clark@mshri.utoronto.ca (10/01/90)
In an earlier message, I mentioned a book that lists the computer networks throughout the world, and how to access them from any other network. I have had some enquiries about how to get hold of that book, so here are the specifics again: "!%@:: A Directory of Electronic Mail Addressing and Networks" by Donnalyn Frey and Rick Adams. Published by O'Reilly & Associates, 632 Petaluma Avenue, Sebastopol, California, USA 95472 Second edition, May 1990. (800) 338-NUTS (USA) (800) 533-NUTS (CA) (707) 892-0515 (Everywhere else) nuts@ora.com (Internet) uunet!ora!nuts (UUCP) Steve clark@mshri.utoronto.ca (Internet) clark@utoroci (Netnorth/Bitnet)
kristoff@genbank.bio.net (David Kristofferson) (10/03/90)
Having contributed information on BIONET and GenBank to this book by Frey and Adams for the last two editions, I can also vouch for its comprehensiveness. DISCLAIMER: My only financial interest in this book is the free copy that I get each time I contribute 8-)!! -- Sincerely, Dave Kristofferson GenBank Manager kristoff@genbank.bio.net
JAHAYES@MIAMIU.BITNET (10/03/90)
I am curious as to how comprehensive this book can be given that it's, well, a book. I was under the impression that the "net", comprising dozens, or even hundreds, of little and not-so-little nets, changes almost daily. Is this an exaggeration? How often is the book updated? Josh Hayes, Zoology Department, Miami University, Oxford OH 45056 voice: 513-529-1679 fax: 513-529-6900 jahayes@miamiu.bitnet, or jahayes@miamiu.acs.muohio.edu Now look inside; what do you see? That's easy: that's a pickle.
toms@fcs260c2.ncifcrf.gov (Tom Schneider) (10/04/90)
In article <9010012313.AA05762@genbank.bio.net> clark@mshri.utoronto.ca writes: >In an earlier message, I mentioned a book that lists the computer networks >throughout the world, and how to access them from any other network. I don't get it. A physical book to tell us how to get around on the net? How about an archive with the book in it, and some modern computer tools so we don't need a book? Is anyone working on that? Tom Schneider National Cancer Institute Laboratory of Mathematical Biology Frederick, Maryland 21702-1201 toms@ncifcrf.gov
kristoff@genbank.bio.net (David Kristofferson) (10/04/90)
The book documents the larger networks and provides information about them. It does not attempt to keep up to date on every new host on the system. It has been out in two editions so far with the second one coming out about a year after the first. Regarding computer tools, there is software available called "whitepages" on the Internet which is a more sophisticated means of looking up users. This is relatively new stuff and my impression is that its use is still not widespread. If I can tear Eliot Lear here away from his busy schedule, perhaps he may be able to tell you all a little about it. -- Sincerely, Dave Kristofferson GenBank Manager kristoff@genbank.bio.net
clark@mshri.utoronto.ca (10/05/90)
Tom Schneider writes: /In article <9010012313.AA05762@genbank.bio.net> clark@mshri.utoronto.ca writes: />In an earlier message, I mentioned a book that lists the computer networks />throughout the world, and how to access them from any other network. / /I don't get it. A physical book to tell us how to get around on the net? How /about an archive with the book in it, and some modern computer tools so we /don't need a book? Is anyone working on that? and Josh Hayes writes: /I am curious as to how comprehensive this book can be given that /it's, well, a book. I was under the impression that the "net", /comprising dozens, or even hundreds, of little and not-so-little /nets, changes almost daily. Is this an exaggeration? How often /is the book updated? To which I will add: We make use of what tools are available. I have heard that there is a pilot project to build an online (or at least, email accessible) directory of the Internet, but until that is ready, there doesn't seem to be a lot of choice. [SPECIAL NOTE: Please don't ask me for more details about this, I don't recall where I heard or read it, and I will not have anything more to say about this. Okay? Maybe Rob Harper or Dave Kristofferson (or someone else?) could fill in some details about this.] The authors of the above-mentioned book recognize the problem of the fluidity of the net, and have this to say in the Preface: "REQUEST FOR UPDATES "Networking is an ever changing area and it's difficult to keep up with the changes. Some of the information in the book will be out of date shortly after the book is published. Consequently, this book will be updated before each reprinting, approximately every ten to twelve months. This gives you the most up-to-date information on each network. (Fill out the business reply card in the back of the book to receive notice of reprints.)" It then continues to acknowledge that some networks are better described than others (since the data was mostly collected from network administrators), and requests that the authors be notified of errors or out-of-date information. I think this is a perfectly reasonable attitude and seems to reflect a desire by the authors to provide as complete a coverage of the topic as possible. Just because a field is rapidly changing doesn't mean that books on the subject are a waste of time. There must be hundreds or thousands of books published each year in molecular biology alone that are out of date before the editor even gets all the chapters together. Even so, people find that it is useful and convenient to have so much information collected in one volume. Stephen Clark Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute Mt Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada clark@mshri.utoronto.ca (Internet) clark@utoroci (Netnorth/Bitnet) "After all was said and done, more was said than done." Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with this book except having bought it, and being satisfied that it was US$26.95 plus US$4.32 for shipping well spent. (To be completely honest, my employers bought it.) p.s. Personal requests to me for more info on this book will be forwarded to this newsgroup for someone else to answer. I've posted the reference twice already, and 4 wpm typers like me especially dislike typing references.