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Thread ID: 34321 2003-06-09 23:15:00 Is networking an art or a science? sjbryce (2129) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
151359 2003-06-09 23:15:00 Have this as an essay topic and wanted to get some feedback. Any ideas people? Is networking an art or a science? sjbryce (2129)
151360 2003-06-09 23:24:00 when it works its a science.

when it dosn't its an art. you throw the rules out the window and use anything that works!

;-)
tweak'e (174)
151361 2003-06-09 23:42:00 It's actually a simultaneous equation with too many variables :| wuppo (41)
151362 2003-06-10 01:40:00 physically, in terms of cabling, it can be considered art. technically (protocols, topologies etc) it is a science. however you will find people who arent too logically-inclined who are nonetheless quite passionate about networking... so I would say its a bit of column A and a bit of column B. whetu (237)
151363 2003-06-10 01:54:00 Definitely a combination of the two. Sometimes it can also fit in to other categories such as a 'pain in the ****'. -=JM=- (16)
151364 2003-06-10 02:01:00 *cough*

I beg to differ. Networking is a process.

It utilises the principles of science, and may occasionally seem like an art form (or black art), but gettind down to basics it is nothing more than a process. There are set protocols and standards, and if your system complies, it works - no ifs, no buts.

It is only when your system components do not conform or are not correctly configured that you will have problems.

Interesting that you are expected to decide between two options, neither of which is actually correct. This means that no matter what you write, you are wrong. Unless of course this was set as a philosophy assignment.

Dare to be different.

Cheers

Billy 8-{) :D
Billy T (70)
151365 2003-06-10 02:08:00 hi ya

i had always thought it had to do with operator control ( or problems)
whether you had any or not may be the case,

and if it works thats not just good it may be the mirracle youre looking for!

and if it doesnt work, well try again tomorow, so to me its always trial and error.

ive never thought of it as art or science, just technology to me,

and maybe one day ill understand enuf to say ill help you!

not you help me.

beetle
beetle (243)
151366 2003-06-10 02:20:00 I would say both, to make it work is science. to make it work in a nice way can be an art.

if you have two systems and one cable then there is little room for art.

if you are setting up 200 system , a DMZ ,mail servers ,web servers, ECT then this can become an art, I say this because you can do it so it look nice or so it looks crap. both will work but one the nice one could be called a "work of art"
robsonde (120)
151367 2003-06-10 02:23:00 > when it works its a science.
>
> when it dosn't its an art. you throw the rules out
> the window and use anything that works!
>
> ;-)

Very nice ;-)
Chilling_Silently (228)
151368 2003-06-10 04:55:00 Arthur Clarke's statement applies:

Any sufficiently advanced sciene is indistinbguishable from magic
Graham L (2)
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