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1995-06-05
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FAQ: Using Acorns for Internet Access
=====================================
Issue 9, 1st May 1995 + corrections
This FAQ brings together information and hints on using Acorn computers
(Archimedes, Risc PC etc) on the Internet. It is posted monthly to
comp.sys.acorn.announce, comp.sys.acorn.networking
and demon.ip.support.archimedes. While the new hierarchy is settling
in, it is also cross-posted to comp.sys.acorn. It is archived on
ftp.demon.co.uk in directory /pub/archimedes as
FAQ-Using-Acorns-For-Internet-Access.txt. It may be retrieved
via email by sending a message to maillist@banana.demon.co.uk with the
"Subject:" field set to "GET Documents.AIFAQ" (the body of the message
is ignored).
It is maintained by Kevin Quinn - please send any comments, suggestions,
corrections etc. to aifaq@banana.demon.co.uk. There are several things
I would particularly like further information on for inclusion in the
FAQ; I have added a paragraph at the bottom of the FAQ listing these.
Copyright 1994,1995 Kevin Quinn. Freely distributable in unmodified form.
#include <std/disclaimer.h>
I take no responsibility for the accuracy or otherwise of information
contained in this FAQ. It is provided "as is" without express or implied
warranty. All information contained in this FAQ is subject to change
without notice.
============================================================================
Introduction and FAQ structure
This FAQ contains quite a lot of information. As a result I have
instigated a glossary at the end of the FAQ to explain various points
in an ordered fashion. Many of these points come up in the main body
of the FAQ, and this avoids repeating detailed explanations. If you
find anything in the FAQ that is unclear or confusing, please drop me
a line (send email to aifaq@banana.demon.co.uk) and I will attempt to
clarify things.
Throughout the FAQ I refer to "Acorn machines" which, unless otherwise
stated, includes the Archimedes range, the A30x0, A4000, A5000 and
Risc PC. Similarly when I mention "Arc" (for example "Arc software")
I mean all machines.
The main body of the FAQ is separated into the following sections:
1) What do I need to connect to the Internet?
2) Who can supply direct IP access?
3) Who can supply indirect access?
4) What software do I need for direct access services?
5) What software do I need for indirect access?
6) What newsreaders are there for the Acorn range?
7) Can I use WWW, Gopher etc. on my Acorn?
8) Serial ports, serial modules, transfer rates and other mysteries.
9) Use of TCP/IP over packet radio.
10) Other software utilities
11) Products "on the way"
To make it easy to get to the start of a section, you can search for the
number with the bracket, for example to get to the section on suppliers
of indirect access, you would search for "3)" (without the quotes, of
course!). To this end all other lists use letters or roman numerals.
Sections are also separated by lines of "-".
There are several appendices at the end of the FAQ, collating information
that is distributed through the FAQ into single points of reference.
Appendix A: List of Software including where to find it
Appendix B: Contact Addresses mentioned elsewhere in this FAQ
Appendix C: Glossary of terms
Appendix D: Things I'd like to know :-)
============================================================================
1) What do I need to connect to the Internet?
First, you need a service provider. These come essentially in two
flavours; those providing direct IP access, and those providing access
to a machine they have on the Internet. Second, you need the relevant
software. The software you need depends on the type of service
provider.
To elaborate, service providers like Demon Internet Services provide
dial-up access to low-level Internet. This means that your machine is
actually a machine on the Internet, albeit intermittently. To
use this kind of service you need to run complex software on your
machine (known as TCP/IP software). You cannot use simple comms
software (Arcterm, Hearsay etc) to use this kind of service. You can
use any facilities of the Internet for which you have the relevant
software.
Services like CIX (Compulink Information eXchange) provide a facility
whereby their machine runs the TCP/IP software, and you get an account
on their machine. Essentially this means that your machine is used
as a terminal onto their machine. For this kind of service, you use
normal comms software (Arcterm, Hearsay etc). You can only run the
facilities that are available on the service provider's machine.
Increasingly, bulletin boards are providing "gateways" to the Internet,
usually for EMail and Network News (also known as Usenet). This is a
much more limited form of Internet access, but is much cheaper for
the user.
If you only have email access to the Internet (for example you might
have email at work but no more, perhaps behind a "firewall"), it is
surprising how much you can do with simple email, including Gopher
and believe it or not, WWW! There is an excellent document available
by sending mail to MAILBASE@mailbase.ac.uk with the subject field left
blank and the following in the body:
send lis-iis e-access-inet.txt
and you will receive the document by return-of-email :-) Also available
via anonymous ftp from mailbase.ac.uk in /pub/lists/lis-iis/files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Who can supply direct IP access?
At the moment there appears to be an explosion in the number of service
providers for the individual user. The BBC service is currently
suffering from "contractual difficulties" with the Arc software,
however it is up and running for other platforms, and will be supporting
Acorn machines.
However, here are a few services that are available now. I have limited
this list to those providers who have subscribers using Acorn machines,
and the list is in alphabetic order to avoid favouritism :) Several
phrases I use may be unfamiliar - take a look at the glossary at the
end of this FAQ.
a) Demon Internet Services (UK)
A UK-wide provider, cheap and effective. Mail internet@demon.net for
information. Or download ftp.demon.co.uk:/pub/doc/Demon.txt. Points
of presence in many areas, supplying local-call access to a large
number of subscribers. Tel: (0181) 371 1234
Support available in the newsgroup demon.ip.support.archimedes.
Fixed IP address service.
b) Geko (AUS)
Internet Provider in Sydney, Australia. Email to accounts@geko.com.au
for information. Provides SLIP, PPP and CLI accounts for the same
rates. riscman@geko.com.au handles the Acorn-related side of things.
!TCPIP, Slipdial work with this service. Web support for Acorns
is also available.
Information can be obtained from http://www.geko.com.au/,
ftp://ftp.geko.com.au/pub/
Tel : +61-2-439-1999, Fax +61-2-439-1919,
PO BOX 473, Crows Nest, NSW 2065, Australia.
c) Internet For Learning, Resarch Machines plc.
Specialising in supplying access to schools. Based in Oxfordshire,
currently with 2 POPs, with 6 more by the end of May. Features
include free home pages, selective news feed suitable for school
use, 28.8K bps modems. Email to sales@rmplc.co.uk, or telephone
Abingdon (01235) 826 868.
d) Pavilion Internet (UK)
A Brighton-based supplier. Email info@pavilion.co.uk for more info.
Dynamic IP address service.
e) Stichting Hack-Tic Network (NL)
Supplies service to the Netherlands. Email to helpdesk@xs4all.nl
for further information. Supplies both UUCP-style and direct
SLIP/PPP access to the Internet.
f) Stichting Knoware (NL)
Supplies service to the Netherlands. Email to knoware@knowar