=============================================================== BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO NETWORKING ON THE VAX/VMS Lucia Ruedenberg, 1993 Bitnet: ruednbrg@nyuacf Internet: ruednbrg@acfcluster.nyu.edu =============================================================== 1. INTRODUCTION Bitnet Internet 2. GETTING STARTED Logging on Logging off 3. YOU JUST LOGGED ON: WHAT NOW? VMS Working at the $ prompt Cursor Line noise Baud rate Call waiting 4. BASIC NETWORKING TASKS Send mail Mail to multiple addresses Set your personal name Read newmail or (old) mail Delete, reply, forward, extract mail Creating folders for your mail Getting copies of your own outgoing mail Send a file (send a binary file) Send a file as mail Receive a file Download and upload a file Download a binary file Download to a floppy disk Spawn to Dos Use an editor in mail Create a signature Include a file into a letter Customize your login.com file - set editor on in mail - define a signiture into your mail - define autoquoter and trailing signiture - define aliases for userids Multiple addresses for one person Send interactive messages Phone and Talk Subscribe to discussion lists 5. GETTING MORE INFORMATION MS-DOS Kermit user guide Bitnet info using servers Internet info using ftp List-of-Lists Newsgroups Library catalogues and databases Getting Help ============================================================== 1. INTRODUCTION ============================================================== The instructions in this manual are for a beginner. I hope they will get you started with simple networking tasks and inspire you to ask your computer center for more detailed information and instructions when you are ready. * If you have received this document electronically, you will need to download it to your PC in order to print it out. See instructions for this in section 4. Move down the document until you come to the section on "Downloading" and printscreen that section in order to help you through the process: Shift-PrtSc on your keyboard will always print what is on your screen * NOTE: this Guide was written for users at New York University. Some of the references are therefore specific to that site. Feel free to adapt this guide to your institution, as long as you acknowledge my authorship. For instance, you can add your name as as co-author of the new document. Of course I would welcome a copy of the new version. And I welcome your comments and suggestions at any time. Computer Mediated Communication from a home PC is composed of three parts that you must master: 1. your terminal (your computer with a modem) 2. your communications software (Kermit or another) 3. the mainframe you are logging onto, with its own operating system specific to the kind of machine it is. This guide is based on computers with a DOS operating system, using Kermit communications software. MAC users will have to adapt these instructions to the menu system of their communications software. Instructions for both Kermit and MacKermit are available from the ACF computer center. This guide is for networking on a VAX machine running the VMS operating system. Other mainframe operating systems are: MVS on an IBM machine, VM/CMS on an IBM machine, and unix systems on many different kinds of machines. This guide is not for them. NYUACF is the New York University Academic Computing Facility. The ACFcluster is a VMScluster composed of different types of DEC's VAX and AXP processors. The physical cluster also contains DEC unix systems. It does not contain any IBM computers. You have a userid-account on the VAX that allows you to log onto ACF. To log on, you use the commands of your communications software. Once you have logged on to the VAX, you use VMS commands. When you download and upload files to your PC at home, you use both Kermit and VMS commands, as Kermit transmits information between the university mainframe and your home PC. ACF is linked to two academic networks: BITNET and INTERNET. Thus you have two addresses for the same userid-account. They look like this: Bitnet: userid@nyuacf Internet: userid@acfcluster.nyu.edu BITNET (Because It's There NETwork) ----------------------------------- BITNET is the largest general purpose academic network, founded in 1981 by City University of New York and Yale. Bitnet is composed of IBM and IBM protocol machines. A Bitnet address is composed of only two parts: userid@nyuacf userid individual account (you) @ at nyuacf local host or node (New York University Academic Computing Facility) Packets of electronic mail and files are sent along set routes (much like a train track) so that speed depends on how overloaded a route is or whether a machine is up or down along the way. Bitnet has three main capabilities: MAIL, SEND/FILE, SEND. I will describe them here briefly. In the section on Basic Commands I will show you how to make them work: - MAIL is distinguished by a header that describes From/To/Subject of the letter. It has a size limit and usually is used for personal communication. Mail is stored in your account to be read at your convenience. It is asynchronous communication. - SEND/FILE has no header. It is usually used for sending large texts or software files. Files are stored in your account to be accessed at your convenience. It is asynchronous communication. - SEND sends an interactive message in real time (provided the computer at the other end supports interactive communication - not all do). It is synchronous communication. Two users can send messages to each other's terminals only if they are both logged on at the same time. RELAY is a program that allows Bitnet users to log and chat to each other in real time, one on one or in channels. Interactive messages can also be sent to BITNET SERVERS. These servers are software programs that subscribe or unsubscribe you from a discussion LIST or send you files from a public archive. INTERNET -------- INTERNET is a newer, faster network of many regional networks. It grew out of ARPANET that was created in 1969 at NYU in cooperation with the US Department of Defense. In 1986 the formation of NSFNET (National Science Foundation Network) expanded the Internet to connect universities and researchers across the country. By August 1989 the Internet connected over 118,000 host computers worldwide, with several thousand people using the computer at each site. According to John S. Quarterman (_Computerworld_ Feb.22, 1993) the Internet today connects over 8,000 networks worldwide, comprising of more than 1.3 million computers, and about 8 million users. Most, but not all, academic institutions have access to both Bitnet and Internet. In either case, you are joining a community that equals the population size of a small country - researchers, scholars, students and computer enthusiasts who communicate daily with thousands of their peers around the world! The reason why the Internet has grown so large, so fast, is because it uses the