Network Computing System

The Network Computing System (NCS) was an implementation of the Network Computing Architecture (NCA). It was created at Apollo Computer in the 1980s. It comprised a set of tools for implementing distributed software applications, or distributed computing.^[1] The three principal components of NCS were a runtime environment for remote procedure calls, a network interface definition language (NIDL) compiler, and a location broker service.^[2] The location broker differentiated NCS from similar offerings, such as the rival Open Network Computing technology from Sun Microsystems, by permitting services to be distributed in a dynamic fashion and offering the possibility of "location independence".^[3]^: 46

The design and implementation of DCE/RPC, the remote procedure call mechanism in the Distributed Computing Environment, is based on NCA/NCS.^[4] In response to a request for proposals from the Open Software Foundation for distributed computing environments,^[5] NCS featured in the DEcorum proposal submitted by Apollo, by then incorporated as a division within Hewlett-Packard, along with IBM, Locus Computing, Transarc, Digital Equipment Corporation and Microsoft.^[6] It also was the first implementation of universally unique identifiers,^{[citation needed]} these being employed by the location broker to identify objects in the distributed system.^[7]

References

^ Kong 1987, p. 1.
^ Carl, Mike (October 1989). "Cooperative Computing". HP Professional. pp. 54, 56–59. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
^ Kobielus, James (20 November 1989). "RPC tools pave way for cooperative processing". Network World. pp. 1, 40–41, 44, 46. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
^ Chappell, David (March 1993). "The OSF Distributed Computing Environment (DCE)". ConneXions. Vol. 7, no. 3. pp. 18–27. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
^ Brown, Jim (19 June 1989). "OSF asks users, vendors for distributed computing specs". Network World. p. 69. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
^ Sharp, Bill (May 1990). "A modicum of DEcorum". HP Professional. pp. 66, 68–69. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
^ Peterson, John W. (October 1987). "Distributed Computation for Computer Animation". Proceedings of the Fourth Computer Graphics Workshop. USENIX Association: 24–36. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

Bibliography

Kong, Mike; et al. (Apollo Computer Inc.) (1987). Network Computing System Reference Manual. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-617085-4.
Zahn, Lisa; et al. (Apollo Computer Inc.) (1990). Network Computing Architecture. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-611674-4.
Lyons, Tom (1991). Network Computing System Tutorial. Hewlett-Packard Company, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-617242-3
P. Leach et al. (2005). RFC 4122 — A Universally Unique IDentifier (UUID) URN Namespace. Internet Engineering Task Force.

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[FOOTNOTEKong19871-1] Kong 1987, p. 1.

[hpprofessional198910_cce-2] Carl, Mike (October 1989). "Cooperative Computing". HP Professional. pp. 54, 56–59. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

[networkworld19891120_rpc-3] Kobielus, James (20 November 1989). "RPC tools pave way for cooperative processing". Network World. pp. 1, 40–41, 44, 46. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

[connexions199303_dce-4] Chappell, David (March 1993). "The OSF Distributed Computing Environment (DCE)". ConneXions. Vol. 7, no. 3. pp. 18–27. Retrieved 14 April 2024.

[networkworld19890619_osf-5] Brown, Jim (19 June 1989). "OSF asks users, vendors for distributed computing specs". Network World. p. 69. Retrieved 14 April 2024.

[hpprofessional199005_decorum-6] Sharp, Bill (May 1990). "A modicum of DEcorum". HP Professional. pp. 66, 68–69. Retrieved 14 April 2024.

[usenix-7] Peterson, John W. (October 1987). "Distributed Computation for Computer Animation". Proceedings of the Fourth Computer Graphics Workshop. USENIX Association: 24–36. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

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