David le Page
South African company Diamond Network Technologies has written a tiny but revolutionary piece of software that could make PCs around the world easier and cheaper to maintain.
The new software is called DiNIC. It occupies at most 64K of flash ROM – built- in memory – on a normal network card, and will add new powers to the just-started PC.
When a PC is turned on, it runs programs from the system BIOS, which runs basic system checks. The BIOS establishes certain settings, reminding the PC what disks are attached to it, how to talk to them and how they will be handling various processes.
The BIOS then gets the hard drive running. The boot sector of the hard drive loads the operating system (for example, Windows NT or FreeBSD) into memory. Only once the operating system is up and running, can the PC communicate with the world, through an office network, or over the Internet.
Networks offer new advantages to those who have to maintain PCs. Software from several companies, such as Symantec and Laptech, enables system administrators remotely to change software settings and install software.
If a hard drive is saturated with Hustler’s Nude Wives, they can be erased from a distance over a network. The systems administrators no longer have to physically visit the PC to work on it.
However, there is a distinct limitation to this kind of software – it assumes the remote PC is working well enough for it to have networking functionality. But often this is not the case. There could be a hard drive failure, or the PC user could inadvertently have changed the PC’s settings so that it is no longer recognised by the network.
But a geek sitting in an office 1 000 kilometres away will still be able to log in to the machine using DiNIC.
She can run certain diagnostic programs, checking system hardware. She won’t be able to smell the coffee spilt into the floppy drive, but will be able to tell a hardware technician to replace that floppy drive. She can take complete control of the hard drive, reformat it and reinstall an entire operating system.
If someone has stolen a memory card overnight, its absence will be instantly detectable. The most autistic of machines could be summoned back to life from a signal deep within its “subconscious”.
The same kind of process will work for Internet home users. As long as your modem is still working, a technician should be able to log in to your traumatised PC which won’t even load Windows.
DiNIC might well completely shift the economics of computer support. Companies which have only chosen to service networks that concentrate large numbers of PCs within a small area might now find it economical to look at servicing smaller networks, or even individual users.
DiNIC will also allow system builders to completely separate system and data on any particular hard drive, adding to data security.
So what’s the downside? Well, if hackers manage to access DiNIC, they will have enormous power over your PC. To prevent this, the interface to DiNIC is run over the strongest legal encryption available in any country.
Currently, DiNIC does not have any competition. It is engaged in discussions with major United States companies, who are probably itching to get their hands on it. Already in South Africa, DiNIC is being installed in Zebra PCs, two low-cost PC options from black-empowerment PC supplier SourceCom Technology Solutions.
What’s more, DiNIC should be cheap. Local quotes are about R200 for one PC, the cost of just one service call. The administration software comes free of charge.