Penguins in spa-a-a-ce! ISS dumps Windows for Linux on laptops

[Redalien0304]

Very Cool Article
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/05...an_deployment/

[VirginiaDrifter]

"We migrated key functions from Windows to Linux because we needed an operating system that was stable and reliable – one that would give us in-house control. So if we needed to patch, adjust or adapt, we could," he said.

I especially liked this part.

[rrnbtter]

Greetings,
Interesting! Most of the reasons given for the switch are the same reasons that I had. Small world! Great solution!

[Koori23]

140 laptops eh? Holy cow that seems like a lot. Awesome though. Speaking of which, I thought at one point in the repos we had a app that could track ISS. For the life of me, I can't remember it's name.

[Paqman]

140 laptops eh? Holy cow that seems like a lot. Awesome though. Speaking of which, I thought at one point in the repos we had a app that could track ISS. For the life of me, I can't remember it's name.

I'm guessing they use laptops for any PC they need, as they're more compact, and have lower power requirements (thus giving off less heat). The ISS only has a finite amount of electricity available, and getting rid of waste heat from equipment must be a bit of a nightmare in space.

You don't need an app to track the ISS, you can get NASA to send you alerts with spotting information: http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/

[rewyllys]

140 laptops eh? Holy cow that seems like a lot. Awesome though. Speaking of which, I thought at one point in the repos we had a app that could track ISS. For the life of me, I can't remember it's name.

Perhaps you were thinking of PREDICT.

[tgalati4]

HAL: "I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you in. I'm updating."

Dave: "HAL, Let me in! I didn't specify any updates!"

HAL: "I'm sorry Dave, according to Windows Genuine Advantage, your license does not appear to be valid."

Dave: "HAL, Let me in! What are you talking about? These are official government computers. Override the update."

HAL: "I can't do that Dave. It's not in my programs. I have to run virus updates now. Please stand by."

Dave: "HAL, Let me in! I don't have time for this nonsense."

HAL: "I'm sorry Dave. I don't understand the term nonsense. Please explain."

Dave: "I, I, I can't breathe . . ."

--------------------------

Dave: "sudo airlock open"

HAL: "password"

Dave: "I can't remember."

HAL: "Sorry, Try again."

Dave: "HAL, Let me in!"

HAL: "I'm sorry Dave, 3 incorrect password attempts."

[pqwoerituytrueiwoq]

@tgalati4
lol
i read HAL as Hardware Abstraction Layer the 1st time there

reboot
Hold Shift
recovery mode
drop to console
airlock pressurize

[blackbird34]

Debian, the Universal operating system. Literally