"I couldn't possibly fail to disagree with you less."
23 April 2008Servers that actually served
The Netware Server pictured ... was IntraNetware 4.11 for Small Business, running on a box built by my little company. Except for shutdowns every 2 to 3 years for replacement of batteries in the UPS (battery backup), this system has stood there spinning, serving up files and managing network printing since September 15, 1997! That is 11½ years, friends! They just don’t make 'em the way we used to!
And why is that, do you suppose?
Netware was clumsy, cryptic, difficult, ornery, and unforgiving. And stable as a friggin' boulder. This little single purpose network, with server as described, and three MS-DOS 6.22 workstations, was about as solid and trouble-free as a network can be. There was not a mouse in sight and no internet connection. There was no way for viruses to get in and no need for routine patches and fixes. Life was simple. Life was good. Enter Microsoft....
Oh. Now I understand. Posted at 1:59 PM to PEBKACWho wants to break the news to him that September 1997 was only 10 1/2 years ago, not 11 1/2? Posted by: Dr. Weevil at 2:15 PM on 23 April 2008Not me. I'm old enough to have the years start to blur together, and so is he. Posted by: CGHill at 2:28 PM on 23 April 2008Thanks for the promo, CG. As for 11-1/2 or 10-1/2, Dr. Weevil probably forgot to factor in 3 things: So, there... Posted by: Winston at 4:00 PM on 23 April 2008I wonder Winston realizes that the MS in MS-DOS is MicroSoft? Posted by: Dan B at 5:23 PM on 23 April 2008If I'm not mistaken, DOS was based on something Microsoft bought the rights to. Windows, on the other hand, was built in-house (what they didn't steal from Apple and who-all else). Posted by: McGehee at 6:24 PM on 23 April 2008The first MS-DOS was an adaptation of Seattle Computer's 86-DOS, purchased by Bill Gates, reportedly for $50,000. (He did not apparently say "Fifty K ought to be enough for anyone.") Posted by: CGHill at 7:40 PM on 23 April 2008Four nodes is not a network -- it's a cable sharing arrangement amongst friends. Somedays, I'm pretty sure it should have stayed that way. Posted by: Scott at 12:15 AM on 24 April 2008Yes, Dan B, Winston knows what MS stands for. He also remembers PC-DOS (Big Blue's effort before giving up and coming out with the Microsoft killer, OS/2), DR-DOS (bought and killed by Novell), and a few others. He also knows that DR, which was typically pronounced "Doctor", really stood for Digital Research, the company that owned it. And he can still churn out echo statements with his eyes closed. He is an olde phart. And, Scott, beg to differ. Those who work in or on large scale corporate or multi-campus networks ( I don't know if you do or not, but sounds like you may) tend to snub the smaller networks. To the businesses and people using and depending on them, they are every bit a network. Small does not negate function. Posted by: Winston at 5:53 AM on 24 April 2008Oh, I wasn't disparaging the utility of your network, sir. Posted by: Scott at 9:14 AM on 24 April 2008 |