University at Albany Libraries

Internet From the VAX Prompt

This document provides exercises to demonstrate the use of selected Internet resources available from the VAX $ prompt. This document is the handout made available for the library instruction class, "Internet from the VAX Prompt."

For each exercise, type the words that are bolded.

Topics covered:

I. Telnet

Definition: Telnet is a software program which allows you to communicate with another machine on the network using the Telnet protocol. Telnet allows you to log into a remote machine and execute commands on that machine.

When you enter certain Telnet sites, you will often see this statement: 'Escape character is ^]'. An escape character allows you to leave the remote site and return to the local system to close the connection. To close the connection in the above example:

  1. Hit the Ctrl key, then press the ] key.
  2. At the Telnet prompt, type quit or close
Exercise 1. Telnet to the Library of Congress Catalog

      $ telnet locis.loc.gov

Exercise 2. Telnet to your VAX e-mail account

      $ telnet alpha2.albany.edu

II. File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

Definition: File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is an Internet protocol which allows you to move files from one computer to another. FTP allows you to retrieve publicly accessible files on anonymous FTP servers and transfer them to your local computer account. Publicly accessible FTP servers are called anonymous servers because you log into them with the keyword anonymous.

These instructions will concentrate on anonymous FTP file transfer.

How do I search for FTP files?

Archie is the search engine of anonymous FTP sites. It is easiest to search FTP sites using Web-based Archie search engines. For an example, view the list of FTP search engines at this URL:

      http://www.albany.edu/library/internet/engines.html

Exercise 3. Obtain the latest Yanoff Internet Services list

Obtain the latest Yanoff list from the FTP server on which it resides at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In this exercise, we will change the filename to "yanoff.txt" before the transfer takes place.

Here are the steps to take:

$ ftp ftp.csd.uwm.edu
_Username [userid]: anonymous
_Password: youruserid

FTP> dir
FTP> cd pub
FTP> dir [Note that there are too many files to view on one screen]
FTP> hash
FTP> get inet.services.txt yanoff.txt
FTP> quit (or bye)

Tips:

a) If the file is an executable, image, or other non-ASCII file, you must change the transfer mode to binary:

      FTP> binary
      FTP> get filename

b) To see more FTP commands, type

      FTP> help

c) To delete a file you have transferred to your VAX account, type

      del filename

d) If there are too many files in an FTP directory to view on one screen, you can access the FTP site on the World Wide Web with the Lynx browser. With Lynx, you can only view one screen at a time. This will allow you to see all the files in the remote FTP directory. You can then use Lynx to mail the file to yourself. See exercise 5 below.

Exercise 4. Read the file you transferred to your computer

$ type/page
_File: yanoff.txt;1

Hit Ctrl-Z when you are ready to stop viewing the file.

Exercise 5. Conduct the same FTP session via Lynx on the Web
$ lynx ftp://ftp.csd.uwm.edu

a) Move the cursor down to the pub directory and press Enter.
b) Scroll through the directory contents one screen at a time by hitting the space bar.
c) Find inet.services.txt.
d) Highlight this filename and press Enter.

Once the file is on your screen, you can mail it to yourself:
a) p (Print)
b) Scroll down to Mail the file. Press Enter.
c) Type in your e-mail address and press Enter.
d) q (Quit)

III. Listserv discussion groups

Definition: Listserv discussion groups are electronic discussion groups relating to specific topics which distribute all messages sent to the list to the e-mail addresses of all the list members. Listserv itself is a software program that allows users to join groups, configure subscription options, and search the archives of previous messages. Listservs are an excellent way of participating in discussions on academic and other topics.

How do you find out what discussion groups exist? Try these directories on the World Wide Web:

Several points of note:
  1. When you subscribe to a list, you will receive a confirmation with important information about using the listserv. Print out or keep an electronic copy of this message. This is the best way to keep track of the lists to which you have subscribed.
  2. Since all messages posted to the group will arrive in your mailbox, it is important to keep up with your e-mail on a daily basis. Otherwise you could exceed your disk quota.
  3. Unsubscribe or set the list to nomail' if you will be away from your e-mail for more than a few days at a time. This will prevent your mail from piling up.
  4. Since messages sent to the list are distributed to all list members, be sure to send any listserv commands (such as unsubscribe) to the listserv address, NOT to the discussion group.
Exercise 6. Subscribe to a listserv

In this exercise, we will be using a mail utility on the VAX called pmdf mail. This mailer allows you to address messages to addresses outside the SUNYA network without surrounding the address with IN%"xxxxxxx"

We will be subscribing to hpschd-l, the harpsichord interest list served from the University at Albany.

$ pmdf mail
EMAIL> send
To: listserv@cnsibm.albany.edu
Subject: (leave blank)

Subscribe hpschd-l firstname lastname

Hit Ctrl-Z to send the message.

Exercise 7. Read the message from the listserver and confirm your subscription
$ dir newmail
Type the number of the message from the listserver and press Enter. Reply to the message as instructed:

EMAIL> reply
OK

Hit Ctrl-Z to send the message.

If you wish, type d(elete) to delete this initial message from the listserver.

Exercise 8. Read the responses from the listserv when they are delivered to you.

You will receive two messages from the listserv:

To read your new messages:

      EMAIL> dir newmail

To read the messages from the University at Albany listserv, type the number of each message labeled with that listserv address. Delete the messages as you read them.

Exercise 9. Get the listserv reference card. This file contains the listserv configuration options.

EMAIL> send
To: listserv@cnsibm.albany.edu
Subject: (leave blank)
info refcard

Hit Ctrl-Z to send the message.

Exercise 10. Read the listserv reference card
EMAIL> dir newmail
Check the list of new messages to see that this message has arrived. Then type the number of this message and press Enter.

Exercise 11. Set the listserv to nomail

EMAIL> send
To: listserv@cnsibm.albany.edu
Subject: (leave blank)
set hpschd-l nomail

Hit Ctrl-Z to send the message.

Exercise 12. Unsubscribe from the list
EMAIL> send
To: listserv@cnsibm.albany.edu
Subject: (leave blank)
unsub hpschd-l

Hit Ctrl-Z to send the message

IV. Usenet News

Definition: Usenet is a network of computers which exchange electronic mail tagged with predetermined headers. The mail is referred to as articles, the subjects are newsgroups. Usenet is implemented by software that downloads and uploads newsgroup mail. This software implements the Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP). You can read Usenet articles by the use of a software program called a newsreader.

For a list of basic commands for the RN newsreader, see Using the RN Newsreader From the VAX.

Newsgroup names begin with a group name identifier which describes the general type of newsgroup:
Group Name Meaning
alt alternative groups that are often very free in content
bit usually a cross-posting of a listserv discussion group
comp computers, computer science, software
misc newsgroups that don't fall into any other category
news general news and topical subjects
rec recreational activities, arts, hobbies
sci science
soc social issues, socializing
talk debate-oriented discussions
This class will make use of the RN (ReadNews) newsreader.

Exercise 13. Log into the RN reader, and see all the newsgroups at SUNYA about music.

$ rn
News> dir/group/all *music*
Exercise 14. Subscribe to a newsgroup, and read articles in that group
News> sub rec.music.classical
News> group rec.music.classical
News> dir
News> ### [type in the number of an article that interests you]

When you have read all the articles you want, mark all other articles as read:

News> set seen/all
News> unsub rec.music.classical

Eventually, when you have your newsgroups set up as you want, you can log into the rn newsreader and just press the Enter key twice. This will take you to the first unread article in the first subscribed newsgroup in your list.
 
Laura Cohen 9/97
lcohen@cnsvax.albany.edu