Wow... Windows on US Killer Drones?

Post #353,077 by folkert 1/12/12 4:49:10 PM Reply	Wow... Windows on US Killer Drones? Apparently not anymore. http://www.theregist...les_linux_switch/ Bestest quote from the Article: Hypponen told The Reg: "If I would need to select between Windows XP and a Linux based system while building a military system, I wouldn't doubt a second which one I would take." Capture of the previous version of the consoles in 2009: http://twitpic.com/85pspk/full Presentation of current consoles: http://twitpic.com/85ptgt/full I like it!
Post #353,094 by Another Scott 1/12/12 7:40:20 PM Reply	Full AF presentation. http://info.publicin....net/USAF-GCS.pdf (4.5 MB, 41 page .PDF) It doesn't say much of anything about why Linux is being used, though. Cheers, Scott.
Post #353,099 by folkert 1/12/12 9:06:23 PM Reply	I can guess. Improved control over what and how the machines are setup. Improved resource usage, allowing longer life for the consoles. If separation of system vs user is retained, trojans and other things become a moot issue, as the users can just be removed and new ones created. (Not I didn't say a NON-ISSUE) The recent outbreak of a credentials grabber trojan/virus... that kept showing up and was caused by a removable drive... which originally was though to minimize the Virus problem, in fact exacerbated it. If you plan for and design a system for a network from the beginning, you have a better chance you'll be able to minimize risk, versus bolting on networking and "internet capabilities" as an after thought. Pretty much that sums up why. Though they probably don't release that info.
Post #353,098 by scoenye 1/12/12 9:03:34 PM Reply	Now that they're infected with the GPL virus... ... where is the source code to the drones????
Post #353,100 by folkert 1/12/12 9:08:53 PM Reply	Re: Now that they're infected with the GPL virus... That is ONLY IF they use GPL'd parts IN WITH the Drone controlling software. Much like the Busybox changes a few Router manufacturers were doing. In any case, how come Oracle doesn't have to release its proprietary OracleDB binary source code? Because they make sure they don't compile in anything that is GPL'd.
Post #353,104 by drook 1/12/12 9:55:22 PM Reply	Oh, they distributed that? Because the GPL only covers what you're allowed to distribute. You can do whatever you want with your in-house stuff. -- Drew
Post #353,106 by scoenye 1/12/12 10:34:37 PM Reply	We really do need that sign back... The GPL virus was MS's argument a while back and given USAA/F are now ditching Windows in favor of Linux for the drone controllers, I just extended that a bit. <sarcasm>After all, the drone is linked to the controller's kernel through the network stack. If it weren't, it'd fly off to Iran. So there.</sarcasm>
Post #353,107 by Another Scott 1/12/12 10:38:03 PM Reply	:-)
Post #353,110 by folkert 1/12/12 11:10:41 PM Reply	Re: We really do need that sign back... Sorry, my wife tells me that my "sarcasm/joke" detector is broken. Evidently has been for many years!
Post #353,112 by drook 1/12/12 11:15:00 PM Reply	Yeah, uhh ... I knew that ... sure I did -- Drew
Post #353,115 by beepster 1/13/12 7:22:50 AM Reply	Your secretary has it! Sure, understanding today's complex world of the future is a little like having bees live in your head. But...there they are.
Post #353,140 by folkert 1/13/12 8:18:04 PM Reply	That is so L.A.M., E.!
Post #353,145 by beepster 1/13/12 10:17:08 PM Reply	:-) Sure, understanding today's complex world of the future is a little like having bees live in your head. But...there they are.

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