Originally posted by Paul
This website runs on a Linux machine. Which is similar to but not the same as a unix machine.
The network that evolved into the Internet called Arpanet began in the 1960s. I believe CompuServe started in 1969. CompuServe was the AOL until AOL started giving away millions of CDs.
Paul
Now you are talking my business. Linux is actually an operating system that runs on many different types of machines. It can run on smaller machines such as PC based servers or on the big boys (mainframes). I am currently installing Linux on a IBM Z900 machine (IBM's newest mainframe that was just announced a month ago. It runs in 64 bit mode) to convert some older Unix applications that need upgraded.
Unix System Services has been an integral part of the mainframe TCP/IP architecture for about a decade now. TCP/IP is the protocol that runs the Internet. It has grown (especially in the last 5 years) to be a required part of the mainframe OS. Actually, IBM does not call them mainframes any more. They are now called Transactions Servers. This was a naming ploy they used to help sell these bigger machines when everyone was freaked out that the MAINFRAME was dying! They are now being sold in record numbers.
Actually, Arpanet was created at Berkley (by AL GORE - LOL, sorry couldn't resist the shot) as a project for the federal government. They needed a way to network all their computers for sharing information since it was difficult having some info here and some info there. Arpanet was based on the subnet theory of numbering addresses. IE... PETOFTHEDAY.com is actually a number address of 64.246.0.213 which you could put in the URL address instead of petoftheday.com and you would be able to get to it. However, since it is easier to remember words than numbers they devised a layer of TCP/IP called DNS (Domain name server) which translates the name into the number for you so you don't have to remember the number.
CompuServe and Prodigy were the first Internet service providers and I'm not sure but I think ended up being bought out by AOL.
CICS which only runs on mainframes, is a program that allows numerous users to run millions of transactions at the same time. CICS will no longer be supported by IBM though after the end of this year. It has evolved into Transaction Server which is still CICS under the covers but with a lot more power. CICS itself does not calculate dates but rather interfaces with applications written in either assember or cobol to figure dates. Some application programmers actually wrote some weird calculations to determine dates in applications they were responsible for. Thanks to Y2K and a rush to be Y2K compliant by a lot of companies, there are more weird date calculations out there by contractors specifically brought in to do date conversions for Y2K than ever before. You know the old (but true saying) Garbage in, Garbage out!
I'm sorry... I'll stop boring you now. This is probably already WTMI (Way too much information)!
And BTW.... I remember the year 1969. I was 10 years old!
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks