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Networkshop 15
99
Conference Report
Networkshop 15 The fifteenth Networkshop was held at Edinburgh University from April 8-10, 1987. Over 270 delegates from over 120 establishments participated in the workshop. The main thrust of Networkshop 15 was in disseminating information about ISO standards. To this end, two formal sessions and a discussion session were held. Another recurrent theme was remote access by job transfer to the shared Supercomputer resources at the London, Manchester and Rutherford National Centres. One innovation at the workshop was a series of presentations introducing the demonstrations. We present below a description of the contributions at the workshop.
present position on each of the main modes of access to the centres. Most Job Transfers were of a simple type which was supported at all three centres. With file transfers, there were some incompatibilities in character codes and record lengths. With all centres planning or providing screen-mode access, there was doubt about the choice of the common editor. He noted that an important outcome of the recent meeting was the commissioning of a set of papers containing this information, practical recommendations for achieving convergence and proposals for harmonizing the provision of more sophisticated future facilities. IBM-PC~AT, Xenix, and Network Management
National Centre Activities Common Access to the National Centres Over the past two years, there has been much discussion about Common User Interfaces to the National Centres. According to R. Rosner (University of London Computer Centre, U.K), the emphasis of the various working groups has been on the operating system interfaces presented to the 6 users for interactive access. In the middle of 1986, the Computer Board set up the Common User Interface Working Party with participation from the national centres under the chairmanship of Peter Kemp. Following the submission of this group's report to the Computer Board, the communications staff from the three national centres met recently to review the current status of their access facilities and to agree on a course of action. In his presentation, entitled "Common Access to the National Centres", Rosner summarized the
North-Holland Computer Networks and ISDN Systems 14 (1987) 99-103
In his contribution T. Daniel (University of London Computer Centre, U.K.) focussed on the work that has been done at ULCC using an IBMP C / A T running the XENIX operating system. The work forms part of a project to provide Network Management facilities for the centre. In the first part of his lecture, Daniel concentrated on the communications package that has been produced for the PC. In the second part, he discussed the management application. He concluded that at ULCC a very powerful network monitoring tool has been produced that can be adapted for use in many different network situations for different types of component and different user requirements. In the process, communication facilities have been provided to enable the IBMP C / A T to be used as a cheap network server or even a work station. A TS Demonstration M. Veitch (Edinburgh Regional Computer Centre, Scotland) introduced the ATS Demonstration. The Asynchronous Transport Service is a package supporting NIFTP on microcomputers.
0169-7552/87/$3.50 © 1987, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. (North-Holland)
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The package implements both the P and Q ends of the protocol and enables text file transfers to be initiated from the microcomputer or the remote site. The package, Veitch further explained, supports a subset of NRS site names. Veitch's demonstration showed the operation of ATS on microcomputers running the MS DOS operating system. The machines used were an IBM PC, RM Nimbus and Sirius. These machines were connected to an X25 network via a Camtec PAD with ATS software installed.
Ethernet Demonstration
OSl Tutorials FTAM Update The lecture delivered by I. Baker (Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency) was divided into four parts: (1) Slides were presented in connection with the explanation of FTAM; (2) A tutorial on FTAM technically aligned with the DIS was presented; (3) Further slides were shown relating to the changes between DIS and IS; and (4) Indicators were discussed relating to the changes in the IS. The presentation was entitled "File Transfer, Access and Management".
European Functional Standards G. Howat (Edinburgh Regional Computer Centre, Scotland) presented the "Ethernet Demonstration". The Connection-Oriented Network Service is provided by X.25 (1984) in D T E / D T E mode, ISO 8208 & 8878, LLC-2 and IEEE 802.2. LLC-2 provides the link level service between LAN stations. X.25 (1984) provides the network service. Access from a Spider PAD to IBM and Unix hosts, as well as interworking between hosts was demonstrated.
L. Clyne (Joint Network Team) provided a description and explanation of "European Functional Standards - Lower Layers 1-4". This European Community initiative was described as tying together standards from the perspective of the required functionality. He discussed the wide and local area, connection oriented and connectionless standards sets.
x.25 (19s4) High Speed PAD Demonstration M. Mclntosh (Edinburgh Regional Computer Centre, Scotland) invited the attendance to see a selection of the X.25 PADs now being evaluated by ERCC on behalf of the JNT. The PADs available were the Camtec Switch PAD, the Dowty TelePAD, the Gandalf XMUX and the Netcomm X.25 Super PAD. Mclntosh also presented two graphs indicating preliminary performance results. SSMP Facilities J. Dyer (Joint Network Team, U.K.) introduced an "Evaluation of Simple Screen Management Protocol Facilities (SSMP)". Facilities were able to exercise SSMP via terminals connected by Fawn Boxes to the network. Guest userids were arranged on an Amdahl at Newcastle and a Print at Sheffield. Users were invited to use the screen editors on these hosts.
