Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site gatech.CSNET
Path: utzoo!linus!gatech!spaf
From: spaf@gatech.CSNET (Gene Spafford)
Newsgroups: net.unix,net.misc
Subject: Re: nets
Message-ID: <473@gatech.CSNET>
Date: Fri, 3-May-85 13:12:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: gatech.473
Posted: Fri May  3 13:12:25 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 4-May-85 07:13:36 EDT
References: <815@sdcsvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: spaf@gatech.UUCP (Gene Spafford)
Organization: The Clouds Project, School of ICS, Georgia Tech
Lines: 41
Xref: linus net.unix:3787 net.misc:6428

In article <815@sdcsvax.UUCP> darrell@sdcsvax.UUCP (Darrell Long) writes:
>What are CSnet and BITnet?  And how does one get a machine on them?

BITnet is a network composed (mostly) of IBM and IBM-compatible machines
over leased lines. My list of BITnet sites has 458 site names in it.
To get on the net, you need a machine that is capable of running the
BITnet software, hardware to connect to the high-speed line, and a
connection to another BITnet site via leased line.
(We don't have BITnet here, so I can't claim I know a lot about it.)
The uucp -> BITnet gateway is at psuvax1, so if you write to the 
postmaster there, you can probably get more exact info.

CSNet is a network of educational institutions and commercial entities
which the NSF set up as a sort of alternative to the Arpanet (which is
hard to get onto, especially for smaller schools and businesses).
To quote from the last issue of CSNet news:
    "CSNET is a non-profit computer network linking computer science
    researchers in universities, industry, and government. ...
    CSNET is a project of the University Corporation for Atmospheric
    Research (UCAR) ... under contract to the National Science
    Foundation."

Current CSNet connections are via PhoneNet, a telephone network run from
a central site, and X25Net, a network using TCP/IP for connections.
Software for PhoneNet currently exists for Unix V7, 4.1 & 4.2 BSD,
VMS, Multics, DG AOS/VS and TOPS-20; support for Primos is coming soon.
X25Net software is avaialble for BSD 4.1 & 4.2, and IBM VM.

Fees for joining CSNet vary according to the nature of your organization.
If anyone wants more information, I can provide them with both
US Mail and E-mail addresses -- just let me know.  If any commercial
sites are interested, CSNet is having a special -- join for a 6 month
trial at a reduced rate before January 1, 1986.  Contact me for more
info (not to mention that we'd get a rebate on our dues if we
induce you to join!).

-- 
Gene "3 months and holding" Spafford
The Clouds Project, School of ICS, Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA 30332
CSNet:	Spaf @ GATech		ARPA:	Spaf%GATech.CSNet @ CSNet-Relay.ARPA
uucp:	...!{akgua,allegra,hplabs,ihnp4,linus,seismo,ulysses}!gatech!spaf