** ** ****** ** ** ******** ** ** ***** ** ** ** * ** ** ** *** ** ** ** ** ** * ** ** ** * **** **** ** * ** ** ** ** ** **** ** ** ** ** ** *** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** * ** ** ** ** ** ****** ** ** ** ***** ***** ** ** ** ****** ****** ***** ** **** ******** ****** ****** ** ** ** ** * ** ** * ** ** ** ** ****** **** ** ** ** ** **** ****** ** ** ** ** **** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** * ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ****** ***** ** **** ** ****** ** ** **** KY REGISTER **** KY REGISTER **** KY REGISTER **** KY REGISTER *** MARCH 1990 TABLE OF CONTENTS Conversion to MVS/XA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Mixed Case Now Default on PRT2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 UKCC Short Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Attention Campus Micro Labs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 IBM PC Virus Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Practice Safe Hex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 Numerical Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 Spring Break Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302 The PRIME Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309 Suggestions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 465 UKCC Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494 Service Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506 ************************************************************************* CONVERSION TO MVS/XA On February 11, 1990, the MVS operating system on the IBM 3084 was converted to MVS/XA. MVS/XA allows programs to take advantage of a larger virtual address space and makes more efficient use of the Extended Architecture hardware of the 3084. Using the MVS/XA system is no different from using the previous MVS system, although for some programs which invoke internal sorts you will need to specify a larger region size. If you have any problems with or questions about MVS/XA, contact a Consultant in 110 McVey Hall, 257-2249, SUGGEST@UKCC.UKY.EDU. ************************************************************************* MIXED CASE NOW DEFAULT ON PRT2 The default print band on the hands-on printer (PRT2) was changed from all upper case (P11) to mixed case (T11) on Sunday, February 11. Previously, if you wanted your mainframe output printed in mixed case, you had to send it to one of the CENTRAL printers or to one of the CCUSER laser printers. Now you can get that rough draft or program listing containing mixed case characters from the impact printer quicker than getting it from the laser printers. For more information about or help with the new default, contact an Operator at the Data Center, 257-2222. -- Ben Rice ************************************************************************* UKCC SHORT COURSES The following short courses are free to all UK faculty, staff, and students, but preregistration is required. If you register for a course and then find that you will be unable to attend, please cancel your registration by calling 257-UKCC. Failure to do so may jeopardize your right to register for future UKCC short courses. There are several ways you can register, depending on the class: * You can register online -- some classes require online registration. Just enter VIEW UKCC SHORTCOURSE on your CMS account and follow the menus. * You can register by calling 257-UKCC (this is Voice Mail Exchange, your registration will be confirmed by phone within five days). Many of these classes don't require any knowledge or experience with any computer system. If there are prerequisites for a particular class, they'll be listed in the class description. If you have questions about class content or bypassing prerequisites, call the instructor for that class. GENERALIZED LINEAR MODELS March 5 and 7 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 103 McVey Hall Traditional linear models, i.e., linear regression and ANOVA models, relate the mean of a random variable to some linear combination of predictors. Generalized linear models relate a function of the mean to a linear combination of predictors. This simple modification allows logistic and probit regression, log-linear modeling, and most other univariate maximum likelihood techniques to be performed similar to the usual regression techniques. This two-session course will review some of the theory of such generalized linearm odels, as well as their analysis using the interactive VM/CMS program GLIM. Your instructor will be Steve Thomson (257-2259, STEVE@UKCC). STRUCTURAL EQUATION ANALYSIS AND PROGRAMS March 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 103 McVey Hall Structural equation analysis can be viewed as a generalization of regression analysis, simultaneous equations, and factor analysis. Basically, one analyzes linear relations among certain inexactly measured, possibly latent, variables. This course, in six