TCP/IP protocol which allows many different kinds of machines (nodes or hosts) to communicate. It is a 3-level network with a backbone that uses routers to decide which path Internet traffic will follow, much like traffic on a highway, maximizing the efficient use of time and space. Thus, Internet traffic travels faster than Bitnet traffic. Packets are addressed according to a domain-naming convention, much like regular mail, that goes from most specific to most general. Thus an Internet address is longer than a Bitnet address: userid@acfcluster.nyu.edu. userid individual account (you) @ at acfcluster local host or node (academic computing facility cluster) nyu institution (New York University) edu domain (education) Most, but not all universities have access to both Bitnet and Internet. If someone has an internet-only account and needs to send to a Bitnet address, they will need to add a "domain" that Internet can read. Thus sometimes you will see this kind of address (some systems tag this on automatically): userid@host.bitnet The Internet supports three basic applications - MAIL (mail), FTP (file transfer protocol), and TELNET (remote login). File transfer and remote login on Internet are different from Bitnet: - MAIL follows the domain naming convention described above. Like Bitnet, it sends a letter with a header and is asynchronous. - FTP (file transfer protocol) is used to get or send files to or from a remote host. You can send files to an individual userid-account, or you can explore the directories of public servers that have articles, journals, and software available for downloading. - TELNET allows you to log on to a remote host (private or public). You can log onto another institution's computer and interact with databases, participate in conference discussions, or search library catalogs. If you have an account at another institution, you can telnet to it from your local host. - Internet does not support a "send" command for interactive synchronous messages. Instead, most systems support commands such as TALK or PHONE which allow two users to chat in real time. IRC is a server/client program that allows Internet users to log on and chat to each other in real time one on one or in channels. Internet servers do not respond to an interactive "send" command. Therefore, Internet DISCUSSION LISTS must be subscribed to by sending a request through e-mail. Public files archived on Internet servers are obtained through FTP (File Transfer Protocol). ============================================================== 2. GETTING STARTED ============================================================== NOTE: Word COMMANDS in this manual are typed in upper case in order to highlight them from the rest of the text. The VMS system is *not* case sensitive, and the commands can be typed in lowercase. are set inside < >s. Again, you do not type these when executing the command indicated inside them. Sometimes a command requires one key to be held down while a second one is hit. This is indicated by a dash between the two keys. For example: or . Sometimes (explanations of a command may be set in parentheses). LOGGING ON ---------- *Logging on* from your home PC is to make a phone call from your home to the computer center mainframe (local host). The commands will depend on the kind of communications software you use. There is no universal software, although Kermit is available free of charge from your computer center. The communications software emulates the mainframe you are logging onto. This allows your home PC to act like a terminal in order to communicate with the mainframe. You can load the communications software onto your hardisk, or run it from a floppy. To log on with KERMIT you follow these basic steps. From your home PC, begin at the c:\ prompt, type and : KERMIT (invoke kermit software) C (connect, talk to your modem) ATDT9953600 (dial-in number) (atdp=pulse dialing; atdt=tone dialing) (tell the computer you are there with several s. Sometimes it needs prompting. Keep hitting ) You will arrive at a new prompt: nyumodem> C ACF (connect to ACF) userid (access your personal account) password (open your account with a password) If you take too long in entering your userid and password, it will time out. Just "c acf" again at the NYUMODEM>. Here are a few tips: (no enter) is a generic Hays command for redial if your first try did not connect or the line is busy. Make sure you are dialing a LOCAL NUMBER to log in. If you need to travel, speak to the computer center and request a PSI account that will provide you with local numbers outside the NYU area code. If possible, use a phone with unlimited local service. If this is impossible, watch the time or you will run up a very large phone bill! As you become more knowledgeable, you will learn of front-end communications software products that can save you time and work more efficiently. If you have CALL-WAITING, incoming calls will disconnect you. If someone picks up the phone receiver, it will disconnect you. To disable call-waiting type *70 and before you type the login phone number. It will be restored when you hang up. LOGGING OFF ----------- *Logging off* also depends on your software. With KERMIT you can do the following steps from inside your account. "Quit" from wherever you are till you return to the $ prompt. At the $ prompt, type: LOGOFF (log off the VAX) (go to Kermit) HA (hangup) Q (quit Kermit) You will be back at your c:\ prompt. ============================================================== 3. YOU JUST LOGGED ON: WHAT NOW? ============================================================== VMS --- You have used your communications software, Kermit or another, to logon from your home PC to the VAXcluster at ACF. From now on, you are working inside the VMS system on a VAX minicomputer. VMS stands for VIRTUAL MEMORY SYSTEM. It is an operating system that was developed for the VAX by DEC (Digital Equipment Corp). You share this system with many other users. Each user is allotted a certain amount of time and space on the VAX where your incoming mail is stored till you logon and read it. The VMS operating system has two editors that allow users to manipulate text and customize their account: EDT and EVE. Initially you do not need an editor to send or read simple mail. In time however, you *will* want to advance your skills. See the section on using an editor in mail. This manual assumes that you have a FULL VMS ACCOUNT. At NYU you have to request this. If you have an e-mail-only account you will be limited to a menu that does not allow you to enter commands at the VMS prompt which looks like a dollar sign: $. WORKING AT THE $ PROMPT ----------------------- As you log on, you will be prompted by a message if new "mail" or "files" have arrived for you. You may also be directed to check the bulletin board. After the machine completes its login procedure you end up at the VMS prompt - $. The $ prompt is your root. Type "dir" to see