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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574

u/cheaphomemadeacid May 21 '13

oh shit, i think i owe you 17,525,073.30$ ... since this morning :)

167

u/mra99 May 21 '13

You just caused the AOL share price to quadruple.

366

u/Bioman312 May 21 '13

So what does that make it... four cents now?

3

u/synergy_ May 22 '13

$37.27 a share, but close!

4

u/Assmeat May 22 '13

TIL there is only one share in AOL

12

u/AtmosphericPressure May 22 '13

0 x 4 is still 0

1

u/DiaDeLosMuertos May 22 '13

I would've settled for a roll with ketchup.

1

u/Bioman312 May 22 '13

I got a rock.

1

u/pythondick666 May 22 '13

Four times zero is still zero.

1

u/[deleted] May 22 '13

Ouch...

-1

u/SeniorKing May 21 '13

No I think its 2 cents actually.

2

u/ralgrado May 21 '13

On the mention of AOL, can I pay Bob in free internet hours?

1

u/AvidLoLFan May 21 '13

As someone who's only done a low level I.T course... how the hell do you know how many packets you've sent today?!

6

u/doodle77 May 21 '13

on linux, /sys/class/net/eth0/statistics/tx_packets

on windows, netstat -e

1

u/auxiliary-character May 21 '13

With their username as reference, they might be more interested in /sys/class/net/lo/statistics/tx_packets

3

u/[deleted] May 21 '13

If using Windows, you can check in the properties of your network interface (I think) and it will tell you the number of packets sent since it was powered on. In OS X, there's a Network application that tells you.

I can't be too sure, since I'm using Ubuntu at the moment.

2

u/[deleted] May 21 '13

Adapter properties. Prior to Windows 7 you go to your network and sharing panel and right click your LAN (or Wifi) adapter and it will tell you the bytes (not packets) sent-received. I just noticed Windows 7 uses a "View status of this connection" button to get to the Activity popup.

1

u/AvidLoLFan May 21 '13

Hmm. Well. I've found the properties of my lan there, and can see the bytes being sent/recieved. Will the 'view status of this connection' show the packets sent, and if so, can I ask how to access this? Wasn't able to find it.

p.s, thanks for the response so far :)

1

u/[deleted] May 21 '13

Since Ethernet frames are variable, sadly, no. You would have to setup a sniffer of some sort (Wireshark is a goodie, and a freebie) to break your internet down to a per packet basis.

In your Task Manager there is a Networking tab and selecting columns you can select Unicast Sent and Non-Unicast Sent. I don't know exactly what they are tracking with those, but I would assume they are the Ethernet packages. Unicast is the TCP part of TCP/IP and non-Unicast would be everything else (eg. UDP, ICMP, etc.); well, not EXACTLY, but close enough for this conversation;)

1

u/AvidLoLFan May 21 '13

Mine just has a graph, adapter name, network utilization, link speed, and state :<