emv@ox.com (Ed Vielmetti) (01/20/91)
In article <1991Jan19.030119.9665@wdl1.wdl.loral.com> andy@spl28.spl.fac.com (Andy Purshottam) writes:
Given the avail of the wonderful archie snarfing database,
is it appropriate that people no longer ask for locations of known
named programs, and given avail of bitftp, stop asking
for such to be mailed to them?
I would suggest a "frequently asked questions" type posting to clue
people in on how to find resources on the internet even without direct
internet access. this would include
- regional & local archive sites
- how to use "archie" for searching remote FTP sites
- other searching & database tools in use or under development
- general purpose mail-to-ftp gateways like "bitftp" and others
- direct-dial access to major uucp archives
- resources available in bulk by tape or cd-rom
- how to be a responsible net.citizen & not piss off upstream sites
etc. as needed. The last point has to be appropriately stressed;
producers and consumers of these services have to be prepared to meter
out access & use to not strain the low-speed links and cause the
wrath of irate postmasters.
There will be an "archivists BOF" at Usenix on Thursday pm. to discuss
some of these issues, as well as to talk about things of interest to
people who run anonymous FTP sites and mail-based servers. The
question "how can I find the j. random blurfl package by anonymous
FTP" will not be answered.
--Ed
Edward Vielmetti
moderator, comp.archives
emv@ox.com