krvw@SEI.CMU.EDU (Kenneth R. van Wyk) (11/17/89)
Hi folks, Yes, I accidentally replied to a message yesterday, directly to the entire list. Again, I apologize for that. I did learn that one of the quickest ways to get help on something is to make a glaring mistake like this. :-) Thanks to all those who sent in the HELP information for BITFTP. Allow me to explain... FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is an Internet facility which, as the name implies, allows users to transfer files between Internet hosts. This facility is used frequently for making archives, programs, etc., available to the general public - the VIRUS-L/comp.virus archives are available via anonymous FTP. Traditionally, FTP was only available to Internet subscribers since it relies directly on the TCP/IP network protocol used on the Internet. Enter BITFTP... BITFTP is an email facility provided at PUCC (Princeton University Computing Center) - perhaps other IBM VM/CMS sites as well? - which allows users to invoke Internet FTP sessions via email requests to BITFTP@PUCC.BITNET. This gives BITNET and other email networks (Usenet, etc.) access to much of the FTP facilities of the Internet. I say "much of" because the facility, in all its usefulness, cannot currently transfer binary files, though real FTP can. Rather than include the lengthy HELP information for BITFTP here, I refer readers who would like this information to obtain it on-line by sending email to BITFTP@PUCC.BITNET - in the email message, just enter a line containing "HELP". You will then receive the actual HELP file provided by the service. I hope this clears up the confusion. BITFTP can provide a very useful service to non-Internet sites. As a disclaimer - BITFTP is not provided by VIRUS-L/comp.virus, CERT, or any group that I'm associated with; I know little more about it than what I've presented here, and I'm merely pointing its availability out to users who might find it useful. Regards, Ken