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August 10, 1998, Issue: 727, Section: Index
The Dark Side Of Networking
As I walked down the long hall from the warden's office, I was as antsy as
Sun Microsystems, which is rumored to be an acquisition target for IBM
because of its hold on Java.
I had never spoken with a serial-port killer before, and I was about to speak
with the king of them all-Dr. Hannibal Spectre, who had killed more serial
ports than electricity. As if that wasn't bad enough, he did it slowly because he
enjoyed it. Dr. Spectre sliced up serial ports the way Ascend reportedly is
planning to slice up its recently acquired Stratus Computer subsidiary. Ascend
may sell the Stratus hardware division to Dell Computer.
I didn't want to talk to Spectre, but I had to. There was another dangerous
serial-port killer on the loose, and I wanted to catch him before he killed
again. I needed the insight that only Spectre could give me.
"Maybe Spectre can even tell me if Lucent is really thinking about buying
Cabletron," I said to myself.
When I arrived at the maximum security wing of the prison, I thought about
how many serial-port killers must be there. The place was a veritable serial
concentrator, much like the SX family of concentrators that Specialix will be
announcing this week.
A guard took me through one steel door, then another, then another. Security
here was tighter than the virus-protection software that stopped the recent
"long file name" E-mail virus that was discovered last month. At least six
vendors boasted about that one.
Then, suddenly, I was face-to-face with the maniacal Dr. Spectre, who
grinned at me through a wall of glass and metal that was as transparent as the
move from Ethernet to Fast Ethernet via Allied Telesyn's new AT-8100
switch, which is scheduled to be released this week.
"Hello, Case," he said, smirking. No one in the prison had told him who I was.
But he knew, just as he knew that Symantec on Aug. 17 will announce a voice
and fax messaging software solution for small businesses.
"How did you know my name?" I asked.
"I can smell your cologne," he grinned. "What is it, Eau de Ethernet?"
"I need some information," I said, gritting my teeth. "I'll make you a deal. I'll
answer your questions-you answer mine."
"Why, that sounds lovely," he said. "My first question is what lurks in the
hearts of men looking for consumer advocacy services on the Internet?"
I started by telling him that C2B Technologies Inc., an Internet service that
refers buying customers to major brand sites for purchases, is about to
announce a licensing deal with the parent company of Consumers Digest. C2B
will build a database exclusively for Consumers Digest, I said.
"Now it's my turn," I continued. "How can I catch Son of RAM?"
Spectre, still grinning, started talking.
Help Case find the dangerous serial-port killer! Send him a news tip! E-mail it
to ndetect@cmp.com or call 516-562-7809. If we use your tip, Case will
mail you an InternetWeek coffee mug.
Copyright r 1998 CMP Media Inc. |
