Kaynet

"Kaynet" -- a sophisticated method for interconnecting numerous Kaypro computers which allows for the sharing of resources and information has been introduced by the Kaypro Corporation, the nation's fourth largest manufacturer of personal computers.

"Kaynet" has been designed to provide maximum flexibility by permitting users to network virtually anything that can be done locally on the computer. Every station attached to the network thus becomes a part of any member computer. As such, any linked user can share data stored on the disk drive of another station, or can direct his or her output to the printer attached to another computer. Also, an individual user can send and. receive mail, messages and complete files, as well as "log on" to the drives of another machine and run a program.

A practical system may utilize up to 20 Kaypro II, 4, or 10 computers in virtually any combination, while as many as 60 may be feasible. Thus, the power of a single computer is increased to the cumulative power of all computers attached to the network.

Information is transferred between computers connected by up to 1000 feet of standard telephone cable to maximize reliability and to minimize signal degradation over long distances. Because each computer in the "Kaynet" network is electronically and functionally identical to every other computer, the centralized weak link phenomenon, common to other networks, is eliminated.

If one of the units in the network fails, there is no disruption and all other units continue to function normally.

("Kaypro Introduces 'Kaynet'" Press Release, November 28, 1983)