminals connected to an
Internet system to access other systems if they do not own their own
computer and modem.   There are also a number of other protocols such as
RLOGIN, but we will not go in to them here.


                         -+-[  HOW TO I TELNET?  ]-+-

     To use TELNET you must first find a system that supports it.  If you
have an account on a college VAX or Unix system then chances are they have
TELNET capabilities.  Using TELNET varies from system to system, so you
must consult the system and its help files to obtain the proper format for
using it.  Once you have figured out the basic means by which to use TELNET
you are ready to begin travelling Internet.

     To connect to a system you simply need to know its IP name or IP
number.  You do not need to know a user on it, or have an account on it.
So, say I am going to TELNET to Mindvox off of a basic Unix system that
supports it.  First I would enter the TELNET mode by simply typing
"telnet".  You will then see this prompt:

                                  TELNET>

On a Unix system you would not enter "C" to open a connection.  It will ask
you for the host name, and at this point you enter in the IP name or IP
number of the system you want to go to.  Or, you may combine the command by
typing "c address".  So, for example, I am going to telnet to Mindvox on a
simple Unix system I would type:

                           TELNET> c phantom.com

Remember, you must first enter the TELNET mode. The "TELNET>" is simply the
prompt.  At this point your are whisked away to the system you specified.
Depending on the system you will have to log on to it as if you were
actually calling it.

     Again, I must stress that there are many forms of TELNET available.
You must learn how to use the system you have access to.  Plus, there are
probably millions of things accessible via TELNET.  Think of it as a vast
frontier waiting to be explored.  It is impossible to find out all the
systems you can connect to via TELNET.  That is why such resources as
PROPAGANDA are available, to increase our knowledge (another shameless
plug).  So, share and share...


                  -+-[  WHAT IS AVAILABLE ON INTERNET?  ]-+-

     So, hopefully by now you are getting more familiar with Internet and
what it really is.  Now you are wondering what you can do on it.  Well,
Internet offers a number of services to people who have Internet accounts.
However, these services must be supported by the system in which your
account resides.  I list a few services available below and provide a brief
description.

Internet Chat Relay: Also known as IRC.  It is a worldwide chat
network.  At any given time there may be 1000's of people on it.
It has many topic areas and subareas, as well as private areas.
Consult your account's system to find out more.

File Transfer Protocol: Also known as FTP.  It is the means by
which you may transfer files from one Internet site to another.
There are thousands of sites out there, you just have to find
them.  Note, this does not allow you to get files from an
Internet site and put them on your own personal computer.  It
simply moves files from one system to you account.  You have to
find the means by which to download them to your personal
computer (consult your account's system for more info).

Multi-User Dungeons: Also known as MUDS.  These a interactive
multi-players games.  You may TELNET to these, but you need to
know the IP number or IP name for them.


And there are many things.  Since this file covers the basics, I have only
presented the basics.


                -+-[  PLEASE EXPLAIN INTERNET MAIL BETTER  ]-+-

     The system your account is on most likely  has a mail system.  You
have to figure out how to use it.  Some systems advertise Usenet or BitNet
mail.  While these are two forms of network mail, they are transmitted via
Internet.  The whole idea of mail can be very confusing, so in the most
basic terms I will try and explain it.

     I urge you to consider Usenet mail and Bitnet mail as Internet mail.
It makes life much easier.  As long as you know the proper Internet address
of the person you wish to send mail to you can send it.  Usenet, Bitnet,
MCIMail, CompuserveMail and a number of others all have a form of a proper
Internet address.  What this means is that I can send mail to someone on
Compuserve without having to logon to Compuserve.  Please consult these
services for that format.  Internet is the means by which almost all
systems transmit mail, or atleast the are accessible to send mail via
Internet.  As stated before, all you need to know is the proper Internet
address for the person you are sending it to.


                           -+-[  CONCLUSION  ]-+-

     I hope this file helps you understand this thing known as Internet a
little more.  It is a system so large and complex that there is always
something to learn, so I urge to continue and explore and I hope this file
is the first step in the adventure.  It is by no means the final word, and
again, just scratches the surface of knowing Internet.  I would like now to
list a few systems and FTP sites that are available to the new Internet
user and that I may have, at times, referred to here:

Mindvox: A public BBS run by Phantom Access, Inc.  It is directly
connected to Internet and is open to all who wish to use its
services.  It provides you with a mailing address
([e-mail]) as well as a number of other fine options
(like IRC, and some they have created).  It costs $10/month to
use, and is well worth it.  Its Internet address is
"phantom.com".

The WELL: Stands for the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link.  Much like
Mindvox, but bigger. This systems costs $15/month to use and is
also well worth it (no pun intended).  Its internet address is
"well.sf.ca.us".

Electronic Freedom Foundation FTP site:  The FTP site for the
EFF, a group dedicated to preserving the legal rights of users
and data communications.  There is a LOT of info on here.  Its
FTP address it "FTP.EFF.ORG"

And so the file ends.  I thank you for taking the time to read it, and I
hope it answers some questions you may have.  I understand that it is
SIMPLE beyond belief, but that was the intended purpose.  We also have
another file out on the basic uses of the FTP protocol.  Please look to
that if you need help on using FTP sites.  Also, if you have any questions
or comments about this file please feel free to contact me.  I always like
to hear what others think about my brief excursions in to the realm of
writing.  You can send commenst to:

          [e-mail]   (Mindvox system)
          [e-mail]    (The Firing Squad, BBS in MN.)

          Or call the PROPAGANDA BBS: 612-379-1517

          PROPAGANDA may be getting an Internet address in the near
          future.  Look for it!

                                         -The Pyro


       -+-[        Brought to you by The Propaganda Press!      ]-+-
       -+-[         Quality information for the masses...       ]-+-
       -+-[                          -*-                        ]-+-
       -+-[   Propaganda Press BBS:  PROPAGANDA, 612-379-1517   ]-+-