DIS-II INFORMATION UPDATES, NOVEMBER 1995 To: "E - All WRD Employees" Subject: DIS-II INFORMATION UPDATES NOVEMBER, 1995 Date: Thu, 30 Nov 1995 16:52:16 -0500 From: "Gloria J Stiltner, Chief, DIS Suprv Hyd, Reston, VA" DIS-II INFORMATION UPDATES, NOVEMBER 1995 This document contains approximately 180 lines. The following is included in this update. 1. DISCUSSIONS NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE BY WAY OF WORLD-WIDE-WEB 2. DECISION IS MADE TO TERMINATE EDOC SOFTWARE USAGE 3. Z-MAIL AND SYNCHRONIZE 4. ANNOUNCEMENT THAT NATIONAL CENTER ROOM 5A137 IS NOW THE COMMON USE AREA 1. DISCUSSIONS NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE BY WAY OF WORLD-WIDE-WEB --------------------------------------------------------- The Distributed Information System (DIS) Program Office will begin publishing its DIScussions Newsletter online by way of the world-wide-web beginning with the November, 1995 issue. The intent is that paper copies of the DIScussions Newsletter will no longer be distributed by the DIS Program Office. Users can read/browse the DIScussions Newsletter at the URL listed below. http://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/discussions/nov95 For printing purposes, a postscript file of the DIScussions newsletter can be found at ftp://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/pub/disii/discussions/nov95.ps The postscript file can be obtained through mosaic or by using anonymous ftp to host wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov in directory pub/disii/discussions/nov95.ps To print a copy of discussions using Mosaic, see the instructions listed below. 1. Type mosaic 2. Choose Open URL from the file menu type ftp://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/pub/disii/discussions/nov95.ps and click on the Open button (Ghostview will be brought up) 3. Choose print from the file menu 4. Choose quit from the file menu To print a copy of discussions using FTP, see the instructions listed below. November, 1995 issue is now available. 1. ftp wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov 2. type anonymous when system prompts you for Name 3. type your user-id when the system prompts you for the Password 4. cd /pub/disii/discussions 5. get nov95.ps "|lp" 6. type bye The DIS Program Office is interested in your feedback of this change to an electronic publication. Please relay your comments to Gloria Stiltner (stiltner). 2. DECISION IS MADE TO TERMINATE EDOC SOFTWARE USAGE ----------------------------------------------------- The decision was recently made by the WRD Computer Policy Advisory Committee (CPAC) to terminate Prime EDOC usage within WRD. As of November, 1995 the vast majority of WRD employees are using email through the Unix-based Geomail electronic mail system and are no longer using EDOC. The benefits of keeping EDOC available no longer outweigh the resources required at the national and local levels to maintain both electronic mail systems. The actual date when EDOC will no longer be available to WRD employees has not been finalized, but is expected to occur during the March, 1996 timeframe. A WRD numbered memorandum announcing the actual date will be released soon to all WRD employees. The Distributed Information System (DIS) Program Office will provide guidance to all DIS-II system administrators on the issues of converting their remaining EDOC users to the Geomail system and in converting all automated processes using EDOC so that Geomail can be used instead. Geomail can be used via the email reader programs plum, exmh, eudora, and the new Z-Mail reader. 3. Z-MAIL AND SYNCHRONIZE -------------------------- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) awarded a contract for Geomail-related software on September 19, 1995, to Spectrum Office Systems, Vienna, Virginia. The contract includes a mail reader program called Z-Mail and a calendar/scheduling package called Synchronize. This contract was awarded as part of the bureau-wide effort to provide an integrated electronic mail (email) system known as Geomail, to all employees of the USGS. Z-Mail Z-Mail will be available for purchase by all USGS email users for use on multiple platforms. These platforms include: PC MS Windows, PC MS DOS, Apple Macintosh, Sun Sparc OS, Sun Sparc Solaris, Novel Univel, DEC Ultrix, Windows NT, IBM OS/2, HP UNIX, and the Data General AViiON. The Z-Mail software is fully compliant with SMTP and, therefore, should communicate well with the Water Resources Division's (WRD) existing MH email reader programs, exmh and plum. Z-Mail is similar to exmh in functionality and ease of use, but is a more polished commercial product. The Distributed Information System (DIS) Program Office has purchased a limited number of Z-Mail licenses. These software licenses will be tested on the PC and MAC. There is a possibility that Z-Mail will become the DIS-recommended email package for PC and MAC users instead of Eudora. The DIS Program Office will also test Z-Mail on the Data General to determine if it is a cost-effective alternative to exmh and plum. Please note that WRD users will not have to buy and use Z-Mail on the Data General. WRD personnel can continue using exmh and plum. The cost of a single-user Z-Mail license is $37.74. There is no charge for maintenance during the first year of the contract, however, in subsequent years, the maintenance cost will be $7 per license. Synchronize The calendar/schedule package is to be minimally integrated with email. The cost of a single-user Synchronize license is $54.24, and the maintenance is also free during the first year of the contract. However, in subsequent years, the maintenance will be $13.50 per license. If you need more information concerning the contract for Z-Mail and Synchronize, please contact Angela Hall by Geomail (aehall) or by phone (703) 648-5625. 4. ANNOUNCEMENT THAT NATIONAL CENTER ROOM 5A137 IS NOW THE COMMON USE AREA ------------------------------------------------------- National Center Room 5A137 is now called the COMMON USE AREA and is available for Headquarters personnel and visitors to WRD to use for computer email access and use of specialized computer equipment available in the room. Based upon the recommendations from the Headquarters CO-OP group, the DIS Program Office undertook the task of converting the old GLAB, 5A137, into a common use area. CO-OP members polled their office groups to determine equipment and functions desired for this room. Even though we have not obtained all the high priority equipment desired for this room, we would like to announce its availability. The room is officially called COMMON USE AREA, 5A137. o We have three Xterminals and a DG workstation currently available so our visiting District personnel can have an area to read their email and use our computer resources. o There are also two analog phone jacks that will enable MAC and PC laptop users with modems to dial into the network to read email or do other work. o There is a high speed, high quality, black and white duplex printer located in the room that is connected to the network and available to any user on the HQ-WRD network. All most users will need to do to print to it is to select dislex as their printer. o We are in the process of configuring a new color printer and scanner for use in this area too. The room will be available 24 hours a day; it is secured with a combination lock. We request that all Common Use Area users keep the room doors locked after hours to prevent theft of the equipment. The Common Use Area is normally open during the regular business day. Naomi Krishock will be managing the logistics associated with the room (printer supplies, scheduling use for short term detailees, giving out the combination to the lock, etc). Chris Barnes will provide the systems support for the room. As new equipment is obtained, it is our goal to print short tip sheets on their usage. This room is still "under construction". Parts of the room are holding areas for equipment being configured for Geomail mailhub implementation. We are still looking for "donations" of equipment that would have widespread use to all WRD employees for this room. We would like to obtain a MacIntosh computer and a multi-media PC so that CD-ROMS and training videos could be played. We are also looking for tables.