consecutive sessions, is an introduction to the methodology of structural equations and the main programs that implement such analyses, i.e., LISREL, EQS, and LISCOMP. Some experience with regression and factor analysis and running programs using similar techniques are prerequisite. Your instructor will be Steve Thomson (257-2259, STEVE@UKCC). ADVANCED GRAPHICS CONCEPTS March 5, 7, 9 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 327 McVey Hall (CCS) This course is intended for the user who is already familiar with one or more of our graphics systems (graPHIGS, DI-3000, SAS/GRAPH, etc.), and would like to be doing more. New devices will be introduced, and more advanced concepts such as animation, dynamic visualization, three- and four-dimensional representations, and metafiles will be discussed and demonstrated. Consultation on new application ideas will be available. Bob Williamson will be your instructor (257-2227, ROBERTT@UKCC). Online registration is required for this course. ************************************************************************* ATTENTION CAMPUS MICRO LABS Anytime you suspect a micro lab computer has been infected by a virus, immediately contact Jack Coffman, the UKCC's computing security officer. He can help campus micro labs identify and eradicate most known viruses, and he can coordinate campuswide communications efforts. He also has extensive information on how micro labs can avoid virus attacks in the future. You can reach Jack Coffman at 257-2273, 218 McVey Hall, UKA051@UKCC.UKY.EDU. ************************************************************************* IBM PC VIRUS UPDATE More than 50 campus IBM PCs were infected by the Stoned, or Marijuana, virus last month. This virus infects floppy disks by installing itself in the boot record, and it infects hard disks by installing itself in the Master Boot Record. The Master Boot Record is used to describe the attributes of the hard disk, but it is not used to boot DOS, so a computer with a hard disk infecton can still be initialized or booted. Symptoms of this virus include being unable to boot or initialize from a floppy disk, and getting the message "Your PC is now stoned!" Software packages may become unusable when the virus infects the hard disk. The virus does not affect IBM PS/2s or 3.5" floppy disks. If you suspect your PC has been infected by this, or any other virus, contact a Micro Lab consultant at 107 McVey Hall, 257-2207, or notify your local micro lab manager immediately. Jack Coffman, the UKCC's computing security officer, can also help identify and eradicate most known viruses. He can be reached at 257-2273, 218 McVey Hall, UKA051@UKCC.UKY.EDU. ************************************************************************* PRACTICE SAFE HEX * Acquire software only from trusted sources. In particular, never insert a diskette without the manufacturer's seal, never use a program borrowed from someone "with poor computer hygiene," don't execute programs received through mail, don't let employees bring software from home, and beware of public bulletin-board software. * Scan and monitor for viral activity regularly. In particular, purchase antiviral programs, but beware of them, too, and monitor last-modified dates of files. * Backup often and systematically. -- Raphael Finkel, PhD Editor's Note: These tips were extracted from a lecture given by Dr. Finkel on February 13, 1990. For more information on viruses and what you can do, contact Jack Coffman at 257-2273, UKA051@UKCC.UKY.EDU, 218 McVey Hall. ************************************************************************* NUMERICAL PROCESSING A computer uses number systems that are fundamentally different from any number system that we, as humans, would use. Numerical processing refers to the well-informed use of the finite, discrete set of numbers understood by computers. When we do arithmetic, we normally use an infinite, continuous set of numbers to calculate exact answers to our problems. For example, we understand that a simple fraction like 1/3 = .333333.. can go on forever and still be expressed as 1/3, but a computer can't do that. Computers do not understand fractional notation at all. In fact, most computers don't even understand decimal fractions like .333333e0. They think only in terms of binary numbers. Binary numbers are represented only by ones and zeros, which correspond to the on/off states in a computer's circuits. Binary numbers are represented as hexadecimal numbers in some computers. Hexadecimal numbers are in base 16. There is a convenient one-to-one relationship between each hexadecimal digit and four binary bits. That is, the hexadecimal numbers 0 through F correspond to the binary numbers 0000 through 1111 (decimal 15). 