The 1984 revision of the X.25 specification contains a small number of major changes and a much larger number of more trivial changes, most of which seek to clarify rather than to modify the sense of the text. In a contribution entitled "X.25 (1984)", L Smith (Network Executive)highlighted the major areas of change. He noted in his conclusion of his lecture that there were to be no major revisions, but the E164 specification for the unification of numbering schemes includes ISDN, and results in addresses greater than 15 digits, so there may need to be changes to the Calling/Called X.25 addresses.
Networking Environments Open Systems UNIX Networking D. Mercer (Edinburgh Regional Computing Centre, Scotland) described UNIX at ERCC and discussed UNIX networking in general. Styles of Unix networking includes DARPA, NFS and RFS
Conference Report
de facto standards, as well as the X.25 with File and Job Transfer protocols used in the U.K. academic community. Mercer recommended developments designed to intercept the ISO standards should use the sockets or streams interfaces. Nordunet Programme Since 1980, annual conferences have been organized to foster cooperation and exchange of information among the Nordic national university network projects. Based on these experiences a task force was formed to prepare a program for computer network cooperation within the Nordic countries, the result of which is the NORDUNET programme. B. Carlson (Stockholm University Computing Center and Chairman of the N O R D U N E T Programme Committee) explained that the programme was presented to the council of the Nordic ministers in 1984, and was judged to be of great value for advancing cooperation, research and education in the Nordic countries. A Nordic network would provide an infrastructure that could strengthen the level of competence in least favored regions independent of geographical factors. The Nordic ministers allowed a sum of 10 MNOK (Norwegian crowns) for a 4-year project to the NORDUNET project. In her contribution Carlson described the intentions, objectives, and current status of the NORDUNET project. This project will align the Nordic network activities and work towards harmonization and a common Nordic infrastructure. Telecommunications in Banking Midland Bank is a major user and supplier of telecommunications. It has implemented three major networks during the last three years in an on-going process of rationalizing telecommunications to (a) reduce cost, (b) provide flexibility, (c) create new business opportunities, and (d) make profit through the selling of network services. In his presentation, entitled "Telecommunications in Banking", J. Edwards (Midland Bank PLC, U.K.) discussed what Midland has achieved till now, the areas of telecommunications technology in which it is actively planning, what Midland has learned and the issues it considers important.
101
OSI Tutorials ASN.1 Introduction J. Larmouth (Salford University, U.K.) provided a detailed description of Abstract Syntax Notation One. ASN.1 is a notation for defining structured data types, and is used by CCITT and ISO layer 7 work, MAP, and the NRS Lookup Protocol. Traffic Analysis J. Henshall (Edinburgh Regional Computer Centre, Scotland) presented a "High Level Traffic Analysis and OSI Transition Speculation". Statistics on the type and quality of traffic between Edinburgh Computers was used to speculate on the throughput required by Janet OSI transition gateways. Blue Book to FTAM was estimated at 3200 activities and 160 Megabytes per day; Grey Book to MHS was estimated at 4,800 activities and 20 Megabytes per day. M A C Bridging A MAC Bridge standard is being developed in IEEE 802.1, a subcommittee of Project 802 of the Computer Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In his presentation, entitled "MAC Bridges", M. Seaman (Digital Equipment Company, Ltd.) dealt solely with the transparent interconnection of 802 LANs as considered by the IEEE 802.1 Interworking Task Group. MAC Bridges, Seaman explained, interconnect similar or dissimilar 802 LANs below the level of the MAC Service. Bridges may be distinguished from repeaters and similar components by the fact that the MACs of the individual LANs operate independently. The Bridge LAN formed may provide for: (1) an effective increase in the physical extent, the number of permissible attachments, and the total performance of a LAN, (2) partitioning and increased robustness of the LAN, and (3) the interconnection of end-systems attached to LANs of different types without the need for higher layer protocol processing in the case where the end-systems are protocol partners above the MAC service. The slides Seaman presented illustrated the principal points of the draft standard.
