Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!rpi!uupsi!schoff
From: schoff@uu.psi.com (Martin Schoffstall)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.misc
Subject: Re: What I know about PROFS (damn little, but every little bit helps)
Message-ID: <1991Mar15.143545.4155@uu.psi.com>
Date: 15 Mar 91 14:35:45 GMT
References: <1991Mar15.035407.24666@supernet.dallas.haus.com>
Organization: Performance Systems International, Inc.
Lines: 30

>IBM has a fantastic internal network.  This network extends to customers of IBM
>who pay megabucks to have access to IBM.  PROFS is akin to a huge office
>system, with email, wp, printing, dbms, kitchen sinks, and other items thrown
>in.

The network that the customers are connected to is called IIN, the IBM
Information Network, which is "headquarterd" in Boca Raton, FL.  I believe
that this is 1+ Billion Independant Business Unit (IBU)
>
>IBM *is* connected to the outside world.  Hearsay has it that the IBM site in
>the Triangle, NC, is the IBM network gateway.

IBM's internal network is connected to PSINet in White Plains, NY, it
provides them with electronic mail access only to the Internet.

>
>However, while people on the internal IBM network can send email to anyone
>around the globe (and on the IBM net) , IBM is very strict about giving anyone
>access to external networks.  For instance, when I was working in
>Las Colinas, I had to "apply" for a external-email-allowed account.  Without
>it, I could neither send or receive email from external nets.
>
>I understand that this process continues today. 
>

As reported elsewhere, it appears that this is now a simple on-line registry
process inside IBM, which now requires only first level management approval.
But again, email only.

Marty