0 through FF is 0000 through 1111 1111, and so on. Each power of sixteen is four powers of two. Each byte in a computer is eight bits, or binary digits; so each byte is two hexademical numbers. When a number is stored in a computer it is converted to its binary representation, both whole and fractional parts, and this can result in some trouble. Each type of programming variable only stores a certain number of these digits before it cuts off the rest and changes the value of the number. For example, in single precision the computer uses a four byte (or eight hex-digit) floating point number to store your variables. So when you input y = 1/3 you get back y = 0.3333333e0. This contains an error of about 0.0000000333... or 0.333333...e-7. Unless a given number happens to be exactly expressable by about 6 hex digits (for example, one-half), then there will be some error associated with it. This error is described in terms of a multiple of what is called machine epsilon, or the unit round. Machine epsilon, Mu, is the largest number possible such that one plus the unit round still equals one to the computer. It is a direct result of the number of significant digits in a particular finite number set. Speaking of number sets, we need to understand the standard way in which the various finite number sets used by the computer are characterized. There are four important parameters that make each such set unique. They are: 1.) The number base, B. (eg., base 2 for binary, base 10 for decimal, etc.) 2.) The number of significant digits, s, which the computer is allowed to store. 3.) The smallest exponent allowed, m.(Usually a negative integer) 4.) The largest exponent allowed, M. (Usually a positive integer) In terms of these concepts, Mu = B^(1-s). This means that for any computer, there is a large, but finite set of numbers that it can deal with. The set of numbers used by a computer is not evenly spaced. There are as many numbers between 0.001 and 0.0001 as there are between 10,000 and 100,000, so the error in the computer's representation of any real number (N) is Mu times N. For example, in base 10 with S=6 Mu about 10 -5 and the spacing between numbers of magnitude 10 to the 9th power is approximately 10 to the 4th power. Another result of using finite representations of real numbers is called catastrophic cancellation, otherwise known as loss of significant digits. For example, 0.123459E0 - 0.123451E0 = 0.000008E0, but the computer must normalize this expression by shifting its significant digit forward and changing the exponenet. In human math, this would result in 0.800000E-5, which implies six significant digits of accuracy, i.e., the answer is not 0.800001E-5 or 0.799999E-5. The computer's action results in 0.8$#@%:E-5 where the characters represent garbage used to fill up the needed storage space. We have gone from six significant digits to 1. The garbage does not represent any attempt to approximate the correct result; it is just real garbage. Wise programmers take these potential pitfalls into account when performing numerical operations. For example, the familiar expression for the roots of a quadratic equation (-b +- sqrt(b^2 - 4ac))/2a can yield terrible results when 4ac is much less than b and b > 0. To avoid cancellation in such a case, use (-b - sqrt(b**2 - 4ac))/2a to determine one root, and use the relationship root2 =c/(root1*a) to determine the other. UKCC's staff expert for numerical processing is Anne Leigh. She can be contacted at ANNE@UKCC.UKY.EDU, 257-2205, 109 McVey Hall. -- Alan Audette ************************************************************************* SPRING BREAK Just a reminder: All UKCC offices and services will be available during Spring Break, March 12-16, 1990. ************************************************************************* THE PRIME BULLETIN BOARD Editor's Note: This is the first appearance of The PRIME Bulletin Board, the current collection of GRIPES and suggestions from PRIME users. 1. Why is access to the regular class directory allowed to students of CS101N when they have their own separate class directory? >>>The UKCC doesn't control access to class directories. Your best bet is to discuss this with your instructor. 2. I just noticed this about the spooler. When you tell the spooler to print more than one file using the print command and then leave off the destination, it prompts you for it for every file. I don't think this is a bug, but I do think it should be changed so that it prints all files using the same destination without having to enter it every time. >>>It's not the spooler. When you request output, PRIME issues the PRINT command for each entry in ( )'s. Asking it to remember the destination is like asking it to remember two days from now what you printed and use the same destination. 