Date : Sat, 16 Dec 1989 23:31:00 MST
From : Keith Petersen <w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL>
Subject: Ordering SIMTEL20 files from European file servers
This is for European readers.
RED - Listserv Redirector
(C)1988 Turgut Kalfaoglu <TURGUT@TREARN>
What is RED?
RED provides the SIMTEL-20 files, and directory listings, with its own
cache, where it keeps its most recently requested files. It reduces the
network load by providing the cache, and by providing directory listings
locally, instead of through a distant list server.. It is a machine
(process) that runs disconnected from a terminal.
Currently, the eight sites that run this software are called:
In Denmark: TRICKLE@DKTC11
In Turkey: TRICKLE@TREARN
In Italy: TRICKLE@IMIPOLI
In Belgium: TRICKLE@BANUFS11
In Austria: TRICKLE@AWIWUW11
In Germany: TRICKLE@DB0FUB11 or TRICKLE@DTUZDV1
In Spain: TRICKLE@EB0UB011
You are urged to use the one that is closer to your location.
In this tutorial, we will be using 'TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN', but this
can be replaced with 'TELL TRICKLE AT <your location of
preference>'
We also will use the 'TELL' command to send a single line message. It
should be replaced with whatever is appropriate for your system. (Like
XMIT , SEND, etc.) If you are on a node that cannot reach a TRICKLE
directly, for example, a JANET node, then you must send MAIL files to the
server. Simply put the commands, one per line, into the text portion of
your mail. If you are using MAIL, you do not need to put 'TELL TRICKLE
AT TREARN' in front of every command - every line has to begin with a
slash (all valid trickle commands begin with a slash).
You can also place more than one command per command file.
What Does it Provide?
A Milnet node, SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico
contains a large selection of public domain and 'shareware' software.
This DECsystem-20 machine, running the Tops-20 operating system provides
many files of interest, especially to CP/M and MSDOS users.
The collection is open to public, anyone may obtain copies of this of the
files using the Internet file transfer protocol, FTP. However, this
protocol is not available to Bitnet, or EARN sites. For this reason, two
servers in The United States, who have a connection both to Milnet and to
Bitnet, provide us with these files. However, since both of these servers
are in The US, the requests of these files puts a burdon on these two
servers. The solution was to create a server here in Europe that could
provide the files requested, send the directory listings, and also keep
the recently requested files, in case someone else wishes to have the
same file.
We, the server operators, would like to stress that we have no
affiliation with the US Army, nor with White Sands Missile Range. These
servers are made available in the true spirit of volunteerism, without
any outside sponsorship for the service.
The Trickle, and The US servers support the following directories:
CPM Software and information for CP/M users. Contributions are gathered
from a variety of sources, including the members of the Info-CPM
electronic mail discussion group. This archive is updated very
frequently.
MSDOS Software and information for PC-DOS and MS-DOS system users. This
archive is updated very frequently.
PC-BLUE Software and information for PC-DOS and MS-DOS system users. The
archive contains files distributed by the PC-Blue Users Group. New
files are added as they become available.
SIGM Software and information for CP/M users. The archive contains the
files distributed by the SIG/M Users Group. New files are added as
they become available.
MISC Software and information for miscellaneous systems (mostly large
systems like IBM/370 and DEC VAX). Contributions are gathered from a
variety of sources.
MACINTOS Software and information for Apple Macintosh computers.
UNIX-C Software and information on this operating system.
How does it work?
It provides faster file delivery than LISTSERV@RPIECS because it
holds the most recently requested files, and it also asks its peers, to
find out if any of them has the file.
It has two major commands. /PDDIR and /PDGET.. As the names indicate
, /PDDIR provides the names of the files, and /PDGET delivers files.
How to use /PDDIR:
On IBM/VM systems, you can get a list of the 'major directory' names by
simply typing this command:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDDIR
RED should now send you a list of the major directory names. Now, you
can obtain a list of the sub-directories of any of the displayed names by
putting the name between less-than and greater-than symbols.. For
example,
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDDIR <MSDOS>
RED will mail you a file containing the names of the sub-directories.
Once you choose a subdirectory to examine, type in the main directory
name, a period, then the name of the subdirectory name. For example, if
you chose SYSUTL sub-directory of MSDOS, then you may type this:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDDIR <MSDOS.SYSUTL>
RED will first notify you of the number of files found, then will go
ahead and mail you this list.. Once you choose your file(s) to order,
then read on..
