Archie - the McGill School of Computer Science Archive Server Listing Service


            _A_d_d_r_e_s_s: none

            _E_m_a_i_l: archie-l@cs.mcgill.ca

            _P_h_o_n_e: none


            _D_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n

            Archie is a central database for information  about  archive
            sites.  It  speeds the task of finding a specific program on
            the net.  Archie keeps track of UNIX sites; VMS sites may be
            added in the near future.

            Archie is a pair of software tools: the  first  maintains  a
            list  of several hundred Internet ftp archive sites, each of
            which is updated about once a month.  The second tool allows
            outsiders  to  log  onto  the  host  to  query the database.
            Archie also maintains a Software Description Database of the
            names  and  descriptions of various software packages, docu-
            ments, and datasets that are kept on anonymous  ftp  archive
            sites  around  the Internet. The "whatis" command allows you
            to search this database.

            _N_e_t_w_o_r_k _A_c_c_e_s_s

            To    access    archie,    "telnet"    or    "rlogin"     to
            "quiche.cs.mcgill.ca"  (132.206.2.3)  as user "archie".  The
            "help" command gives you information about  various  topics,
            including  the  commands available and how to use them.  The
            "raw" listings of ftp sites are stored in compressed form in
            the   directory  "ftp/archie/listings".   Manual  pages  for
            archie are available in the directory "ftp/archie/doc".  The
            file "archie.man.roff" contains a UNIX-style manual entry in
            *roff format; "archie.man.txt" contains the same information
            preformatted for people on non-UNIX systems.

            Users can ask archie to search for  specific  name  strings.
            For  example,  "prog  kcl"  would find all occurences of the
            _________________________
            The information in this section is provided  in  accor-
            dance  with the copyright notice appearing at the front
            of this guide.




            April 10, 1991              NNSC       Section 3.25,  Page 1








            string "kcl" and tell you which hosts have entries with this
            string, the size of the program, its last modification date,
            where it can be found on the host,  and  some  other  useful
            information.  This example would find archive sites that are
            storing Kyoto Common Lisp.  Complete anonymous ftp  listings
            of sites in the database can be obtained via the "site" com-
            mand; for a list of sites, see the "list" command.

            There is an electronic mail interface to archie.  To receive
            the  latest  information  on  this  interface,  send mail to
            "archie@cs.mcgill.ca" with the word "help"  in  the  subject
            line or body.

            If you can't access the manual files via interactive ftp  or
            the   mail-based   servers,   send  a  message  to  "archie-
            admin@cs.mcgill.ca" asking to receive a copy of  the  manual
            by mail.

            _W_h_o _C_a_n _U_s_e _t_h_e _A_r_c_h_i_v_e

            Archie is available to all Internet users.

            _M_i_s_c_e_l_l_a_n_e_o_u_s _I_n_f_o_r_m_a_t_i_o_n

            Send   comments,   bug   reports,   etc.    to:     "archie-
            l@cs.mcgill.ca".  If  you know of an anonymous ftp site that
            archie doesn't seem to maintain, or if you have additions or
            corrections  to the Software Description Database, send mail
            to: "archie-admin@cs.mcgill.ca".

            "Satellite" archie servers are being set up in  Finland  and
            the  Netherlands  in  order  to lessen the load on the tran-
            satlantic Internet link.

            The maintainers of archie strongly encourage maintainers  of
            anonymous ftp archives to do two things:


            o+    Send additions and corrections to the Software  Distri-
                 bution Database to "archie-admin@cs.mcgill.ca".


            o+    Maintain  compressed,  automated,  recursive   listings
                 (ls-1R.Z  files)  on their machines.  This lessens net-
                 work loads and makes  life  easier  for  archie.   Send
                 queries    for    specific    formats    to    "archie-
                 admin@cs.mcgill.ca".




            April 10, 1991              NNSC       Section 3.25,  Page 2