Newsgroups:

• Common bulletin board dedicated to particular interest groups.
• Based on the public access network. Usenet (created in 1979 by Duke University).
• Based on a standard tree structure, going from general to specific interests e.g. comp.lang.java* (the * means that more branches are available).
• If you have a technical problem, consult a newsgroup to see if a solution has been posted there.
• Use newsgroups to research products before you buy.

Newsgroup categories:

biz - commercial topics	comp - topics related to computers
news - topics related to Usenet services	rec - topics related to recreation (sport, hobbies etc.
sci - scientific topics	soc - social discussions (e.g. culture, religion)
talk - controversial topics	humanities - topics such as Shakespeare, fine art
misc - topics not relevant to the other categories	alt - topics not yet assigned a category (or adult!)

A Telnet connection is a remote connection you can establish with a remote server (e.g. logging into the company server over the telephone line). You type a command on your home PC but it runs on the distant computer.

• A secure version of Telnet is called Secure Shell (SSH), or Secure Socket Shell. Originally UNIX only, now Windows also.
• All SSH sessions are encrypted (SSHv1 encryption is weaker than SSHv2) by default (i.e. you don't have to take steps to make it happen). Unlike normal assymmetric encryption which only happens if you specify it.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - Copying files across the net. Often command line (not icon based).

• If you have a file of 2MB or more, don't attach it to an E-mail, FTP it!
• Authenticate an FTP with a given password with this syntax:
  ftp://username:password@servername
  e.g.
  ftp://ciwuser:[email protected]

• FTP does not usually encrypt transfers - use S/FTP for that.
• Most FTP systems (e.g. Filezilla) give a guest or anonymous account.
• Large files take a long time to transfer, so they are often compressed (called "zipping") into a .zip file.
• For command line FTP, user the get filename command to download files, put filename to upload them.

Defining MIME types: If you receive a file/attachment that your computer can't recognise, you can use the Files tab of Folders Options to associate the file extension with a given program (e.g. .doc ® Microsoft Word).

MIME vs. S/MIME: Whereas MIME controls how messages and attachments are organised and distinguished from each other, S/MIME controls how encryption of information and digital certificates can be included as part of an E-mail message.

Zipping (Compression) Utilities:

• PKZIP (rather old), WinZIP, Windows XP Compressed folders, BitZipper, RAR/WinRAR.
• Compress large files before E-mailing them as an attachment, FTPing them, or to save space on the hard disk.

Virtual Network Computing (VNC) allows you to control a computer at a remote location as if you were sitting in front of it (e.g. pcAnywhere and NetOp).

• The user of the remote system must agree to control being taken!
• VNC allows you to see remote desktop (exactly what the remote user sees) in a window on your desktop.
• Used by systems administrators/technicians to solve problems on a remote user's computer.

Windows Remote Assistance allows you to seek assistance from someone sitting at a remote computer.

• The remote person can connect to your machine, see your screen, send you message (E-mail or Windows Messenger).
• Remote user can request to take over your machine, but you can decline this request.
• Even if you agree, you can halt the remote user's control at any time.
• Both machines must be running Windows XP to use Remote Assistance.

Instant Messaging (IM) lets you send messages to another user that are viewed immediately on his/her screen.

• Requires destination user is logged on to an IM service at the time to receive the messages (unlike E-mail).
• When you have installed your IM client and logged on to it, it tells you who else is "online".
• Spim is spam (junk mail) delivered by IM.
• IM bypasses antivirus software and firewalls, it is a good way to spread viruses!

Peer-to-peer networks: connection between equal computers (both have client and server function).

• Unlike normal client/server transactions, each computer in a peer-to-peer (or P2P) network can open a transaction.
• Allows a network to distribute the load of sharing files (needn't spend money on a dedicated file server).
• Example of P2P is Napster, where users installed a program to share MP3 music files. Napster userd a server to direct requests.
• Another MP3 distributor is Gnutella, where a user requesting a song sends a query out to any other Gnutella user. If that computer doesn't have the song on its hard disk it passes the request automatically round the network until someone on the Gnutella network is found who does have the song.

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP): an Internet protocol allowing users to locate organisations, people or other resources on a corporate network or the public Internet.

• A simplified version of Directory Access Protocol (part of the X.500 standard, defining the structure of global directories in a network).
• You can access large public LDAP servers (e.g. www.infospace.com and www.bigfoot.com) to find people, organisations and E-mail addresses.

Concurrent Versions System (CVS): a popular development tool for Linux or other UNIX-based programming teams to control different versions of a program in development.

• Tracks each programmer's work individually, but can also manage and merge the team's work.
• Each programmer can "borrow" a piece of the code, work on it, and return it to the repository.

Netiquette: Good manners for all Internet communications (e.g. E-mail)

• Use business language in all work-related messages.
• Remember, E-mails are permanent (can be stored, printed, forwarded) so be careful what you say!
• Check your spelling, punctuation.
• UPPER CASE LETTERS ARE LIKE SHOUTING!
• Recipients cannot detect tone of voice, facial expressions. Ask yourself "Can this be misinterpreted?"
• Respond immediately to messages and posts.
• Don't use emoticons or abbreviations that might not be understood (e.g. LOL for "laugh out loud").
• When creating messages, be pertinent, appropriate and brief.

Ethics

• Online chat and instant messages are not secure. Never send credit card details or passwords.
• Chat rooms are anonymouse and faceless. Don't believe everything others tell you. Some people adopt personalities (That 16-year old blond might really be a 50-year-old builder). Careful of paedofiles!
• Shareware is not free. You can try it for free, but then must delete it or pay.
• Beware copyright. Don't plagiarise online content (copy and paste without giving due credit).
• Avoid harrassing people online, even unintentionally. What you think is funny, they might think offensive.

A blog (weblog) is an online diary - short, personal thoughts posted on a public web site. Editing such a diary is called blogging. Blogs can be personal or they can be community blogs.

Troubleshooting using TCP/IP tools (all typed at the DOS command prompt):

• ipconfig (followed by Enter) displays your system's IP configuration (Physical location, IP address etc.) Use this when controlling someone else's computer remotely and you need to enter their IP address.
• ping (followed by the IP address and Enter) - Supposedly standing for Packet Internet Groper (though actually it was named after the "ping" sound of a submarine's sonar). Tries to "bounce" a packet off that machine. If you get an "echo", a connection exists.
• tracert (followed by IP address and Enter) - determines the path between you and a destination. It displays all the IP addresses between your system and a remote one, and the travel time for each stage.

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