The Online World Part 45

Gateway ------- Here, we use the term gateway about an interconnection between two (or more) online services, set up to allow a user of one service to use the other service's offerings through the first service's user interface.

The term also has other meanings: A gateway provides an interconnection between two networks with different communications protocols. Gateways operate at the 4th through 7th layer of the OSI model. For example, a PAD (a packet a.s.sembler/disa.s.sembler) is a device used to interface non-X.25 devices to an X.25 network. The PAD serves as a gateway. Protocol converters are gateways between networks.

The gateway, provided by an adapter card in a workstation, enables the network to perform as if it were a mainframe terminal connected directly to the mainframe.

Gopher ------ A world wide information service with many implementations. It works from a top-level subject-oriented menu system that accesses other information services across the Internet. Gopher combines a finding and fetching capability in one tool.

Gopher gets information from certain locations on the Internet to which it is connected, and brings the information to your computer. It can also get information via other Gophers at other locations connected to yet other hosts. The Telneting or file transfer protocols are transparent to the user.

"Common Questions and Answers about the Internet Gopher" are posted to the following Usenet newsgroups comp.infosystems.gopher, comp.answers, and news.answers every two weeks.

The most recent version of this FAQ is also available by anonymous ftp from rtfm.mit.edu in the /pub/usenet/news.answers directory. The file is called gopher.faq.

To get it by email, write [email protected] with the command "send usenet/news.answers/finding-sources" in the body of the text.

GuoBiao ------- Coding scheme for using Chinese on computers developed in mainland China. For more information, send email to [email protected] with one of the following commands in the text of your mail: GET PC HELP (for PC users) GET MAC HELP (Macintosh users) GET CXTERM HELP (X Windows users)

Half duplex ----------- The term half-duplex means the transmission of data in either direction but only one direction at a time.

Ham --- Amateur radio.

Handle ------ An alias used on a bulletin board or online service instead of your real name. Often used in chats.

Header ------ (1) In an email message, the part that precedes the body of a message and contains, among other things, the message originator, date and time.

(2) On a packet switched network, the portion of a package, preceding the actual data, containing source and destination addresses, and error checking and other fields.

Host ---- A term for host computer, remote computer or online service. Here, we use it about a timesharing computer, a BBS system, or a central computer that controls a network and delivers online services.

Hytelnet -------- (1) An Internet service offering access to many other services, including university and library catalogues around the world.

Prefers VT-100 emulation. (telnet herald.usask.ca. Login: hytelnet) The Hytelnet anonymous ftp archive is at ftp.usask.ca. Get the README file in the /pub/hytelnet directory.

(2) A memory resident utility (MS-DOS) that provides instant information on Internet-accessible library catalogues, Free-Nets, Campus Wide Information Servers, Gophers, WAIS, and much more.

The program is available by ftp from access.usask.ca in the /pub/hytelnet/pc/ directory. File name is hytelnxx.zip where xx is the number of the latest version.

[email protected] is a mailing list for announcements of new versions.

Information utility ------------------- A term often used about online services (not unlike the term power utility).

Internet -------- See appendix 1.

Internet number --------------- See IP Address

IP (Internet Protocol) ---------------------- The Internet standard protocol that provides a common layer over dissimilar networks, used to move packets between host computers and through gateways if necessary.

For more information, send a message to [email protected] with the following text in the subject t.i.tle: RFC 791 .

IP Address ---------- Every machine on the Internet has a unique address, called its Internet number or IP address. Usually, this address is represented by four numbers joined by periods ('.'), like 129.133.10.10.

The first two or three pieces represent the network that the system is on, called its subnet. For example, all of the computers for Wesleyan University in the U.S.A. are in the subnet 129.133, while the number in the previous paragraph represents a full address to one of the university's computers.

IRC --- Internet Relay Chat is a worldwide "party line" protocol that allows one to converse with others in real time.

ISDN ---- An emerging technology being offered by many telephone carriers of the world. ISDN combines voice and digital network services in a single medium, making it possible to offer customers digital data services as well as voice connections through a single "wire." The standards that define ISDN are specified by CCITT.

