# Paul Vixie > American internet pioneer **Wikidata**: [Q92777](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q92777) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Vixie) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/paul-vixie ## Summary Paul Vixie is an American computer scientist, engineer, and writer widely recognized as an internet pioneer. He is best known for his foundational contributions to the Internet protocol suite and the creation of the `cron` utility. His work has significantly influenced internet infrastructure and software development standards. ## Biography - **Born:** May 23, 1963 - **Nationality:** United States - **Education:** George Washington High School - **Known for:** Creating `cron`, contributions to Request for Comments (RFCs), and work on the Internet protocol suite. - **Employer(s):** Digital Equipment Corporation (Engineer, 1988–1993) - **Field(s):** American Registry for Internet Numbers, Request for Comments, Internet protocol suite - **Occupations:** Computer scientist, engineer, writer ## Contributions Paul Vixie has authored numerous Request for Comments (RFCs) and contributed extensively to the development of the Internet protocol suite. His technical output includes software and standards that remain integral to modern network operations. His most widely recognized contribution is the authorship of **cron**, the time-based job scheduler for Unix-like operating systems. This tool automates scheduled tasks and remains a standard component in system administration. Professionally, Vixie served as an engineer at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) from 1988 to 1993. During this period and subsequently, he engaged with critical internet infrastructure organizations. He is associated with the **American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)**, playing a role in the management of internet number resources. His work bridges technical engineering and policy, influencing how internet addressing and protocols are standardized and implemented globally. ## FAQs ### Q: What is Paul Vixie best known for creating? A: Paul Vixie is best known for creating **cron**, a utility used in Unix operating systems to schedule commands or scripts to run automatically at specified times and dates. ### Q: Has Paul Vixie received any major awards for his work? A: Yes, he was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame in 2014 and received the O'Reilly Open Source Award in 2007. ### Q: What role did Paul Vixie play at Digital Equipment Corporation? A: He worked as an engineer for Digital Equipment Corporation from 1988 to 1993, during the formative years of commercial internet expansion. ## Why They Matter Paul Vixie's work represents a cornerstone of modern internet infrastructure. By contributing to the **Internet protocol suite** and authoring **Request for Comments (RFCs)**, he helped standardize the technical rules that allow global computer networks to interoperate. His impact extends beyond protocol theory into practical, daily operations through the creation of **cron**, a tool that remains ubiquitous in server administration and automation decades after its introduction. His career at Digital Equipment Corporation and his involvement with the American Registry for Internet Numbers demonstrate a sustained commitment to both the engineering and governance sides of the internet. Recognition through the Internet Hall of Fame (2014) and the O'Reilly Open Source Award (2007) highlights his status as a pivotal figure whose technical contributions have permanently shaped the digital landscape. Without his contributions to open-source software and internet standards, the efficiency of modern network administration and the stability of internet protocols would arguably be less advanced. ## Notable For - **Authorship of `cron`:** Developed the seminal time-based job scheduler for Unix systems. - **Internet Hall of Fame Inductee (2014):** Recognized for significant contributions to the global internet. - **O'Reilly Open Source Award Winner (2007):** Honored for achievements in the open-source community. - **RFC Contributor:** Authored key documents defining Internet standards (Request for Comments). - **Industry Veteran:** Served as an engineer at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) during a critical era of computing. ## Body ### Early Life and Background Paul Vixie was born on May 23, 1963, and is a citizen of the United States. He attended George Washington High School. His early academic and professional path led him into the nascent field of computer science and internet engineering. ### Engineering and Corporate Tenure Vixie held a significant position as an engineer at **Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC)**, a major American minicomputer manufacturer. His tenure lasted from 1988 to 1993. This role placed him at the intersection of hardware manufacturing and the software protocols that would eventually dominate global networking. ### Technical Contributions and Projects Vixie's primary field of work involves the **Internet protocol suite** and the authoring of **Request for Comments (RFCs)**. These documents define the technical specifications for internet technologies. His most enduring specific creation is **cron**. As a notable work, cron provides the functionality for users to schedule jobs (commands or scripts) to run periodically at certain times or dates. It is a standard utility in Unix-like operating systems. He has also been involved with the **American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)**, an organization that manages the distribution of Internet number resources (IP addresses) in specific geographic regions. ### Recognition and Awards Vixie's contributions have been acknowledged through prestigious industry awards: * **Internet Hall of Fame (2014):** Inducted for his role as an internet pioneer. * **O'Reilly Open Source Award (2007):** Awarded for his contributions to the open-source software community. ### Digital Footprint and Identifiers Vixie maintains a presence across academic and technical databases. His professional identifiers confirm his standing in the scientific community: * **GitHub Username:** vixie * **Twitter Handle:** @paulvixie (Joined March 2011) * **DBLP Author ID:** 42/6644 * **ACM Digital Library Author ID:** 81100588951 * **ISNI:** 0000000032233475 His work has been documented and archived by major libraries and repositories, including the Library of Congress (ID: n94061099) and the National Library of Israel. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.internethalloffame.org/inductee/paul-vixie/) 2. Virtual International Authority File 3. [Source](http://mailman.postel.org/pipermail/internet-history/2012-December/002646.html) 4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File