TIPs now make extensive use of the TENEX RSEXEC. The TENEX RSEXEC currently is run on many network TENEX systems and a package (called TIPSER) which allows direct TIP use of the TENEX RSEXEC runs on BBN-TENEX, ISI-TENEX, and will soon run on the SRI-ARC TENEX.
TIP use of RSEXEC is presently initiated by the TIP user command @N. This initiates a broadcast of a TIP message to all network RSEXECs running TIPSER. A connection is made between the TIP and the first RSEXEC to respond. Over this connection, the TIP user can access a number of useful services. At the present time these are:
- A "NETNEWS" service which allows the IMP and TIP system programmers and the NCC staff to communicate to users. The headline of the latest news is typed immediately on connection to TIPSER. - A "GRIPE" service which allows users to communicate to the IMP and TIP system programmers and to the NCC staff. - A "HOSTAT" service which reports which Hosts in the network are up and available. - A "LINK" service which allows a TIP user to make a two-way connection between his terminal and any user of a TENEX system running RSEXEC. - A "SNDMSG" service which provides a general purpose "mail" distribution facility. - A "TRMINF" service which gives the TIP user information about his terminal including the name of the TIP he is using and the TIP MLC port to which his terminal is attached. - More than seventeen other services (commands) are presently available to the TIP user through TIPSER. Included are text editing (e.g., delete character, delete line, retype line) and terminal control (e.g., full duplex, - set attention character) commands, as well as commands for finding other network users, finding an unloaded server TENEX, and commands which help in learning to use the RSEXEC.
We plan to continue expanding the facilities available to TIP users through the RSEXEC. Most immediately, we plan to add a facility which will give users news relating specifically to the TIP they are using, such as an announcement of an updated preventative maintenance period for the TIP. This will also include a facility which permits the site person responsible for the TIP to add a site specific news item and edit out old news items. Other facilities which will eventually exist via RSEXEC are:
- on-line access to the TIP User's Guide and other documents such as the Resource Notebook. - TIP passwords, access control, and accounting - generalization of the LINK and SNDMSG services to allow addressing of other TIP users as well as Host users. - a READMAIL service which allows TIP users to receive mail independent of any server Host. - an expanded TRMINF service to provide TIP status (e.g., number of users on TIP, load average). - a distributed virtual file system for TIP users.