LINK BETWEEN MICROBIAL STRAIN DATA NETWORK (MSDN) AND INTERNET
MSDN and INTERNET users can now exchange mail and search
databases on each others' systems thanks to a link between the
networks mediated by CGNET. CGNET is an international
communications network, which has successfully bridged the gap
between the technically distinct commercial and academic
networks.
The MSDN is an international, non-profit making organistion
providing information and communication services worldwide to the
scientific user community, principally within the fields of
microbiology, biotechnology, biodiversity and related biological
disciplines.
This newly developed link between the Internet and MSDN offers a
number of benefits. Users of the academic networks can now access
MSDN directly without going through PSS. And commercial users of
MSDN, who may not have been able to access Internet before, can
now do so through their MSDN mailbox.
In summary:
*MSDN users can send mail to Internet addresses
*MSDN users can access Internet resources (with agreement
from the host)
*Internet users can send mail to MSDN mailboxes
*Internet users can search MSDN databases (once they have
registered with MSDN)
MICROBIAL STRAIN DATA NETWORK
SERVICES
**************
DATABASES - biotechnology (regulations, companies)
- microbiology
- cell line and hybridomas
- bibliography (eg DataStar)
- biodiversity
ELECTRONIC MAIL for communications between contacts
worldwide and data exchange
FAX/TELEX messages sent from your computer
BULLETIN BOARDS for up to the minute information
COMPUTER CONFERENCING
LINKS to other networks (such as IRRO, on releases)
Specialised SOFTWARE
TRAINING, courses or individual training
CONSULTANCY on database development, communications
links and related topics
SPONSORS AND FUNDING
The MSDN is sponsored by the IUMS, CODATA, COBIOTECH and WFCC.
Funds have been provided by CEC, NSF, EPA, NIDR, Environment
Canada, UNEP, UNESCO and support in kind is received from many
organisations, in particular the National Institute of Dental
Research, Bethesda, and the Institute of Biotechnology at
Cambridge University.
_______________________________________________________________
MSDN, 307 Huntindgon Road, Cambridge CB3 0JX, UK
Tel:+44-223-276622 Fax:+44-223-277605
E-mail: Telecom Gold 75:DBI0001
Internet MSDN at CGNET.COM
The following instructions will help you to use these linked
networks and make the best use of the facilities they provide.
If you would like further information about MSDN, its services or
how to access MSDN through Internet please contact MSDN at the above
address.
___________________________
1. ACCESSING MSDN DATABASES AND OTHER SERVICES FROM INTERNET
[Requirements: TELNET communications protocol and VT100 terminal
emulation]
* Set the terminal emulation on your communications
software to VT100.
* From your home system on the Internet type
TELNET CGNET.COM <ENTER>
* At the prompt for a Username type
MSDNLINK <ENTER> (for system 42, CDT.. prefixes)
OR
MSDNLINK75 <ENTER> (for system 75, DBI.. prefixes)
DIALLINK <ENTER> [password required for system 75]
You will now be routed to MSDN system 42 or MSDN system 75, as
appropriate. NOTE: this route avoids using the public data
network so there are no associated PSS charges. Anyone with an
MSDN ID and password may now access services as usual. In
response to the systems prompt enter your MSDN user ID (eg.
DBI0555) and give your MSDN password.
2. ACCESSING INTERNET RESOURCES FROM MSDN
Access to Internet resources will made available in the near
future. We are currently identifying the most appropriate
Internet resources and will be making these available in the near
future. This facility will be of obvious benefit to those users
who have difficulties in accessing Internet resources.
3(i). SENDING MAIL TO INTERNET AND OTHER ACADEMIC NETWORKS FROM
MSDN
An MSDN user can send mail to a mailbox on the academic network.
An example follows showing how to send a message to a JANET (UK
academic network) mailbox.
To reach JANET from MSDN first send the message to the special
mailbox which forwards mail to the academic networks. This
mailbox is called INTERMAIL. At the systems prompt on MSDN (>)
type MAIL <ENTER>. The system responds with the prompt,
Send, Read or Scan. Type SEND <ENTER>. The system responds with
the prompt To:. Type INTERMAIL. At the next prompt, Subject:,
enter an appropriate subject line as usual. The system then
displays the prompt Text:. You must now add the academic ADDRESS
information at the start of the text message. The first line is
always Forward: ARPA and this signals that the message is being
forwarded to the academic network. The second line should read
To: <user name>, where <user name> is the relevant address on the
academic network. (See below, Notes About Specific Networks). The address
should be followed by two blank lines, and then the text
of the message that you wish to send. To send this message go to
a new line and type .S <ENTER> .
EXAMPLE:
The following is a specific example of a user on MSDN sending a
message to someone on JANET. It uses the standard method of
entering the whole MAIL command on one line using the relevant
abbreviations. (At the systems prompt type MAIL S to send a
message, followed by the name of the recipient, in this case
INTERMAIL, followed by SU to denote the subject line, followed by
the text of the subject line, in this case DEMO MESSAGE. This
gives the same result as typing MAIL, SEND, <recipient name>,
<subject line> separately, as described above).
>MAIL S INTERMAIL SU DEMO MESSAGE
Text:
<text line1> Forward: ARPA
<text line2> To: MSDN at phx.cam.ac.uk [JANET address]
<text line3> <blank line>
<text line4> <blank line>
This is a welcome message to let you know that you
can send mail between MSDN and the academic
networks ...
.S [to send the message]
NOTES ABOUT SPECIFIC NETWORKS
* INTERNET addresses (also called "ARPA" addresses) have two
or more words linked by a stop (period), eg.
INSECT.BERKELEY.EDU
Internet addresses can be used directly in an INTERMAIL
message in the To: line, as in the example above.
* JANET (UK academic network) addresses resemble Internet
addresses except that the first part is always "UK", such as
"UK.AC.OXFORD.VAX" . To send to UK (Janet) addresses they
must be converted to Internet format by reversing the order
of the host computer names to put the UK at the end. For
example:
FOREST at VAX.OXFORD.AC.UK
* BITNET (USA academic network) addresses have one-word names
of 8 characters or less, such as "AXYZJS". Bitnet addresses
must be converted to Internet format by changing the @ into
% and adding the phrase ".BITNET at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU" to the
end. For example:
AXYZJS at ISUVAX becomes AXYZJS%ISUVAX.BITNET at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
You can send to several addresses at once, each separated by
commas. Alternatively, the message can be distributed to
recipients marked as copies (cc). For example:
Forward: ARPA
To: Dujon at ISI.EDU.Sid@LCS.MIT.EDU
CC: JOAN%ABC.BITNET at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
REMEMBER: These addresses are being forwarded from an
intermediary mailbox, and the academic addresses are being
en
