NCF FreePlan July Status ========================= Submitted by Lisa K. Donnelly (am412), Executive Director Based on report by Ian D. Allen (aa610),Technical Director This document gives the current status of the following five major components of the NCF FreePlan: FreeNet (FreePort) The Classic, menu-based community network FreeMail Internet-based "offline" mail reading/writing Dial-up mail service using PPP FreePages Organization WWW home pages NCF member WWW home pages FreePlace Internet-based public cyber-services: NNTP access to ncf.* news Full text indexing and searching FreeWeb Limited capacity Dial-up PPP service to the Internet FreeNet (FreePort) ------------------ The Classic, text-only, menu-based community network. We have purchased a new terminal server and computer server to handle the upcoming addition of 32 more phone lines to the high speed modem pool for the FreePort menu system. The express line modem pool will share duty with the upcoming FreeMail dial-up service. The text-only Lynx browser is scheduled for an upgrade this summer to fix bugs with "forms" handling. Information providers will need to be advised that FreePort users have access only to Lynx and therefore any WWW references (e.g, to web pages in FreePages) in FreePort menus should be formatted with Lynx in mind. FreeMail: Dial-Up service ------------------------- This Internet-based "offline" mail reading Dial-Up service provides an accessible (no busy signals) modem pool of PPP connections to the NCF Mail Server for the purpose of reading/writing email. Status: Waiting on installation of new lines, terminal server, router, and new server machine before test system is up and running for alpha testers to try it. Some authentication and capacity issues still to be resolved; talking with local consultants and Netscape. Software installed: Netscape Mail Server 2.0 BETA This is BETA software; it expires in September. Purchase or donation required. FreePages: Organization and member home pages --------------------------------------------- Full/standard web page server for individuals and organizations. Status: Test system is up and running, ready for alpha testers to try it. Working out procedures for use and for posting pages. Software installed: Netscape Enterprise Server 2.0 Available for 60-day free trial (until September). FreePlace: Internet-based public cyber-services ----------------------------------------------- NNTP access to ncf.* news Full text indexing and searching Status: Test system is up and running, ready for alpha testers to try it. Some integration and authentication issues. Software installed: Netscape News Server 1.1 Available for 60-day free trial (until mid-August). FreeWeb: Limited capacity PPP service ------------------------------------- Dial-up PPP access (to support graphical web browsing) to the Internet Status: Test system is up and running, ready for alpha testers to try it. Software installed: "tia" -- The Internet Adapter is site licenced at Carleton as intermediate solution for alpha testing. -- ** Lisa K. Donnelly, M.B.A., Executive Director ** * National Capital FreeNet/Libertel de la Capitale nationale * Telecommunities Canada, Board of Directors (613) 241-9554 voice & fax (613) 241-2477