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EXERCISE: In Netscape create a mail message, and attach some file to it. Mail it to your river account, and then read your mail. Click on the attachment. You should see it open, or be asked where to save it.

3.3.1.2 - Mail Lists

• We can set up mail servers that will accept a mail message addressed to the group, and then distribute it to the individual users.

EXERCISE: Send a message to the mailgroup ‘ftlc_seminar’. Read your mail in Netscape to see what has come back.

3.3.2 FTP - File Transfer Protocol

• This is a method for retrieving or sending files to remote computers.

EXERCISE: In Netscape ask for the location ‘ftp://sunsite.unc.edu’ This will connect you via ftp the same way as with the windows and the dos software.

3.3.3 News

• These are informal groups (from local to international). The groups allow ongoing discussions between many individuals.

EXERCISE: Open the ‘edit-preferences’ option, and set the news server to ‘news.it.gvsu.edu’. Next, open ‘window-collabra-discussion’, and open the newsgroups line. There may be newsgroups present. You will be able to subscribe to new newsgroups. Add a gvsu group, and add one international group in your area of interest. Open the groups and see the messages there. You can post to the gvsu FTLC group.

•You can get newsgroups set up for your courses to allow student discussions (just ask the IT people). This is a good alternative to chat groups.

•Notice that newsgroups have messages spanning a period of time. If the time period for message

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storage is the length of the term, the group will act as a permanent record of discussions.

3.3.4 HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol

• This is the protocol used for talking to a web server.

3.3.5 Chat

• chat groups allow on-line conversations. If we compare these to newsgroup - these are realtime by nature.

3.3.6 Novell

• Allows us to share files stored on a server.

EXERCISE: Look at the ‘my computer’ icon. The drives from ‘F’ and up are shared by network, and files are brought to the computer as you request them.

3.3.7 Security

•Security problems usually arise through protocols. For example it is common for a hacker to gain access through the mail system.

•The system administrator is responsible for security, and if you are using the campus server, security problems will normally be limited to a single user.

•Be careful with passwords, this is your own protection again hacking. General rules include,

1.Don’t leave yourself logged in when somebody else has access to your computer.

2.Don’t give your password to anybody (even the system administrator).

3.Pick a password that is not,

-in the dictionary

-some variation of your name

-all lower case letters

-found in television

-star trek, the bible