

                          TThhee CCSSOO NNaammeesseerrvveerr
                           AAnn IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn

             by Steven Dorner, Computing Services Office

     % ph steven dorner
     -201 1:Database ready.
     ----------------------------------------
              alias: sdorner
               name: dorner steven c
              email: dorner@uxg.cso.uiuc.edu
              phone: (W) 333-3339 (H) 356-8892
            address: 189 DCL, 1304 W Springfield, U
            address: 1201 W. Washington, C
         department: computing services office
              title: research programmer
           mailcode: 256
              hours: weekdays
            project: CSO Nameserver (Ph)
     ----------------------------------------

     WWhhaatt iiss iitt??  The CSO Nameserver could be considered a data-
     base containing information about people and things at the
     University of Illinois.  It is designed to be extremely
     flexible in what information it keeps, and also to provide
     fast access to that information.  Currently, most of the in-
     formation in it comes from the University _S_t_u_d_e_n_t_/_S_t_a_f_f_
     _D_i_r_e_c_t_o_r_y (the phone book).

     The CSO Nameserver could also be considered to be a pair of
     programs; one that manages the actual data (this program is
     called _q_i, for __q_u_e_r_y __i_n_t_e_r_p_r_e_t_e_r), and another one that han-
     dles user requests (the program CSO provides for this is
     called _p_h, for __p__h_o_n_e _b_o_o_k).  To most people, the CSO
     Nameserver will be exactly this second program, _p_h, the pro-
     gram that gives them access to the University _D_i_r_e_c_t_o_r_y.

     WWhheerree iiss iitt??  The database for the Nameserver resides on a
     CSO minicomputer (a VAXServer 3500) that runs the UnixTM
     operating system; the name of this computer is
     garcon.cso.uiuc.edu.  The program that manages the database
     (_q_i) runs on this machine.  _Q_i allows programs running on
     other computers to access the database by serving as an in-
     termediary between them and the actual database.  It commun-
     icates with such programs using the campus network, _U_I_U_C_n_e_t.

     _P_h (the program that is usually used to communicate with _q_i)
     is installed on all of CSO's UNIXTM computers.  A simple
     version


     of _p_h is also available on CSO's main IBM computer, a 3081
     which uses a proprietary IBM operating system.  _P_h is also
     installed on many non-CSO computers across the campus;
     later, I'll discuss how you can get _p_h installed on your
     system.

     WWhhaatt iiss iitt ggoooodd ffoorr??  The Nameserver is good for looking up
     phone numbers and addresses of University faculty, students
     or staff members, just like the _S_t_u_d_e_n_t_/_S_t_a_f_f__D_i_r_e_c_t_o_r_y; but
     the Nameserver is good for more than just that.  For one
     thing, the Nameserver knows the electronic mail address for
     thousands of faculty, students and staff; this information
     is not present in the _S_t_u_d_e_n_t_/_S_t_a_f_f__D_i_r_e_c_t_o_r_y.  For some
     people, it knows other things, such as office hours or vaca-
     tion plans.

     A key thing to know about the Nameserver is that, if you use
     a computer that has _p_h installed on it, you can change the
     information the Nameserver keeps about you.  That means
     that, if you change offices in the middle of the year, you
     can put your correct address and phone number in the
     Nameserver immediately, so that people can use _p_h to find
     up-to-date information about you.

     WWhhaatt iissnn''tt iitt ggoooodd ffoorr??  There are some things the
     Nameserver is not meant to do.  One thing that should be
     mentioned right away is that the Namesever can't be used to
     generate mailing lists for junk mail; you don't have to wor-
     ry about getting junk mail because you appear in the
     Nameserver's database.

     Another thing it isn't good for is notifying the University
     of changes of address.  Changes you make to your information
     in the Nameserver are not automatically sent to your depart-
     ment, or the Office of Admissions and Records, or Payroll,
     or anywhere else; you must still notify these places of
     changes in your address.

     HHooww ccaann II hhaavvee pphh iinnssttaalllleedd oonn mmyy ccoommppuutteerr??  If one of the
     computers you use runs UNIXTM or VMS and is connected to
     _U_I_U_C_n_e_t, you can probably have _p_h installed on it.  Tell the
     person who manages your computer that he can get the source
     code for _p_h by anonymous ftp to uxc.cso.uiuc.edu, in the
     net/ph subdirectory (don't worry-he'll know what that
     means).

