Will@cup.portal.com (Will E Estes) (06/04/91)
In UNIX Today!, May 13, 1991, on page 10, there is a very
interesting article that discusses a project by the five
subject companies to develop a full-function network operating
system on top of TCP/IP. I'm very interested in hearing more
about this project if any of the players involved would like
to share, either privately or publicly.
After reading the article, a number of questions come to mind:
1) Why did this group choose to create its own authentication, timing,
and other basic services? Why not just implement the OSF services?
Was the desire to have a completely public-domain alternative to
the OSF services?
2) Why is Sun absent from the list of sponsoring companies?
Since you are using their RPC for these services, it seems
like they have a lot to gain (publicity-wise, at least).
3) The article says that the initial project concentrates on mail
and print services. Can someone explain exactly what is being done
here, and why are SMTP/POP and LPD-type utilities not sufficient
for the desired purpose?
This strikes me as an interesting agreement, somewhat in the spirit
of FTP's initial packet-driver effort. With strong support from the
user community it might just succeed.
Thanks,
Will Estes Internet: Will@cup.portal.com
UUCP: apple!cup.portal.com!Willkdb@intercon.com (Kurt Baumann) (06/06/91)
In article <42921@cup.portal.com>, Will@cup.portal.com (Will E Estes) writes: > 1) Why did this group choose to create its own authentication, timing, > and other basic services? Why not just implement the OSF services? > Was the desire to have a completely public-domain alternative to > the OSF services? > Yes, although I would rather call it open standards, than public-domain. > 2) Why is Sun absent from the list of sponsoring companies? > Since you are using their RPC for these services, it seems > like they have a lot to gain (publicity-wise, at least). > Yes they do. When they will "join" is not known. I am relativly sure that they will at some point. > 3) The article says that the initial project concentrates on mail > and print services. Can someone explain exactly what is being done > here, and why are SMTP/POP and LPD-type utilities not sufficient > for the desired purpose? > Think of SMTP/POP as 1st generation applications/protocols. Then it will become clearer what is being attempted. Keep your eyes open around InterOp 91. > This strikes me as an interesting agreement, somewhat in the spirit > of FTP's initial packet-driver effort. With strong support from the > user community it might just succeed. I think I speak for all. We hope that this is true. Kurt Baumann 703.709.9890 InterCon Systems Corp. Creators of fine TCP/IP products for the Macintosh