The NSFNET today is a complex enterprise enabling millions of researchers, educators, and students to communicate with one another, access a wealth of information on-line, and use the resources accessible through the network. While a great deal of useful information is available on the network, finding what one needs may be complex. An efficient network should have adequate information resources and "road maps" to permit the user to navigate quickly and easily to the information which he or she needs. This project will (i) categorize and index the various information resources available into a Directory of Directories so that users can more quickly and easily locate the information they need, (ii) develop "white pages" and "yellow pages" directory services, (iii) develop a core Directory of Directories facility to coordinate the directory and database resources of the NSFNET,(iv) develop a complementary set of Directory and Database Services to extend, supplement, and promote the evolution of available resources on the NSFNET. The Directory of Directories and Directory and Database services will initially be implemented using current Internet tools such as "WAIS" and "Netfind" to permit rapid use of the services. They will be transitioned to a fully distributed state-of-the-art system based on the Directory standard (X.500) and, thereafter, will incorporate newly developed research technologies which will improve performance in searching large directories and explore innovative information gathering techniques to keep the directories accessible, manageable, and current. The project is one of three collaborative activities comprising the Network Information Services Management Project.
