Sneakernet

Sneakers network (English: sneakernet, sneaker -net or sneaker net ) is a rather ironic term for the exchange of data between two or more computers, which to non- standard power, but by medium (eg floppy disk or USB stick) often walk between two computers takes place. Previously you chose this mode of transmission is usually due to missing or incompatible network interfaces. In special cases, the sneaker network is used in the configuration most secure systems on the application if the connection does not come to a network based on the required level of safety in question. In undertaking this type of data carrier exchange was quite popular, so data were exchanged on floppy disks or magnetic tapes between individual companies.

Especially for very large amounts of data or generally with a lack of transfer rate, offers the sneaker network. Thus, researchers have thus conveyed 120 terabytes of data from the Hubble Space Telescope from its research facilities in a Google data center. The raw data for Seti @ Home has been stored in Arecibo on magnetic tape and then sent by post to Berkeley, where they were processed and distributed via the Internet to the clients.

The two parameters latency and data transfer rate are crucial for performance of interconnection networks. Despite supposedly high latencies is the data transfer rate is very large ( often several GB per transfer process ). An often underestimated danger in the sneaker network represents the transmission of viruses

The American computer scientist Andrew S. Tanenbaum refers to the set

"Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway. "

" Never underestimate the data transfer rate of a station wagon full of data tapes hurtling down the highway. "

On the performance of the concept.