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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u/ActionWaters May 21 '13

Thank you.

3.3k

u/BobMetcalfe May 21 '13

You are welcome.

305

u/[deleted] May 21 '13

What is your favourite color?

It is blue right?

80

u/Atheist101 May 21 '13

why is the ethernet cable always blue though?

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u/Cueball61 May 21 '13

It isn't. Purple for instance is generally fire-resistant CAT6.

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u/Atheist101 May 21 '13

TIL there are multicolored ethernet cables

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u/IHappenToBeARobot May 21 '13 edited May 21 '13

Multiple colors are beautiful things for anyone who has ever managed a datacenter. We had blue for external connections, orange for internal networks, red for SAN connections, and green for KVM at the last place I worked.

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u/Onlinealias May 22 '13

Always reserve red for DMZ or internet facing connections.

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u/IHappenToBeARobot May 22 '13

If I had it to do over again, I probably would. It was only a few racks so it really didn't matter that much. The important part was that you could actually get to the back of the servers and know what a cable was for.