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From: recoscix@org.apc.gn To: cdp!minster.york.ac.uk!shem@org.igc Date: Thu, 9 Jan 92 05:30:48 PST ======== REGIONAL COOPERATION IN SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION EXCHANGE ======= ========== IN THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN REGION (RECOSCIX-WIO) =========== ===== T E L E M A I L M E S S A G E ===== FROM: PETER PISSIERSSENS, RECOSCIX-WIO REGIONAL DISPATCH CENTRE, MOMBASA GREENNET: gn:recoscix or recoscix@gn or gn!recoscix or cdp!gn!recoscix (APC networks) recoscix@gn.uucp (UUCP) recoscix@gn.apc.org (Internet) cdp!gn!recoscix%labrea@stanford (Bitnet) INTERNET D IRECT: ucsvax.sdsu.edu!peterp OMNET : recoscix.mombasa FAX : (254 11) 472215 TEL : (254 11) 471 129 TELEX: 151296564 (TRT USA) TO : SHEM J. OCHUODHO, CHAIRMAN, KCI-INTERNATIONAL Subject: KCI - RECOSCIX COLLABORATION E-MAIL ADDDRES : CDP!SHEM@MINSTER.YORK.AC.UK O/REF: IOC/R/RDC/91-0017.EMA DATE : 9 JANUARY 1992 TIME : 14:05 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Shem, I just found two messages of yours (To Puliatti and Trumpy) with regard to African networking. This has shed quite some light on your activities and the possibilities for collaboration between your organization (KCI -Inter- national) and RECOSCIX-WIO. Maybe this is the moment to give you some more information on the infrastructure which we have at our disposal, what we are currently doing with it, what we are planning to do and what we need. 1- What we have: We now have an ACER 32/20 running under SCO XENIX. The system has 16 I/O ports, of which 6 are connected to Vt-220 terminals, 4 to matrix printers and now to to our PAD (We have a TELINDUS Begonia MPX 25000 PAD, which was a donation from TELINDUS Belgium. This PAD has one X.25 port and 8 serial ports). WE use one port for incoming calls, and one for outgoing calls. We have a KENPAC synchronous X.25 leased line at 4800 baud (why not 9600? Answer: for some strange reason a line up to 4800 baud costs KShs 2,000/ month whereas a 9600 baud line costs KShs 9,000. The logic is not very clear). We currently use the PAD for outgoing traffic only: for e-mail, usable from any terminal. We have usernames on GreenNet, OMNET/SCIENCENET, INTERNET (Thanks to Beryll BELLMAN), and DIALOG. 2- What we want to do: We want to put some of our data-base products (e.g. Directory of Aquatic Scientists, Abstracts of publications of Western Indian Ocean Aquatic Scientists, ...) available on-line. In the first part of 92 we will acquire more computer equipment for RECOSCIX and this both for the regional dispatch centre in Mombasa and for our collaborating institutions in the region. For the RDC this will be either (a) a new multi-user system running under UNIX; or (b) a LAN, interconnected to the ACER. A total of US$ 50,00 has been set aside for this equipment. Additional funding for communications cost is also part of RECOSCIX-WIO's budget. However, we find that the experience available in Kenya at the Computer suppliers companies is rather disappointing, especially in Mombasa. The experience with LANs like D-Link or Novell seems to be better. We may therefore choose the second option. However, no decision has been made yet. 3- What we need: In view of the problems mentioned above we need expertise to set up our on-line system. We have found setting the parameters on the PAD for incoming traffic not very easy and we still have problems. If any of the experts involved in KIC could at any time be found avialable to assist us here then we would be most grateful. 4- Possibilities for collaboration: - Host computer system: with the equipment, X.25 line and PAD available in Mombasa the use of the system in Mombasa as 'national node' could be considered. - Participation of RECOSCIX to the meeting in Nairobi (February 92). Meeting with others active in the field if IT would be most useful for our IT staff. You may also be interested in some of our activities related to computer communications in the region: - provision of modem (by SAREC) to Institute of Marine Sciences, Zanzibar who have access to DPSN from Zanzibar through Kenya. This institute will be the adminstrative centre of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association, founded in December 1991. This organization will collaborate closely with RECOSCIX-WIO. - RECOSCIX will provide funding for e-mail boxes for some of its collaborating institutions in the region who have either direct or indirect access to DPSN. These include Seychelles, Mauritius and Mozambique. - Participation in PADIS In view of all this we would be most interested in receiving more information on KCI - International and its activities and be considered for participation. Looking forward to hearing from you, Peter Pissierssens Manager RECOSCIX-WIO Regional Dispatch Centre Plse note that you can also contact Mr. Sam Ngete, Technical Manager RECOSCIX >From shem Sat Jan 11 22:38:58 1992 To: recoscix@uucp.gn Cc: kci-net@edu.umass.ecs.sml1, Consultancy/Networking Committee Chairmen Hello Peter, Thanks for a detailed message. First, I must say (from the details I gathered from a previous mail) that am delighted you seem to be running Unix. Secondly, I must confess limited knowledge about networking systems an software. However, I am forwarding some of your queries to our Consultancy Committee, from where I have no doubt that satisfactory answers shall forthcome. Thanks for the offer that KCI can count on your host machine to serve as a national node. It had been suggested in kci-net that we have the "national" node at KCI-Nairobi. But we shall revisit that discussion in light of newer dvelopments -- and at least see the most feasible ways for nodes in Nairobi/Mombasa can feed other nodes (eg. at Eldoret, if any). Once we have exhausted the discussions, will let you know. >- Participation of RECOSCIX to the meeting in Nairobi (February 92). Your staff will be most welcome. I'll send detailed info separately. I'll also send info about other forthcoming events that may be of interest. Indeed, in some of them our Conferences Comm may even approach RECOSCIX to co-host/organize. More on that later. >- Participation in PADIS My emails to PADIS do not seem to go thru'. Would you kindly repost to them the two letters to Enzo & Trumpy? There are other plans in which RECOSCIX, PADIS, KCI, etc can work together on, but I'll give a fuller report -- as well as more about kci-net -- at a later time. Warm wishes, Shem
