Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!uunet!wuarchive!usc!apple!bionet!kristoff From: kristoff@genbank.bio.net (David Kristofferson) Newsgroups: bionet.users.addresses Subject: Re: FTP from BITNET continued... Message-ID: Date: 2 Jan 91 23:11:57 GMT References: <9101022227.AA06261@genbank.bio.net> Organization: GenBank Online Service Lines: 35 > David Kristofferson has in the past provided great information for > us about GenBank, but the above looks more like a flame. I had assumed > that the TRICKLE servers were set up to serve poor folks like me who > don't have the clout to get an INTERNET connection, but need to get > a file from INTERNET once a month or so. If this is not the case, > can someone suggest an address I can mail a mag tape to, that will > download the file onto the tape and mail it back to me? Are there > any other options? Not being a user of that service I don't know what the Trickle server size guidelines are. They were, of course, set up for the reason that you mentioned. However, we have had people ask about FTPing GenBank files in the past from BITNET. These files are **Megabytes** in size and would not be a good candidate for this service. I wonder how many people who use that service know what the guidelines are for what is acceptable use. Sorry to sound so strident about this; there's nothing personal, Brian. Having spent a long time in a lab myself, I realize how difficult getting computer issues resolved can be. If I sound strident it's because if someone doesn't keep prodding to make the conversion, it probably won't happen. Each time another band-aid solution is devised, it just makes the transition from BITNET to Internet even more difficult. Getting an Internet connection is not an issue for an individual lab. It is something that should be dealt with on a campus-wide or departmental level. -- Sincerely, Dave Kristofferson GenBank Manager kristoff@genbank.bio.net