3. From UKnet, if you enter CONNECT TELNET TELNET H you're given help which indicates that you may open to an address using syntax something like this: open aaa.aaa.aaa.aaa (port), but can't get it to open to a specific port.Is the help wrong, or am I botching the syntax? >>>To get a specific port when telneting through UKnet, try something like this: OPEN 128.163.1.5..99 4. The suggestion to try telnet 128.163.128.10..xxxx helped except for one problem. For some reason it will only accept 3 numbers for xxxx. For example, telnet 128.163.128.10..111 is fine but telnet 128.163.128.10..1111 isn't. Anyone have any idea why this is? >>>The telnet NIUs use the dotted decimal network byte format to open connections. OPEN 128.163.1.5 is in dotted decimal format. Socket numbers are also handled in dotted decimal format. To use a telnet NIU to connect to a particular socket, use this format: OPEN xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx nnn.nnn where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the host IP number in dotted decimal format, and nnn.nnn is the host socket number in dotted decimal format. For example, to connect to 128.163.1.6 on socket number 1111: OPEN 128.163.1.6 4.87 1111 is 457 in hex, split 457 hex into 8 bit words right justified (4,57). 57 hex is 87 in decimal and 4 hex is 4 in decimal. So the dotted decimal representation of 1111 is 4.87. If you'd like more information about this, contact Robert Lee at 257-2201, 9 McVey Hall, SYSBOB@UKCC.UKY.EDU. 5. I can't seem to connect to a working telnet port from UKnet. Each port I reach fails to respond. Any ideas on what the problem might be? >>>We're working on this problem and expect to have it resolved soon. Thanks for your patience. 6. When will POTM1 and POTM2 be working again? >>>We had to shut down all the printers temporarily to install a new spooler, but everything's back to normal now. 7. The PHONE system doesn't seem to be recorded when using the COMO (or record) facility. This would be quite useful. >>>PHONE closes any command files in order to prevent people from easily harassing others. Output files, COMO files, are closed because people shouldn't be able to record conversation without all parties' approval, just like real telephone conversations. 8. In the middle of an Eng 101 paper my screen has totally locked up! This should not happen on such a widely used and important system. Can we get some instructions on how to get out of such things? >>>Questions about PrimeWord can be directed to your instructor or to Peggy Akridge, PEGGY@UKPR. 9. An account was still active when I connected to UKPR. When the owner of this account was disconnected, the PRIME didn't log the account out. >>>A terminal on the campus network was found to not be disconnecting users. This will be corrected soon. In the meantime, always make sure you log off before turning off a terminal or disconnecting from the network. 10. Help! I'm trying to get into the editor from home on a 2400 baud modem and when I try ed -t 17 -wi or ed filename -t 17 wi it says that -wi is not recognized by the ed command. When I try ed -wi -t 17 it says that -t is not recognized the ed command. To get into the editor I have to type ed filename -t 17 and type wi at the $ prompt.....what happened to the -wi? >>>All the command line options must either be completely spelled out or abbreviated to one character. The correct command is ed filename -t 17 - w. Type HELP NEWS EDITOR to find out more about the new version of the editor announced in the login message. 11. Encasing the King Library printer is creating some problems because people ignore the signs and rip the paper out. They also like to take the printer offline before form feed (which is standard procedure on most PC printers) but they don't put it back online. I would like to propose some suggestions for these problems that would decrease the lib printer downtime when no consultant is around: 1. Install an edge on the printer that has teeth, so that you can rip paper off like you do tin-foil out of the box; 2. do an automatic form feed after each job printed; 3. can we remove the case altogether; 4. make more signs! >>>The library printer was protected because of vandalism. We're investigating possible solutions to the problem. 12. The way CPW command is used now, you must type your old password on the command line. For a brief time, the password is visible on the screen. Having a password visible is bad security. I'd like to suggest that the CPW command be changed to not require the old password on the command line. Instead, prompt the user for the old password with character echoing turned off, just like it prompts for the new password. >>>Thanks for the suggestion. We recommend you use the PROMPT option. Enter CPW -PROMPT The system will ask for the old password (which won't appear on the screen) as well as the new password. We'll suggest to PRIME that it should be the default. Using the same password on several accounts is not a good idea, and changing your current password to some spin-off of a previous password isn't either. 