SRI-NOSC

The first networked Unix system was one produced at the University of Illinois in 1974-75 for use on the ARPANET; it used the NCP protocol.

The code is divided into three main groups: code for the kernel (further divided into device drivers, and code common to all methods of interfacing to the ARPANET); a daemon which ran as a process, which handled a lot of the protocol overhead (e.g. opening and closing connections); and programs (also run as processes) to implement applications such as FTP and TELNET.

The code was originally written mostly by Gary R. Grossman and Steve F. Holmgren; many others later contributed fixes and improvements. The code rapidly spread among computer science centers which were connected to the ARPANET; this copy of the code came via NOSC (Naval Ocean Systems Center) and SRI.

Also included are two important major application packages produced elsewhere: the MH mail reader, done by Bruce S. Borden at RAND based on suggestions by R. Stockton Gaines; and the MMDF mail agent, written by David Crocker at the University of Delaware.

For more information about this system, see: - Steve Holmgren; "The Network UNIX System"; Center for Advanced Computation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana, Illinois; 1975
- Karl C Kelley, Richard Balocca, Jody Kravitz; "A Network Unix System for the ARPANET: Volume 1"
- The Network Control Program"; Center for Advanced Computation and Computing Services Office, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana, Illinois; 1978