How to use the /PDGET command:
Once you have a filename in hand, then tell RED to send you this file
by providing it with the full directory name, and the filename.. If you
wish to order a game called MADMAX.ARC that resides in the <MSDOS.GAMES>
directory, then you may type in this command:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDGET <MSDOS.GAMES>MADMAX.ARC
naturally, the above is only an example, and the file may or may not be
present if you send the above command.
Receiving your file in a different format:
Normally, SIMTEL files are sent AS-IS, meaning, ASCII. If you would like
to receive your file in a different format, you may want to append any of
the below to the end of any of your your commands:
(EBC80 Converts the file to 80-Column EBCDIC format
(EBC32 Converts the file to 132-Column EBCDIC format
(UUE uuencodes the file
(OLD Sends the file using DISK DUMP or PUNCH format
(SF Supresses BITSEND, and forces SENDFILE to be used for the transfer.
(MAIL Forces results to be sent via MAILER. (This option is
automatically added for MAIL command files)
(XXE XXDECODES the file that is to be sent to you.
(HEX Turns the file to HEX format - use it if even (XXE doesn't work for
you.
(BTOA BTOA-Encrypts the file. Useful for Unix systems.
You may also wish to combine several options together. For example, to
receive a directory listing in PUNCH format, and UUEncoded,
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDDIR <MSDOS.C> (OLD UUE
To receive a file in in EBCDIC format, you may enter a command that looks
like this:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDGET <MSDOS.GAMES>MADMAX.ARC (EBC80
However, it is not useful at all to receive an .ARC file in EBCDIC
format. The above is not a terribly good example.
Other commands:
/NEWS sends you our 2-page newsletter.
/STAT provides you the statistics of usage.
/HELP sends you this file.
/IMDAT sends the Turkish version of this help file. Note that
this command is only valid for the TREARN server.
/CAC Sends you a list of the files that are stored on its disk right
now. These files can be sent faster than the other files.
/OPS displays the RED operators
/QUO Shows you the RED's quota, and how much of that quotait has
used. Once RED exceeds its quota, it cannot order files, until
it receives some of the requested files.
/SUB <dirnam> Allows you to subscribe to a directory. Whenever a
new listing comes in, RED will send you a file containing the
names of the new files.
/UNSUB <dirnam> is to stop RED from sending you the new files listings.
Please issue this command if you will not use the server anymore.
/NEW <dirnam> nnn This command, displays the files that have arrived
within 'nnn' days, in the 'dirnam' directory. If 'nnn' is omitted, it
defaults to the last time you issued this command, for that directory.
If you are issuing this command for the first time, then it simply
looks for files that are at most a month old.
/POLL forces RED to check its peer servers
Delay Periods:
If the file that you requested already exists in the cache directory,
then you may expect to receive your file within a few hours. However,
the system that RED is running is often slowed down by the other
processes that are running. This negatively affects the response time of
RED. If the file requested does not existin the cache directory, then
RED will have to order this file from its list server.. If this is the
case, the response time of RED is dependent upon the list server. RED
will give up waiting for a file after five to twelve days after its
request.
Sending files to RED:
RED now accepts command files in MAIL, NOTE, or regular file format.
Use your system's (and yours) favorite utility to prepare your command,
and mail it to the server. If you are using MAIL, you may need to place
Reply-To: tag to ensure that the server replies to the address that
you specify, instead of your 'obvious' address.
The command files may contain any number of instructions, one per line.
These lines must all start with a slash, since all server commands begin
with a slash.
If you are on a site that is not part of BITNET/EARN, you will receive
the files you request UUENCODED. You may tell the server otherwise
by specifying (XXE (HEX or (BTOA at the end of your command. If you
wish to make sure that the server replies via mail, you need to append
(MAIL to the end of your command.
How to DONATE files to Simtel Archives:
Files that you receive from here are sent from another network called
ArpaNet. The person-in-charge for the programs is: Keith Petersen
<w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL>. Since it's another network, you will
need to use MAIL to send the message. He urges that you talk to him
before you send in the file, so that he can check where it should be
put, if it already exists, etc. After getting his approval, you need
to UUENCODE your file (perhaps using PDUTIL), then MAIL it to him.
Format of the files that comes with /PDGET command:
For the below chart, we shall assume that you have not placed any
conversion options at the end of your command.
If you have used: You can expect the file to arrive:
'tell' style message: BITSEND, NETDATA format.
MAIL command file: UUENCODED, in numbered pieces.
A regular file, or Just like 'tell' messages,
IBM's NOTE command: replies in BITSEND, NETDATA.
