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Computers Talking to Computers: Networking

Ethernet concept sketch

The original Ethernet report observed, “Just as computer networks have grown across continents and oceans to interconnect major computing facilities…they are now growing down corridors and between buildings to interconnect minicomputers in offices and laboratories.” But Ethernet went beyond just “minicomputers.”

Computers Talking to Computers: Networking

A personal computer is nice. But it’s even nicer when you can exchange files and e-mail, or share access to printers. Xerox designers agreed, connecting Altos into networks.

Inspired by other networks, such as Alohanet, they invented a “local area network” called Ethernet, first described by Bob Metcalfe in 1973.

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Ethernet cable with two Isolan transceivers

Early versions of Ethernet used well-established, television-type coaxial cable technology. But the difficult-to-use shared coax soon gave way to telephone-style wiring. BICC Data Networks, founded in 1983, was an early European Ethernet product company.

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