Thursday, December 07, 2006
Internet2 Research: Idiot Savant Behaviors Not Needed
In a comment on the previous article, loyal opposer Richard Bennett says:
In June of 1997, when I wrote the essay, it seemed reasonable (to a Bell Labs guy steeped in telco tradition) that a stupid network might incorporate low level behaviors analogous to taxis or tropism to automatically adapt to the needs of the data. But research results from Internet2 [.pdf] now show that network upgrades to accommodate even extremely demanding applications, such as Hi-Def video conferences, can be achieved more effectively, cheaply and reliably by simply adding more capacity.
These findings even contravened the Internet2 researchers' initial assumptions, but in the light of their own facts-on-the-ground they changed their views. I, too, have changed my views.
Let me say this another way: Read my lips, no new taxis.
[Extra credit: The Rise of the Stupid Network was wrong on another point, a point that was made amply clear by writings that appeared subsequently . . . What was this point?]
In The Rise of the Stupid Network the author describes something called "idiot savant behaviors" which allow the network to tailor transport services to the needs of applications. This is a sort of "discrimination" and a violation of Strict Stupidity.I have change my view on this.
In June of 1997, when I wrote the essay, it seemed reasonable (to a Bell Labs guy steeped in telco tradition) that a stupid network might incorporate low level behaviors analogous to taxis or tropism to automatically adapt to the needs of the data. But research results from Internet2 [.pdf] now show that network upgrades to accommodate even extremely demanding applications, such as Hi-Def video conferences, can be achieved more effectively, cheaply and reliably by simply adding more capacity.
These findings even contravened the Internet2 researchers' initial assumptions, but in the light of their own facts-on-the-ground they changed their views. I, too, have changed my views.
Let me say this another way: Read my lips, no new taxis.
[Extra credit: The Rise of the Stupid Network was wrong on another point, a point that was made amply clear by writings that appeared subsequently . . . What was this point?]
Technorati Tags: Internet2, NetworkNeutrality, Stupid Network
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