RARE WORKING GROUP 3

1. INTRODUCTION

RARE (Reseaux Associes pour la Recherche Europeenne) is the association of users and providers of European research oriented networks. RARE Working Group 3 (WG3) was set up in order to coordinate and harmonise the collection and provision of information of use to the member bodies of RARE.WG3 comprises two subgroups:

• The User Support and Information Services subgroup (USIS);
• The Directory Services subgroup (DS).

Members of the group are national representatives, typically one per subgroup nominated by the national RARE contacts, and invited experts including representatives from European-wide research networks. All members contribute to the work of WG3 on a voluntary basis.

The work of the group is closely related to that of the other RARE Working Groups.

The Working Group meets 3 to 4 times a year to discuss actual developments and future work items related to the activities mentioned in its terms of reference. Outside these meetings discussions and document preparation and revision takes place by E-mail through distribution lists.

2. WG3 MAILING LISTS

rare-wg3@surfnet.nl

This is a closed list for WG3 members.

osi-ds@cs.ucl.ac.uk

An open list for discussion of OSI Directory Services Pilot Activities. It is a list shared by the US (IETF) and European (RARE WG3 DS) groups. To join the list send a message to: osi-ds-request@cs.ucl.ac.uk

rare-wg3-usis@newcastle.ac.uk

An open list for discussion of European user support and information services (RARE-WG3-USIS). This is the list for which this is an introduction!

[ To join the list send the message: subscribe rare-wg3-usis (firstname) (surname) (e.g. subscribe rare-wg3-usis Jill Foster) to: mailbase@newcastle.ac.uk

If your mail address changes send a message to: rare-wg3-usis-request@newcastle.ac.uk ]

3. COSINE SUB-PROJECTS

The following COSINE Sub-Projects were proposed by RARE WG3 and are currently being monitored by the relevant subgroup.

• COSINE sub-project P2.2 (Support and Information Services). This project will provide pilot European User Support and Information Services. The contract is held by Level 7 (UK). Start date Jan'91. See user guide.
• COSINE sub-project P3 (Pilot activities to support typical International User Groups). The contract for the first phase of the project was awarded to Logica. Start date July '91.
• COSINE sub-project P2.1 (Pilot International Directory Services). The contract for this project is held by University College London.

4. DOCUMENTS

WG3 Directory Services Subgroup Documents and mail archives may be obtained from: info-server@cs.ucl.ac.uk

To see an index of documents available send the request: request: osi-ds topic: index.txt

in the text of an email message to the info-server

WG3 User Support and Information Services Subgroup Documents and mail archives may be obtained from: mailbase@newcastle.ac.uk

To see a list of documents available send the command: index rare-wg3-usis

in the text of an email message to mailbase.

WG3 membership list, terms of reference, minutes of meetings etc may also be obtained from: mailbase@newcastle.ac.uk

Jill.Foster@newcastle.ac.uk

23.8.91