3 Jan
2012
3 Jan
'12
9:17 p.m.
On 01/03/2012 03:30 PM, Mark Kahrs wrote:
Over the break I visited the NSA's museum (just a
stone's throw from Ft.
Meade). For those who like crypto machines, it is definitely, definitely
worth a visit. The curators and staff are very enthusiastic (they even
brought out a machine from the back vault) and of course you can buy an NSA
t-shirt if your heart desires. They had a mix-up with the Y-MP processor
board and memory board on display (I told them) but otherwise it's fun just
to see a Cray I up-close-and-personal. They have the tape jukebox being
run from a PC. And the CM is flashing lights, but that's about it. The
modern crypto gear is shown but the commentary is sparse at best. (In case
you're wondering, the boxes are empty -- so I was told). There is little
mention of public key cryptosystems. Or controversial questions like key
length or key escrow.
But worth a detour? Definitely.
I second this wholeheartedly. I used to go there regularly, when I
lived just a few miles from there. I've had many a long talk with the
staffers there.
By far the best part of that place, IMO, is the Enigma exhibit. To
walk up and operate a real Enigma is an awesome experience.
The last time I was there, there was a PDP-11/70 on exhibit. Is it
still there?
Oh, and...I'm sorry to bust your bubble, but about the "Cray
I"...it's not a "Cray I", it's just an SSD (Solid-State Disk)
assembly
that was possibly once attached to a Cray I.
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire
New Kensington, PA