The Serial Port

Before terms like cloud, DevOps, and SDN arrived, scaling internet infrastructure was a real challenge. In the late 1990s, Alteon Networks changed the game with some of the first gigabit Ethernet switches and hardware-based load balancers.? With support for failover, filtering, and a host of layer 3/4 features, Alteon appliances powered many large web properties of the era. What started as a deep dive into an early Alteon load balancer led us to some incredible stories from the pre-standard gigabit Ethernet era. While the name now is associated with load balancing, they were on the cutting edge of NICs and switches in the 1990s.? As John Hayes told us, networking back then was as big of a craze as AI is today. ?? Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/egD-gXgi Comment below if you have used any Alteon products!

For decades, twisted-pair cabling has been the standard for Ethernet networks, powering everything from office LANs to home connections. But it wasn’t always the obvious choice. In fact, the journey to make twisted-pair the backbone of Ethernet networking was filled with challenges, skepticism, and fierce debate. Our latest video explores the fascinating story behind?twisted-pair Ethernet. From its unlikely beginnings in the 1980s to the pivotal completion of the 10BASE-T standard in 1990, we trace how this technology overcame technical and political obstacles to revolutionize networking. The video includes first hand accounts from networking pioneers Pat Thaler and Richard Bennett Check it out: https://lnkd.in/eg4bXbUS

Our latest Youtube video takes a closer look at the pivotal role of 3Com (US Robotics) Total Control terminal servers in the rise of internet connectivity during the 1990s. In the video, we talk with one of the lead technical support engineers from this platform, and setup a PRI (Primary Rate Interface) circuit for calls. PRIs were deployed in mass in the 1990s, to enable millions of dial-in ports before the broadband era. ?? Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/eTZEM2cD

In 1997, #3Com merged with #USRobotics near the height of dialup internet fervor. Anyone that was around in that era knows US Robotics is synonymous with the best dialup modems, but did you know they had an entire range of products targeted at ISPs? The Total Control line started around the beginning of the 1990s, but eventually evolved into the Total Control Enterprise Network Hub. This was a rackmounted system that integrated modems with a terminal server-- the perfect solution for dialup ISPs at the time. The acquisition with #3Com brought new life into the lineup with the addition of the HiPer line of modules that could enable a single chassis to support hundreds of simultaneous modem calls. So when we found a Total Control at a nearby auction, we knew we had to check it out. Along with the Total Control, we ended up discovering the remnants of an abandoned ISP. It was a surreal experience, and our latest video shows our journey from rescue to resurrection: https://lnkd.in/ePkDseaw

In our latest video, we're taking a deep dive into the history of networking with the DEC LAN Bridge 100. ?? Did you know that Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) was one of the pioneers who brought us the first commercial Ethernet standard back in 1980? Join us as we explore how the DEC LAN Bridge 100 helped shape the early days of Ethernet bridging and laid the foundation for the networks we rely on today. Check out the full video here: https://lnkd.in/ezPqVDii #Ethernet #Networking #History #DEC

In our latest video, we're taking a deep dive into the history of networking with the DEC LAN Bridge 100. ?? Did you know that Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) was one of the pioneers who brought us the first commercial Ethernet standard back in 1980? Join us as we explore how the DEC LAN Bridge 100 helped shape the early days of Ethernet bridging and laid the foundation for the networks we rely on today. Check out the full video here: https://lnkd.in/ezPqVDii #Ethernet #Networking #History #DEC