Zen and the Art of the Internet

This guide, "Zen and the Art of the Internet," authored by Brendan P. Kehoe, serves as a foundational resource for novice users navigating the complexities of the internet. It aims to be operating system neutral, providing essential information without delving into system-specific details. The book is structured to act as a reference and a starting point for exploration, offering enough knowledge to encourage users to learn the specifics of their local systems. The text begins by explaining the fundamental concepts of network addresses, detailing the structure of domain names (com, edu, gov, mil, net, org) and country-specific domains. It introduces the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) and the concept of Internet numbers (IP addresses), explaining their structure and the process of resolving names to numbers through services like DNS. The book differentiates between various networks like the Internet (a network of networks), UUCP (Unix-to-Unix Copy Program), and BITNET, also describing the physical connections used, such as leased lines and modems. A significant portion of the guide is dedicated to electronic mail (email), explaining email addresses, the difference between Internet and UUCP formats, and the use of symbols like '@' and '!'. It details the structure of an email header, including fields like 'From:', 'Received:', 'Date:', 'To:', 'Subject:', and 'Message-Id:'. The process of handling bounced mail and the function of mailing lists and listservs are also covered. The guide then moves on to File Transfer Protocol (FTP), explaining anonymous FTP as a method for public file access. It outlines basic FTP commands such as 'ftp', 'dir', 'cd', 'get', and 'put', and crucially distinguishes between ASCII and binary transfer modes to prevent data corruption. Etiquette for using FTP is also discussed, emphasizing considerate use of network resources. Further exploration delves into services like archie, a query system for finding files on anonymous FTP sites, and Usenet newsgroups, explaining their structure, propagation, creation, and the importance of netiquette. The text clarifies what Usenet is and, importantly, what it is not, dispelling common misconceptions. It touches upon various Usenet hierarchies (comp, misc, sci, soc, talk, news, rec, alt, gnu, biz) and the distinction between moderated and unmoderated groups. The guide also introduces Telnet, a protocol for remote machine connections, and discusses its usage, ports, and applications like accessing publicly available library catalogs and bulletin board systems. Several other tools and services are presented, including Finger (for user information), Ping (for system connectivity checks), and Talk (for real-time conversation). Databases and commercial services are also briefly mentioned, along with resources for finding more information like the Internet Resource Guide and RFCs (Requests for Comments). Finally, the book addresses topics that new users will commonly encounter, such as the Internet Worm incident and the importance of organizations like the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR). It concludes by encouraging readers to suggest improvements to the guide and provides contact information for feedback and future updates, emphasizing that the Internet is a constantly evolving entity.