what is in your root directory: $ DIR To read a file that is in your root directory, type: $ TYPE filename You must type the filename as it appears in your root, however you do not need the semicolon and final number. For example: test.txt;1 appears in your root. You only need to type test.txt. However, if there are several versions of the same file: test.txt;1, test.txt;2, for example. You will need to specify it by ;number or else it will choose only the latest version. If you want to interrupt the process, hit: $ To see the size of your files, type: $ DIR/SIZ=ALL or DIR/SIZ=ALL filename A diskblock is 512 bytes in length. Two blocks = 1k. If you want to rename a file, type: $ RENAME oldfilename newfilename To delete a file from your root, type: $ DELETE filename.; In this case, you *must* type at least the semicolon in order to delete a file. If there are more than one version, you must specify which one. For example: $ DELETE filename.;1 If you want to delete several files with the same name, you can use the * command which is a wildcard. For example: $ DELETE filename.;* To read public notices on the bulletin board, type: $ BBOARD To get help on the VMS operating system, type: $ HELP To check how much of your allotted disk space you have used up, type: $ SHOW QUOTA A diskblock is 512 bytes in length. Two blocks = 1k. In time, if you find that you need more space, you can request it at the computer center. Otherwise, you need to download and/or delete some files. To check how much of your allotted time you have used, type: $ CHARGES SHOW If you run out of time, you need to have your department request additional SRU's for you, from the computer center. To see who else is logged onto the VAX, type: $ SHOW USERS If there are more than a screen full of users logged on, the screen will scroll by very quickly. Hit: to stop scrolling to resume scrolling To get the addresses and phones of fellow users at NYU type: $ INFO CURSOR: A note about your cursor. It can be jumpy and does not work exactly as you are used to in a wordprocessor. You will adjust to it's lively and somewhat independent character. Remember that you are in a virtual space; you are logged onto telecommunications lines, and there is activity on these lines. LINE NOISE: Sometimes activity on the lines causes Line Noise - garbage that appears on your screen or distorts what you type. might refresh the screen. At night, during less active hours, the lines are more stable. As you become more knowledgeable you learn of front-end communications software or modems that cut down on line noise. If you have serious line noise, you can reset your baud rate. BAUD RATE: Modems come with 1200, 2400, or 9600 BAUD RATE which determine the SPEED of information transmission. Know which kind of modem you have. 1200 is slower but more stable. 2400 is faster but less stable. 9600 is even faster and more stable. You can set a 2400 baud modem to 1200, through Kermit. This will stabilize your connection but slow it down. Go to Kermit by hitting , and hangup (type "ha"). At the Kermit prompt type "set speed 1200" .Then hit "c" to reconnect. Redial. CALL WAITING: If you have call waiting, an incoming call will disconect you. Garbage will appear on your screen. Go to Kermit and hangup. Then answer the phone. Make sure that you log back on after the phone call is finished or else your account will "hang" for 90 minutes, using up your SRUs. When you log back on, you will be asked whether you want to reconnect to a suspended process. Answer "Y" and continue or logoff properly. To disable call-waiting type *70 . Then dial in. It is restored when you hang up. =============================================================== 4. BASIC NETWORKING TASKS =============================================================== The commands below are typed in upper case in order to highlight them from the rest of the text. The VMS system is *not* case sensitive and the commands can be typed in lowercase. The prompts> are added for visual orientation of where a command occurs. SEND MAIL --------- Start at the $ prompt and type: $ MAIL You will arrive at the mail prompt: MAIL>. To send a letter, you have to add extra code around the address when sending mail. This is peculiar to the VAX at ACFcluster: mail> SEND _To: in%"userid@node" Normally an address is simply typed: user@node.domain You can create aliases for addresses that you use a lot instead of typing out the full address every time. See the section below on customizing your login.com: mail> SEND _To: alias You are prompted to enter the subject of your letter. This is optional. Hit again and you can type the body of your letter under the address and subject. As you type the body of your letter, you must hit RETURN or ENTER at the end of each line or the letter will exceed the buffer and abort. Use the DELETE KEY to erase text. Without an editor you cannot use the arrow keys to go up or down the text. You can only edit the line you are typing. In time, you will want to use an editor. See the section on editing tasks. To SEND the letter, hit: To ABORT a letter without sending, hit: To QUIT the mail mode, type: mail> QUIT or mail> EXIT MAIL TO MULTIPLE ADDRESSES -------------------------- You can address one piece of mail to a string of userids, separated by commas. If you type out the full address, the syntax is the same for Internet and Bitnet addresses: mail> SEND _To: in%"userid@node.domain", in%"userid@node" This can become very cumbersome, and is limited. If you have created aliases you can use them instead. See the section below on defining aliasnames in your login.com. Note: when using aliasnames, the syntax will differ for Bitnet and Internet addresses. In the examples given below, the word "alias" would be replaced by the names you have assigned. Using aliasnames for Internet addresses: mail> SEND _To: alias, alias, alias Using aliasnames for Bitnet addresses: mail> SEND _To: in%alias, in%alias, in%alias Combining the use of aliasnames for both Internet and Bitnet: mail> SEND _To: alias, in%alias, alias, in%alias Similarly, you can send a file to multiple userids. Note, however, that the syntax for using aliasnames differs slightly when sending files. The above examples are for sending mail. See the section below on sending a file. SET YOUR PERSONAL NAME ---------------------- You can set your personal name so that it appears in front of your userid in the letters you send out. Start at the $ prompt: $ SET PERSONAL_NAME yourname However, I have found that this creates problems for some systems. When some users "reply" to your mail, with this code in your return address, their mail might bounce. READ NEWMAIL and (old) MAIL --------------------------- Start at the $ prompt and type "mail": $ MAIL Now you are at the mail> prompt. To look at the DIRECTORY of letters you have received, type: mail> DIR Note the upper right hand corner of your screen: the VMS system reads NEWMAIL first by default. If