w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL (Keith Petersen) (02/28/90)
There have been many requests from European readers of this newsgroup
for information about how to order SIMTEL20 files via email. You may
have to append .BITNET to the host name when you send the file
request.
Keith
--
Keith Petersen
Maintainer of SIMTEL20's CP/M, MSDOS, & MISC archives [IP address 26.2.0.74]
Internet: w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.Army.Mil, w8sdz@brl.arpa BITNET: w8sdz@NDSUVM1
Uucp: {ames,decwrl,harvard,rutgers,ucbvax,uunet}!wsmr-simtel20.army.mil!w8sdz
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RED - Listserv Redirector
(C)1987-1990 Turgut Kalfaoglu <TURGUT@TREARN>
What is RED?
This server holds different server's files in its shared cache,
thus speeding up the delivery of the requested files with a
reduced network load. It uses efficient listserv delivery if
the file has multiple recipients, and among the server network
there is up to one copy of any given file.
The Server Sites (all on EARN)
In Denmark: TRICKLE@DKTC11
In Turkey: TRICKLE@TREARN
In Italy: TRICKLE@IMIPOLI
In Belgium: TRICKLE@BANUFS11
In Austria: TRICKLE@AWIWUW11
In Germany: TRICKLE@DTUZDV1
In Spain: TRICKLE@EB0UB011
In Israel: TRICKLE@TAUNIVM
You are urged to use the one that is closer to your location.
In this tutorial, we will be using 'TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN', but
this can be replaced with 'TELL TRICKLE AT <your location of
preference>'
We also will use the 'TELL' command to send a single line
message. It should be replaced with whatever is appropriate for
your system. (Like XMIT , SEND, etc.) If you are on a node that
cannot reach a TRICKLE directly, for example, a JANET node, then
you must send MAIL files to the server. Simply put the
commands, one per line, into the text portion of your mail. If
you are using MAIL, you do not need to put 'TELL TRICKLE AT
TREARN' in front of every command - every line has to begin with
a slash (all valid trickle commands begin with a slash). You
can also place more than one command per command file, up to
your daily command limit.
What Does it Provide?
A Milnet node, SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL at White Sands Missile Range,
New Mexico contains a large selection of public domain and
'shareware' software. This DECsystem-20 machine, running the
Tops-20 operating system provides many files of interest,
especially to CP/M and MSDOS users.
The Trickle or RED server holds these the SIMTEL's files, plus
some other sites (such as uunet.uu.net, expo.lcs.mit.edu and
sauna.hut.fi).
We, the server operators, would like to stress that we have no
affiliation with the US Army, with White Sands Missile Range,
nor with any of the other file providing sites. These servers
are made available in the true spirit of volunteerism, without
any outside sponsorship for the service.
How does it work?
It provides faster file delivery than remote file servers,
because it holds the most recently requested files, and it also
asks its peers, to find out if any of them has the file.
It has two major commands. /PDDIR and /PDGET.. As the names
indicate, the /PDDIR provides the names of the files, and /PDGET
delivers files.
How to use /PDDIR:
On IBM/VM systems, you can get a list of the 'major directory'
names by simply typing this command:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDDIR
If you are mailing in your commands, you simply need to put
/PDDIR at the body of your mail message.
RED should now send you a list of the major directory names.
Now, you can obtain a list of the sub-directories of any of the
displayed names by putting the name between less-than and
greater-than symbols.. For example,
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDDIR <MSDOS>
RED will mail you a file containing the names of the
sub-directories. Once you choose a subdirectory to examine,
type in the main directory name, a period, then the name of the
subdirectory name. For example, if you chose STARTER
sub-directory of MSDOS, then you may type this:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDDIR <MSDOS.STARTER>
RED will first notify you of the number of files found, then
will go ahead and mail you this list.. Once you choose your
file(s) to order, then read on..
How to use the /PDGET command:
Once you have a filename in hand, then tell RED to send you this
file by providing it with the full directory name, and the
filename.. If you wish to order a game called MADMAX.ARC that
resides in the <MSDOS.GAMES> directory, then you may type in
this command:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDGET <MSDOS.GAMES>MADMAX.ARC
Naturally, the above is only an example, and the file may or may
not be present if you send the above command.
Receiving your file in a different format:
Normally, SIMTEL files are sent AS-IS, meaning, ASCII. If you
would like to receive your file in a different format, you may
want to append any of the below to the end of any of your your
commands:
Encoding options: You may use up to one from this list per command.
(EBC80 Converts the file to 80-Column EBCDIC format
(EBC32 Converts the file to 132-Column EBCDIC format
(UUE uuencodes the file
(XXE xxencodes the file that is to be sent to you.
(HEX Turns the file to HEX format - use it if even (XXE doesn't work
for you, since the file doubles in size with this option.