     HHooww ddoo II uussee pphh??  There are two different ways to use _p_h.
     One way is good for finding information about people, and
     the


     other is good for changing the information the Nameserver
     keeps about you.  I will give you a brief idea of how both
     these ways work; for more detailed information, you should
     read the ``manual page'' for _p_h, which you can read (if your
     computer runs UnixTM) by typing the command, ``man ph''.

     To use _p_h to find out information, you should type ``ph''
     and the name of the person you want to know about; _p_h will
     respond with information about that person:

     % ph steven dorner
     -201 1:Database ready.
     ----------------------------------------
              alias: sdorner
               name: dorner steven c
              email: dorner@uxg.cso.uiuc.edu
              phone: (W) 333-3339 (H) 356-8892
            address: 189 DCL, 1304 W Springfield, U
            address: 1201 W. Washington, C
         department: computing services office
              title: research programmer
           mailcode: 712
              hours: weekdays
            project: CSO Nameserver (Ph)
     ----------------------------------------

     If there are a lot of people who have the name you asked
     for, _p_h will let you view the list a screenful at a time;
     just hit the spacebar to move to the next screen.

     You don't have to know the exact spelling of a name to find
     information; you can put special symbols in the name for
     which you are searching that tell the Nameserver to find
     names that you only know a few letters of.  I won't say any-
     thing more about that here; look in the manual page if you
     are interested in the details.

     Sometimes, you will ask ph for a name, and it will refuse to
     give you information, because too many people have that
     name:

     % ph smith
     -201 1:Database ready.
     502:Too many entries to print (373).

     _P_h does this so that no one can use it to get mailing lists
     for junk mail or other nefarious purposes.  If you really
     want to find the person, you will have to know something
     else


     about them, like part of their first name, or their phone
     number

     If you want to change the information the Nameserver keeps
     about you, you should just type ``ph''.  _P_h won't look up a
     name, but will instead give you a prompt.  There are many
     possible commands you can type to _p_h; they are described in
     full in the _p_h manual page.  You will only need to know
     three commands to change your information, however; _l_o_g_i_n,
     _e_d_i_t, and _q_u_i_t.  Before actually using _p_h for this, you will
     have to make some preparations.

     The first thing you have to do is find your Nameserver
     _a_l_i_a_s.  This is a unique name assigned to you by the
     NameServer.  It will be your first initial, followed by a
     dash, followed by your last name.  If there is more than one
     person with the same first initial and last name as yours,
     there may be number tacked onto the end of your alias.  The
     easiest way to find your alias is simply to look up your
     name with ph; it will be obvious to you which entry is
     yours.

     Once your know your alias, you need to find out your
     Nameserver password.  To do this, send electronic mail to
     nameserv@uxg.cso.uiuc.edu.  You will receive (in a day or
     two) a reply that contains your password.

     Now, it's time to use _p_h to change your information.  Type
     ``ph'' and a return.  You will get a ``ph>'' prompt.  Now,
     type ``login alias'' (but use your real alias, not the word
     ``alias''!) and a return.  _P_h will ask for your password;
     type your password and a return.  You should get a greeting
     from the Nameserver, and another prompt.

     % ph
     $Header: ph.c,v 2.10 88/03/09 09:59:32 dorner Locked $
     Please mail questions or comments to
     dorner@uxg.cso.uiuc.edu.

     ph> login sdorner
     -201 1:Database ready.
     Enter nameserver password: _t_y_p_e _y_o_u_r _p_a_s_s_w_o_r_d _h_e_r_e
     200:sdorner:Hi how are you?
     ph>

     You are now ready to change your information.  Your informa-
     tion is organized into ``fields'', each one containing a
     different piece of information.  There is a field for your
     name,


     your address, your phone numbers, etc.  To change a particu-
     lar field, type ``edit field'' and a return, substituting
     the name of the field you wish to change for ``field''.  For
     example, if you want to change your phone numbers, type
     ``edit phone''.  You will be placed in your favorite UNIX
     editor, with the contents of the field you asked for as the
     text.  Make whatever changes you wish, and exit the editor.
     _P_h will then change the information for you.

     Some information cannot be changed;  the ``name'' field, for
     example,  cannot be changed.  If you need to change one of
     these fields, you should send mail to
     nameserv@uxg.cso.uiuc.edu and arrangements can be made.

     Once you are done changing your information, type ``quit''
     and a return.

