gary@ethos.UUCP (Gary J. Smith) (08/02/86)
Users of the AT&T UNIX PC have formed an independent network -- using the
news software -- for an on-line users group. In spite of the fact that
we are responsible for our own distribution, we're off to a good start.
We have these newsgroups:
unix-pc.general
unix-pc.uucp
unix-pc.sources
There are several reasons we decided to go with independent distribution.
For one, the Usenet network is heavily burdened, and we weren't sure that
newsgroups that specific would be welcomed. We wanted to be able to post
freely. It's also more fun -- and more educational -- having our own network.
We have worked out a system of distribution that we think will work quite
well. It would be ideal if you can arrange to poll a site near you to pick
up the newsfeed. If that isn't feasible, we may be able to help out.
Up to reasonable limits, we can arrange to poll you to send you
the newsgroups. These are some of the limits:
-- We prefer to poll sites in these 13 cities and have these sites
operate as more or less "backbone" sites: Atlanta, Boston,
Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York,
Newark, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington.
-- We may be able to arrange feeds for sites in other cities if
those sites will feed other sites.
-- Other uucp traffic on these long-distance feeds would have to
be kept very, very low.
You will, of course, need to have news running on your UNIX PC. Version
2.10.3 works fine on the UNIX PC. We may be able to transmit you the source
code for 2.10.3 if you will pay for the uucp call. It takes a couple of
hours. Or mail us five diskettes and we'll send them back with the
source. Installing news is not a trivial chore. The more experience you
have, the better.
Your site need not be a UNIX PC to hook into the net. Any system is welcome.
As a matter of fact, many larger systems are already in the net, including
some AT&T sites. These sites are helping with distribution, and the AT&T
sites are contributing much information to the net. Please note, though,
that even though AT&T sites are valued members of the net, the net remains
independent of AT&T. Good communications with the people at AT&T is one
of the aims of the network.
If you're interested, please send mail to:
Gary J. Smith
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5802 Garrett Rd, Durham, NC 27707
voice: 919/493-9575 data: 919/489-6496