This preprint should be cited as follows:

Green, D. G. (1994). Getting started with FireNet. Wildfire - Quarterly Bulletin of the International Association for Wildland Fire, in press.

Getting started with FireNet

David G. Green

Bioinformatics Facility, Australian National University, Canberra 0200 Australia 
Email:  david.green@anu.edu.au
FireNet (Green, Gill & Trevitt, 1994) is an international information retrieval network for everyone interested in landscape fires. It is a practical result of the recognition that we need to harness modern computer networks to support fire management, research and training. In this article I describe some basic network concepts, and how to get started, for those not familiar with the Internet.

What is the Internet?

The Internet ( Krol, 1992) is a vast communications that links together about 2 million computers all over the world. It arose during the 1980's and is really a "network of networks", consisting of over 10,000 separate networks, gateways and backbones. These are all linked via the "Internet Protocol" (IP).

Every machine on the Internet has an "IP address". This is a set of numbers that uniquely identify the machine and the various gateways that provide access to it. Normally we do not use these numbers directly, but to code names, which are easier to remember. For example, FireNet's central node has the IP number 150.203.38.74, but its address is normally quoted as life.anu.edu.au. Here "life" refers to the host computer, "anu" means the local network (the Australian National University), "edu" means educational institutions, and "au" means Australia.

What are protocols?

To transfer information across the Internet we use various "protocols". These are standards that are supported by widely available software (usually free of charge). Some of the more common protocols include: 

	Electronic mail (email)
		Sending messages across the network 
	File Transfer Protocol (FTP) 
		Basic file transfer acros the network
	Telnet
		Remote logins to computers
	Usenet
		Network newsgroups
	X.400
		Addresses and other contact information
	Hytelnet
		A bibliographic protocol for libraries
	WAIS (Wide Area Information Servers)
		File indexes and databases
	Gopher
 		Menu based file retrieval
	World Wide Web (WWW or "the Web") 
		Hypermedia publishing

Not all protocols are equal. For instance, FireNet services currently include email, FTP, Gopher and World Wide Web. The Web, for instance, provides access to all of the information provided under the other three and adds hypertext documents that are not easily accessible via the other services.

Most of the above are "client-server" protocols. This means that the user runs a "client" program, which sends request across the network to a "server" program. This server, which could be running on a computer on the other side of the world, then transmits back the requested item of information.

How do I get access to the Internet?

Generally you will need to obtain access to a local network. Conditions differ enormously, so contact your local network administrators for details. Large institutions usually set up their own cable link. Small organizations and individuals usually use a modem to link to a suitable entry point.

Many commercial and non-profit organizations now sell access to the Internet. Utility and costs vary according to the level of access. At the very least, access should include electronic mail. To use Gopher and the World Wide Web you will need full IP access. The vast information resources available via these protocols make them a worthwhile investment.

How do I obtain the necessary software?

To get started you will need to obtain some software from local contacts. The first thing you need is basic communications software, such as kermit, that enables you to talk across the network. Another important piece of software to start with is FTP. It maks it possible to log in to any of the vast software repositories around the world to obtain the latest versions of other software tools that you may need. Many network sites provide extensive archives of useful software. For example, the following FTP session retrieves pre-packaged disks from the Firenet server that help you to set up Gopher and World Wide Web "client" software on a PC: 
	ftp life.anu.edu.au
	login: anonymous
	password: david.green@anu.edu.au
	Welcome to ANU Bioinformatics 
	cd /pub/netkit/pc/startup_disks
	bin 
	get disk1.exe
	get disk2.exe
	get disk3.exe
	quit
Each of these files is a self-extracting archive. To obtain the enclosed files simply run the archive as a program by typing (say) "disk1" (without the brackets). Some of the included files are also compressed and need to be "unzipped" using the enclosed program pkunzip. The instructions provided should help you to install the software properly. If you are not familiar with computers and networking, then it is advisable to seek technical assistance to get yourself set up.

How do I access FireNet?

Assuming you have access to electronic mail then send a message to the list server at the address listserv@life.anu.edu.au. In it you should include the following message : 
	subscribe firenet  your name
with your own name substituted for "your name"! The server should then send back an automatic reply confirming that you are subscribed. This message also provides contact details for reaching FireNet's FTP, Gopher and World Wide Web services.

References