The SAIC Operation 54 Network and the Internet

Overview The purpose of this brown bag training session is to provide you with an introduction to the Internet and to solicit interest into use of the Internet as a research tool for Operation 54 network users. This brown bag will not train you to utilize the Internet software. Further brown bag sessions will be held on the software applications utilized for Internet searches. The next step after attending this brown bag would be to get setup to access the Internet. Put your name on the sign-up sheet.

Internet History (extremely short) The Internet is a loose collection of millions of computers at thousands of sites around the world whose users can pass along information and share files no matter which of those computers they're using. What is now the Internet began as an experiment in the late 1960s to test the possibility of creating a disaster-proof nationwide computer system where scientists and military personnel could share messages and data no matter where they were.

Introduction There are four information source destinations available to you on the Internet through the Operation54 network: –FTP servers –Gopher servers –WWW servers, and –telnet servers. These information sources are accessed through the Operation standard Internet software suite.

The Operation 54 Internet Software Once you are setup with the Operation54 Internet software suite, you can utilize the icons and resulting applications in the 'Internet' group in your Program Manager main window.

The Operation 54 Internet Software The software packages include: MosaicGopherFTPtelnetTrumpet (tcp/ip) You won’t actually run the Trumpet software, it is automatically loaded by the other applications to allow Internet communications.

How you are connected Your access to the Internet is provided as a result of having access to the Operation54 network. The Operation54 network is connected via a 'bridge' to the SAICnet which in turn is connected to CerfNet and then the Internet. OP54 CerfNet Internet

the TCP/IP network protocol Your computer must be setup to run the TCP/IP network protocol software which provides communication capability onto the Internet. You cannot setup yourself for access to the Internet, it must be done by a network representative. The TCP/IP protocol allows you to communicate on the Internet and the software package that we utilize for this purpose is called Trumpet.

telnet sites A terminal emulation protocol and program that allows users to login to a computer on the Internet. Users usually login as 'anonymous'. The finance department within the Operation ‘telnets’ to the SAIC McLean VAX for their day-to- day operations. This is the simplest and least robust of the Internet search tools available.

telnet software & examples Our network client (software package) used to access information on telnet sites is called telnet. Examples of telnet sites: –fedworld.govFEDWORLD –lehign.eduLehigh University

FTP sites FTP servers on the Internet store a variety of files and allow users to download them using a program of the same name. You will usually need to know the exact location of a file on an FTP server in order to download the file. For example, the files required to run the FTP software were downloaded from the 'ftp.usma.edu' server in the '/pub/msdos/winwock.files' directory.

FTP software & examples Our network client (software package) used to access information on FTP sites is called FTP. FTP is a protocol that describes file transfer between a host and a remote computer and also refers to programs based on this protocol. Examples of FTP sites: –ftp.ncts.navy.milUnited States Navy –ftp.microsoft.comMicrosoft

Gopher sites Server sites used as the destination for Internet searches. A software tool for conducting text searches on the Internet. A search tool that presents information in a hierarchical menu system somewhat like a table of contents. Gopher searches are mostly limited to text. Users can 'jump' from one Gopher server to another while online.

Gopher software & examples Our network client (software package) used to access information on Gopher sites is called Gopher. The Mosaic program can also be used to conduct Gopher searches. Examples of Gopher sites: –stc.nato.intNATO –marvel.loc.govThe Library of Congress –gopher.senate.govUS Senate

the World Wide Web (WWW) A network of servers that uses hypertext links to find and access files. Graphics can also be included in the documents. WWW servers are accessed through their "home pages" that are basically function as the door into a web site. Users can 'jump' from one web site to another while online.

WWW software & examples Our network client (software package) used to access information on the WWW is called Mosaic. Examples of Web sites: – the CIA – Jane’s Defense – Whitehouse – –

REFERENCES Brown Bag handout excerpts from PC Magazine and Windows Magazine. Books available from the Computer Literacy Bookstore. Information in the Microsoft Mail ‘Shared Folders’ which includes this presentation and an article from PC Magazine.

Conclusion & Questions By now you should be convinced that the Internet and the related software applications for access are tools that you can utilize in your everyday work. To restate, this was an overview of the Internet and the access provided by the Operation network. The next brown bag training session will be on the use of the Gopher software. There will also be a brown bag on Internet . ??? QUESTIONS ???