Edson Hendricks
Edson C. Hendricks | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 22, 1945 Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 29, 2020 (aged 75) |
| Occupation | Computer scientist |
| Known for | Creating RSCS (later renamed VNET) |
Edson C. Hendricks (May 22, 1945 – August 29, 2020) was a prominent American computer scientist affiliated with IBM. He is best known for creating RSCS, later renamed VNET, a pivotal software system that powered the largest pre-Internet network globally. RSCS played a significant role in shaping the early Internet and enabled connectivity among autonomous organizations. Within IBM, VNET expanded to encompass 4,000 nodes.[1] On an academic level, VNET served as the backbone for BITNET, linking 500 institutions and 3,000 nodes, and also supported Europe’s EARN and Canada’s NETNORTH networks.
Biography
Hendricks was born in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania on May 22, 1945. He earned his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in June 1967. After beginning graduate studies under networking pioneer J. C. R. Licklider, he joined IBM’s Cambridge Scientific Center (CSC) in March 1968 to engage in cutting-edge computing initiatives.
In 1977, Hendricks transferred to IBM’s San Jose Research Laboratory but departed from IBM in 1983 after failing to gain executive backing for merging VNET with TCP/IP protocols. Subsequently, he worked independently as a consultant before joining Linkabit Corporation and later becoming one of the initial team members at ViaSat in Carlsbad, California. He lived in San Diego until his passing on August 29, 2020.
Technological innovations
During his time at MIT, Hendricks rapidly progressed from a computer operator to a systems programmer on an IBM System/360 model 65. He was responsible for creating the first IBM computer adaptation of “Spacewar!,” one of the earliest video games publicly showcased at MIT events.
At IBM, Hendricks contributed to the development of virtual machine operating systems (CP/CMS) and introduced the idea of a service virtual machine through CPREMOTE, which enhanced system capabilities without increasing hypervisor complexity.
In 1971, under Norman Rasmussen’s direction to establish communication between IBM Scientific Centers, Hendricks collaborated with Tim Hartmann to develop RSCS. This system became operational by 1973 and was commercially released as VM/370 Networking PRPQ in 1975.[2][3] RSCS evolved into an essential component of VM operating systems.[4]
Despite IBM officially adopting Systems Network Architecture (SNA) in 1974—a strategy that conflicted with both VNET and emerging Internet protocols such as TCP/IP—Hendricks and his colleagues advocated internally for their networking approach; however, IBM management remained committed to SNA.
In June 1975, Hendricks presented his networking work to DARPA’s chief scientist Dr. Vinton Cerf. Later that year, both attended a global Data Communications workshop in Austria where Hendricks publicly shared network design concepts that laid groundwork for the modern Internet.
Hendricks earned an IBM "Outstanding Achievement Award" in 1977 recognizing the VM/370 Networking PRPQ and the internal network infrastructure.
By the late 1970s, VNET had outpaced ARPAnet concerning connected devices—reaching roughly 1,000 nodes compared to ARPAnet's approximately 250 nodes by 1981 when ARPAnet transitioned to TCP/IP.[5] Although proposals supported by notable figures like Turing Award laureate Jim Gray aimed to interconnect VNET and ARPAnet, IBM declined these initiatives over security concerns.[6]
IBM continued marketing RSCS as a standalone product until May 2008, when it was reclassified as an optional feature within the z/VM operating system.[7]