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First Ethernet Switch In Space

Rebecca will you marry me? writes "The ESA's Columbus laboratory module was added to the International Space Station in February, but Hewlett-Packard has only now chosen to reveal that the LAN onboard Columbus uses a ProCurve 2524 switch." HP admits it was the "most unusual and demanding" project ProCurve has done yet.

22 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Fortunately, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    they aren't using Linksys routers as well. Password: defaultshuttle

  2. Resale value by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Excellent, that should triple the resale value of my Procurve 2512 switch. Any offers?

  3. well.... by KozmoKramer · · Score: 5, Funny

    I see a job opportunity for a network engineer, or at the very least a network cabling repair guy. Imagine that help desk ticket @ NASA.......

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    1. Re:well.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah, I get paid 55 cents a kilometer for service calls. I definitely want this job, although my Honda Civic might have a tough time getting to orbit.

    2. Re:well.... by ggvaidya · · Score: 3, Funny

      First a plumber, and now an IT helpdesk guy. NASA's really trying to reach out to the common man.

    3. Re:well.... by Free+the+Cowards · · Score: 3, Funny

      Space is only an hour's drive away, if your Civic can drive straight up.

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  4. Rebecca! Save yourself!! by th0mas.sixbit.org · · Score: 5, Funny

    He's a nerd! Save yourself Rebecca!

    (before you mod OT look at submission again ;) )

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    1. Re:Rebecca! Save yourself!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      This is /. He's a nerd. He needs all the relationship help he can get, and you're scaring her off?

  5. obligatory by Lost+Penguin · · Score: 5, Funny

    In space, no one can hear the NIC scream.

    --
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  6. Re:Cool test methodology by Joe+Jay+Bee · · Score: 4, Funny

    They did try to test a Belkin one, but that one failed even before they'd subjected it to the particle accelerator.

  7. How will the RIAA/MPAA be able to sue them? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Do they have a mailing address?

  8. Re:Cool test methodology by brunokummel · · Score: 5, Funny

    Despite the misleading title (should probably say first OFF THE SHELF switch in orbit)...
    not necessarily, since It must be really hard to keep something ON THE SHELF in outer space.. =)
    *drum rolls
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  9. Re:And this is interesting because? by Dogtanian · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is there some reason why a router in orbit would behave differently in any way from a router sitting in a rack in the server room? I suspect there may be some timeout issues due to the network cable connecting them to ground control slightly exceeding the Ethernet spec's maximum length.
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  10. Am I the only one... by jpellino · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... that was relieved and surprised it wasn't "hub" and "10Base2"?

    --
    "Win treats sysadmins better than users. Mac treats users better than sysadmins. Linux treats everyone like sysadmins."
  11. Re:obligatory jabber by dreamchaser · · Score: 2, Funny

    Unless they suffer from congestion.

  12. Brown.... by mikelieman · · Score: 5, Funny

    You ever ship anything UPS? If it survive *them*, launching into orbit should be a no-brainer.

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  13. Re:And this is interesting because? by tbischel · · Score: 3, Funny

    Extended G-forces during launch might be a good test of how well solder joints, connectors, and other components are made.

    Hmm... sounds like an expensive test plan. How about just testing g-forces in the lab? ;-)

  14. Re:Cost? by JustOK · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bits weigh less in space, so they're easier to compress.

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  15. Re:Which is it? by SBrach · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's what you get for reading TFA.

  16. Re:vulnerability by The+End+Of+Days · · Score: 3, Funny

    Won't someone think of the child molesters?

  17. meanwhile on MIR by GregNorc · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Russians used a pencil

  18. From ProCurve website by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It says you have LifeTime warranty, as long as "you own the device", with

    > Next-business-day delivery of a replacement unit for the entire warranty period (available in many locations around the world)

    I'd like to see that, really.