ABSTRACT
Information Systems and Technology (IST) at UC Berkeley has designed and implemented a widely accessible information server. IST has traditionally disseminated a great deal of information via its mainframe computers, ranging from computer documentation to information from other campus units, such as lists of current funding opportunities maintained by the campus Sponsored Projects Office. As more computer users, including much of IST's constituency, moved to workstations and microcomputers, IST recognized its inability to communicate with these users in the traditional ways and began the server project. From IST's point of view, the server allows the distribution of computing-related information to a wider range of users. However, it also provides an inexpensive means for distributing the vast amount of local information required on a campus of Berkeley's complexity. Since most of the campus' printed information is already based on computer files (such as the Schedule of Classes, job listings, etc.) the additional effort for those departments to make the information widely available electronically via the server is slight.
The UC Berkeley Information Server is both the mechanism for distributing information over the Campus Network and beyond, as well as the collection of information available for such distribution. Technically, the server is a DEC computer running UNIX, with interfaces allowing it to communicate with a variety of user computers, such as IBM PCs, Apple Macintoshes, UNIX systems, and CMS. For the interface between the server and the users' machines, the ANSI standard Z39.50 was chosen to provide broad compatibility across a wide range of possible requirements. The connection from the user's computer may be made over the Campus Network or through phones lines dialed into the central campus Port Selectors. The server can be “acquainted” with other networked servers maintained by individual departments or other campuses and redirect inquiries to these other servers as appropriate. The user can view the information, download it to the local computer, or print it.
The collection of information is defined as that subset of information useful to the campus and appropriate for general campus dissemination. Potentially it includes the General Catalog, job listings, a calendar of campus events, a dictionary, departmental information, computer programs, ad infinitum. Some of the information is supplied by IST, such as public domain computer programs and information on making use of campus computing facilities and services. Other information is supplied by other campus departments and outside sources, either directly or through IST. Care is taken that those who directly supply information to the server are trusted, in the sense that they can be relied upon not to add, for instance, libelous or proprietary material. The trusted information providers have sole responsibility for maintaining their own material for distribution via the server.
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