Path: csiph.com!eternal-september.org!feeder.eternal-september.org!nntp.eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail From: Lynn Wheeler Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Remember when discussions were worth reading? Date: Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:00:55 -1000 Organization: Wheeler&Wheeler Lines: 97 Message-ID: <87fr0pgylk.fsf@localhost> References: <1784999952.3632270607@85.12.62.219> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Injection-Date: Sat, 08 Aug 2026 02:00:58 +0000 (UTC) Injection-Info: dont-email.me; logging-data="1209725"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org"; posting-account="U2FsdGVkX18c1YbczG0X2GFuX7quTB1X7X7Ms50wVa8="; posting-host="42dd519f0d5e88fb0f3a8c6ea73cb0fd" User-Agent: Gnus/5.13 (Gnus v5.13) Cancel-Lock: sha1:GocHCHz1jqR7deL6mNf2W9e7xkg= sha1:RTlju6V8/v2+fnky0QuNKqGBIzM= sha256:OUDlu+ilT1lvcWoM6Uehg1leX7KQ7YtrttyxNk6mPOU= sha1:p6vT20Hl8bGrbtsvgzhGCaYrCvA= sha256:wG2Ljyq/MgI2F6iKtGjixF1YUbcApVvCveO50e36ooc= Xref: csiph.com alt.folklore.computers:235260 Some of the MIT CTSS/7094 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compatible_Time-Sharing_System people went to the 5th flr and MULTICS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multics others went to the 4th flr and IBM Cambridge Science Center https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_Scientific_Center CTSS RUNOFF https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TYPSET_and_RUNOFF was redone for CMS as "SCRIPT" One of the 1969 GML (GML tag processing added to SCRIPT, later morphs into SGML and HTML) inventors, CSC had originally hired to promote the Scientific Center wide-area network; https://web.archive.org/web/20230402212558/http://www.sgmlsource.com/history/jasis.htm Actually, the law office application was the original motivation for the project, something I was allowed to do part-time because of my knowledge of the user requirements. My real job was to encourage the staffs of the various scientific centers to make use of the CP-67-based Wide Area Network that was centered in Cambridge. which becomes RSCs/VNET, used for the internal corporate network (larger than arpanet/internet from just about the beginning until sometimed mid/late 80s about the time forced to convert SNA/VTAM) ... also used for the corporate sponsored univ. BITNET https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BITNET ... CSC CP/67 was precursor to VM370. Edson was responsible for CP67 wide-area network https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edson_Hendricks In June 1975, MIT Professor Jerry Saltzer accompanied Hendricks to DARPA, where Hendricks described his innovations to the principal scientist, Dr. Vinton Cerf. Later that year in September 15-19 of 75, Cerf and Hendricks were the only two delegates from the United States, to attend a workshop on Data Communications at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, 2361 Laxenburg Austria where again, Hendricks spoke publicly about his innovative design which paved the way to the Internet as we know it today. SJMerc article about Edson (he passed aug2020) and "IBM'S MISSED OPPORTUNITY WITH THE INTERNET" (gone behind paywall but lives free at wayback machine) https://web.archive.org/web/20000124004147/http://www1.sjmercury.com/svtech/columns/gillmor/docs/dg092499.htm Also from wayback machine, some additional (IBM missed internet) references from Ed's website https://web.archive.org/web/20000115185349/http://www.edh.net/bungle.htm 2nd half 70s, Ed and I transfer out to SJR on the west coast and I get to wander around IBM mainframe datacenters in silicon valley ... including TYMSHARE TYMSHARE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tymshare in Aug1976, started offering their (IBM mainframe) VM370/CMS-based computer conferencing, free to the (user group) SHARE organization https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHARE_(computing) archives here: http://vm.marist.edu/~vmshare I cut a deal with TYMSHARE for a monthly tape dump of all VMSHARE files for puting up on the internal network and systems. Late 70s and early 80s, I'm also blamed for online computer conferencing on the internal network. It really took off spring 1981 when I distributed trip report to visit Jim Gray at Tandem. We packaged up six copies of 300 pages in Tandem 3-ring binders and set them to corperate executive committee (folklore is that 5of6 wanted to fire me). Early 80s, I got "HSDT", T1 and faster computer links (terrestrial and satellite) and battles with the communication group (60s had 2701 that supported T1 links, 70s issues with VTAM capped controllers at 56kbits). Funding was predicated on being able to show some IBM content, was able to find FSD S/1 T1 Zirpel cards (for gov. agency 2701s that were failing). Also working with NSF director and was suppose to get $20M to interconnect the NSF supercomputer centers. Then congress cuts the budget, some other things happened and eventually there was RFP released (in part based on what we already had running). NSF 28Mar1986 Preliminary Announcement https://web.archive.org/web/20260311074443/https://www.garlic.com/~lynn/2002k.html#12 The OASC has initiated three programs: The Supercomputer Centers Program to provide Supercomputer cycles; the New Technologies Program to foster new supercomputer software and hardware developments; and the Networking Program to build a National Supercomputer Access Network - NSFnet. ... IBM internal politics was not allowing us to bid. The NSF director tried to help by writing the company a letter (3Apr1986, NSF Director to IBM Chief Scientist and IBM Senior VP and director of Research, copying IBM CEO) with support from other gov. agencies ... but that just made the internal politics worse (as did claims that what we already had operational was at least 5yrs ahead of the winning bid), as regional networks connect in, NSFnet becomes the NSFNET backbone, precursor to modern internet. -- virtualization experience starting Jan1968, online at home since Mar1970