On: Things Every Hacker Once Knew (2017)

[bell-cot]

You know you're getting old when...something like this has aged off HN's /newest page with only 2 upvotes, and no comments.

[pjmlp → bell-cot]

Or when you remember having been through all the items being discussed.

[bayindirh → pjmlp]

Or when you used real VT320s to configure devices, switches or talk with things in general.

...or written code to do the same, albeit programmatically.

[yetihehe → bayindirh]

I had to connect to a cisco router with a serial dongle (window->usb->serial->cisco) not that long ago. After successfully configuring, I could change configuration in the same exact way going over network (window->encryption->tcp->ethernet->decryption->cisco), but underneath, it's all teletypes talking to each other[0].

[0] https://web.stanford.edu/class/cs81n/command.txt

[bayindirh → yetihehe]

I can understand. We still have a drawer full of different console cables with a couple of USB-RS-232 converters.

Our tradition during new hardware installs, yelled through the datacenter over CRAC, wind and fan noise:

A: You said blue one, but it's not connecting to $NETWORK_DEVICE

B: Try the other, slightly darker blue one, with the sticker XYZ. That's the one I used IIRC.

A: Oh, OK.

[bityard → bayindirh]

My $work has an R&D lab with hundreds of the enterprise/carrier network appliances we sell, and ALL of the automation for the whole thing happens over RS-232 serial.

[dboreham → bayindirh]

VT320 would'av been a luxury fur us.

[baz00 → bayindirh]

Or had to crack open the vt320 and fix it with the service manual and a soldering iron!

[dredmorbius → bell-cot]

The author has himself to thank for a chilly reception amongst some.