DECnet and other dead technologies (was: Linux for "cloud computing")

[Benjamin Scott]

On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 3:35 PM, Jon 'maddog' Hall <maddog at li.org> wrote:
> I thought that this project added to DECnet's life, and that
> DEC/Compaq/HP would have to be crazy to object.
...
> http://www.csamuel.org/2010/02/19/decnet-now-orphaned-in-the-linux-kernel-for-2-6-33

  That seems more like it was due to a total lack of interest.  Could
it simply be that most everyone has moved to Internet Protocol now?
I, for one, can't really say I will miss vendor-specific transfer
protocols.  It was always *so much fun* </sarcasm> trying to get
everyone's bridges and routers configured to properly support IPX,
NetBEUI, AppleTalk, DECnet, etc., etc., etc.  My apologies to maddog
and other ex-DECers, but I say good riddance.  I think we're much
better off with ubiquitous IP.

  I would say this is consequence of open systems winning.  Just as
Linux has tended to eliminate less-used OSes, I think widespread
adoption of IP has tended to eliminate less-used network transports.
Why go with something weird, proprietary, and expensive when you could
go with what everybody is using, for free?

-- Ben