Linux Desktops Send NASA Rovers to Mars

joestar writes "It's not a secret that Linux has been used at NASA for a long time, and it appears that they have been using it quite extensively on the desktop. From the article: 'At the JPL, it is common to see Red Hat Inc., SuSE or Mandriva Linux running on users' desktops alongside Windows. [...] that's still a lot of Linux on the desktop.' More surprisingly, they seem to be reluctant to use Linux on servers: 'Our personal view is that Linux, period, is only for the desktop. We don't run our main servers on Linux, because there are too many flaws in main Linux kernel.'"

Comments

Linux

[taskforce]

Linux's kernel may be flawed, but the GUI is perfect, right?

Pot calling the kettle black?

[Anonymous Coward]

Any organization that manages to screw up metric and imperial on a several billion dollar project has no right to comment on "flaws in the kernel".

Re:Pot calling the kettle black?

[ACME Septic]

Sure they do. Haven't you ever heard the phrase, "It takes one to know one!"

Linux desktops?

[tehshen]

I thought they used space shuttles to send things to other planets. Oh, the things you learn...

Re:Linux desktops?

[Dunbal]

I thought they used space shuttles to send things to other planets.

      Naw, the shuttle is just to put things into low earth orbit. To get to the planets you need the desktops...

Ironic, isn't it?

[grasshoppa]

It's ironic, isn't it, that most companies and corporations find the exact opposite to be true.

Says something about Nasa, don't it?

The name of the game is Linux

[digitaldc]

In Brack's group however, the name of the game is exclusively Mandriva Linux. In fact, it should be noted that this Mandriva deployment is the largest in the world.
"In terms of [Linux] distros for the overall lab though, we actually run more Red Hat Linux," Brack said. But, regardless, that's still a lot of Linux on the desktop.

So let me get this straight, the name of the game is exclusively Mandriva Linux, but they actually run more Red Hat Linux?
Is Mandriva really exclusive to the game? or is that actually Red Hat? I'm so confused.

Re:What we do not know

[tomhudson]

We don't run our main servers on Linux,

... you'd think they could find someone to run linux on their servers ... its not like it takes a rocket scientist

oh, right, thie is JPL ... :-)

Re:Just Ask Yourself

[ackthpt]

Bill Gates has a wife? Maybe I won't be a virgin for the rest of my life!

Are you a billionaire, too?

This is so confusing...

[Spy der Mann]

Linux dominates the server market, and the NASA says it sucks. But they use Linux for desktops, where the market is dominated by Windows - which sucks.

Now I'm confused! :-S

ESC

[drewzhrodague]

I keep pressing the escape button, but I can't seem to get off this crazy planet. What am I doing wrong?

In NASA...

[menkhaura]

In NASA Linux is only for desktops!

Re:They don't run their servers on Linux, eh?

[snarlydwarf]

That's a desktop machine, of course.

For someone with a Very Big Desk.