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FDDI K. Caves (STC Technology Limited) described the " F D D I Standard for High Speed LANs". He noted the multiple applications possible, which include: (1) computer interconnect for processor and I/O, (2) distributed system of clients and servers, (3) HS LAN backbone for building or campus, (4) support for slower speed IEEE LANs, (5) HS graphics data transfer, (6) real time data acquisition and control and (7) packet voice and video. Cambridge Fast Ring D.J. Greaves (University of Cambridge, U.K.) described "The Cambridge Fast Ring Networking System", a high speed LAN consisting of a mesh of slotted rings. The design and construction work was done by a collaborative group from the Cambridge Computer Laboratory and Acorn Computers. The first working rings were built in early 1985 and operated at 60 Mbit/second. Future rings, using smaller geometry devices in the custom silicon, should shortly be operating nearer the target speed of 100 Mbit/second. The CER, Greaves explained, uses the empty packet system, with hardware acknowledge and entry, and source release. The packets contain 32 bytes of data, 16 bit source and destination addresses, and 16 bits of flags and CRC. The ring medium is optical fibre for distances greater than 100 metres, otherwise screened, dual twisted pair. Each node on a ring is either a normal station, a monitor station (one needed per ring) or a bridge to another ring. The three types of node are constructed using the same physical components: links are set differently. The node hardware includes little more than two custom integrated circuits, which were designed at the Computer Laboratory. One is an ECL serializer/deserializer which downconverts the high line rate to a lower parallel word rate. The other, a CMOS standard cell design, processes the data at this rate to implement the ring protocol.
Concluding Session 0S1 Transition D. Allure (South West University Regional Computer Centre) presented the report from "The
Management and User Implications of the OSI Transition" discussion group. The transition to OSI would be triggered by the introduction of OSI as mandatory in procurements, followed by the establishment of ISO CON S on Janet, and the placement of protocol converters. Points discussed included the transparency of the transition to the user, and possible loss of functionality. Route transparency would be maintained by the Name Registration Scheme service. The basic conclusion that was reached was that the J N T / N E should play a strong coordination, but not control, role in the transition. The dissemination of information, and provision of access to expertise around the community, should be part of this role, according to Allure.
User Support Reporting on the User Support discussion, A. Dransfieid (London Network Team, U.K.) stated that most User Support Networking problems are related to very local issues such as the LAN and the local host interfaces. Although numerically large these problems relate to the areas over which sites have most control, and are therefore not seen as a major support problem. The real problem area, Dransfield pointed out, is that of supporting often naive users who want to contact potential collaborators almost anywhere in the world, outside JANET. There is a great need for a central store of information on how to access the nonJANET world. Dransfield contends that this should be part of the centrally funded services. If necessary, the CBU funded bodies should reconsider their priorities for the funding of User Support oriented services. These issues were discussed in Dransfield's presentation entitled "User Support in a Multi-Network Environment".
Hackers 1. Smith (Network Executive) reporting on the discussion of the hacker problem, said that damage to the network due to hackers is in itself not a problem. Basically, it's up to the host and users to get sensible password strategies. But, Smith pointed out, the network can help by providing good details of caller, by looking at encryption of passwords, and by making input of requirements to Standards bodies.
ConferenceReport
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National Centres
Further Reports
G. Barney (University of Manchester Regional Computer Centre, U.K.) reported on the Discussion Group on "A Common Networking Interface to the National Centers". Discussions dealt with the convergence of the operating systems of the three centres on VM/CMS, and the possibility of VMS and Unix interfaces. Unix was felt to be a third priority. STMP was considered the common interface for job transfer. MASP was being phased out. A demand, voiced vigorously at the discussion, was for interactive access, for graphics purposes, to the supercomputers at the three centers over the network. Questions included the impact of this class of traffic on JANET.
JTMP Implementors Group Report by P. Chambers (Exeter University, U.K.) CBIGAL Report by M. Kahn (London Network Team) CSMA/CD Report by E.C.G. Owen (Darebury Laboratory) CTIG Report by R. Blake (Essex University) Mail Conformance Survey by J. Linn (Aberdeen University) A limited number of copies of the workshop may be obtained from Mrs. Marjorie Thompson, Joint Network Team, c / o Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OXll, 0QX, U.K. Telex: 83159. Telephone: (0235) 44 6334.
