Oolite Bulletins

“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,” Keith Chuvala of the United Space Alliance, the organization that operates opsLAN for NASA, told Gunter.

source

They do move systems to Linux, but are also going forward with Windows on some, so it's not perfectly exclusive. Still, a good move!

maik wrote:

but are also going forward with Windows on some

Not according to the Telegraph story the article was based on..

Dozens of laptops on the ISS's 'opsLAN' network - which provides the ship's crew with vital capabilities for day-to-day operations, from telling the astronauts where they are to interfacing with onboard cameras - will be switched, removing Windows entirely from the ISS.

(emphasis mine)

Wired on the other hand says otherwise:

The ISS is not ditching Windows completely, however, and the operating systems are expected to be used in conjunction with one another.

I tried to find a source where this piece of news comes from but couldn't so far...

Edit: found something:

Update 5/10/13 9 p.m. EST: We heard from Kieth Chuvala below who said his comments with the Linux Foundation have been misconstrued. The ISS does use Linux as well as Windows, and has no plans to ditch Windows any time soon. This story has been updated to reflect Chuvala's correction.

kchuvala wrote:

Unfortunately, sources like ZDNet have misquoted or misconstrued my interview with the Linux Foundation, and several "news" blogs and such have picked up the inaccuracies they reported. Yes, we do use Linux on ISS and are expanding its use across our systems. However, we have not, nor will we in the foreseeable future, "dump" Windows.

Well, either way, it's a step in the right direction. (Any step away from Winderz is a step in the right direction )

I appreciate the clarification, maik.. thanks!

CommRLock78 wrote:

Any step away from Winderz is a step in the right direction

<yawns>

Cody wrote:

CommRLock78 wrote:

Any step away from Winderz is a step in the right direction

<yawns>

Really dude... are you that bored?

CommRLock78 wrote:

Cody wrote:

CommRLock78 wrote:

Any step away from Winderz is a step in the right direction

<yawns>

Really dude... are you that bored?

<snickers>

I guess Cody thinks having access to his root directory and having the ability to modify it without a password is actually a good thing - for himself, as well as NASA. Don't forget to turn off UAC as well, and use an admin account for your day-to-day work - no one's stopping you.

eh, don't second-guess el-viejo-turned-cody

<chuckles - re-reads an article by Verity Stob>

maik wrote:

eh, don't second-guess el-viejo-turned-cody

It's not so much second guessing as it is making an observation. It doesn't really matter what it is anyway: his taxes don't fund NASA, but mine sure do, and I for one would rather not see my taxes going to mircrosoft, or anti-virus software for their operating systems, when it could be better spent on a variety of other, much more worthwhile things, such as education, health care, or, as the money is 'already there' - for more NASA programs and research.

Diziet Sma wrote:

“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,” Keith Chuvala of the United Space Alliance, the organization that operates opsLAN for NASA, told Gunter.

source

I'm more surprised that they were using windows!

Tichy wrote:

I'm more surprised that they were using windows!

Well, they're still using windows, and they're not going to stop using windows.

The story has already been debunked in the subsequent posts.