you have received new mail it says NEWMAIL in the corner of your screen. If you have no new mail, it searches for old mail - mail you have read but did not delete or file into a folder. If you have old mail, it says MAIL in the corner of your screen. You don't need to see the directory in order to read letters. In either case, if you hit at the mail> prompt, you will read the first letter. Hit twice at the end of a letter, to continue reading down the list. If you want to choose which letter to read from the MAIL directory, type the number of the letter: mail> 1 To stop reading a letter, type "dir" at the mail> prompt, and select another letter from the mail directory. If you want to read MAIL *instead* of NEWMAIL, you must specifiy which directory you want: mail> DIR MAIL To QUIT MAIL and return to the $ prompt, type: mail> QUIT or mail> EXIT DELETE, REPLY, FORWARD, EXTRACT MAIL ------------------------------------ While reading a letter you can DELETE it, REPLY to it, FORWARD it, or you can EXTRACT it. To DELETE a letter, type: mail> DELETE or: mail> D To delete letters while viewing the directory list type: mail> D 1 or: mail> D 1,2,3 mail> D 1, 4-6 To REPLY to a letter, will automatically address a reply and maintain the existing subject heading: mail> REPLY To FORWARD a letter is send a copy of the letter to a third party. You will be prompted for an address: mail> FORWARD To: in%"userid@node" When you use the editor, you can add comments to a letter before forwarding it. See the section below on editing tasks. To EXTRACT a letter from the mail directory is to create a file in your root directory with a *copy* of the letter. Then you can download it. While you are reading a letter, type: mail> EXT or: mail> EXT filename (filename is anything you wish) If you do not include a filename, you will be prompted to give the file any name you wish. You receive confirmation that the file has been created and you can see it when you type "dir" at the $ prompt. Since extracting makes a *copy*, you may want to delete that letter from your mail directory. To QUIT MAIL and return to the $ prompt, type: mail> QUIT or mail> EXIT CREATING FOLDERS FOR YOUR MAIL ------------------------------ Mail is filed in FOLDERS. Newmail and Mail, described above, are folders that the system creates by default. You can create folders of your choice to file your mail by topic or address, as you wish. You cannot see these folders from the $ prompt. You can only see them from the mail> prompt. -New mail automatically goes in a folder called NEWMAIL. -Mail that you have read once is automatically filed in a folder called MAIL. -Mail you have deleted automatically goes in a folder called WASTEBASKET -Mail that you want to keep in separate groups by topic or address, you can file into FOLDERS that you create. To view a directory of your folders, hit: mail> DIR/FOLDER or: mail> DI/FO or: mail> If you want to FILE a letter into a folder, while you are reading it, type at the mail> prompt: mail> FILE foldername (foldername is anything you wish) You will be asked to verify that you want to create this folder. Type "Y" . Once you have created a folder, you will not be prompted when you add other letters to it. To see the contents of any one folder type: mail> DIR foldername You can read and delete letters from a folder directory, just as when you read the mail directory. For example: mail> 1 (read letter 1) mail> D 1 (delete letter 1) mail> DELETE/ALL (delete all letters from folders) If you want to forward, reply to, or extract a letter from a folder, you must be reading that letter. You can also file a letter from one folder to another, as long as you are reading it. For example: mail> DIR foldername (see dir of letters in folder) mail> 1 (read letter 1) mail> EXTRACT (extract letter 1) mail> FILE foldername (file it into another folder) The real advantage to creating folders is that you can collect letters in it and then extract the whole folder to be a separate file ready to download from the $ prompt: mail> DIR foldername mail> EXTRACT/ALL _FILE: filename You are prompted for a filename. Type any name you wish and . The folder is *copied* as a separate file in your root directory at the $ prompt. You may want to delete the folder after you extracted letters from it: mail> DELETE/ALL Check your wastebasket periodically. The syntax for emptying your wastebasket is: mail> DIR WASTEBASKET mail> PURGE GETTING COPIES OF YOUR OWN OUTGOING MAIL ---------------------------------------- If you want to keep a copy of your own letter, include the /SELF command before you address a letter. The system will send you a copy: mail> SEND/SELF To: in%"userid@node" To get copies of all your own outgoing mail, set the COPY_SELF option within mail: mail> SET COPY_SELF SEND,REPLY,FORWARD You need to do this only once. Now everytime you send, reply, or forward a piece mail, you will get a copy of it in NEWMAIL which you can file as you wish. SEND A FILE ----------- The first step is to make sure you have a file to send. It must be in your root directory at the $ prompt. There are a number of ways to get a file into your root: 1) You can create a file on line using the editor (see section on creating a signiture file) 2) You can extract a letter or a folder (see sections on extracting mail and creating folders) 3) You can upload a file from your PC (see the section on uploading and downloading) 4) You can receive a file that has been sent to you (see section on receiving files). Once you have a file in your root that you want to send, you must note its name as it appears in your root directory. Check your filename in your root directory: $ DIR The name of a file will include dots, semicolons, and a number. For example: test.txt;1. It is enough to note "test.txt" without ";1" (unless you have multiple versions of the same filename that you want to send. In that case you must specify or else the system will always choose the latest version). Remember: SEND is a BITNET function. You cannot send a file to an Internet address; you can only ftp or send it as mail (see section on sending files as mail). Moreover, on the VAX the syntax for sending files and sending mail differs. When sending a file over Bitnet, you do not need to put any extra code around the userid address. $ SEND/FILE _File: filename _To: userid@bitnetnode or: $ SEND/FILE filename userid@bitnetnode If you create an alias for frequently used addresses, make sure it refers to a Bitnet address when sending files. To use an alias instead of an address, type: $ SEND/FILE filename alias To send a file to multiple addresses, using aliasnames: $ SEND/FILE filename alias, alias, alias, alias See the section below on customizing your login.com for creating aliases for BITNET addresses. SEND A BINARY FILE ------------------ Some files are in BINARY form, for example software or compressed files. You have to tell the system this before you send them. Follow the instructions for