Conference Report
Networkshop 15 The fifteenth Networkshop was held at Edinburgh University from April 8-10, 1987. Over 270 delegates from over 120 establishments participated in the workshop. The main thrust of Networkshop 15 was in disseminating information about ISO standards. To this end, two formal sessions and a discussion session were held. Another recurrent theme was remote access by job transfer to the shared Supercomputer resources at the London, Manchester and Rutherford National Centres. One innovation at the workshop was a series of presentations introducing the demonstrations. We present below a description of the contributions at the workshop.
present position on each of the main modes of access to the centres. Most Job Transfers were of a simple type which was supported at all three centres. With file transfers, there were some incompatibilities in character codes and record lengths. With all centres planning or providing screen-mode access, there was doubt about the choice of the common editor. He noted that an important outcome of the recent meeting was the commissioning of a set of papers containing this information, practical recommendations for achieving convergence and proposals for harmonizing the provision of more sophisticated future facilities. IBM-PC~AT, Xenix, and Network Management
National Centre Activities Common Access to the National Centres Over the past two years, there has been much discussion about Common User Interfaces to the National Centres. According to R. Rosner (University of London Computer Centre, U.K), the emphasis of the various working groups has been on the operating system interfaces presented to the 6 users for interactive access. In the middle of 1986, the Computer Board set up the Common User Interface Working Party with participation from the national centres under the chairmanship of Peter Kemp. Following the submission of this group's report to the Computer Board, the communications staff from the three national centres met recently to review the current status of their access facilities and to agree on a course of action. In his presentation, entitled "Common Access to the National Centres", Rosner summarized the
North-Holland Computer Networks and ISDN Systems 14 (1987) 99-103
In his contribution T. Daniel (University of London Computer Centre, U.K.) focussed on the work that has been done at ULCC using an IBMP C / A T running the XENIX operating system. The work forms part of a project to provide Network Management facilities for the centre. In the first part of his lecture, Daniel concentrated on the communications package that has been produced for the PC. In the second part, he discussed the management application. He concluded that at ULCC a very powerful network monitoring tool has been produced that can be adapted for use in many different network situations for different types of component and different user requirements. In the process, communication facilities have been provided to enable the IBMP C / A T to be used as a cheap network server or even a work station. A TS Demonstration M. Veitch (Edinburgh Regional Computer Centre, Scotland) introduced the ATS Demonstration. The Asynchronous Transport Service is a package supporting NIFTP on microcomputers.
0169-7552/87/$3.50 © 1987, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. (North-Holland)
100
Conference Report
The package implements both the P and Q ends of the protocol and enables text file transfers to be initiated from the microcomputer or the remote site. The package, Veitch further explained, supports a subset of NRS site names. Veitch's demonstration showed the operation of ATS on microcomputers running the MS DOS operating system. The machines used were an IBM PC, RM Nimbus and Sirius. These machines were connected to an X25 network via a Camtec PAD with ATS software installed.
Ethernet Demonstration
OSl Tutorials FTAM Update The lecture delivered by I. Baker (Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency) was divided into four parts: (1) Slides were presented in connection with the explanation of FTAM; (2) A tutorial on FTAM technically aligned with the DIS was presented; (3) Further slides were shown relating to the changes between DIS and IS; and (4) Indicators were discussed relating to the changes in the IS. The presentation was entitled "File Transfer, Access and Management".
European Functional Standards G. Howat (Edinburgh Regional Computer Centre, Scotland) presented the "Ethernet Demonstration". The Connection-Oriented Network Service is provided by X.25 (1984) in D T E / D T E mode, ISO 8208 & 8878, LLC-2 and IEEE 802.2. LLC-2 provides the link level service between LAN stations. X.25 (1984) provides the network service. Access from a Spider PAD to IBM and Unix hosts, as well as interworking between hosts was demonstrated.
L. Clyne (Joint Network Team) provided a description and explanation of "European Functional Standards - Lower Layers 1-4". This European Community initiative was described as tying together standards from the perspective of the required functionality. He discussed the wide and local area, connection oriented and connectionless standards sets.
x.25 (19s4) High Speed PAD Demonstration M. Mclntosh (Edinburgh Regional Computer Centre, Scotland) invited the attendance to see a selection of the X.25 PADs now being evaluated by ERCC on behalf of the JNT. The PADs available were the Camtec Switch PAD, the Dowty TelePAD, the Gandalf XMUX and the Netcomm X.25 Super PAD. Mclntosh also presented two graphs indicating preliminary performance results. SSMP Facilities J. Dyer (Joint Network Team, U.K.) introduced an "Evaluation of Simple Screen Management Protocol Facilities (SSMP)". Facilities were able to exercise SSMP via terminals connected by Fawn Boxes to the network. Guest userids were arranged on an Amdahl at Newcastle and a Print at Sheffield. Users were invited to use the screen editors on these hosts.
