Computer Network

From neurotica.com

In 2007, I completed a major restructuring of my computer network. Most of the individual systems have been replaced by Zones on a multiprocessor Sun UltraSPARC server. Zones are a feature of the Solaris 10 operating system that provide for OS-level virtualization, essentially allowing one (powerful) physical computer to take the place of many smaller computers by creating "virtual machines". The result is far greater efficiency, ease of management, and better hardware utilization. Details on my new configuration will make it into this page when I have some time.

There is a lot of computer equipment here. When people speak of a "computer room" these days, they usually mean the "spare bedroom with the PC in the corner". No...this is a computer room meaning a room containing nothing but computers. No desks, tables, chairs, plants, dishwashers, or anything else. If you're serious about your computing, well...I guess I needn't belabor that point. Further, these days when you walk up to someone and tell them you have upwards of thirty computers in your house, they think of thirty PCs with thirty keyboards, thirty monitors and thirty mice. No way...I have two eyes and two hands: one keyboard, mouse, and monitor is enough. Well-designed computers are capable (and indeed most comfortable) running headless, or in an unattended mode just sitting there working. If I need to use these systems or perform maintenance on them, well, that's what networks are for. I realize this is a foreign concept for Windows users, but well, you guys are stuck with twenty-year-old technology. Time to evolve. ;)

Information on specific systems here will be added to this page soon.

But what is it all for? Unenlightened people who come to my house often ask me that question. "My PC works for me, what do you need this room full of big computers for?" Put simply, I do different kinds of things than they do. I also strive to be completely network-independent-- my network is connected to the Internet via T1 at all times, but it only communicates with it...it doesn't depend on it for anything. Most casual users of the Internet have a "gimme gimme" attitude..."What can I GET from the Internet??" Well, that stuff has to come from somewhere, folks. If everyone does nothing but take take take, where will all the stuff they're getting come from? That's one thing that I try to do with my network...provide useful data and facilities to the Internet community, rather than just take from it.

The other big issue is that PCs are slow slow slow. I'm an impatient person. And no, before you say it, megahertz (gigahertz nowadays) has very little to do with it. If you don't understand why, either buy a book on computer architecture or send me email and ask. If you're curious but don't want to get into a lengthy learning process to find out why, here's an analogy: Saying "this computer is faster because it "has more gigahertz" is akin to saying "this car is faster because it burns more gasoline".

The neurotica.com network is my personal project, and mainly functions as my development and work environment. There are a few offsite users as well, who use the facilities here for various things. My work consists primarily of software development, usually related to the following subjects:

• Study of processor architecture
• Parallel processing
• Vector processing
• Image processing
• Embedded systems development
• Network-based time standards and precision timekeeping theory
• Database theory
• Operating systems theory
• Personal education