sending files outlined above, with the added command: $ SEND/FILE/BINARY _File: filename _To: userid@bitnetnode SEND A FILE AS MAIL ------------------- You can send a file as MAIL to either a Bitnet or Internet node. Sometimes this is the only way to send the contents of a file to a userid on an Internet node. There is a size limit, however most normal length documents can be handled. Go to mail>: $ MAIL mail> SEND filename To: in%"userid@node" In mail, you must always add the extra code around an address, Bitnet and/or Internet. If you have your editor on, you can go in and add comments or edit the text before you send it. See the section on editing tasks. If you use an alias instead of the full address, the syntax will differ between Internet and Bitnet: mail> SEND filename alias (for Internet address) mail> SEND filename in%alias (for Bitnet address) To create aliases for frequently used addresses, refer to the section below on customizing your login.com file. RECEIVE A FILE -------------- When you log onto your account, you are prompted that new files have arrived. You must RECEIVE them before you can look at them, download them to your PC, or send them on to someone else. You will be prompted to give the incoming file whatever name you wish: $ RECEIVE receive> RECEIVE filename (the name you see on the screen but you may not need the ";1") receive> EXIT Once you have received a file, you can look at it. Type: $ TYPE filename (as it appears in the root, although you do not need the ";1") You can interrupt the process with . DOWNLOAD AND UPLOAD A FILE -------------------------- If you think of yourself always as the starting point: -Download means to *Get* a file from the mainframe to your PC -Upload means to *Send* a file to the mainframe from your PC In order to download a file, it must be in your root directory. Usually you received a file, or you want to download some mail: 1. If someone sent you a file, you are prompted when you logon that a file has arrived in your account. You must RECEIVE it before you can download it to your PC. Type "receive" at the $ prompt and . You will be prompted to give the incoming file whatever name you wish. Then exit the receive mode. 2. If you want to download your mail, you must first extract it to a file in your directory. Follow the instructions above for extracting mail or folders. In order to download a file you must know the *exact* name of the file you want to get. You can always check this by typing DIR at the $ prompt. NOTE MAC USERS: the directions below are for an IBM compatible PC. While the principle is the same, the exact steps and commands will differ for MacKermit. You can obtain a MacKermit user guide at the NYUACF computer center. Basically the difference between downloading on a mac and an ibm is this: Kermit for the ibm presents you with a prompt, from which you 'connect' to and from the mainframe. MacKermit, however is always connected. When you want to give commands to MacKermit, you do not hit or type 'c'. After starting server mode, you simply use the mouse to pull down menus from the menu bar that overlays your terminal session, and 'get' or 'send' your file. DOWNLOAD A FILE: Once you have received or extracted a file, and you know its exact name, you are ready to download it from the mainframe to your PC. This is a multiple step process. First of all, you must realize, to transfer documents via Kermit you are actually running two versions of Kermit simultaneously: remote and local. When the prompt is Kermit-32> you are in remote Kermit, the mainframe version. When the prompt is MS-Kermit> you are in local Kermit, your PC version. Start at the $ prompt, type: $ KERMIT (activate remote-Kermit) Kermit-32> SERVER (start server mode) (go to local kermit) (MacKermit skips this step) MS-Kermit> CD C:\ directory (This step is optional. You can tell Kermit which drive or which directory you want the file in. If you do not specify Kermit downloads by default to your root) MS-Kermit> GET FILENAME (download your file) Kermit will show you as it pulls the file to your PC and renames it if necessary (the filename may be too long, or a duplicate). When finished, it beeps. Then you continue: MS-Kermit> FINISH (finish with local-Kermit) Kermit-32> C (connect back to mainframe) Q (quit remote-Kermit) Now you are back at the $ prompt. After you logoff you can pull the downloaded file into your wordprocessor and print it out as you would any document. Check your margins. In WordPerfect, for example, you may need to set the margins to 0 or edit out the hard returns. To download is to copy the file to your PC. A copy of it remains in your VMS root directory. Remember to delete it if you don't need it any longer. UPLOAD A FILE: To upload is to "send" instead of "get" a file. Follow the same procedure as above. Again, you must check the exact name of the file you want to upload. Check your root or the path from a subdirectory - you don't need to specify the drive unless it is different from the drive where Kermit sits. You should CONVERT a document to ASCII. If you do not, the wordprocessing codes will appear as garbage in the VMS system. $ KERMIT (activate remote-Kermit) Kermit-32> SERVER (start server mode) (go to local kermit) (MacKermit skips this step) MS-Kermit> SEND filename (upload your file) (specify drive if necessary) MS-Kermit> FINISH (finish local-Kermit) Kermit-32> C (connect to mainframe) Q (quit remote-Kermit) *Remember* when you send a file from your PC to the mainframe it goes straight to your VMS root directory. When someone else sends you a file you have to receive it before you can download it to your PC. DOWNLOAD A BINARY FILE ---------------------- Software, graphics, and compressed files are not in ascii and must be transferred as BINARY files. Begin the process outlined above: $ KERMIT (activate remote-Kermit) Kermit-32> SET FILE TYPE BINARY Kermit-32> SERVER (start server mode) (go to local kermit) MS-Kermit> GET filename (download your file) (To upload, you use "send") MS-Kermit> FINISH (finish local-Kermit) Kermit-32> C (connect mainframe) Q (quit remote-Kermit) DOWNLOAD TO A FLOPPY DISK ------------------------- Put a floppy in your a: drive. Follow the steps described above: $ KERMIT (activate remote-Kermit) Kermit-32> SERVER (start server mode) (go to local kermit) Before typing "get," type: MS-Kermit> CD A: (download to a:) or: MS-Kermit> CD A:\directory (dowload to a dir in a:) MS-Kermit> GET FILENAME (download your file) MS-Kermit> FINISH (finish local-Kermit) Kermit-32> C (connect to mainframe) Q (quit remote-Kermit) SPAWN TO DOS ------------ Before of after downloading or uploading, while in Kermit-server mode, you can spawn to DOS and check on a file in your PC hardisk. Follow the process described above: kermit/server/Alt-x. At the local Kermit prompt (instead of typing "get filename") type: MS-Kermit> QUIT This pushes you to DOS. You have not hung up. You can go into your wordprocessor, work