NOTE:  For now, only faculty and staff are in the directory.  ASI
staff, Foundation staff, and students may be added later.

Also Note: The "attached User Guide" was mailed out via campus mail to
all Faculty and Staff.  Students can access the directory via the "ph"
command (do a "man ph" for more info at the system prompt), gopher (via
"Electronic Phonebooks"), and the Web (off the Cal Poly home page).

                     Information Technology Services
                              Announces the
                            Directory Server

What is the Directory Server?

   The Directory Server is two things - an on-line directory, and a
   "server" for electronic mail.  The directory currently contains
   information about people, including where they would like to have all
   their email sent (their "preferred" email address).  In the future,
   the server will take all email sent to a person, whether it comes
   from on-campus or off-campus, and forward it on to their preferred
   email address.

What can I do with the Directory Server now?

   You can look up information in the directory using your AIX,
   OfficeVision or UNIX account, or using Gopher.  You can find a
   faculty or staff member's department, office location, phone and fax
   numbers, and preferred email address.  The attached user guide
   explains how.  For now, only faculty and staff are in the directory.
   ASI staff, Foundation staff, and students may be added later.

What will the Directory Server do in the future?

   After everyone in the directory has had a chance to verify their
   preferred email address, we'll be able to use the preferred email
   address to forward mail.  This means that you won't need to know a
   person's specific userid or email address to send mail to them, and
   that OfficeVision users won't need to create a special nickname for
   someone who uses another email system on campus.

I've heard that I'll be able to use an address like jsmith@calpoly.edu
instead of du999@oasis.calpoly.edu.  When can I do this?
     
   Soon, but not yet!  This kind of address won't work until the mail
   server is up and running.  We'll let you know when you can use this
   new, simplified email address.

Will  the email addresses I have been using still work?

   Yes!  The email addresses you have given to other people are still
   valid, and you can still use the email addresses and nicknames you
   have been using all along to send email to other people.  There is
   one exception - when the mail server is running, OfficeVision users
   will have to use nicknames instead of userids in notes and in
   distribution lists to ensure that email gets delivered correctly.

What should I do now?

   If you use email anywhere on campus, you can and should verify your
   preferred email address in the directory. The attached user guide
   will explain how to look up your entry in the directory, and how to
   change your preferred email address if it is incorrect.
     
What if I have questions?
   
   Call User Support Services at ext. 7000 if you have any questions!