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From: Glenn Henshaw <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:thraxisp4@me.com"><thraxisp4@me.com></a><br>
<blockquote cite="mid:20140419190807.GB3775@nb-laryngitis" type="cite">
<pre wrap=""><span class="moz-txt-citetags">> > </span>Subject: Re: [kwlug-disc] Advanced(?) Git usage question
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> > </span>Date: April 18, 2014 at 9:13:54 PM PDT
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> > </span>To: KWLUG discussion <a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:kwlug-disc@kwlug.org"><kwlug-disc@kwlug.org></a>
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> > </span><span
class="moz-txt-citetags"></span>
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> > </span> It used to be in a building on Colonnade Dr in South Ottawa, until the '90s when Nortel took over the building. As I recall they were modems and subscriber equipment. Datapac was Nortel gear that was retired about 5 years ago.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<big>IIRC Gandalf (the company, not the wizard) got it start with a
large distributed multiplexer that ran over coaxial cable and allowed
N+M terminals (w/serial IO ports) connect with N minicomputer (e.g.
Digital VAX730/750/780) IO serial ports, but only N ports at a time.
There was a Gandalf box at the terminal and (I assume) a much larger
box at the minicomputer. The Gandalf systems were in wide use in
colleges and universities before LANs ( & WANs MANs) and the
Internet as well as PCs arrived on the scene.<br>
<br>
Gandalf expanded its product line with Limited Distance Data Sets (a
sort of modem) that had higher speeds than dial up modems and worked
over copper wire spans of up to 1 or a few kilometres, but not over
telephone circuits. The company continued to expand its product line in
the data-communications area until the company folded.<br>
<br>
Wikipedia: <span class="st"><em>DATAPAC</em> was Canada's packet
switched X.25-equivalent data network. Operated first by Trans-Canada
Telephone System, then Telecom Canada</span> .... discontinuing the
service at the end of 2009. <br>
<br>
And, Glenn is probably correct, in that Datapac was probably a Nortel
customer and used their equipment in the network.<br>
<br>
On X.25, I recall working with a Memotec PAD in an employers R&D
dept.. Found on the Google: <i>Memotec was a leading provider of
inter-office voice and data networking solutions, specifically the
packet assembler/disassembler (PAD) device commonly found in X.25
networks.</i><br>
<br>
John</big><br>
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