     SSuuppppoossee II ccaann''tt uussee pphh ffrroomm mmyy ccoommppuutteerr??  If your computer
     doesn't have ph installed on it, but you would like to use
     ph to look up addresses or change your information, you can
     still do so.  Connect to CSO's staff Pyramid, uxe, by using
     telnet (telnet uxe.cso.uiuc.edu), sytek (call 12ee) or by
     dialup (333-4008, class duxe).  When you are prompted for
     login:, type ``phones'' and a return.  When you are prompted
     for Password:, type another return.  You will then be
     prompted for your terminal type.  If you have a vt100 termi-
     nal or terminal emulator, you can just type a return; if you
     have some other terminal, type its name.  You will receive a
     ph> prompt, and can use ph.

     WWhheerree ccaann II ffiinndd mmoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn??  More information can be
     found by reading the manual page on _p_h.  Programmers who
     wish to access the Nameserver from their programs should ob-
     tain the document _N_a_m_e_s_e_r_v_e_r__S_e_r_v_e_r_/_C_l_i_e_n_t__L_a_n_g_u_a_g_e, avail-
     able in the file ``language.troff'' in the same directory on
     uxc.cso.uiuc.edu as the _p_h source code.

     WWhhaatt iiff II hhaavvee ttrroouubbllee??  If you have problems or questions
     that are not resolved by reading this document, the _p_h manu-
     al page, or _N_a_m_e_s_e_r_v_e_r__S_e_r_v_e_r_/_C_l_i_e_n_t__L_a_n_g_u_a_g_e, feel free to
     ask me by sending mail to ``dorner@uxg.cso.uiuc.edu''.


               AAppppeennddiixx -- AA RRaannkk BBeeggiinnnneerr''ss GGuuiiddee ttoo VVII

     This page describes a few vi commands to accomplish simple
     editing tasks.  Full documentation for vi can be found in
     _T_h_e _U_N_I_X _U_s_e_r'_s _M_a_n_u_a_l _S_u_p_p_l_e_m_e_n_t_a_r_y _D_o_c_u_m_e_n_t_s, chapter 15
     (really advanced users should read chapter 16 as well).  Two
     thing to keep in mind:  First, the editor is pronounced
     ``vee eye''; if you pronounce it, ``vie,'' UNIX gurus will
     laugh at you, though not out loud.  Secondly, vi is
     case-sensitive; be sure to use upper or lower case commands
     as appropriate.

     MMooddeess..  Vi is a modal editor; what you can do depends on
     what mode you are in.  The two modes of interest to us are
     _c_o_m_m_a_n_d mode and _i_n_s_e_r_t mode.  You type most commands in
     command mode; all you do in insert mode is type your text.
     You get out of insert mode by typing _e_s_c_a_p_e, usually marked
     ``esc'' on keyboards; on some keyboards, you may have to
     hold down the control or alt key and press ``[''.  If you
     type escape in command mode, vi will beep at you; so if you
     get confused, just type escape until vi beeps; then you'll
     be back in command mode.

     MMoovviinngg AArroouunndd..  Here are some motion commands in vi.  They
     are typed in command mode, and leave the editor in command
     mode.

          CCoommmmaanndd   WWhhaatt iitt ddooeess

          control-h Moves the cursor lleefftt ([[]]) one character.
          h         Moves the cursor lleefftt ([[]]) one character.
          j         Moves the cursor ddoowwnn ([[]]) one line.
          k         Moves the cursor uupp ([[]]) one line.
          l         Moves the cursor rriigghhtt ([[]]) one character.
          w         Moves the cursor ffoorrwwaarrdd to the beginning of
                    the next word.
          b         Moves the cursor bbaacckkwwaarrdd to the beginning of
                    the previous word.

     DDeelleetteeiinngg TTeexxtt..  Here are some commands to get rid of stuff.
     Type them in command mode; they will leave the editor in
     command mode.

          CCoommmmaanndd   WWhhaatt iitt ddooeess

          dd        Deletes the current line.
          x         Deletes the character at the cursor, and
                    moves the rest of the line to fill the hole.


     AAddddiinngg TTeexxtt..  The following commands all put you into insert
     mode and let you type text.  Type escape when you are fin-
     ished adding text, and you will be returned to command mode.

          CCoommmmaanndd   WWhhaatt iitt ddooeess

          i         Start inserting characters before the charac-
                    ter the cursor is on.
          O         Create a new line above the cursor, and start
                    inserting at the beginning of that line.
                    Note that this command is a _c_a_p_i_t_a_l ``O''.

     GGeettttiinngg OOuutt..  The following commands exit vi.  They work in
     command mode.

          CCoommmmaanndd   WWhhaatt iitt ddooeess

          ZZ        Exit vi, and save the changes you have made.
                    Those are _c_a_p_i_t_a_l Z's, by the way.
          :q!o/      Exit vi, but don't save changes (the ``o/''
                    means to type return).