A proprietary computer manufacturer was rumoured to have said: "Open systems are unnecessary because they restrict customer choice". A software developer was rumoured to have said: "Standards stifle creativity and innovation". Discuss both of these statements.
In addressing the statements an explanation of networks, local and wide area networks, open systems and relevant standards is required. Another important part of the discussion will focus on the organisations that implement the standards. The definitions of MANs and WANs and the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model are taken from Tanenbaum (2002). The definition of a LAN is taken from Amato and Lewis (2000). .
Networking in broad terms can be applied to computing by the means of two computers being linked by the means of cables or wireless connection. In order for the linked computers to communicate an agreed set of protocols is required. The beneficial effect of networking is that cost savings can be made by the use of sharing hardware Tanenbaum (2002 p.2).
Local Area Networks (LANs) exist in a geographical area of up to two Kilometres. Hardware, which include repeaters (which amplify the signals), Bridges (which operate at the Data link layer of the OSI and pass packets to MAC (Media Access Control) addresses these are found on the NIC (Network Interface Cards) are used to connect two or more LANs, Hubs (which operate at the Physical layer, enable the network to be split in to diverse segments), Switches (which operate at the Data link layer) and Routers (which operate at the Network layer and use IP addresses to forward packets) are used to connect PC's to LANs Amato and Lewis (2000 p.51-58). .
The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) released a standards specification in 1980 called the 802 specification (named after the year and month it was conceived). The 802 standards provide the hardware specifications for networks.