(BTOA BTOA-Encrypts the file. Useful for Unix systems.
Sending Options: You may use up to one of these at a time:
(OLD Sends the file using DISK DUMP or PUNCH format
(SF Supresses BITSEND, and forces SENDFILE to be used for the transfer.
(MAIL Forces results to be sent via MAILER. (This option is
automatically added for MAIL command files)
You may put one of the sending options and one of the encoding
options. So, to receive a file called UUDECODE.C in PUNCH
format and UUENCODEd:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDGET <MSDOS.C>UUDECODE. (OLD UUE
To receive a file in EBCDIC format, you may enter a command that
looks like this:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDGET <MSDOS.GAMES>MADMAX.ARC (EBC80
However, it is not useful at all to receive an .ARC file in
EBCDIC format. The above is not a terribly good example.
Other commands:
/NEWS sends you our 2-page newsletter.
/STAT provides you the statistics of usage.
/HELP sends you this file.
/IMDAT sends the Turkish version of this help file. Note that
this command is only valid for the TREARN server.
/CAC Sends you a list of the files that are stored on its disk
right now. These files can be sent faster than the other files.
/OPS displays the RED operators
/QUO Shows you the RED's quota, and how much of that quotait has
used. Once RED exceeds its quota, it cannot order files, until
it receives some of the requested files.
/SUB <dirnam> Allows you to subscribe to a directory. Whenever
a new listing comes in, RED will send you a file containing the
names of the new files.
/UNSUB <dirnam> is to stop RED from sending you the new files
listings. Please issue this command if you will not use the
server anymore.
/NEW <dirnam> nnn This command, displays the files that have
arrived within 'nnn' days, in the 'dirnam' directory. If 'nnn'
is omitted, it defaults to the last time you issued this
command, for that directory. If you are issuing this command
for the first time, then it simply looks for files that are at
most a month old.
/POLL forces RED to check its peer servers
Delay Periods:
If the file that you requested already exists in the cache
directory, then you may expect to receive your file overnight,
at the latest. However, the system that RED is running is often
slowed down by the other processes that are running. This
negatively affects the response time of RED. If the file
requested does not exist in the cache directory, then RED will
have to order this file from its list server.. If this is the
case, the response time of RED is dependent upon the list
server. RED will give up waiting for a file after five to
twelve days after its request.
Sending files to RED:
RED now accepts command files in MAIL, NOTE, or regular file
format. Use your system's (and yours) favorite utility to
prepare your command, and mail it to the server. If you are
using MAIL, you may need to place Reply-To: tag to ensure that
the server replies to the address that you specify, instead of
your 'obvious' address from your 'From:' field.
The command files may contain any number of instructions, one
per line. These lines must all start with a slash, since all
server commands begin with a slash.
If you are on a site that is not part of BITNET/EARN, you will
receive the files you request UUENCODED. You may tell the
server otherwise by specifying (XXE (HEX or (BTOA at the end of
your command. If you wish to make sure that the server replies
via mail, you need to append (MAIL to the end of your command.
How to DONATE files to SIMTEL-20 Archives:
Files that you receive from here are sent from another network
called ArpaNet. The person-in-charge for the programs is: Keith
Petersen <w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL>. Since it's another
network, you will need to use MAIL to send the message. He
urges that you talk to him before you send in the file, so that
he can check where it should be put, if it already exists, etc.
After getting his approval, you need to UUENCODE your file
(perhaps using PDUTIL), then MAIL it to him.
Format of the files that comes with /PDGET command:
For the below chart, we shall assume that you have not placed
any conversion options at the end of your command.
If you have used: You can expect the file to arrive:
-----------------------------------------------------------
'tell' style message: BITSEND, NETDATA format.
-----------------------------------------------------------
MAIL command file: UUENCODED, in numbered pieces.
-----------------------------------------------------------
A regular file, or Just like 'tell' messages,
IBM's NOTE command: replies in BITSEND, NETDATA.
-----------------------------------------------------------
RED will send the files in a NETDATA format, -unless you use the
(OLD option-. On IBM systems, these files can be LOOKed and
RECEIVEd, but the PEEK command cannot handle NETDATA format
properly. However, since most files are ASCII, it is of little
use to LOOK at them. (LOOK is a utility that can be obtained
from your country NETSERV, it is similar to PEEK, and it
displays the contents of the files in your reader.
Since SIMTEL (and your personal computer) keeps its files in
ASCII format, so does TRICKLE. So, you may not be able to
examine your file on the VM system. However, some of the
description files (recognized by their names) can be ordered
with the (EBC80 or (EBC32 option, if you wish to look at these
files on the VM.
