IP: Dern vs Metcalfe vs crypto-bioflavinoids

[Dave Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu>]

From: ddern@world.std.com (Daniel P Dern)


Speaking as the person who actually wrote the "Internet collapsing?"
article that starts on page 1 of this week's (July 1 96) InfoWorld,
let me toss a few facts into the ole cyberhopper, ere more pre-informed
speculation re-overwhelms this list.


(One quick disclaimer, first: I just got my copy of InfoWorld, and have
read it only enough to see that it starts on page 1 <yum> and that they
got my name and email correct in the bio tag...and that Bob MetCalfe
got to do a related/rebutting piece that ran alongside the final
page of my article.  I.e., I haven't read what ran, and therefore don't
know whether what ran is identical to, or changed some/lots from, 
the last version I saw from my editor.)


The article I wrote (see above) did its best to examine the issues, 
concerns, and solutions for the realities of continually growing
demands for bandwidth, loads on web sites, and new classes of applications
that would/might not work good|well|at all over "Internet classic" -- i.e.,
best-effort delivery with no bandwidth reservation or guarantee.


My information came from a mix of a) re-reading the 140+ postings of the
original 'Metcalfe sez the cybersky is falling' thread from com-priv. 
<oy>, b) discussions with net folks in a position to know, including
Vint Cerf, Doug Humphrey (Digex), John Curran (BBN), Scott Bradner,
Robert Raisch (The Internet Company), John Quarterman (TIC/MIDS),
Robert Moskowitz (Chrysler), etc.  I also -- with permission and
revision -- worked from some people's postings in the com-priv-fest.


As I'd hope most of you out there know, I've been using and writing 
about the Internet for over a decade.  (You can see my sorely-in-need-
of-updating web page for more gory detail.)  While you don't have to 
agree with my conclusions, kindly don't flame me, InfoWorld, or Bob 
Metcalfe until you at least read the furshlugginer article.


I don't consider my article to be the final word on the topic; indeed,
it raises lots of good questions and issues there wasn't room to
pursue, even in the extra length I was allowed.  (<Wink wink, nudge
nudge> to any editors out there </wink></nudge>.)


Now go read the actual article before jumping to any (more) conclusions!
(Dunno if it's online.  If it is, please *don't* post the text, just
an URL...respect InfoWorld's copyright.)


Bio-anarchistically and bioflavinoidally,


DPD










Daniel Dern (ddern@world.std.com, http://www.dern.com) 
  Internet analyst,  author, columnist & speaker 
  (617) 969-7947 FAX: (617) 969-7949