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The University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, T +44 (0)1227 764000
Bob Eager
Senior Lecturer
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Research Interests
My chief area of interest is computer operating systems.
Eur Ing Robert D Eager, CEng, FBCS, CITP, MIET
Teaching and other duties
I teach a variety of topics, principally in the area of system software (in particular, operating systems). I also teach various hardware-related topics. In addition, I give one-off lectures and classes (some optional) on 'interesting' areas such as computer history, the UNIX operating system and computer hardware.
My principal non-teaching duties are as Director of Undergraduate Admissions for the School of Computing, and as a member of the Schools Liaison Team. I am available to give talks at schools in the Kent area and even beyond, on studying computing, computing careers, applying to university, and similar topics.
Personal Information
I have a list of books which I like, and which you might want to get! It is at http://books.tavi.co.uk.
I run an extensive home network, mainly based on the FreeBSD derivative of UNIX. This includes file servers using Samba, two mail servers running Postfix, and a telephone exchange (PBX) using Voice over IP, based on Asterisk. My ISN is 1*1423.
I maintain the ML/I macro processor, which was originally written by a former member of staff, Professor Peter Brown. I run an associated website at http://www.ml1.org.uk.
I am also interested in the history of computing, and am familiar with many machine architectures and systems. I also own a number of machines from the (now defunct) Digital equipment Corporation, including four PDP-11s, three VAX systems, and two replica PDP-8s (these were built by me). I did a lot of work on ICL 2900 machines, and my reflections on that can be found here.
I serve on the Kent Branch Committee of the British Computer Society.
In my spare time (!) I am the Vice-Chair of Governors at a local grammar school.
You can find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/eager.
Other snippets
- I am rodentially ambidextrous.
- I am monocular.
- I have been to a Buckingham Palace garden party.
- I was once a qualified tyre fitter.
- I have attended 119 separate events at a single Edinburgh Festival.
- I once flew to Australia to surprise someone.
- G8KDU.
Interesting pictures
A few random pictures, with a bit of explanation!
This is a replica of an early minicomputer system (the real thing had a similar front panel, but would have been deeper and a bit higher).
The system was a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-8, and the replica is near to the top specification for these machines. It has 32 kilobytes (yes, kilobytes!) of memory, each cell not being an 8 bit byte, but a 12 bit word). You can program it using the switches (and look at the lights), but it will connect to a simple text terminal and has a surprising rich repertoire of commands. It supports several languages, including BASIC, FORTRAN and FOCAL. The clock speed is 5MHz, and it simulates eight 2MB hard disks (as per the original) on a single Compact Flash card.
This machine is a standard 1U server that I built (in fact, I have built several of them). They all use Mini-ITX motherboards, which are 17.5 cm square are use little power. This system uses less power than most, as it has no CPU fan and no hard disk; storage is on the Compact Flash card which can just be seen protruding from the panel at the bottom right, below the USB ports.
It operates as a network firewall, and UPS monitor.