Re: What is TCP/IP?

[sbehrens@contech.demon.co.uk (Soenke Behrens)]

Jeff.Dicharry@nopc.org (Jeff Dicharry) wrote on 30 May 95 11:47:57 :

>What is TCP/IP and why is it essential to the GS future?  I've been reading
>messages, but just don't understand...

TCP/IP is a protocol used for networking. It is widely used on Unix
machines, and has therefore been "adopted" by Internet. There have
been attempts to replace it with a standard (OSI), but that has not
really happened, I guess because:
- TCP/IP works. Don't fix it if it ain't broke
- OSI has shortcomings as well, it is not "built for the future"
either. So what's the point.

Basically, the government went OSI, and noone else felt compelled to
follow suite. What else is new.

Why is it important for the GS? Why, you are not anyone if you don't
have direct SLIP/PPP access (or better) to "The Net". You're right
down there with Word-using secretaries and Excel-toting accountants.
You might as well give up your GS and buy a laptop to do your
Powerpoint presentations on.

Without TCP/IP, you're a whimp! Not even a nerd! A slithering,
boneless heap of groveldom!

On a more serious note: TCP/IP would allow us to put PPP or SLIP on
(IP over a slow, insecure link, like a modem), and browse the web
right from your GS. Wouldn't that be neat.

What, you are already doing that with your Mac/PC/Unix station? Nawww,
doesn't count. You are still not using the GS to do it, therefore you
are not cool ;-)

Soenke
--
Short but witty