Chapter 7. A Brief History of Networking

The following is a brief history of computers, networking and telecommunication milestones:

1. CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) credited to Karl Ferdinand Braun in 1897

2. Teletype (telegraph 5 bit) used during WW1

3. ARQ (Automatic Repeat reQuest) credited to Van Duuren during WWII

• error checking and auto request for retransmission

4. ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator) credited to DOD / MIT during WWII

• Used for decoding enemy messages

• 1st generation computer: used vacuum tubes

• Programmed with jumpers and switches

• MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure): 7 minutes

• 337 multiplications per second

5. SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) developed at MIT in the 1950s

• 23 centers for ground/air enemy detection systems

• Error checking, keyboard & CRT terminals

• Duplex-ed computers, voice grade (300-4KHz)

• 300 baud, light pens, multiuser system

• Magnetic core memory

• Ground to air data Tx

• 1st commercial use was Sabre Reservation System

6. Jacquard's Loom developed by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1804

• First programmable machine

• Used punch cards to control the weaving of intricate patterns

7. Transistorized Computers - 2nd Generation - 1960s

• One of the 1st inventors: Cray

• Batch programming: 1 program at a time

• Punch cards

• Stored programs: held in memory

• 50K instructions/second

• Example: IBM 7905

8. CTSS (Compatible Time Sharing System) credited to Cobato/MIT in 1961

• Time slices multi users

9. Synchronous Orbit Communication Satellites. Idea by Arthur C. Clarke in 1945

• Geostationary orbit around equator by Rose/Hughes Aerospace in 1963

• 36,000 miles altitude

10. LASER credited to Maiman in 1960

• Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

• A narrow band source of optical radiation suitable for use as a carrier of information

11. T-1 Carrier System credited to Bell Labs in 1961

• TDM (Time Domain Multiplexing)

• 24 channels = 64 Kbps ea.

• 1.544 Mbps (mega bits per sec)

12. RS-232 developed in 1960 and revised since.

• Standard plug and "protocol" convention between modems and machines: 25 pin

• Europe uses V.24 compatible standard

13. Auto Equalization Techniques of Phone lines credited to Lucky et al. in 1965

• Adapt to characteristics of telephone line to increase speed

14. Fiberglass credited to Kao & Hockman in 1966

• Proposed "fiberglass" optics developed at Standard Telecom Labs

15. Integrated Circuit Computers - 3rd Generation - 1967

• SSI/MSI (Small Scale Integration/Medium Scale Integration)

• 10 transistors/chip and 100 transistors/chip

• Multi-user systems

• Multitasking

16. Carterfone - FCC Decision in 1968

• FCC decision allows other manufacturers to use phone lines

• Opens up competition among phone systems

17. Low-loss Fiber credited to Kapron in 1970

• Speeds: 45-90 Mbps developed at Corning Glass Works

• 1984: attained 405-565 Mbps in single mode

• Early 1990s: attained 1.7 Gbps

18. ARPA Network (ARPANET) developed by the DOD in the 1970s

• Advanced Research Projects Agency of the Department of Defense - US

• 1st use of Packet Switching, layered protocols

• Beginning of the Internet

19. VLSI Integration - 4th Generation Computers developed by Intel in 1971

• Very large scale integration: 20,000+ transistors/chip

• Intel 4004 microprocessor - 4 bit

• Grandparent of processors today

20. Layered Network Architecture

• SNA: System Network Architecture IBM Mainframe

• DNA: Digital Network Architecture DEC for DECNET

21. Ethernet developed by Xerox in 1974

• Ether is the mysterious invisible fluid that transfers heat

• Originally based on the ALOHA radio protocol

22. Videotex developed by Teletel (France) in the 1980s

• Interactive video - Minitel

23. Reference Model for Open Systems Interconnect developed by the ISO in 1983

• Continuously evolving model for layering network protocols

24. AT&T Divestiture in 1984

• Break-up of AT&T monopoly into Baby Bells

25. ISDN developed in 1984

• Integrated Services Digital Network

• Strong in Europe

• A network evolving from a telephone integrated digital network supporting voice, teletex, videotex, fax, slowscan video, etc.

26. Linux Version 0.01 released Sept 17, 1991