The 1984 revision of the X.25 specification contains a small number of major changes and a much larger number of more trivial changes, most of which seek to clarify rather than to modify the sense of the text. In a contribution entitled "X.25 (1984)", L Smith (Network Executive)highlighted the major areas of change. He noted in his conclusion of his lecture that there were to be no major revisions, but the E164 specification for the unification of numbering schemes includes ISDN, and results in addresses greater than 15 digits, so there may need to be changes to the Calling/Called X.25 addresses.
Networking Environments Open Systems UNIX Networking D. Mercer (Edinburgh Regional Computing Centre, Scotland) described UNIX at ERCC and discussed UNIX networking in general. Styles of Unix networking includes DARPA, NFS and RFS
Conference Report
de facto standards, as well as the X.25 with File and Job Transfer protocols used in the U.K. academic community. Mercer recommended developments designed to intercept the ISO standards should use the sockets or streams interfaces. Nordunet Programme Since 1980, annual conferences have been organized to foster cooperation and exchange of information among the Nordic national university network projects. Based on these experiences a task force was formed to prepare a program for computer network cooperation within the Nordic countries, the result of which is the NORDUNET programme. B. Carlson (Stockholm University Computing Center and Chairman of the N O R D U N E T Programme Committee) explained that the programme was presented to the council of the Nordic ministers in 1984, and was judged to be of great value for advancing cooperation, research and education in the Nordic countries. A Nordic network would provide an infrastructure that could strengthen the level of competence in least favored regions independent of geographical factors. The Nordic ministers allowed a sum of 10 MNOK (Norwegian crowns) for a 4-year project to the NORDUNET project. In her contribution Carlson described the intentions, objectives, and current status of the NORDUNET project. This project will align the Nordic network activities and work towards harmonization and a common Nordic infrastructure. Telecommunications in Banking Midland Bank is a major user and supplier of telecommunications. It has implemented three major networks during the last three years in an on-going process of rationalizing telecommunications to (a) reduce cost, (b) provide flexibility, (c) create new business opportunities, and (d) make profit through the selling of network services. In his presentation, entitled "Telecommunications in Banking", J. Edwards (Midland Bank PLC, U.K.) discussed what Midland has achieved till now, the areas of telecommunications technology in which it is actively planning, what Midland has learned and the issues it considers important.
101
OSI Tutorials ASN.1 Introduction J. Larmouth (Salford University, U.K.) provided a detailed description of Abstract Syntax Notation One. ASN.1 is a notation for defining structured data types, and is used by CCITT and ISO layer 7 work, MAP, and the NRS Lookup Protocol. Traffic Analysis J. Henshall (Edinburgh Regional Computer Centre, Scotland) presented a "High Level Traffic Analysis and OSI Transition Speculation". Statistics on the type and quality of traffic between Edinburgh Computers was used to speculate on the throughput required by Janet OSI transition gateways. Blue Book to FTAM was estimated at 3200 activities and 160 Megabytes per day; Grey Book to MHS was estimated at 4,800 activities and 20 Megabytes per day. M A C Bridging A MAC Bridge standard is being developed in IEEE 802.1, a subcommittee of Project 802 of the Computer Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In his presentation, entitled "MAC Bridges", M. Seaman (Digital Equipment Company, Ltd.) dealt solely with the transparent interconnection of 802 LANs as considered by the IEEE 802.1 Interworking Task Group. MAC Bridges, Seaman explained, interconnect similar or dissimilar 802 LANs below the level of the MAC Service. Bridges may be distinguished from repeaters and similar components by the fact that the MACs of the individual LANs operate independently. The Bridge LAN formed may provide for: (1) an effective increase in the physical extent, the number of permissible attachments, and the total performance of a LAN, (2) partitioning and increased robustness of the LAN, and (3) the interconnection of end-systems attached to LANs of different types without the need for higher layer protocol processing in the case where the end-systems are protocol partners above the MAC service. The slides Seaman presented illustrated the principal points of the draft standard.