13. Can someone tell me how I can grant myself access to my other if I'm in one and would just like to attach myself to a different one? I'd like to be able to log into my CS account and then attach to my 122 account without all of the logout/login hassle. >>> To change the protection on your PRIME account you should talk with your instructor. ************************************************************************* SUGGESTIONS 1. I'm new to the system. I would like to know if there is a way to upload work from another machine. It would be helpful to do the text-workup on my Amiga and then upload it to my account for compilation/execution. I'll handle the data incompatibility, I just want a way to make my life a bit easier! >>>Read the help file for UPLOAD; that should do what you are looking for. If there is a Kermit for Amiga, then things are simpler yet. Give us a call at 257-2249 or e-mail CROVO@UKCC.UKY.EDU directly for further details if the help doesn't get it for you. 2. When using the NAMES command how do you enter a node that is longer than the allowed field? How do I put CLUS1.CLEMSON.EDU in the node field? >>>That node name easily fits into the field displayed by the NAMES command. Call us at 257-2249 if you are still having problems. 3. Some parts of VIEW are pretty far out of date! The Arts Calendar tells about the exciting "upcoming" events of Fall, 1989, and some of the other campus events calendars are almost as far behind the times. We've contacted the parties involved and requested more current information. Thanks. ************************************************************************* UKCC CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE: IBM PC Jr. 128K, color monitor, printer adaptor, game card, and joysticks. $500 new, make offer. Call Fred at 502/868-0101 after 6:00 p.m. FOR SALE: IBM PC. 612K, two disk drives, monochrome display, graphics and printer, serial and parallel port adaptors. $1,300 new, make offer. Call Fred at 502/868-0101 after 6:00 p.m. ************************************************************************* UKCC SERVICE DIRECTORY McVey Service E-Mail Address Phone Hall Vice President, Information Services Eugene R. Williams DPS128@UKCC 257-3609 Director, University Computing Services Dr. Douglas Hurley HURLEY@UKCC 257-2900 128 Director, Communications Services Doyle Friskney DOYLE@UKCC 257-6225 Director, Computational Sciences Dr. John Connolly CONNOLLY@UKCC 257-8737 324 Academic Consulting Services Lavine Thrailkill UKC105@UKCC 257-2257 121 CMS Consulting Bob Crovo CROVO@UKCC 257-2258 109 Complaints Carol Lotz LOTZ@UKCC 257-2213 129 Consultant for Remote Sites Wanda Dixon Spisak WANDA@UKCC 257-2206 115 Consulting Consultant on Duty SUGGEST@UKCC 257-2249 110 Contingency Planning & Security Jack L. Coffman UKA051@UKCC 257-2273 218 Database - IDMS Rick Chlopan DBA003@UKCC 257-2211 230E Data Center 257-2222 61 Data Entry Frank McCormick OPFRANK@UKCC 257-2216 72 Desktop Publishing Consulting Marguerite Floyd EDITOR@UKCC 257-2219 205 Disk Rental Janet Hyatt HYATT@UKCC 257-2212 130 Larry Johnson JOHNSON@UKCC 257-2217 130 Facilities Operations Joe Williams UKA048@UKCC 257-2231 122 Graphics Consultation Bob Williamson ROBERTT@UKCC 257-2227 207 Information Center Judy Kisil UKA041@UKCC 257-2241 222 Information Resources Dr. Jon Hesseldenz UKA045@UKCC 257-3904 230D Instructional Software Wayne Beech WAYNE@UKCC 257-2238 100 Machine Room 257-2222 59 Management Information Systems Forrest Hahn UKA006@UKCC 257-2260 123 Memos and Manuals Consulting Room 257-2249 110 Micro Lab 257-2207 107 Network/Telecommunications UKT101@UKCC 257-2229 New Accounts Janet Hyatt HYATT@UKCC 257-2212 130 Larry Johnson JOHNSON@UKCC 257-2217 130 Numerical Analysis Consulting Anne Leigh ANNE@UKCC 257-2205 109B Optical Scanner - NCS Chris Corman CHRIS@UKCC 257-2243 109 Bob Crovo CROVO@UKCC 257-2258 109 Passwords Janet Hyatt HYATT@UKCC 257-2212 130 Larry Johnson JOHNSON@UKCC 257-2217 130 PRIME Information Peggy Akridge PEGGY@UKCC 257-2237 100 Program Documentation/Libraries Consulting Room 257-2249 110 Publications Office Marguerite Floyd EDITOR@UKCC 257-2219 200 Refunds Consulting Room 257-2249 110 SAS and SPSS Consulting Steve Thomson STEVE@UKCC 257-2259 120 Lorinda Wang UKC333@UKCC 257-2204 109B Statistical Consulting Steve Thomson STEVE@UKCC 257-2259 120 Tapes to Borrow, Tape Storage Data Center 257-2222 61 Tours of UKCC Lavine Thrailkill UKC105@UKCC 257-2257 121 User Account Services Janet Hyatt HYATT@UKCC 257-2212 130 Larry Johnson JOHNSON@UKCC 257-2217 130 Vectorization Consulting Tom Faller TOMFAL@UKCC 257-2236 314 Anne Leigh ANNE@UKCC 257-2205 109B ************************************************************************* UNIVERSITY COMPUTING ADVISORY COMMITTEE Douglas E. Hurley, Central Administration H. Clay Owen, Central Administration A.J. Hauselman, Community Colleges James W. Phillips, Community Colleges Raphael Finkel, Lexington Campus Keh-Feh Liu, Lexington Campus N. Clare Detraz, Medical Center David A. Nash, Medical Center T. Earle Bowen, Ex Officio Ben W. Carr, Ex Officio John Connolly, Ex Officio Wimberly C. Royster, Ex Officio Eugene R. Williams, Ex Officio *************************************************************************