From ncr-sd!hp-sdd!ucsdhub!sdcsvax!brian Fri Jul 10 11:47:30 PDT 1987 [ NETINFO:WHAT-THE-NIC-DOES.TXT ] [ ND, 8/86 ] THE DDN NETWORK INFORMATION CENTER (NIC) The DDN Network Information Center (NIC) is located at SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, and is funded by the Defense Data Network (DDN) Defense Communications System (DCS) to provide general user services to DDN users via telephone, electronic mail, and U.S. postal mail. The NIC works closely with the network Host Administrators, Node Site Coordinators, Responsible Persons, network protocol groups, vendors, contractors, government agencies, and military sponsors to assist new users and potential subscribers in obtaining pertinent network information. Databases and information servers of interest to network users are provided, including the WHOIS registry of network users, the NIC/Query browsing system, TACNEWS, and the official DoD Host Name Service. The NIC also serves as the DDN Protocol Repository, and will soon be providing a BIBLIO server for identifying network documents. The NIC is the source for official DDN protocol documents (other than the MIL-STDs), as well as other DDN documents, and maintains the RFC (Request for Comments) collection. The NIC also registers network users and issues MILNET TAC access cards. I. USER ASSISTANCE SERVICE Toll-free telephone service is available Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5 pm, Pacific time. Users who experience problems with using the network in general, and with terminal-to-TAC use, in particular, are encouraged to make use of this service. Toll-free: (800) 235-3155 International: +1 415 859-3695 II. NIC ONLINE MAILBOXES To contact the NIC via electronic mail 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, use these mailboxes: NIC@SRI-NIC.ARPA General user assistance, document requests REGISTRAR@SRI-NIC.ARPA User registration and WHOIS updates HOSTMASTER@SRI-NIC.ARPA Hostname and domain changes and updates ACTION@SRI-NIC.ARPA SRI-NIC computer operations SUGGESTIONS@SRI-NIC.ARPA Comments on NIC publications and services FEINLER@SRI-NIC.ARPA Manager, NIC III. NIC U.S. POSTAL ADDRESS Send U.S. postal mail correspondence to: DDN Network Information Center SRI International, Room EJ291 333 Ravenswood Avenue Menlo Park, CA 94025 IV. NIC COMPUTER SERVICES The NIC host computer is a DEC-2065, running the TOPS20 operating system, and its hostname is SRI-NIC. It has two network addresses, and so is accessible from either the MILNET or the ARPANET. The network addresses are: 26.0.0.73 (MILNET) 10.0.0.51 (ARPANET) NIC online services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Operations personnel are in attendance from 4 am - 11 pm weekdays, and 8 am - midnight weekends, Pacific time. NIC operators are available at (415) 859-5921. V. DOCUMENTS DISTRIBUTED BY THE NIC The NIC publishes and distributes the following documents, all of which are available in hardcopy and some of which are available online. Many of these documents are deposited at the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC). An annotated list of NIC publications is found in the file NETINFO:NIC-PUBS.TXT on SRI-NIC. Title Online Filename ARPANET Information Brochure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NETINFO:AIB.DOC DDN Defense Data Network Brochure DDN Directory DDN New User Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NETINFO:NUG.DOC DDN Newsletters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DDN-NEWS:DDN-NEWS-nn.TXT DDN Management Bulletins . . . . . . . .DDN-NEWS:DDN-MGT-BULLETIN-nn.TXT DDN Protocol Implementations and Vendors Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NETINFO:VENDORS-GUIDE.DOC DDN Protocol Handbook DDN Subscriber Interface Guide DDN Subscriber Security Guide DDN X.25 Host Interface Specification. . . . . . . . . . NETINFO:X25.DOC Interface Message Processor Logical and Geographic Maps of MILNET and ARPANET RFCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RFC:RFCnnn.TXT RFC Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RFC:RFC-INDEX.TXT TAC Users' Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NETINFO:TAC-USER.DOC NOTE: In the filenames, the "nn" or the "nnn" should be replaced by the number of the newsletter, bulletin or RFC. VI. ONLINE INFORMATION SERVERS TACNEWS TACNEWS offers login help for MILNET TAC users, includes the current list of ARPANET and MILNET TAC dial-up numbers, and provides a mechanism for reading the DDN Newsletters and Management Bulletins. Users should read these newsletters and bulletins regularly to stay current on DDN policies, announcements, and network news items. Accessing TACNEWS >From a TAC: @n >From TELNET: connect SRI-NIC At the SRI-NIC system prompt "@": tacnews WHOIS/NICNAME WHOIS/NICNAME is a NIC program that provides an electronic "white pages" of network users. It lists the name, network mailbox, U.S. postal address, telephone number, and host for all registered users. Accessing WHOIS/NICNAME >From TELNET: connect SRI-NIC At the SRI-NIC system prompt "@": whois help or nicname help WHOIS/NICNAME may also be run from a local host. WHOIS/NICNAME user programs for several operating systems are available from the NIC. Contact the NIC for copies. NIC/QUERY NIC/QUERY contains host information, protocol and other document information, and access to WHOIS/NICNAME. NIC/QUERY is geared toward novice or casual users. Accessing NIC/QUERY >From TELNET: connect SRI-NIC At the SRI-NIC system prompt "@": nic NAMSER NAMSER is an internet hostname server on SRI-NIC port 101 decimal. This server delivers machine-translatable hostname/address/attribute information for networks, gateways, and hosts within the DDN. The server can deliver a single response or the entire host table, depending upon the type of query sent. The server provides the information outlined in RFC 952 and is itself described in RFC 953. Accessing NAMSER >From TELNET: connect SRI-NIC 101 help VII. ONLINE FILES The NIC maintains a number of online files which are available to network subscribers via file transfer (FTP). These files contain information about protocols, site personnel, hosts and other subjects relevant to network users. See the file 00NETINFO:NETINFO-INDEX.TXT for an index to the files in the NETINFO directory. See also the DDN New User Guide, or contact the NIC User Assistance service for more information. To retrieve any of the NIC's public files, use your local FTP program, connect to the SRI-NIC host, and log in as "anonymous" with password of "guest" (known as the "anonymous login convention"). FTP servers differ slightly from host to host, so please consult your Host Administrator for instructions, if needed. VIII. USER REGISTRATION Host Administrators have overall responsibility for registering their users. When new users come onto a MILNET host, their Host Administrator must complete a NIC-generated template to register them in the NIC database. Registration is voluntary for ARPANET users. Host Administrator names and addresses are on the SRI-NIC host in the files NETINFO:MIL-HOST-ADMINISTRATORS.TXT and NETINFO:ARPA-HOST-ADMINISTRATORS.TXT. Users who require MILNET TAC dial-up access to reach their host must have a TAC Access card, which is provided by the NIC. Approval for distributing the card is sent to the NIC from the user's Host Administrator. Until the user is permanently registered, there are temporary "Guest" TAC cards available from the Host Administrator for immediate use. ARPANET TAC use is authorized by "Responsible Persons" of DARPA organizations. A list of DARPA Responsible Persons is in the file NETINFO:RESPONSIBLE-PERSONS.TXT on the SRI-NIC host. Message-ID: #11.pnet01.telecomm/info-nets 48 lines, 1909 chars. Reply-To: crash!NDSUVM1.BITNET!sdchem!!wiscvm.wisc.edu:NU021172 Date: Fri, 31 Jul 87 10:33:45 CDT From: Marty Hoag Subject: RE: NIH and 'service@sri-nic.arpa' To: INFO-NETS@Think.COM SERVICE @ SRI-NIC.ARPA is a GREAT help in unraveling addresses! Especially if a gateway doesn't seem to know a particular nickname or whatever. Below is a HELP file which I included since others are probably interested. Marty Received: from SRI-NIC.ARPA by wiscvm.wisc.edu ; Fri, 17 Jul 87 16:05:02 CDT Date: Fri 17 Jul 87 14:01-PDT From: NIC Mail Service To: Marty Hoag Status: HELP command last updated July 16, 1987 Last RFC published was RFC 1015 on July 15, 1987 Subject: Re: HELP NIC Mail Services This is an automated service provided by the DDN Network Information Center. It allows access to NIC documents and information via ordinary electronic mail. This is especially useful for people who do not have access to the NIC via a direct Internet link, such as BITNET, CSNET and UUCP sites. To use the mail service, send a mail message to SERVICE@SRI-NIC.ARPA. In the SUBJECT field, request the type of service you wish followed by any needed arguments. The message body is normally ignored. Large files will be broken into smaller separate messages. The information you request will be sent back to you as soon as possible. The following services are currently available: HELP This message; a list of current services. RFC nnn nnn is the RFC number or the word INDEX. IEN nnn nnn is the IEN number or the word INDEX. NETINFO xxx xxx is a file name or the word INDEX. HOST xxx Returns information about host xxx. WHOIS xxx Returns information about xxx from the WHOIS service. Use "WHOIS HELP" for information on how to use WHOIS. Example SUBJECT lines: HELP RFC 822 RFC INDEX NETINFO DOMAIN-TEMPLATE.TXT HOST SRI-NIC.ARPA WHOIS MKL Send comments or suggestions to SUGGESTIONS@SRI-NIC.ARPA. Send questions and bug reports to NIC@SRI-NIC.ARPA.