THEnet - The Texas Higher Education Network _A_d_d_r_e_s_s: Texas Higher Education Network Information Center Office of Telecommunication Services Service Building, Room 319 Austin, TX 78712-1024 _E_m_a_i_l: Internet: info@nic.the.net BITNET: INFO@THENIC SPAN: UTSPAN::THENIC::INFO THEnet (DECnet): THENIC::INFO _P_h_o_n_e: (512) 471-2444 FAX: (512) 471-2449 _D_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n The Texas Higher Education Network (THEnet) was formed in 1986 through a combination of networking efforts at Texas A&M University, the University of Houston, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and the Univer- sity of Texas System. It covers the state of Texas, with a link to the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. THEnet's goal is to pro- vide and advance the electronic exchange of information in support of the teaching, research, development, and related collaborative activities of the Texas higher education and research communities. THEnet is not a homogeneous network utilizing a single net- working protocol. Rather it is a network of physical con- nections between and within organizations making various use of IP, DECnet, SNA, RSCS/NJE, and compressed digital video It provides researchers, faculty, and students the network- ing "tools" that they need for their particular situations. THEnet currently connects over 80 institutions, and consists _________________________ The information in this section is provided in accor- dance with the copyright notice appearing at the front of this guide. August 6, 1992 NNSC Section 5.29, Page 1 of approximately 3000 DECnet nodes, over 10,000 IP hosts, appx. 150 BITNET nodes, and 10 IBM mainframe hosts connected over SNA. Network Services Network information and operations management are provided through the University of Texas (UT) System Office of Telecommunication Services (OTS). The OTS provides both network information center (NIC) and network operations center (NOC) services to THEnet member institutions. Informative documents are available on node nic.the.net (Internet) via anonymous FTP, and THENIC (DECnet) via default DECnet file access. See the file THENET.INDEX for a list of available documents. _N_e_t_w_o_r_k _A_c_c_e_s_s THEnet is an NSF regional network, with access to the NSFNET backbone through the NSS (Nodal Switching Subsystem) at Rice University in Houston. THEnet is connected to the Space Physics Analysis Network (SPAN) by DECnet routers at the University of Texas at Austin and NASA Johnson Space Center. Access to ESnet and HEPnet (ESnet-DECnet) is also provided through UT Austin, an ESnet backbone site. THEnet has external BITNET connectivity provided by Rice University via connections to the University of Missouri and Louisiana State University and by their participation in the BITNET II project (NJE over the TCP/IP-based Internet). _W_h_o _C_a_n _U_s_e _t_h_e _N_e_t_w_o_r_k Membership in THEnet is open to all institutions of higher education in the state of Texas, as well as their affiliated research institutions. Commercial institutions which can demonstrate an education or research relationship to any THEnet higher education member are also eligible to join. Queries about membership or additional information should be directed to the postal address or one of the electronic mail addresses given above. August 6, 1992 NNSC Section 5.29, Page 2