on a file, or check your directory. When you are finished, go to the c:\ prompt and type: C:\ KERMIT MS-Kermit> C You are back at the local Kermit prompt, MS-Kermit>. You can resume downloading or uploading. or finish, c, q. A short cut way to the above method is a simple two step process. MS-Kermit> PUSH When you are finished on your PC, return to the mainframe: c:\> EXIT *Sometimes* strange disconnections occur: when you type "finish" the cursor stays in place and does not allow you to quit from local-Kermit. Sometimes the only thing to do is to hangup when this happens and redial. Usually, the hung-process will have resolved itself by the time you return. You can always hangup by typing "ha" at the Kermit prompt. If it is not resolved, play around with the commands, like or "finish" until you find where in the process you are hung. USE AN EDITOR IN MAIL --------------------- There are two editors for the VMS: EVE and EDT. This guide shows you how to use the EDT editor. Currently, EDT is the default editor for VMS.VAX 5.5-2 used on ACF1. Some features to using an editor in mail is that when you REPLY or FORWARD a piece of mail, it allows you to add comments or edit before sending. Similarly, when you send a file as mail, you can add comments or edit the file before sending. You can also pull a file into a letter after you started writing it. Start at the VMS $ prompt: $ MAIL/EDIT (invoke editor in mail) After invoking the editor in mail, address your letter as usual: $ mail> SEND _To: in%"userid@node" (address your letter) A new prompt will appear that looks like this: [EOB]. Enter "c" at the asterisk: [EOB] * C (connect to full screen mode) The screen will change to full screen mode where you can compose a text. Your cursor is at the top of the screen at the [EOB] prompt. You can enter text at this point, move through your document with the arrow keys, delete, and edit the text as you wish. When you are finished, hit: (exit full screen) An * asterisk appears in the lower left hand corner of the screen. If you want to send the letter, type: * EXIT (exit and send the document) If you want to abort the letter, without sending, hit: * QUIT (abort the document) If you want to return to the document, before sending it: *C (go back to full screen mode) You can "set" MAIL to always be in edit mode. You can choose between two editors on the VMS - EDT or EVE(TPU): mail> SET EDITOR (sets to EDT by default) mail> SET EDITOR EDT (set editor to EDT) mail> SET EDITOR TPU (set editor to EVE) mail> SHOW EDITOR (shows you your editor) Another way to choose an editor is through the "choose" command at the $ prompt: $ CHOOSE Follow the directions. You can choose an editor and whether you want this to be a default in your account or not. This may save you the trouble of editing your login.com file. Directions for setting a default editor in your login.com file are outlined below. If you want to learn more about using EDT, or to learn EVE(TPU), refer to the section below on getting help and using on-line tutorials. They are very good. NOTE: You can also invoke the editor at the $ prompt. This allows you to create a file on-line, save it to your directory, send it, or download it. The example below shows you how to do this. CREATE A SIGNATURE ------------------ You may want to create a signature to put into your letters with information about yourself, such as your title, snailmail address e-mail, and telephone. There are two ways to do this, depending on whether you use the EDT or EVE editor. First I will show you how to do it using the EDT editor. In any case, you must have a signiture file avaliable in your root directory. There are two ways to achieve this: 1) create a file on your PC (convert it to ascii or create it straight in ascii), and then upload it to your VMS account. 2) create the file online using the EDT editor. Start at the $: $ EDIT/sig.txt (creates a file called sig.txt) (choose any name you wish) [EOB] * C (connect to full screen mode) Your cursor is at the top of the screen where there is an [EOB] prompt. You can start typing in your text, move around your document with the arrow keys, delete, and space however you like. When you are finished, hit: (exit full screen) If you want to abort the document and start over, type: * QUIT (abort the document) If you want to save the document, type: * EXIT (exit and save the document) You can go back into this file at any time to edit, update or change the text: $ EDIT/sig.txt Follow the same directions as above. Note: whenever you edit a file, such as your sig.txt file it will be renumbered. If you edit sig.txt;1 it will become sig.txt;2 and so on, whenever you exit your latest version. When you edit a file, it will always call up the latest version. Now that you have created a signiture file, you can "include" it into any letter you choose, with the help of the EDT editor. See instructions below on including a file. If you use the EVE editor, you can customize your login.com file to pull your signiture automatically into all of your letters. See the section below on customizing your login.com file. For learning to use the EVE editor, see the section below on getting more help. The on-line tutorials at ACF are very helpful. INCLUDE A FILE INTO A LETTER ---------------------------- You can include any file into a letter as long as this file is in your root directory. This file can be your signiture that you want to include at the end of a letter but it could also be a paper, for example, that you would like to include after making some comments. As long as it is not too long, you can include any file into a letter, using the EDT or EVE editors. If your mail is not set to invoke your editor, invoke the editor in mail and address a letter: $ MAIL/EDIT mail> SEND _To: in%"userid@node" [EOB] * C Enter text. When you are ready to include your signiture put the cursor exactly where you want it to go and hit: * INCLUDE filename (include file into letter) * EXIT (send the letter) If you want to go back and add more text or edit the file after you have included it in your letter, type "c" to return to full screen mode before you EXIT. CUSTOMIZE YOUR LOGIN.COM FILE: 1. SET EDITOR ON IN MAIL ------------------------------ 2. DEFINE YOUR SIGNITURE INTO MAIL 3. DEFINE AUTOQUOTER and SIGNITURE with EVE (TPU) 4. DEFINE NICKNAMES Your LOGIN.COM is a software file that runs your account. It sits in your VMS root directory. You can customize your login.com to affect the performance of your account. You have to invoke the editor in order to edit your login.com file. At the $ prompt, type: $ EDIT/login.com (opens file in edit mode) [EOB] * C (go to full screen) You can now move through your login.com with the arrow key (which starts out in the center of the screen not on top). Move about midway through the file until you come to a line that says: $@nyu$:[terminal]termdef ! change the value assigned above AFTER THIS LINE, hit several times to make space to insert code. Add $ prompts along the far left margin. To the right of the $ prompts, you add code that will customize your account. Code may be case sensitive. 