Using UUCP and dialup commands

Using UUCP and dialup commands

You can exchange files and electronic mail with other systems via UUCP (UNIX to UNIX Copy). UUCP is a point-to-point protocol designed for communicating over telephone and serial lines, in contrast to newer networking systems like TCP/IP, that are optimized for communications over local area networks.

If your computer is connected to a larger network, you are unlikely to need UUCP. However, UUCP is still widely used for transporting electronic mail between computers that do not have TCP/IP, and is especially useful for isolated systems that obtain their e-mail feed via a modem.

The UUCP programs allow you to transfer files between remote computers and to execute commands on remote computers. Since the computers may be connected by telephone lines, UUCP transfers can take place over thousands of miles. A UUCP site in New York City can transfer a file to, or execute a command on, a connected UUCP system site in San Francisco, or anywhere in the world.

Note that the UUCP commands do not allow you to have an interactive session with the remote site. If you want to have an interactive session, use the commands discussed in ``Using two computers at the same time''.

This chapter describes how to: