BKUMUUCP.RVW   961017
 
"Using and Managing UUCP", Ed Ravin/Tim O'Reilly/Dale Dougherty/Grace Todino,
1996, 1-56592-153-4, U$29.95/C$42.95
%A   Ed Ravin
%A   Tim O'Reilly
%A   Dale Dougherty
%A   Grace Todino
%C   103 Morris Street, Suite A, Sebastopol, CA   95472
%D   1996
%G   1-56592-153-4
%I   O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
%O   U$29.95/C$42.95 800-998-9938 707-829-0515 fax: 707-829-0104 nuts@ora.com
%P   424
%S   Nutshell
%T   "Using and Managing UUCP"
 
Updating two earlier Nutshell books ("Using UUCP and Usenet", cf. BKUSUUCP.RVW;
and "Managing uucp and Usenet", cf. BKMANUCP.RVW), this book is quite technical
- but then, users of uucp are pretty much bound to be technical themselves,
unless their "use" is limited to preprogrammed scripts.  The layout closely
follows that of the original books: sort of part one equals using and part tow
equals managing.
 
Chapter one is an introduction to uucp and networks (versions of uucp having
been covered in the Preface).  Using mail as an example, network routing and
"bang paths" are explained.  Chapter two deals with file transfers, and covers
"permissions" and security aspects.  Chapter three explains the "remote"
execution of commands while five details remote login.  Chapter four covers the
matter of checking on the status of requests.  Chapter six now covers email.
 
I was interested to note that the original chapters seven, eight and nine form
the "Using" book, which I had criticized, have been removed.  They dealt with
Usenet, and the reading and posting of "news".  News is now dealt with only
briefly in an appendix.
 
When it comes to management, the book provides hardware guidance as well,
particularly to those with Intel boxes.  Chapters eight and nine deal not only
with the basic operations and configuration of UUCP, but also with cabling,
ports and modems.  The material gives enough detail but does not go on to
flaunt knowledge of unnecessary trivia.  Further chapters give information on
testing and troubleshooting, security and management.  Once again, the chapters
on Usenet news have been removed.
 
There are now twelve very useful appendices covering shell scripts, spool
directory, error messages, non-UNIX platforms, sendmail, news, the UUCP mapping
project, management tools, modem setup, protocol internals, the UUCP g
protocol, and other resources.
 
UUCP may be seen by some to be obsolete, particularly in the face of the near
dominance of TCP/IP.  However, UUCP is a robust and useful system, particularly
in dialup or otherwise difficult communication situations.  This resource has
significant life left in it yet.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1993, 1994, 1996   BKUMUUCP.RVW   961017

======================
roberts@decus.ca           rslade@vcn.bc.ca           rslade@vanisl.decus.ca
          I haven't lost my mind -- it's backed up on tape somewhere.
Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" 0-387-94663-2 (800-SPRINGER)