ARCHIE

An internet resource discovery tool designed for locating files that can be obtained by anonymous FTP. A major shortcoming is the need to know all or part of the file's exact name. Most useful when you're heard or read about a specific file, and you wish to locate it in a publicly accessible archive.

Web browsers can't directly access Archie. To perform an Archie search, it is necessary to contact an Archie gateway, called Archiplex. One is available at IPS Radio and Space Services: http://www.ips.oz.au/archiplex.html

To locate a file, you must type the name (or part of the name) of the file desired. The search will result in the document listing the archives that contain files matching your search terms, and the names of the files these archives contain. To download a file, click on the name. (Sometimes the "Load to Disk" option must be employed.)

Hypertext Archie Servers provides a list of Archieplex servers on the Web at: http://cui.unige.ch/archie.html

VIRTUAL SOFTWARE LIBRARY (VS)

A particularly popular site is shareware.com: http://www.shareware.com

It provides a search engine for searching the file directories of a number of publicly accessible shareware archives.

FTP FILES ARCHIVES

Once locating an archive containing files you wish to download, you can access the computer directly and browse around the file directories. To access an anonymous FTP atchive with your graphical browser, use a URL that begins with the ftp://code.

If you've located a hyperlink that references the FTP archive, click it to see the archive on-screen. If unsure of what's in an FTP file directory, look for one of the following items - INDEX, README, WELCOME - and click it.

"Anonymous FTP Sites and Popular Downloadable Files for the PC" includes considerable information relating to anonymous FTP, including lists of useful sites: http://ici.proper.com/1/pc/files

For Macintosh files, access "Macintosh Software on the Net": http://www.macfaq.com/software.html

TELNET

A Telnet (terminal) application enables you to access resources not accessible by FTP and Gopher. After choosing a Telnet URL (beginning with "Telnet://"), your browser starts the Telnet helper program you've previously installed. You will see a text-based interface. Your browser's normal commands for navigation won't work; you be required to learn how to use this particular service's operational commands. Most of these systems employ on-screen menus to assist in navigation. Many online library catalogs are available via Telnet.

Hytelnet, a Web-accessible database of Telnet resources, can be reached at http://www.anbg.gov.au/library/hytelnet.html

USENET

Not a computer network per se, it's a network of (mostly UNIX) computer systems that have agreed to share and propagate a large set of electronic discussion groups, called newsgroups, each focusing on a specific area of interest. The networ is designed so that a message posted to a newsgroup on one system will eventually propogate throughout the network, with each machine eventually having a copy of the original message.

New Usenet users should consider accessing "Using WWW to Read Usenet News" http://gort.ucsd.edu/jj/news/wwwnews.html

For Usenet FAQs, see "Usenet Info Center Launch Pad"

http://sunsite.unc.edu/usenet-i/hom.html