European Academic Research Network

The European Academic and Research Network (EARN ) was a computer network for mainframe computers of universities and research or academic institutions in Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa. EARN was launched in early 1984, based on network protocols by IBM, was sponsored by IBM, and was with the BITNET in the United States - a computer network the same technology - and not connected to other such networks and through gateways with numerous other networks.

Boost from IBM

IBM had in 1983 made ​​the proposal "to create a pilot network for a computer network in the form of a fast feed action for European science. The main idea was there, not to wait for definitive solutions that had long developments on, but to install a functionally limited but immediately available and interoperable pilot network in Europe. "

As a promotion, IBM has the cost of national leased lines, the pilot partners, international leased lines, the technical and administrative coordination as well as hardware and software, the central node over - and for four years. Pilot partners were institutions with IBM mainframes.

To connect any other institution were of this line only the costs to carry to the next node. In addition, for at least another institution was the connection be granted.

Each country there was a central node, which was connected to the central node of other countries. In addition, there were links to BITNET nodes in USA. The transfer rates between nodes were typically 2400-9600 bits / s, with transatlantic connections ( submarine cable or by satellite ) initially 64 kbit / s

About the BITNET other networks were the same technology to achieve such NetNorth in Canada, SCARNET in South America, East Asia and GULFNET BITNETJP in the Middle East.

Basic services

The technique was based on IBM's network software (Remote Spooling Communications Subsystem ( RSCS ) under VM / CMS and Network Job Entry / Network Job Interface ( NJE / NJI ) under MVS ). This allowed users to send arbitrary binary data to other users. On this basis, were the users of the mainframe at the EARN following basic services:

• Electronic Mail
• Send and receive files ( data, programs, etc.)
• Exchange interactive messages (on screen)
• Transfer of batch jobs (Remote Job Entry )
• Access to remote data ( for example, file server)

Dialogue on the network to a remote computer ( such as using Telnet on the Internet) was not possible.

The computers were identified by nodeid, the user of a computer, so that the addressing was pretty easy by their userid: userid AT nodeid. The transport of data was performed according to the simple store-and- forward principle: A to be transmitted file has been completely sent from the output node to the next node stored there and then passed on, until finally the target node (as opposed to end - to-end connection to the FTP of the Internet). Downloading a file from a file server was done in two steps: The user sent a message with the name of the file to the server, the server responded with the desired file to the user.

EARN commands there were of course on computers of IBM operating systems VM / CMS and MVS. But also other computer manufacturers could be connected to EARN those for which emulations exist (some with limited functionality ): Approximate host of DEC under the operating system VAX / VMS, Unix systems and computers from CDC NOS / VE.

About mail gateways was after and after exchange of electronic mail with many other computer networks in science possible, both with networks based on TCP and OSI protocols. Mention may in particular the Internet, CSNET, JANET, EuNet and the WiN of the DFN -Verein.

Applications

In the central node general services for users as well as special functions for node administrators were provided. File server with information and programs there were many nodes. The services of higher functionality, referred to as applications included:

• Netserv - performed various services: file server with information about EARN and other networks, network software, etc.; Node management by administrators; User Directory for the care of a user directory.
• LISTSERV - managing mailing lists
• TRICKLE - File Service for information and software for PCs
• ASTRA - Search in Databases ( different type ) to the power
• RELAY - conferences based interactive messages ( forerunner of the IRC)
• NetNews - reading and posting of news articles (see Usenet).

EARN Association

The EARN Association (founded in 1985) had its headquarters in Paris. The interests of the participants were perceived by EARN EARN Board (Board of Directors ), the from each country belonged to a representative. The day's business was transferred to an executive committee, the required staff was very small. Meetings were held annually, annual reports were produced.

The countries involved were in Western Europe, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Holland, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, the Middle East, Israel and Turkey as well as in Africa, the Ivory Coast.

The spread of the Internet and especially the emergence of the WWW have smother the importance of EARN. The EARN Association has been involved since 1990 in the European umbrella organization of national research networks RARE ( Réseaux Associés pour la Recherche Européenne). 1994 merged EARN and RARE finally to the successor organization TERENA (Trans -European Research and Education Networking Association).

EARN in Germany

The central node in Germany - an IBM 4331 with nodeid Dearn - was operated from April 1984 initially at the Society for Heavy Ion Physics (GSI ) in Darmstadt, Germany, from 1988 at the Society for Mathematics and Data Processing ( GMD) in Bonn.

Germany was involved very early with many nodes at EARN. When starting the beginning of 1984 there were 24 institutions. In May 1986, 17 countries were involved in the EARN with a total of 367 nodes, including 132 in Germany. In September 1987, there were 174 nodes in about 75 institutions.

The launch of EARN occurred about the same time as the founding of the Society for the Promotion of German Research Network. Although many universities, the " ready to use " EARN have gladly availed all supported the development of the science network by the DFN-Verein, so that the transition from science to EARN Network ( WiN ) went smoothly.