Penguin
Recent Changes
Annotated edit history of NetLink version 10, including all changes. View license author blame.
Rev Author # Line
9 IanMcDonald 1 This is about NetLink the [ISP]. If you want Netlink for Linux programming see LinuxNetlinkSockets.
2
3 DonStokes 3 !! Extremely brief history of NetLink
4
5 !1985
8 IanMcDonald 6 * VUW Comp Sci provides [UUCP] access for email/news
3 DonStokes 7
8 !1989
5 DonStokes 9 * VUW connects to Internet, permits other agencies to connect if hardware comms costs covered. No traffic charging in place. Most connections are analogue leased lines attached to PC routers running PCRoute, either VUW surplus or provided by the connected site.
3 DonStokes 10
11 !1992:
12 * U of Waikato starts charging for international traffic, rather than relying on cost sharing
5 DonStokes 13 * VUW holds garage sale to fund a cisco 516CS terminal server to replace pile of PC routers.
3 DonStokes 14 * WCC traffic exceeds 1GB/month, with exponential growth at ~100% per month. Something Needs To Be Done.
15 * December: VUW Internetworking Group formed, charges set.
16
17 !1993:
5 DonStokes 18 *April: Bills sent out to 7 customers.
19 *Revenue ~ $100k for year (before expenses).
3 DonStokes 20
21 !1994
4 DonStokes 22 *[CTL Comet V-FAST (28kbps) modems|http://www.machine-ware.co.nz/CTL%20COMET%20MODEMS.htm] used on analogue leased line service. CTL agrees to design and build a rack-mountable version; first example installed at VUW.
5 DonStokes 23 *Network Dynamics routers deployed at half the price per port of cisco equipment. Beginning of relationship with ND (later Securicor 3net, Teltrend & now Allied Telesyn).
3 DonStokes 24 *"Internet Administrator" position advertised.
4 DonStokes 25 *Revenue ~ $250k, ~ 25 leased-line customers.
26 *VUW Finance eyes burgeoning Internet revenues, expecting CSC budget demands to be met. Something Needs To Be Done.
3 DonStokes 27 *Discussions with Victoria Link Ltd (VUW-owned company) to separate Internet operations from CSC.
28
29 !1995
30 *NetLink formed as division of Victoria Link.
5 DonStokes 31 *April: NetLink offers dialup PPP, email and web services, on top of former Internetworking Group leased-line service. Also "Internet Presence", first "virtual server" web and email services in NZ.
8 IanMcDonald 32 *~CyberNet incident: ~CyberNet Ltd, an Auckland ISP, deliberately floods another Auckland ISP, Iprolink during a demonstration. Both ISPs are connected via University of Auckland. UoA disconnects ~CyberNet, but is uncomfortable about long term viability of Internet operations. Something Needs To Be Done.
4 DonStokes 33 *August: NetLink takes over management of University of Auckland Internet services.
7 CraigBox 34 *November: [VolcanoCam|http://www.daedalus.co.nz/don/ruapehu/index.html].
3 DonStokes 35
36 !1996
4 DonStokes 37 *Expansion into Christchurch (leased-line & dialup) and Dunedin (leased-line only).
38 *October: NetLink sponsors General Election web coverage.
8 IanMcDonald 39 *Deployment of ~NetRadio wireless Internet service using Proxim equipment (500 kbps). 3 antennas on Cotton Building provide coverage over most of Wellington CBD, although some Te Aro sites require very tall poles to "see" over neighboring buildings.
3 DonStokes 40
41 !1997
4 DonStokes 42 *NetLink formed as separate company.
8 IanMcDonald 43 *~NetRadio deployed from roof of Hotel Grand Chancellor, tallest building in Christchurch.
4 DonStokes 44 *Colin Wallis appointed as CEO.
3 DonStokes 45 *Founding management team, DonStokes & Stuart Wilson resign.
4 DonStokes 46
47 !1998
48 *Colin Wallis resigns.
3 DonStokes 49
50 !1999
10 SamBailey 51 *October: NetLink sold to Telstra NZ.
52
53 !2000
54 *June: Telstra Saturn, NetLink and Paradise.Net amalgamate and continue as one company under the name "Telstra Saturn Limited". (ref: [Board Resolution Approving Amalgamation, Telstra Saturn Limited, 29-May-2000|http://www.business.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/435672/14068607/entityFilingRequirement?backurl=%2Fcompanies%2Fapp%2Fui%2Fpages%2Fcompanies%2F435672%2Fdocuments%3Fstart%3D104%26limit%3D1])