[net.general] CSNET Description

lhl (07/01/82)

The following discusses the  characteristics  and  advantages  of
CSNET  access.  Steve Bellovin did an excellent job of describing
MMDF so I will not touch on that except to note that MMDF's  role
is as the mail transport system for the project.

Development of CSNET is being carried out under a  contract  from
NSF.   The  goal of the project is to provide network services to
all computer science research groups in the United  States.   The
contractors are the Univ. of Wisconsin, Rand Corp., Purdue Univ.,
and the Univ. of Delaware. In addition, BBN has just  received  a
contract  to  run  the  CSNET Coordination and Information Center
(more on that later).

CSNET will include hosts connected to a number  of  networks  in-
cluding  Phonenet, Arpanet and Telenet.  Use of compatible proto-
cols enables communication between users of  hosts  on  the  dif-
ferent networks.

UNC and about 20  other  groups  are  now  participating  in  the
Phonenet component of CSNET.  This involves mail relaying as with
Usenet.  At present, the only operational relay is  at  Delaware.
However,  within a few days we expect that a second relay at Rand
will also be operational.  As traffic warrants, more  relays  can
be added in the future.  The relays are both connected to Arpanet
(and will soon be connected to Telenet--  more  on  that  below).
Each  relay will poll a selected set of Phonenet sites.  However,
users need not know either which relay polls their site or  which
relay  polls  the  recipient  site.  For  further  information on
Phonenet contact Dave Farber at Delaware or Tony Hearn at Rand.

Advantanges of Phonenet over UUCP/Usenet include  mail access  to
the  CSNET and Darpa Internet environments,  an addressing method
which does not require route information, guaranteed (as much  as
such  is  possible)  delivery of messages and notification of non
delivery.

Phonenet is only one component of CSNET.   A  project  at  Purdue
will  enable  CSNET  hosts to connect to Telenet via X.25.  Above
X.25, the DARPA Internet Protocols are being used so  that  CSNET
Telenet  protocols are compatible with Arpanet protocols.  Purdue
is interfacing an X.25 implementation from Interactive Systems to
a  TCP/IP  implementation  from BBN and tuning all to Telenet re-
quirements.  The system is in beta  test  with  installations  at
Purdue and Wisconsin now communicating via Telenet.  Distribution
is planned for early 1983.  For further information contact  Doug
Comer or Tim Korb.

Hence, CSNET hosts will be connected to Phonenet, Telenet or  Ar-
panet.   To  simplify the location of people and resources in the
environment, Wisconsin is working on a CSNET Nameserver facility.
This  system  involves  a  central database of users on a Service
Host machine (currently at Wisconsin) plus software installed  at
user  sites.  Users will be able to use keyword specifiers to ad-
dress mail, i.e., they will not need to have any  information  on
the  recipient  other  than  enough  keywords to produce a unique
match with a database entry.  Users  will  install  and  maintain
their  own  database  entries. Address information resulting from
successful matches  will  be  locally  cached  and  required  re-
direction  of mail, when recipients change their mailbox address,
will be automatic.  The first phase of the nameserver software is
in  beta testing (lookup, registration).  Phase 2 (local caching,
keyword addressing) is scheduled for November and  phase  3  (au-
tomatic  forwarding)  is scheduled for February 1983. For further
information contact Marvin Solomon or Larry Landweber.

Technical reports on MMDF, the nameserver facility and the Purdue
protocol  work are available by writing to the address below.  If
there is enough interest, I can post the reports to net.sources.

To  provide  for  management  of  CSNET  and  continuing  network
development, a CSNET Coordination and Information Center has been
established at BBN.  The CIC will be responsible for  interacting
with  users,  network  information functions, network maintenance
and management.  A report on the project,  prepared  by  the CIC,
will  soon  be available.   A hotline has been established at BBN
to answer CSNET  questions  (see below).  For further information
contact Dick Edmiston or Charlotte Hollister.

A governing group or consortium, called CSNET Inc. for lack of  a
better  name, is soon to be formed.   Organizations participating
in CSNET will be members of CSNET Inc.   There  will  be  a  dues
structure  which  is  still  to  be  determined and users will be
responsible  for  communications  charges  they  generate.   Your
department  head or CSNET liaison will receieve information (in a
few months).

We  are  now  accepting  applications  for  CSNET   participation
(currently  Phonenet).  There are now about 20 Phonenet sites and
this number should grow to over 50 by September.  We welcome  any
university,  industry  or government Usenet group that is engaged
in computer science research.


Send for further information or application forms to

Larry Landweber
CSNET Management Committee
Computer Science Dept.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1210 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53706
608-262-1204
(landweber@csnet-sh or ...harpo!uwvax!lhl)

CSNET Coordination and Information Center Hotline-BBN
   617-497-2777