Kategorie: ‘Fun & Facts’
A Journey Through IT History II – From Floppy Disks to Cloud Storage
Source: Own Illustration
Welcome to the second part of our journey through IT history! This time, we’ll delve into the world of storage media and trace their evolution from 1.44 megabytes (MB) in a rectangular plastic case to the seemingly unlimited capacities of the cloud.
Less Scrolling – Use Social Media Wisely!
Source: Own Illustration
We all use them and can’t get enough of them. We’re talking about social media channels, of course. They accompany us through our everyday lives, offering inspiration and fun breaks. However, we are also familiar with situations where we open a channel out of habit and then frown as we look at our screen time. So here are a few tips on how to reestablish a more conscious approach to social media channels.
SysAdmin Day 2026: A Quick Peek Behind the Scenes
Source: Own illustration
Today, July 31, marks another SysAdmin Day, a day on which we’d like to thank system administrators for their important work. From workstations to servers, networks, and applications, sysadmins ensure that everything runs smoothly every day and often solve problems before anyone even notices them. Our colleague Peter took a lighthearted look at the daily work of an IT admin. Was it satire and what is reality? Much of what he describes is actually closer to everyday work life than we’d sometimes like to admit.
The IT Center at the 13th Aachen Company Run
Source: Own Illustration
The IT Center was once again represented at this year’s Aachen Company Run. The 13th Aachen Company Run did not take place at the end of September as usual, but instead on Friday, July 3, 2026. Due to construction work at the event site, the run was moved to early summer.
A Journey Through IT History – The Internet of the 1990s
Source: Own Illustration
Beeep… beep…
Crrr… sshhh… beep…
Squeeeek – wiiieeeuuuu – tick-tick-tick – beep!
What sounds like a telephone’s demonic possession is all too familiar to nostalgic souls and early tech adopters. This symphony of beeps and whistles didn’t herald the apocalypse, but rather the establishment of a connection between two modems. They were negotiating speed and protocols for data transfer. At the end of this acoustic incantation, the gateway to the World Wide Web opened – welcome to the Internet of the 1990s!
Ten Years of ISO Certification for the IT-ServiceDesk
Source: Own illustration
Ten years ago, the Service & Communication department of the IT Center reached an important milestone: On May 23, 2016, the then IT-ServiceDesk received its initial certification under DIN EN ISO 9001:2015—and has been certified without interruption ever since. The department can thus look back on a decade of continuous quality management and successful development.
Year 2038 and Year 2036 Problem: No Threat to RWTH IT Systems
Source: Own illustration
Regularly, so-called “time-related issues” arise in IT. These involve technical limitations in the processing of date and time data. In addition to the well-known Year 2000 problem, the Year 2036 problem and the Year 2038 problem are currently the subject of particular discussion. This post provides a brief overview of both topics and explains why there is no risk to the IT systems at RWTH Aachen University.
Bluetooth – Convenience With Security Risks
Source: Freepik
Bluetooth is an essential part of our modern everyday lives. Whether it’s wireless headphones in the office, a mouse and keyboard on a laptop, a smartwatch on your wrist or fast data exchange between two devices, the technology is always there to help us get ahead. Wireless technology helps to significantly improve the conditions for mobile working and learning. However, security gaps are a relevant issue both in everyday working life, where sensitive data is handled, and in everyday student life.
CLAIX-2025 – Commissioning in Sight?!
Source: Own illustration
It’s spring 2026 – what’s missing at the RWTH IT Center? The CLAIX-2025 HPC system isn’t yet in production! As part of the proven 1-cluster concept, CLAIX-2025 is intended to complement the existing CLAIX-2023 system at the Tier-2 level. We spoke with our HPC experts at the IT Center to find out why the commissioning has been delayed and what the current status is. Sascha Bücken, Group Leader “Server, Storage, HPC,” Tim Cramer, Group Leader “HPC CORE,” and Christian Terboven, Chief HPC Officer, answer the question on the minds of researchers at RWTH Aachen and across Germany:
April Fools’ Day in IT – When Even the Server Laughs!
Source: Freepik
April 1st is the only day of the year when IT people are officially allowed to admit they have a sense of humor. Between tickets, updates, and the third reboot of the day, there’s sometimes still time for a little April Fools’ prank.
