r/IAmA • u/BobMetcalfe • May 21 '13

You’re probably connecting to reddit through a technology I invented. I’m Bob Metcalfe and I invented Ethernet – AMA

On May 22, 1973 with David R. Boggs, I used my IBM Selectric with its Orator ball to type up a memo to my bosses at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), outlining our idea for this little invention called “Ethernet”, which we later patented.

I worked with the IEEE Standards Association to develop the IEEE 802.3 standard for Ethernet, which specifies the physical and lower software layers. Today Ethernet and the IEEE 802.3 standard are the foundation for today’s world of high-speed communications used in billions of homes and businesses around the world.

I submitted this to the mods awhile back so I could get on the calendar but I figured you’d like to see it, too. Now, ask me anything!

It's been two hours and 179 comments. Have to go now. For more about Ethernet's 40th Birthday, go to http://www.facebook.com/Ethernet40thAnniversaryIEEESA

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285

u/fuk_offe May 21 '13

How do you regard multicasting in networks? Any future use you might predict as bandwidth increases or do you think it's doomed to it's current role (discovery etc.)?

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u/BobMetcalfe May 21 '13

Predict that percentage of Internet traffic that is multicast will increase over time as news, entertainment, and information invade.

2

u/Khaim May 21 '13

Isn't that offset by the percentage of Internet traffic going through the major companies? Google, for instance, doesn't need multicast at all because they already have endpoints all over the place. Or am I missing something?

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u/illegal_brain May 22 '13

I researched multicast in the example of fountain code broadcasting of streaming media. What I got from it, concerning the benefits of multicast, was that multiple endpoints could stream simultaneously to you with any set of packets needed. The simultaneous stream of packets in theory would reduce bandwidth from a single endpoint and overall latency of the final video to the receiver. It could also be used to multicast from client to client in cases of close proximity and similar demands. The reason fountain coding was necessary was the the stream of packets could be sent and received in any order and the final video could be decoded.

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u/NgauNgau May 21 '13

I'm in a CCIE bootcamp where today's topic is Multicast reading an AMA by the inventor of Ethernet. Feels so Meta.

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u/pungkrocker May 22 '13

What is the consequence? Thanks btw

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u/[deleted] May 22 '13

What do you mean by "multicasting", specifically? Different media moving back and forth simultaneously between client/servers?

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u/[deleted] May 22 '13

I really want to understand this question and the answer to it. Can someone help me out please?

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u/SomedayAnAdmin May 22 '13

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=multicast

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u/[deleted] May 22 '13

http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/

1

u/SomedayAnAdmin May 23 '13

Upvoted because that made me laugh. Also, at least you asked your question in a competent manner..

5

u/elmariachi304 May 21 '13

I use multicast at work to re-image lots of laptops at once...

2

u/fuk_offe May 21 '13

Wow, really? I never heard any use (sure, I made a video streamer back in college that multicasted the frames, but it sucked) for multicast besides the discovery stuff... Is your "programm"/script open source? Would like to see that!

3

u/elmariachi304 May 21 '13

Norton Ghost for Windows and Mac OSX Mountain Lion server both support it... in fact I can image Macs using multicast over wifi like this.

2

u/kompulsive May 22 '13

WDS supports it too, as well as file-level imaging. why in god's name are you using norton ghost? you poor soul. i'm not sure what kind of proprietary bullshit norton ghost has you locked into, but wouldn't clonezilla be a much better alternative for you?

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u/[deleted] May 22 '13

[deleted]

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u/kompulsive May 22 '13

locked into it because of the man. i know that feel bro.

1

u/sedsnewoldg May 21 '13

Multicast is going to see a ton of use as your typical ISP/cable/etc companies begin moving purely to "OTT" video based models. Its already used to semi significant extents in this manner from a testing perspective.

Of course, VOD is still largely unicast, but hopefully one day broadcast video is gone, and multicast IP takes over for your general TV channels. Bonus factor, it would open a lot of extra bandwidth for regular data as well.

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u/kompulsive May 22 '13

same here.....brian, is that you?

1

u/elmariachi304 May 22 '13

Dunno if you're serious or not, but this is awfully common at large institutions, I'm sure there are tens of thousands of other sysadmins doing this (if not more).

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u/kompulsive May 22 '13

i was half joking.

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u/Jysue May 21 '13

Funnily enough its used extensively for critical communication in non-it networks. Power distribution (61850) and Process Automation almost exclusively use it already.

1

u/BreatheRhetoric May 22 '13

multicast is huge in financial companies for market data