RED will send the files in a NETDATA format, -unless you use the (OLD
option-. On IBM systems, these files can be LOOKed and RECEIVEd, but the
PEEK command cannot handle NETDATA format properly. However, since most
files are ASCII, it is of little use to LOOK at them.
Since SIMTEL (and your personal computer) keeps its files in ASCII format,
so does TRICKLE. So, you may not be able to examine your file on the
VM system. However, some of the description files (recognized by their
names) can be ordered with the (EBC80 or (EBC32 option, if you wish to
look at these files on the VM.
The .ARC format:
ARC is a special compression method that provides substential reduction
on file size. There are one or more files contained within an .ARC
archive. In order to extract the files from an archive, you will need a
utility called ARC or PKXARC. These are available from <MSDOS.ARC-LBR>
directory. The actual file names of these files vary, but you may try:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDGET <MSDOS.ARC-LBR>PK361.EXE or: TELL
TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDGET <MSDOS.ARC-LBR>ARC512.EXE If these attempts
fail, it will probably mean that the file version has changed, and so has
the file name. You may wish to try
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDDIR <MSDOS.ARC-LBR>
and guess the new name of these files.
Once you receive either ARC or PKXARC and an .ARC file, transmit them to
your personal computer and issue the following command:
ARC X <filename.arc>
or
PKUNPAK <filename>
There is also a second utility called ARCUTIL, which runs on the VM
systems, and extracts files. It also provides ASCII to EBCDIC conversion
of the extracted files. To request ARCUTIL, enter:
TELL TRICKLE AT TREARN /PDGET <MISC.IBM-VM>ARCUTIL.LBR
The directories of SIMTEL change often. So, the above files may or may
not be in the same directories as I have indicated. So you may have to
do some searching to find them.. A good place to check would be the
<MSDOS.STARTER> directory, where additional help, and the mentioned
archive managers can be found.
How to use the BITSEND/BITRCV:
From now on, RED is sending its files in a special format called BITSEND
- Unless you include the (SF option while issuing your command.
In this format, the files that are sent are broken into smaller pieces,
if the entire file is too big to be sent. If the file you request is
over the size limit, then the server will first send you a file called
<fn> BITCTRL - this is the control file, where BITSEND has written the
protocol used, the number of pieces that make up that file, etc.
Important:
You should NOT 'RECEIVE' any files that have BITCTRL
or just numbers as filetype!
If you wait a little longer, the rest of the file will arrive, the
filename will be the same as the <fn> BITCTRL file, but the filetype will
consist of just numbers. Once you have all the pieces that make up that
file, you can then issue the BITRCV command. You must also specify the
'spool ID' of the file that has BITCTRL as filetype. From RDRList, you
can simply type BITRCV in front of the file that has BITCTRL as filetype.
If you get back an error message, saying "UNKNOWN CP/CMS COMMAND" it
simply states that your installation does not have the BITRCV program.
Contact your network manager/system operator.
Note: BITRCV EXEC can be obtained from your country NETSERV as well.
Simply send "GET BITRCV EXEC" to your NETSERV.
VAX users:
There is also an identical file for your installation, however, it is
called 'BITRCV COM', and can be obtained from a NETSERV by issuing GET
BITRCV COM to your country NETSERV.
If you get back an error saying that not all of the file is in the
reader, it simply means that you have to wait a little longer for the
rest of the file to arrive.
If you are on a different system, thus cannot use neither BITRCV EXEC nor
COM, you can simply merge the files you receive using your editor.
How to receive the file that arrives:
Once the file you requested arrives, and is stored on your disk, you will
most likely wish to 'download' this file to your personal computer. There
are many types of mainframe computers, many kinds of personal computers,
so it is impossible for me to give you direct, and precise directions.
However, here are some clues:
* If you have a PC with a 3270 Emulation program, and an IBM mainframe,
you should request your files from the server without options, or with
(SF option, and use the built-in transfer protocol of the emulation
program, without any options again.
* If you have KERMIT at your installation, request your file without
options, or with (SF option, then set the KERMIT's FILE-TYPE to BINARY
before transferring your file.
* Remember that if you send a MAIL command file to the server to request
your file, the file will arrive in UUENCODE format, since the mailer
cannot process binary files - unless you specify (XXE or (HEX in the
command line.
How Does the Cache Work?
Imagine that you ask for a file, and the server brings this file from
United States for you. Thinking that others may wish to have this file as
well, the server keeps this file in an area called 'cache.' When someone
else requests this file, the server simply uses the stored copy of the
file, instead of asking for the file again from overseas. All the servers
that you see on top of this document have different files in their
caches. So, if you wish to see the files they are holding right now, you
will have to issue '/CAC' to each one of them. Note that a file does not
stay in cache forever. As new files arrive, the older ones are deleted to
make room.