ISO --- The International Organization for Standardization. A voluntary, nontreaty organization responsible for creating international standards in many areas, including computers and communications.

Its members are the national standards organizations of the 89 member countries, including ANSI for the U.S.

ISO is coordinator of the main Internet networking standards that are in use today.

[email protected] is a mailing list focusing on the ISO protocol stack.

JIS --- A j.a.panese industry standard code for presenting the j.a.panese character set Kanji on computers. JIS defines special ranges of user-defined characters. Only the most popular ones are included.

The newer Shift JIS standard sets aside certain character codes to signal the start of a two-character sequence. Together, these define a single Kanji metacharacter.

There are many oddities to be found in handling Kanji over the network. Sending JIS-encoded messages through the Internet is done using a 7-bit code (standardized on JUNET). Unfortunately, it incorporates the ESC character, which some systems will filter out.

(This problem can be overcome by using UUENCODing.) Some services, like APICNET in Tokyo, converts outgoing Kanji messages automatically to 7-bit format.

JVArcServ --------- Archive server for FidoNet modelled after Archie for the Internet.

It maintains file lists from FidoNet systems throughout its area and will do searches on these file lists based on netmail requests made to it by remote systems.

JVArcServ lets you search through file listings for the program you are looking for. It will send you an email message back telling you the BBS name, phone number, and file section of all the systems in the network that match the given criteria.

KB -- Kilobyte. A unit of data storage size which represents 1024 characters of information.

Kbits ----- 1,000 bits.

Kermit ------ Protocol designed for transferring files between microcomputers and mainframe computers developed by Catchings at Columbia University.

There are both public domain, and copyrighted Kermit programs.

Some of these programs are complete programs in themselves offering the communication functions needed for the particular machine on which they are running.

The complete Kermit protocol manual and the source code for various versions are available from:

Kermit Distribution, (212) 854-3703 Columbia University Center for Computing Activities 612 West 115 Street, New York, NY 10025

Knowbot ------- Experimental directory services using intelligent computer programs that automate the search and gathering of data from distributed databases. The concept behind the Knowbot is that it is supposed to be a Knowledge Robot -- something that goes hunting for information on the Internet.

To reach a Knowbot: telnet CNRI.Reston.va.us port 70

LAN --- Local Area Network. A data network intended to serve an area of only a few square kilometers or less.

LAP-M ----- Link Access Procedure for Modems is a CCITT standard for modem modulation and error control. It is the primary basis for the CCITT V.42 protocol.

Library ------- is used on online services about a collection of related databases (that you may search in) or files (that may be retrieved).

List ---- File-viewing program for MS-DOS computers (see chapter 14).

Registration: US$37 to Buerg Software, 139 White Oak Circle, Petaluma, CA 94952, U.S.A. (1993).

LISTSERV -------- An automated mailing list distribution system enabling online discussions of technical and nontechnical issues conducted by electronic mail throughout the Internet. The LISTSERV program was originally designed for the BITNET/EARN networks.

Similar lists, often using the Unix readnews or rn facility, are available on the Internet.

LOOKFOR ------- Fast and flexible shareware program for boolean searches in text files. Registration: US$15 plus postage to David L. Trafton, 6309 Stoneham Rd., Bethesda, Md. 20817, U.S.A.

Lurking ------- No active partic.i.p.ation by a subscriber to a mailing list, a conference, or Usenet newsgroup. A person who is lurking is just listening to the discussion.

MAILBASE -------- A program functioning like a LISTSERV. For more information about the Mailbase at Newcastle University (England), send email to [email protected] containing the following commands:

send mailbase overview (for a general guide to Mailbase) send mailbase userhelp (for a User Guide) lists (for a list of available forums)

This mailbase managed 403 mailing lists in July 1993.

Mail Gateway ------------ A machine that connects to two or more electronic mail systems (including dissimilar mail systems) and transfers messages among them.

Mailing list ------------ A possibly moderated discussion group on the Internet, distributed via email from a central computer maintaining the list of people involved in the discussion. Anyone can send a message to a single mailing list address. The message is "reflected" to everyone on the list of addresses. The members of that list can respond, and the responses are reflected, forming a discussion group.

(See LISTSERVers)