Building and running a "retro internet" for retro computing users

Speaker: Cursed Silicon

Room: CC 234

Time: Sun 10:25 am – 10:55 am

Format: Lecture (30 Min + Q&A)

Difficulty: Some experience required

Track: Networks

Additional Tags: Hardware, Creative

Presenter Location: In-person

Experience: first time speaking

Description:

Using old (retro) computers on today’s modern web is extremely difficult — from security concerns to complete incompatibility with newer standards. Compu‑Global‑Hyper‑Mega‑Net (CGHMN) is a community project built to solve exactly that problem by providing a dedicated network for retro computing enthusiasts.

This talk explores how CGHMN recreates a 1990s–early 2000s internet experience, allowing vintage systems across the world to connect, collaborate, and communicate in an environment tailored to their limitations. Attendees will learn what it takes to build and operate a “retro internet,” why it matters, and how the community keeps it fun and functional.

Target Audience:

Retro computing folk

Linux enthusiasts

Technologists curious about alternative networking ecosystems