The Amazing Life of a /PDGET request:
Once you order your file via /PDGET, the server will first check its
local cache listings. If the file is not there, then it will check the
SIMTEL20 listings to ensure that a such file indeed exists. After this,
the server sends the request to all other servers, asking them if they
have your file in cache. If a server replies 'YES!', then that server has
to send you the file. Everything fails: none of the servers have your
file, or even some servers don't respond. Your server will give up
waiting for a reply in a day, and order your file from the United States.
Once the file requested arrives from there, it will be sent to you, and
put into the cache directory. Quite a trip for one /PDGET command.
Quotas, and Other Ugly Limitations
You may be surprised that even though most TRICKLE servers have some kind
of quota, we still get several hundred requests daily. Without them, this
number may easily rise to thousands. The impact of a such usage rate on
the local computer can be very 'tiring.' So, the following quota schemes
have been implemented:
1) Total outstanding bytes quota: This quota is not really put by the
server's operators. It is the amount that a TRICKLE server can order
from The United States. This is currently set at 10 megabytes for most
servers.
2) Prime times: Some of the servers, do not function during the day, they
record the commands received, and process these commands later, when
the load on the computer is low.
3) User request limitations: Most TRICKLE servers have a limit on how
many requests a user can make on the server per day. The request can
be a simple /OPS command, or a file order via /PDGET. It still counts
as one. The server will warn you that you are approaching the limit,
once you have 3 more commands left.
4) Outstanding files per user: This scheme is also employed by some
servers, and it limits the number of files a user can order from The
United States.
5) Delayed Sendfile: This last scheme is simple: it delays sending your
file until a specified time comes. Usually at night, when the network
load is low. If a site uses delayed sendfile, you will see a '* Your
file will be mailed' notice, instead of '* Your file is being mailed.'
A Last Word on Options:
Some of the options are not compatible, such as (MAIL SF, and should not
be used together - the behavior of the server may be unpredictable. Also,
the (SF option may result in a file that is too large for shipment. If
that is the case, a network control program may detect it, and delete it
before it reaches you. Use (SF carefully.
Also, (SF and (OLD options would be ignored if you send in your commands
in a MAIL file. If you wish to receive your files AS-IS, and still be
able to put your commands in a file, you can either send a NOTE to the
server, or simply create a file using your editor, then send this file
directly to the server, without first going through the mailer.
VAX/VMS Users:
If your host is a DEC VAX system running VMS with Jnet networking
software, you can avoid the need for uuencoding. You can tell the Jnet
software to bypass the usual EBCDIC/ASCII conversion, but there are a few
additional steps needed before downloading a file.
* Receive the file with the Jnet command RECEIVE/BINARY. The BINARY
modifier suppresses the normal EBCDIC/ASCII conversion. Let's assume
that the file is called MYFILE.ARC. This file, as received, is almost
correct; there may be an error is how VMS interprets the records.
* Generate an FDL file for MYFILE.ARC using:
ANALYZE/RMS/FDL MYFILE.ARC
* Edit the FDL file with the command
EDIT/FDL MYFILE
Examine the CARIIAGE_CONTROL setting. Change it to NONE. Exit the
editor.
* Use the edited FDL to correct carriage control interpretation errors in
the original MYFILE.ARC:
CONVERT/FDL=MYFILE.FDL MYFILE.ARC FIXED_MYFILE.ARC
* Download the FIXED_MYFILE.ARC as a binary file using any reliable
means. (For VAX Kermit, use SET FILE TYPE BINARY command before
starting the download.)
Additional Help:
1) A Discussion List
We now have an online discussion list that gives assistance on the
server. To join this list, simply send the following command to
either LISTSERV AT TREARN, or LISTSERV AT DB0FUB11:
SUB RED-UG My-full-name
Remember that you can use MAIL to interact with both TRICKLE and
LISTSERV, and if you do, you need to put the commands in the mail
body, and not in the subject section, like some other servers.
2) Other online documentation on the server
You may request additional documentation on the workings of the
server by issuing:
INDEX RED-UG
to LISTSERV@TREARN. Then order any of the listed files via
GET fn ft
command to LISTSERV@TREARN
3) Human Help
Also, you may get in touch with your local TRICKLE operator. You
can get his network address by using the /OPS command.
We wish you great benefits from using TRICKLE - we know that the software
it provides can accomplish that.
End of INFO-CPM Digest V89 Issue #216
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