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Fond memories of Novell Netware's BROADCAST command... I discovered it as I was exploring the (then unknown to me) Netware client on Microsoft Windows 3.x, I tr

Fond memories of Novell Netware's BROADCAST command... I discovered it as I was exploring the (then unknown to me) Netware client on Microsoft Windows 3.x, I tried something like BROADCAST "Nuclear strike inbound". Then, in the university's computer lab, I saw some puzzled heads rise and some look askingly at their neighbor... The command had performed as designed: Netware had beautifully, and to my horrified stupefaction, sent the message to the whole network of a large university, with a pop-up on each workstation... I grabbed my bag and got the hell out of there - in the hallway I crossed a sysadmin running in the opposite direction... For a few weeks I made myself very discreet and avoided the computer labs - the sysadmin of course knew and asked me if I had done or noticed anything unusual, which I stupidly denied but he was kind enough to let it pass.

willcipriano 6y ago
I came a bit later than you I suspect but I had a similar experience in my middle school computer lab with NET SEND. https://ss64.com/nt/net-send.html https://ss64.com/nt/net-send.html
- adav 6y ago
  I had completely forgotten about this, thank you! I had so much fun with Net Send in my primary school computer lab.
- leesalminen 6y ago
  Ah, NET SEND. The first time I ever got in trouble at school. For punishment they made me start an after school computer club, run by the IT admin who I’d embarrassed.
Angostura 6y ago
I used to have silly amounts of fun with Broadcast in Netware in the office - mainly to announce it was time for Friday drinks down the pub.
weinzierl 6y ago
When I got to university I knew NET SEND only from ad-hoc networks with my buddies. On one of my first days in the CIP I wondered if it worked the same way in a real professional network. Never expected it to, so I tried it - just to proof my expectations. The shock came when the whole hall beeped in unison. Other than you, I sat there and desperately tried to act normal in the best Mister Bean fashion. Luckily no one cared, so all was good. I had a similar experience a little later when I tried if I could reach the webserver I had started on the uni workstation from my home. To my big surprise it worked and I figured if I could reach it from my home, everyone could from everywhere. This was a big wonder for me. Of course, back then nothing was NATed and not much was firewalled. Those were the times and fun times indeed.

willcipriano 6y ago

I came a bit later than you I suspect but I had a similar experience in my middle school computer lab with NET SEND. https://ss64.com/nt/net-send.html https://ss64.com/nt/net-send.html

adav 6y ago
I had completely forgotten about this, thank you! I had so much fun with Net Send in my primary school computer lab.
leesalminen 6y ago
Ah, NET SEND. The first time I ever got in trouble at school. For punishment they made me start an after school computer club, run by the IT admin who I’d embarrassed.

Angostura 6y ago

I used to have silly amounts of fun with Broadcast in Netware in the office - mainly to announce it was time for Friday drinks down the pub.

weinzierl 6y ago

When I got to university I knew NET SEND only from ad-hoc networks with my buddies. On one of my first days in the CIP I wondered if it worked the same way in a real professional network. Never expected it to, so I tried it - just to proof my expectations. The shock came when the whole hall beeped in unison. Other than you, I sat there and desperately tried to act normal in the best Mister Bean fashion. Luckily no one cared, so all was good. I had a similar experience a little later when I tried if I could reach the webserver I had started on the uni workstation from my home. To my big surprise it worked and I figured if I could reach it from my home, everyone could from everywhere. This was a big wonder for me. Of course, back then nothing was NATed and not much was firewalled. Those were the times and fun times indeed.