1. Set editor on in mail: You can set the editor to be on automatically whenever you go into MAIL. Add code: $ MAIL == "mail/edit = (send, reply, forward) (You can always cancel this setting at the mail> prompt by typing SEND/NOEDIT at the mail> prompt.) 2. Define a signiture into your mail: You can have your signiture automatically put into every letter you write. Add code: $ define mail$edit NYU$MAIL:MAIL$SIGNITURE.COM $ define/JOB MAIL_SIGNITURE SYS$LOGIN:SIG.TXT Use "sig.txt" only if this is the name of your signiture file. You can use any filename you wish. 3. If you know the EVE(TPU) editor has an autoquoter that quotes a letter when you reply to it and allows you to insert comments. It also gives a leading date and trailing signiture: $ define mail$edit "@nyu$lib:mailedit_tpusig" You must choose EVE as your default editor in mail. You can do this with the CHOOSER command at the $ prompt and pick MAILEDIT. The directions are clear. You can learn how to use EVE through the on-line tutorial. See the section below on getting help. The new login.com is activated once you logoff and logon to your account again. At that time, the autoquoter will be activated. It will automatically create a signiture file in your directory. You can edit it to your liking, using the default editor, EDT, at the $ prompt. 4. You can create aliasnames for addresses you use alot so you don't have to type out the full address every time. To define aliases, you have to enter different syntax for different kinds of addresses. In the instructions below, you must replace the terms "alias", "userid", and "node" with your own text: For a local address on acfcluster: $ define alias acfclu::userid For internet addresses (outside acf): $ define alias "in%""userid@internet.node""" For bitnet addresses (outside acf): $ define/job aliasname """userid@bitnetnode""" (It differs for Bitnet because it must be defined to work for both MAIL and SEND, which are jobs that use different syntax) When you have finished customizing your login.com file, EXIT to save the new file: CNTRL-Z * EXIT The new file will have a new number at the end of it. For example: login.com;2. The changes you have made will not go into effect until after you logoff your account and logon again. MULTIPLE ADDRESSES FOR ONE PERSON: If a person has multiple addresses, or uses both an Internet and Bitnet address, you need to make multiple aliases for them. Remember: SEND/FILE and SEND need a Bitnet address, whereas MAIL can be either Bitnet or Internet. SEND INTERACTIVE MESSAGES ------------------------- Remember: "send" is a BITNET function. You cannot send msgs to an Internet address. You do not need the extra code that is required for mail. Start at the $ prompt: $ SEND userid@bitnetnode Userid: blablabla... Userid: Keep typing your messages at the userid: prompt and . The msgs cannot exceed two lines. If the user is logged on a machine that supports interactive communications, she sees your message on her screen and you will see her replies on your screen. If she is not logged on you receive a msg saying so in a few seconds. To quit the SEND mode, hit twice. You can create aliases for frequently used userids. See the section on customizing your login.com for creating aliases for a bitnet address: $ SEND alias PHONE AND TALK -------------- PHONE is a local chat program for users at ACF. It sends interactive messages to users on your node only (ACF1, ACF2, etc.). In order to receive your message they must be logged on. Check by typing "show users" at the $ prompt. Then type: $ PHONE userid If someone phones you, go to the $ prompt and type: $ PHONE when a % prompt appears, type: % ANSWER The screen will split in two. You each type in your half of the screen. You can see each other's type simulataneously. starts a new line. clears your half of the screen. To exit phone, hit the % key. This takes your cursor to the upper left hand corner of your screen. Sometimes you can't see the cursor. Proceed nontheless: % EXIT TALK sends interactive messages to users on VMS and Unix systems inside or outside your local node. It works only for internet addresses. You cannot use a Bitnet address. Make sure that you and the other user have the same protocol for TALK, or else your machines will not be able to read each other: $ TALK userid@internet.node.domain If somebody calls you, you "answer" to their address. SUBSCRIBE TO DISCUSSION LISTS ----------------------------- A discussion list is form of electronic community, consisting of a group of people who receive postings from each other, usually around a topic of interest. When an individual posts to a list, all subscribers receive a copy as mail. Lists are handled by a server (a piece of software) at a particular node, monitored by an individual (usually volunteer) who handles the technical aspects, and sometimes the interpersonal ones as well. On a technical level, the most common error is made while subing and unsubing from a list. The important thing is to understand is that the commands to sub or unsub are handled by a LISTSERV or MAILSERV (a server on a remote host), not the LIST. Sending commands to the list produces unwanted mail that clutters people's accounts, and annoys them, so get it right. It's not hard. If the list is on a BITNET node, you can sub interactively with the "send" command to the LISTSERV. For example, if you want to participate in a list for comic writers at the node unlvm, type: $ SEND listserv@unlvm UNLVM: sub comicw-l yourfirstname lastname This sends an interactive message to the listserv at the computer at UNLVM that you want to subscribe to the Comic Writers Workshop List. You must give your real first and last name, not your userid. If the line and the listserv at unlvm is up, you will receive a msg of confirmation in interactive mode, in a few seconds, and a letter will follow in another minute with details about the list. If the line is down, you get a msg saying so. Most listservs on Bitnet also accept subing by e-mail to the listserv, with this msg in the body of the letter: sub listname fname lname. If the list is on an INTERNET node, you can only sub to the list by e-mail to the listserv or mailserv, with no subject, and the only text being: sub listname firstname lastname. For example: $ MAIL mail> SEND To: in%"listserv@acfcluster.nyu.edu" (text:) sub perform-l yourfirstname lastname When a list is on your own node, as in the case of perform-l for students of NYU, you do not need to type the whole address. Just send mail to "listserv": mail> SEND To: listserv (text:) sub perform-l fname lname From now on, you will automatically receive mail from other subscribers who write to this list and when you write to the list all other subscribers read your contribution. NOTE: To unsubscribe from a list you follow