






  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


