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Network Adapter Keeps Talking While a PC Is Asleep

Posted by timothy on from the would-make-me-feel-better-about-keeping-a-server-on dept.

Al writes "Researchers at Microsoft and the University of California, San Diego have developed a network adapter that lets a computer enter sleep mode without disrupting the network connection. The adapter, dubbed Somniloquy (meaning to talk in one's sleep), consists of a gumstix running embedded Linux, 64MB of RAM and a 2G SD memory card, connected via USB. The adapter keeps the network connection going and the researchers have also developed a simplified IM client and bittorrent client that carry out more complicated tasks autonomously, only waking the computer if, for example, an actualy IM is received or a download is completed."

4 of 188 comments (clear)

  1. Yo Dawg by decipher_saint · · Score: 4, Funny

    We put a computer on your computer so you can download while you download...

    --
    crazy dynamite monkey
    1. Re:Yo Dawg by Brian+Gordon · · Score: 4, Funny

      The question is whether the NIC can go into a power saving mode and be awoken by an even simpler device when a packet comes in.

  2. Re:Microsoft using Linux? by nycguy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will be researchers formerly at Microsoft "running with an embedded chair" after tomorrow I'm sure...

  3. Re:So in other words... by Dogtanian · · Score: 4, Funny

    You think you're safer by having it off 16 hours a day?

    Dude, if I was having it off for 16 hours a day, I wouldn't give a flying **** about some shitty PC security!

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