NASA ISS moving to Linux

[VE6EFR]

Linux Foundation Training Prepares the International Space Station for Linux Migration (http://www.linux.com/news/featured-blogs/191-linux-training/711318-linux-foundation-training-prepares-the-international-space-station-for-linux-migration)
http://www.linux.com/news/featured-blogs/191-linux-training/711318-linux-foundation-training-prepares-the-international-space-station-for-linux-migration

[mips]

Linux is nothing new in NASA or the DoD.

[tgalati4]

Nor are shrinking budgets.

[Paqman]

The article is pretty light on specifics, it just mentions that some computers were migrated to Linux. I read another article just a couple of days ago that says the actual astronaut's laptops are Thinkpads running Win XP (http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/03/how-nasa-got-an-android-handset-ready-to-go-into-space/).

[coldraven]

I think it goes to show that for mission critical computers Windows is not up to the job.
I certainly would not do internet banking using Windows.

[Paqman]

I think it goes to show that for mission critical computers Windows is not up to the job.
I certainly would not do internet banking using Windows.

You can't really compare the performance or experience of a desktop system to an embedded one, they're completely different animals. I've worked with systems running embedded Windows and they work perfectly well as a platform. You're more likely to get trouble from the application software on top in my experience, as the quality of these is highly variable. Or the hardware of course, buy your gear from the wrong vendor and it'll be rubbish.

The only time I've had trouble with Windows professionally is with desktop Windows running on laptops that my technicians use to plug into and talk to said embedded systems. These are indeed rather poor, but they do get brutally abused.

[mr john]

Nasa ISS eh?

The source of the article is Linux.org so I don't think we're going to get a balanced explanation of why one was better than the other. Good that they've gone Linux though.

[carla2013]

If this is not an April Fools Day, Linux will gain more popularity :D

[Redalien0304]

Very Cool Article
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/05/10/iss_linux_debian_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 (http://training.linuxfoundation.org/why-our-linux-training/training-reviews/linux-foundation-training-prepares-the-international-space-station-for-linux-migration).

I especially liked this part. =D>

[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 (http://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/predict.html).

[tgalati4]

HAL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_9000): "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 :D

[mips]

Watch in HD


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo

Try and see how many laptops you can spot, every time I watch the video I see another one I missed before :D

[sandyd]

Thread Merged

[vladster]

lol