Connectivity Providers Database

From: Steven G Huter <sghuter@darkwing.uoregon.edu> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 1995 08:57:03 -0800 CROATIAN ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH NETWORK The Ministry of Science of the Republic of Croatia in its attempt to accelerate the scientific activity, facilitate exchange of research information and scientists assigned to the establishment and development of computer networks with a very high priority. In order to achieve this, the CARNet project was initiated. Its goal is to interconnect existing and future local area networks in the academic and scientific community acting as national backbone. However, since most of scientific institutions have only rudimentary computing equipment the project had to do even one step further: it is providing institutions with initial computer equipment necessary to utilize benefits of networking. The Network The whole network is based on leased lines. The backbone is star shaped connecting universities in Rijeka, Split and Osijek with the one in Zagreb which is currently the only international node connected to Austria and Slovenia. The speed of all lines is 9600 bps. There are two major tasks to be undertaken in the future: to raise communication speed and to change the topology of network. The aim is to develop some redundancy by linking "peripheral" universities mutually and internationally. The major network nodes (MNN) on the backbone are equipped with CISCO routers, UNIX stations and dial-in modems. They also have a connection to the public X.25 network not only for the purpose of the redundancy but for the support of OSI services, as well. Individual institutions are connected via leased lines to the nearest MNN. Computers that are connected at their and of the line are UNIX based using SLIP protocol. In order to support over a dozen of institutions running SLIP, every MNN has a SLIP capable terminal server, too. Protocols and basic network services The mandatory protocol in the network is TCP/IP while MNNs and large institutions are encouraged to provide OSI services, as well. The MNN in Zagreb provides gateways to X.400 and DECNET. All computers attached to the network must provide E- mail, telnet and ftp services. However, some MS-DOS based computers may have restricted domain of telnet usage due to security reasons (public laboratories etc.). Gopher clients are also encouraged on all computers. E-mail is considerd to be the prime data exchange method among researchers. Thus much attention is payed to the form of E-mail addresses and use of various mail lists. Every network user in CARNet in addition to the generic E- mail addres must have a simple one like: first_name.last_name@institution.HR The use of E-mail as a mean of communication with programs (data retrieval, reporting, etc.) is ecouraged, as well. At least one computer per institution must run gopher server with first several pages being common in structure to the whole CARNet community. In those pages (menus) the institution itself is described as well as some common information given (about CARNet, gopher and information services in general.) All gopher pages in Croatia are interconnected and can be reached regardless where the initial connection is established. Some pages are available in english language, too and are accessible through the very first page on every server. It is a recommendation that every institution should run an anonymous FTP server on at least one computer. The server should offer data about institution, researchers, projects and other documents of interest to the public. The information services Using tools offered by basic network services, institutions are encouraged to offer on-line access to the data they provide and would be of interest to the public: both national and international. Ministry of science provides funds for almost all scientific activity in Croatia. Thus it is able to collect data on results. They will be provided for the on-line access. In addition, Croatia acts as the secretariat for the DERPI project (Data Exchange on Research Projects and Institutions) aimed at exchange between the countries of central and eastern Europe. Culturelink is an UNESCO project conducted by the Institute for Development and International Relations. It is collecting data from cultural institutions from all over the world. In addition the data on cultural policies from more than 160 countries are available. They will be available on-line by the mid 1993. Scientific magazines like "Diabetologia Croatica" and "Computer and Information Technologies" will be available on the network by the end of 1993. All information offered on-line in Croatia can be located through Gopher server at carnet.hr. The financing and policy The economy in Croatia is still very weak and the science is almost completely financed by the government. Therefore, if institutions were to pay for the usage of the network they woul apply for that many with the Ministry. Instead, governmental financing was chosen. Every effort was put for all expenses to be fixed or at least not related to network usage. In this way users are motivated to use the network as mush as technical propeties allow them. The current state is that about 100 institutions are included in the network which is about 40% of all institutions financed by the Ministry, covering more that 7000 (70%) researchers and scientists. Although scientific in nature CARNet network is open to all non-profit usage which includes administration, industry and individual users. It is believed that this approach will support the development of the whole society as well as facilitate establishment of commercial networks. It is hoped that network will cover secondary and elemetary schools and public libraries, in the future. User support A national network like CARNet requires a national organization to run and support it. Computing Centre of Zagreb University (SRCE) has been assigned with this task. Besides running the network, SRCE is providing a helpdesk (by E-mail and telephone), organising courses and offering help in providing information services. A quarterly bulletin is being published both in electronical and printed form. Further information can be obtained by E-mail from helpdesk@carnet.hr 19.04.1993. Predrag Pale