Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!uunet!ig!daemon From: KRISTOFFERSON@BIONET-20.ARPA Newsgroups: bionet.general Subject: Re: bionet accounts.... Message-ID: <5292@ig.ig.com> Date: 26 Feb 88 20:52:12 GMT Sender: daemon@presto.ig.com Lines: 44 From: David Kristofferson Keith, Direct ARPANET access is an issue that has not really been raised much to date because most biologists still aren't aware of this. We do have some people who use this route, but not many. In many respects we would prefer this route since then we wouldn't have to pay the PDN's. However currently there are two problems that we have to face. During the day the load on the ARPANET has been such that the use of interactive programs is rather difficult. Far better response is obtained via the PDN's. ARPANET access works well in the later evening hours. The other problem is that once a person has an account on BIONET, it is easy for them to access us directly via Telenet and Compuserve without paying for it. There is enough of our documentation out there that people can very likely find their way in. As the networks improve, though, we hope to be able to phase out the PDN's. Sincerely, Dave Kristofferson BIONET Resource Manager kristofferson@bionet-20.arpa P.S. - Regarding services available to the public versus account holders: BIONET bulletins can be sent to anyone with an electronic mail address. Anyone is also invited to post messages on any of the BIONET bulletins in the list below. For example to post a message to the GENBANK-BB bulletin board to inquire about a problem with the database, address your message to GENBANK-BB@BIONET-20.ARPA. Employment ads can be sent freely to EMPLOYMENT@BIONET-20.ARPA from any computer linked to ARPANET/BITNET, etc. The bulletin boards are also distributed and accessible as USENET newsgroups at UNIX sites. I am happy to provide additional information to interested parties about these communications services. However, except for e-mail and bulletin board exchanges, the programs and databases on BIONET are only available to account holders. We simply do not have enough funding and computing resources to throw the gates open freely to everybody. -------