CHAOSnet, developed at MIT in the 1970s, was one of the earliest local area network implementations.

Symbolics, maker of the Lisp Machine, licensed the MIT CHAOSnet hardware and software implementation from the CADR computer design.

The CHAOSnet protocol originally used its own hardware implementation over coaxial cable, and was later also implemented as a payload that could be carried over Ethernet.

CHAOSnet can be regarded as a precursor of both Ethernet and the Internet Protocol, and was recognized as one of the other network types (other than "IN") in the Domain Name System (and by early versions of the BIND).

The original GNU manifesto stated the aim of supporting CHAOSnet.

References:

  • David A. Moon. Chaosnet. A.I. Memo 628, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, June 1981.

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