102
ConferenceReport
FDDI K. Caves (STC Technology Limited) described the " F D D I Standard for High Speed LANs". He noted the multiple applications possible, which include: (1) computer interconnect for processor and I/O, (2) distributed system of clients and servers, (3) HS LAN backbone for building or campus, (4) support for slower speed IEEE LANs, (5) HS graphics data transfer, (6) real time data acquisition and control and (7) packet voice and video. Cambridge Fast Ring D.J. Greaves (University of Cambridge, U.K.) described "The Cambridge Fast Ring Networking System", a high speed LAN consisting of a mesh of slotted rings. The design and construction work was done by a collaborative group from the Cambridge Computer Laboratory and Acorn Computers. The first working rings were built in early 1985 and operated at 60 Mbit/second. Future rings, using smaller geometry devices in the custom silicon, should shortly be operating nearer the target speed of 100 Mbit/second. The CER, Greaves explained, uses the empty packet system, with hardware acknowledge and entry, and source release. The packets contain 32 bytes of data, 16 bit source and destination addresses, and 16 bits of flags and CRC. The ring medium is optical fibre for distances greater than 100 metres, otherwise screened, dual twisted pair. Each node on a ring is either a normal station, a monitor station (one needed per ring) or a bridge to another ring. The three types of node are constructed using the same physical components: links are set differently. The node hardware includes little more than two custom integrated circuits, which were designed at the Computer Laboratory. One is an ECL serializer/deserializer which downconverts the high line rate to a lower parallel word rate. The other, a CMOS standard cell design, processes the data at this rate to implement the ring protocol.
Concluding Session 0S1 Transition D. Allure (South West University Regional Computer Centre) presented the report from "The
Management and User Implications of the OSI Transition" discussion group. The transition to OSI would be triggered by the introduction of OSI as mandatory in procurements, followed by the establishment of ISO CON S on Janet, and the placement of protocol converters. Points discussed included the transparency of the transition to the user, and possible loss of functionality. Route transparency would be maintained by the Name Registration Scheme service. The basic conclusion that was reached was that the J N T / N E should play a strong coordination, but not control, role in the transition. The dissemination of information, and provision of access to expertise around the community, should be part of this role, according to Allure.
User Support Reporting on the User Support discussion, A. Dransfieid (London Network Team, U.K.) stated that most User Support Networking problems are related to very local issues such as the LAN and the local host interfaces. Although numerically large these problems relate to the areas over which sites have most control, and are therefore not seen as a major support problem. The real problem area, Dransfield pointed out, is that of supporting often naive users who want to contact potential collaborators almost anywhere in the world, outside JANET. There is a great need for a central store of information on how to access the nonJANET world. Dransfield contends that this should be part of the centrally funded services. If necessary, the CBU funded bodies should reconsider their priorities for the funding of User Support oriented services. These issues were discussed in Dransfield's presentation entitled "User Support in a Multi-Network Environment".
Hackers 1. Smith (Network Executive) reporting on the discussion of the hacker problem, said that damage to the network due to hackers is in itself not a problem. Basically, it's up to the host and users to get sensible password strategies. But, Smith pointed out, the network can help by providing good details of caller, by looking at encryption of passwords, and by making input of requirements to Standards bodies.
ConferenceReport
103
National Centres
Further Reports
G. Barney (University of Manchester Regional Computer Centre, U.K.) reported on the Discussion Group on "A Common Networking Interface to the National Centers". Discussions dealt with the convergence of the operating systems of the three centres on VM/CMS, and the possibility of VMS and Unix interfaces. Unix was felt to be a third priority. STMP was considered the common interface for job transfer. MASP was being phased out. A demand, voiced vigorously at the discussion, was for interactive access, for graphics purposes, to the supercomputers at the three centers over the network. Questions included the impact of this class of traffic on JANET.
JTMP Implementors Group Report by P. Chambers (Exeter University, U.K.) CBIGAL Report by M. Kahn (London Network Team) CSMA/CD Report by E.C.G. Owen (Darebury Laboratory) CTIG Report by R. Blake (Essex University) Mail Conformance Survey by J. Linn (Aberdeen University) A limited number of copies of the workshop may be obtained from Mrs. Marjorie Thompson, Joint Network Team, c / o Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OXll, 0QX, U.K. Telex: 83159. Telephone: (0235) 44 6334.