RIP: Dr. Dave Mills, 85

[thewayne]

99% of you are going 'WHO?'

But if you like your computer having accurate time, he's the dude to thank.

Dave invented the NTP protocol which lets your computer and other devices synchronize their internal clocks with recognized time standards. While this doesn't seem like a big deal, the internet would literally be pretty much impossible without accurate time synchronization.

He passed away quietly and peacefully at home, Vint Cerf, another early computer luminary was notified by his daughter.

From the article: "Aside from his work on NTP, Mills also invented the first "Fuzzball router" for NSFNET (one of the first modern routers, based on the DEC PDP-11 computer), created one of the first implementations of FTP, inspired the creation of "ping," and played a key role in Internet architecture as the first chairman of the Internet Architecture Task Force.

Mills was widely recognized for his work, becoming a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery in 1999 and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in 2002, as well as receiving the IEEE Internet Award in 2013 for contributions to network protocols and timekeeping in the development of the Internet."

A truly accomplished computer pioneer.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/01/inventor-of-ntp-protocol-that-keeps-time-on-billions-of-devices-dies-at-age-85/

Comments

[disneydream06]

A big Thank You to Dr. Mills.
RIP.

Hugs, Jon

[kaishin108]

I treasure the use of the clock on my computer(s). And routers, whoa. At first they were so confusing. I remember having a separate router and a modem and it was a bear for a novice like me to try to figure out. RIP Dr Dave Mills!

[thewayne]

Yep, he was instrumental in some of the first router designs.  And routing protocols are dependent on precise time synchronization between devices.  The concepts involved in networking are quite understandable, but the deeper you dig, you wonder how the hell it all continues to work well!  I also came from the old days of your router and cable modem being two independent devices, and even older when you had a modem.  My first PC had a built-in 300 baud modem!  Just plug a telephone's RJ-11 plug right into the side and you were potentially off and running!

[kaishin108]

I remember that sound of plugging the telephone line in, it was a fun noise. :)

[silveradept]

Someone who is absolutely responsible for so many of the things we take for granted working about the Internet.

[thewayne]

Yep.