Many SCADA system run on Windows, while some older DCS (distributed control system) run on UNIX or QNX. National Instruments have a version that runs on linux. There is also automationx.ca that supposedly have a SCADA system that runs on Linux. None of the other popular choice; Rockwell, Siemens, GE, Omron have a HMI that runs on Linux or other os that windows. If something ever comes to Linux it will most likely be from Siemens, as they are German and more open to SUSE. Regardless the windows part on a SCADA system is the supervisory and data acquisition, the actual control is normally done by a PLC. Someone can hack the PC-HMI and change the control setpoint, (ie start water pump No 1 when level is at 45m instead of 44m) safe operational upper and lower limits can be hard coded into the PLC (including interlocks) this filters out a lot of hackers since they need to get into the PLC.
Recently (2-3 months) I saw in the news a man from Quebec was succesfully procecutes for speeding prior to a colision at a red light (which killed someone). The procecutors where alowed to use the information contained in the cars computer, I think it recorded the speed the car was going when the air bags deployed or something of that nature.
Slashdot Mirror
Many SCADA system run on Windows, while some older DCS (distributed control system) run on UNIX or QNX. National Instruments have a version that runs on linux. There is also automationx.ca that supposedly have a SCADA system that runs on Linux. None of the other popular choice; Rockwell, Siemens, GE, Omron have a HMI that runs on Linux or other os that windows. If something ever comes to Linux it will most likely be from Siemens, as they are German and more open to SUSE. Regardless the windows part on a SCADA system is the supervisory and data acquisition, the actual control is normally done by a PLC. Someone can hack the PC-HMI and change the control setpoint, (ie start water pump No 1 when level is at 45m instead of 44m) safe operational upper and lower limits can be hard coded into the PLC (including interlocks) this filters out a lot of hackers since they need to get into the PLC.
GG PENG (Electrical and Computer)
Recently (2-3 months) I saw in the news a man from Quebec was succesfully procecutes for speeding prior to a colision at a red light (which killed someone). The procecutors where alowed to use the information contained in the cars computer, I think it recorded the speed the car was going when the air bags deployed or something of that nature.