The .ARC format:
ARC is a special compression method that provides substential
reduction on file size. There are one or more files contained
within an .ARC archive. In order to extract the files from an
archive, you will need a utility called ARC, or PKUNPAK. These
are available from <MSDOS.ARC-LBR> directory. The actual file
names of these files vary, but you may try:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDGET <MSDOS.ARC-LBR>PK361.EXE
or:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDGET <MSDOS.ARC-LBR>ARC512.EXE
If these attempt s fail, it will probably mean that the file
version has changed, and so has the file name. You may wish to
try
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDDIR <MSDOS.ARC-LBR>
and guess the new name of these files. Once you receive either
ARC or PKXARC and an .ARC file, transmit them to your personal
computer and issue the following command:
ARC X <filename.arc>
or
PKUNPAK <filename>
There is also a second utility called ARCUTIL, which runs on the
VM systems, and extracts files. It also provides ASCII to
EBCDIC conversion of the extracted files. To request ARCUTIL,
enter:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDGET <MISC.IBM-VM>ARCUTIL.LBR
The directories of SIMTEL change often. So, the above files may
or may not be in the same directories as I have indicated. So
you may have to do some searching to find them.. A good place
to check would be the <MSDOS.STARTER> directory, where
additional help, and the mentioned archive managers can be
found.
How to use the BITSEND/BITRCV:
From now on, RED is sending its files in a special format called
BITSEND - Unless you include the (SF option while issuing your
command. In this format, the files that are sent are broken
into smaller pieces, if the entire file is too big to be sent.
If the file you request is over the size limit, then the server
will first send you a file called <fn> BITCTRL - this is the
control file, where BITSEND has written the protocol used, the
number of pieces that make up that file, etc.
-------------------------------------------------------
Important:
You should NOT 'RECEIVE' any files that have BITCTRL
or just numbers as filetype!
-------------------------------------------------------
If you wait a little longer, the rest of the file will arrive,
the filename will be the same as the <fn> BITCTRL file, but the
filetype will consist of just numbers. Once you have all the
pieces that make up that file, you can then issue the BITRCV
command. You must also specify the 'spool ID' of the file that
has BITCTRL as filetype. From RDRList, you can simply type
BITRCV in front of the file that has BITCTRL as filetype. If
you get back an error message, saying "UNKNOWN CP/CMS COMMAND"
it simply states that your installation does not have the BITRCV
program. Contact your network manager/system operator.
Note: BITRCV EXEC can be obtained from your country NETSERV as
well. Simply send "GET BITRCV EXEC" to your NETSERV.
-----------------------------------------------------------
VAX users:
There is also an identical file for your installation, however,
it is called 'BITRCV COM', and can be obtained from a NETSERV by
issuing GET BITRCV COM to your country NETSERV.
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you get back an error saying that not all of the file is in
the reader, it simply means that you have to wait a little
longer for the rest of the file to arrive.
If you are on a different system, thus cannot use neither BITRCV
EXEC nor COM, you can simply merge the files you receive using
your editor.
How to receive the file that arrives:
Once the file you requested arrives, and is stored on your disk,
you will most likely wish to 'download' this file to your
personal computer. There are many types of mainframe computers,
many kinds of personal computers, so it is impossible for me to
give you direct, and precise directions.
However, here are some clues:
* If you have a PC with a 3270 Emulation program, and an IBM
mainframe, you should request your files from the server without
options, or with (SF option, and use the built-in transfer
protocol of the emulation program, without any options again.
* If you have KERMIT at your installation, request your file
without options, or with (SF option, then set the KERMIT's
FILE-TYPE to BINARY before transferring your file.
* Remember that if you send a MAIL command file to the server to
request your file, the file will arrive in UUENCODE format,
since the mailer cannot process binary files - unless you
specify (XXE or (HEX in the command line. If this file is big
enough, you may receive it in several pieces, as you can see
from the subject header, which says 'Part x of y '. If this is
the case, you should edit the received pieces so that all the
headers and the blank lines are removed. You may either
transfer this file to your personal computer and UUDECODE (or
UN-HEX, XXDECODE, etc) it there, or do this at the mainframe
level and send the resulting binary file to your PC.
How Does the Cache Work?
Imagine that you ask for a file, and the server brings this file
from a distant site for you. Thinking that others may wish to
have this file as well, the server keeps this file in an area
called 'cache.' When someone else requests this file, the server
simply uses the stored copy of the file, instead of asking for
the file again from far away. All the servers that you see on
top of this document have different files in their caches. So,
if you wish to see the files they are holding right now, you
will have to issue '/CAC' to each one of them. Note that a file
does not stay in cache forever. As new files arrive, the older
ones are deleted to make room.
The Amazing Life of a /PDGET request:
Once you order your file via /PDGET, the server will first check
its local cache listings. If the file is not there, then it
will check the SIMTEL20 listings to ensure that a such file
indeed exists. After this, the server sends the request to all
other servers, asking them if they have your file in cache. If
a server replies 'YES!', then that server has to send you the
file. Everything fails: none of the servers have your file, or
even some servers don't respond. Your server will give up
waiting for a reply in a day, and order your file from the
United States. Once the file requested arrives from there, it
will be sent to you, and put into the cache directory. Quite a
trip for one /PDGET command.
