Date   : Wed, 29 Jul 1987 10:48:16 EDT
From   : "John S. Fisher" <FISHER@CICGE.RPI.EDU>
Subject: Bitnet access to archives

*****************************************************************
*                       N O T I C E                             *
*  The following is a description of an experimental facility.  *
*      For now, please keep it confidential to this group.      *
*****************************************************************
To all Info-CPM members on Bitnet:
     A copy of the CPM software archives from Simtel20 as been
placed on-line at RPICICGE.BITNET.  It is the complete set of files
from the directories PD:<CPM> and PD:<CPM.*> as of July 17, 1987.
The files are available to any Bitnet host that can receive files.
However, for the present, the following restrictions apply:

(1)  All files are delivered in IBM Netdata format.  This may be
     a problem for the non-IBM hosts.  A future anouncement may
     describe alternate formats.
(2)  All files are in their original, untranslated form.  (ASCII
     files have not been translated to EBCDIC.)  This may make some
     files (such as those in the starter-kit) difficult to use.
     Contact me directly if you need an alternate form.
(3)  Your are restricted to five file requests per day.

You may request files by sending /PDGET commands to LISTSERV@RPICICGE
either in interactive messages or in a mail message.  (For VM and MVS
hosts, TELL LISTSERV AT RPICICGE... can be used to send an interactive
message.  Other systems may have similar facilities.)  The format for
the /PDGET command is simply

       /PDGET  simtel20filename

where "simtel20filename" is exactly the same full name used at
Simtel20.ARPA.  For example, to get a copy of LASM.COM the command is

      /PDGET PD:<CPM.ASMUTL>LASM.COM

(case is not significant.)

Additional remarks:

(1) This service is being offered on a trial basis.  Three things
    will determine its longevity:  System load, network load, and
    disk space.
(2) Disk space will definitely be a problem.  The archive is huge.
    I expect eventually to migrate the older, less popular files
    to offline storage.  Offline files will be accessible on
    perhaps a weekly basis.
(3) Problems regarding the service should be sent directly to me,
    not the Info-CPM list.
(4) It is very indefinite how and when the archive will be updated
    to match Simtel20.  We'll have to see what is feasible.
(4) Other volunteers are still needed to share the load of hosting
    this and other archives from Simtel20.  If you are interested,
    contact Frank Wancho <WANCHO@SIMTEL20.ARPA> or myself directly.


Regards,
JSFisher     FISHER@RPICICGE