the same instructions for subscribing, using the commands UNSUB or SIGNOFF instead of 'sub". In general, listservs use the syntax 'signoff' and mailservs use the syntax 'unsub'. So if you have problems try these options first. NOTE: different lists set up their REPLY mode differently. Some lists show the individual users on the "REPLY" line of the header. That means your replies go to the individual contributers. Other lists show the list on the "REPLY" line. This means that your replies go to the list, for everyone to read. Make note of this, so that private messages are not broadcast to the world, or vice versa. When you sub to a list you will receive a letter with further instructions regarding commands that you can send in order to see or not see your own posts to the lists, and to view all the subscribers to a list. Read the instructions and learn how to use these features. =============================================================== 5. GETTING MORE INFORMATION =============================================================== There are a number of files that are useful to beginners who want to learn more about the net. MS-DOS KERMIT USER GUIDE can be requested from Kermit@CUVMA by writing them e-mail. BITNET: two useful files can be requested from Bitnet servers. Use the SEND command at the $ prompt: $ SEND LISTSERV@BITNIC : SENDME BITNET USERHELP $ SEND LISTSERV@BITNIC : SENDME BITNET SERVERS The Bitnet files need to be received when they arrive. INTERNET: information about the Internet is available in a collection of documents called RFCs (Request for Comments). These are available via FTP. Try to get some files for new users and learn how to ftp at the same time. At the $ prompt, enter these commands: $ FTP nic.ddn.mil (ftp site) anonymous (login) guest (password) CD rfc (change to directory of rfc files) DIR (to see a full listing of rfc files) You can skip this step. The directory is very long and the screen scrolls. to stop scrolling to continue scrolling GET rfc1206.txt (get New Internet User Questions) GET rfc1118.txt (get Hitchhiker's Guide to the Internet) EXIT Internet files, gotten through ftp, arrive straight into your root directory and do not need to be received. RFCs are also available through e-mail to "service@nic.ddn.mil." Type the subject as: "send rfc1206.txt". LIST-OF-LISTS: there is a regularly updated file that lists all the interest group lists (discussion lists) available through Bitnet and Internet. BEWARE: it is approximately 8OOK in size, which is very large, so make sure you have LOTS of room in your account before you get it through ftp. It will also take a long time to download on a 2400 modem. Lists-of-Lists is available via anonymous ftp at the host ftp.nisc.sri.com. Use your userid as password. The file is located in the netinfo directory under the name interest-groups. NOTE: ftp is case sensitive! Watch for caps and lower case in the titles of files that you download via ftp. This may vary from host to host. If you get an error msg, check your spelling. Start at the $ prompt: $ FTP ftp.nisc.sri.com LOGIN anonymous (login) youruserid (password) CD netinfo (change to directory of netinfo) DIR (to see all that is in netinfo) to stop scrolling. to continue scrolling. GET interest-groups EXIT It can also be requested via electronic mail. Send a message to: mail-server@nisc.sri.com. Put the following line in the message body: send netinfo/interest groups. It will arrive in moderate sized pieces. NEWSGROUPS: newsgroups are similar to discussion lists, except you do not sub to them or receive them as mail in your account. Instead, people post to a "bulletin board", and you log on to read or contribute to the ongoing discussion at your convenience. To read newsgroups, type: $ NEWS If you know the name of the newsgroup you want to read, type: news> OPEN news.group.name Choose the post you want to read with the arrow key. To finish reading a letter, type "close". To finish reading the newsgroup type: news> CLOSE news.group.name To post to a newsgroup, type: news> POST news.group.name You will be prompted through the process. If you want to send a post to yourself: news> MAIL Enter your address, and hit to send. LIBRARY CATALOGUES AND DATABASES: You can explore libraries and databases that are online, from the $ prompt. You can TELNET to these nodes yourself if you know their address, or you can use the menu system that has been set up at ACF which makes it very easy: To explore libraries all over the world, type: $ LIBS To explore the World Wide Web, type: $ LIBS Follow the menu. You can also TELNET to World Wide Web, yourself, just to see how telneting works: $ TELNET info.cern.ch Follow the directions on the screen. Choose 'subject' which will give a long list of subject areas to explore. The computer center has a full listing of Library Catalogues and Databases available over Internet. You can go there and request a print out, and telnet to those sites on your own if you wish. Another way to search for libraries and resources is through Gopher: $ GOPHER Follow the menu, and tunnel your way through the Internet to explore what is out there. GETTING HELP: As your needs and skills grow, use the online HELP, online tutorials, or go to the Computer Center for face to face tutorials or desk help. To get online help with the VMS operating system, type: $ HELP (help with commands at the $ prompt) or mail> HELP (help with mail commands) Try some of the online tutorials on using VMS, the EDT editor, or the EVE (TPU) editor. Type: $ CAI (Computer Aided Instruction) Enter the name of the course as listed on the CAI menu and follow the directions on screen. Comments and questions to ACF can be sent to the local address: mail> send _To: COMMENT the ACF computer center has a newsletter that lists a schedule of tutorials and services on campus. They are located at West Fourth and Mercer, in Warren Weaver Hall, Room 305. Tel: 998-3035. Some useful published guides are: Kehoe, Brendan. 1992. _Zen and the Art of the Internet: A Beginner's Guide_. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Krol, Ed. 1992. _The Whole Internet: User's Guide & Catalogue_. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. LaQuey, Tracy with Jeanne C. Ryer. 1992. _The Internet Companion: A Beginner's Guide to Global Networking_. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. ================================================================= This guide can be obtained directly from Help-Net by sending the following interactive message to listserv@templevm: GET VMS-MAIL GUIDE. Alternatively, you can put the same command in the body of an E-mail message and send it to listserv@vm.temple.edu. This file is also available via anonymous ftp from ftp.temple.edu. It is in the pub/info/help-net directory. You can also get this file via Temple's Gopher which is in the USA, Pennsylvania gopher collection. =================================================================