Quotas, and Other Ugly Limitations
You may be surprised that even though most TRICKLE servers have
some kind of quota, we still get several hundred requests daily.
Without them, this number may easily rise to thousands. The
impact of a such usage rate on the local computer can be very
'tiring.' So, the following quota schemes have been implemented:
1) Total outstanding bytes quota: This quota is not really put
by the server's operators. It is the amount that a TRICKLE
server can order from The United States. This is currently set
at 10 megabytes for most servers.
2) Prime times: Some of the servers, do not function during the
day, they record the commands received, and process these
commands later, when the load on the computer is low.
3) User request limitations: Most TRICKLE servers have a limit
on how many requests a user can make on the server per day. The
request can be a simple /OPS command, or a file order via
/PDGET. It still counts as one. The server will warn you that
you are approaching the limit, once you have 3 more commands
left. There is also a 'cost' feature that states that some of
the commands cost more than others. The following commands:
/CACHE, /PDGET, and if implemented, /TRLIST and /GENERIC
commands cost as two commands. So, if the site's quota limit is
40-commands-per-user, you may only issue 20 of the above
commands. The commands that are not listed above are counted as
one command.
4) Outstanding files per user: This scheme is also employed by
some servers, and it limits the number of files a user can order
from The United States.
5) Delayed Sendfile: This last scheme is simple: it delays
sending your file until a specified time comes. Usually at
night, when the network load is low. If a site uses delayed
sendfile, you will see a '* Your file will be mailed' notice,
instead of '* Your file is being mailed.'
A Last Word on Options:
Some of the options are not compatible, such as (MAIL SF, and
should not be used together - the behavior of the server may be
unpredictable. Also, the (SF option may result in a file that
is too large for shipment. If that is the case, a network
control program may detect it, and delete it before it reaches
you - use (SF carefully. Also, (SF and (OLD options would be
ignored if you send in your commands in a MAIL file. If you
wish to receive your files AS-IS, and still be able to put your
commands in a file, you can either send a NOTE to the server, or
simply create a file using your editor, then send this file
directly to the server, without first going through the mailer.
VAX/VMS Users:
If your host is a DEC VAX system running VMS with Jnet
networking software, you can avoid the need for uuencoding. You
can tell the Jnet software to bypass the usual EBCDIC/ASCII
conversion, but there are a few additional steps needed before
downloading a file.
* Receive the file with the Jnet command RECEIVE/BINARY. The BINARY
modifier suppresses the normal EBCDIC/ASCII conversion. Let's
assume that the file is called MYFILE.ARC. This file, as
received, is almost correct; there may be an error is how VMS
interprets the records.
* Generate an FDL file for MYFILE.ARC using:
ANALYZE/RMS/FDL MYFILE.ARC
* Edit the FDL file with the command
EDIT/FDL MYFILE
Examine the CARIIAGE_CONTROL setting. Change it to NONE. Exit
the editor.
* Use the edited FDL to correct carriage control interpretation
errors in the original MYFILE.ARC:
CONVERT/FDL=MYFILE.FDL MYFILE.ARC FIXED_MYFILE.ARC
* Download the FIXED_MYFILE.ARC as a binary file using any
reliable means. (For VAX Kermit, use SET FILE TYPE BINARY
command before starting the download.)
Additional Help:
1) A Discussion List
We now have several online discussion lists that gives
assistance on the server. To join one or more of these lists,
simply send the following command to either LISTSERV@TREARN, or
LISTSERV@DB0FUB11:
SUB <the listname> My-full-name
where the listname is one of these, depending on which list you
would like to join:
RED-UG about the software provided by the servers.
RED-SYS Server system news/problems list.
For example, if you wish to learn how to use the new program you
got from the server, or if you are looking for a program that
would remove the virus from your diskettes, you can consult the
RED-UG list. If the server crashes on you, or doesn't send you
the file that you asked for, you should write this to RED-SYS
list.
Remember that you can use MAIL to interact with both TRICKLE and
LISTSERV, and if you do, you need to put the commands in the
mail body, and not in the subject section, like some other
servers.
2) Other online documentation on the server
You may request additional documentation on the workings of the
server by issuing:
INDEX RED-UG
to LISTSERV@TREARN.BITNET. Then order any of the listed files
via
GET fn ft
..to LISTSERV@TREARN, where fn and ft are the filename and
filetype of the listed files.
3) Human Help
Also, you may get in touch with your local TRICKLE operator.
You can get his network address by using the /OPS command.
We wish you great benefits from using TRICKLE - we know that the
software it provides can accomplish that.