Nuclear reactor isn't using a licensed copy of Windows

Strife212 said:
Why use it for running a nuclear power station though, all its features are worthless, surely an embedded system or totally custom code would be far better.
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You are aware a rather large number of cash machines run on Windows? You are aware that "Windows" is a **** lot more than just the pretty interface you see?
 
Blackstar_solar said:
Windows does report license expiry like that does it?

Doesn't that suggest that the license for the software itself has expired (not for the OS)?

Or its BS.

Also echo M$ Windows != OS for Nuclear Reactor!
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It's WinCC that has expired not Windows... say so in the article in the link :)

The OP needs to update his post.
 
Memphis said:
You are aware a rather large number of cash machines run on Windows? You are aware that "Windows" is a **** lot more than just the pretty interface you see?
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Indeed, however the ATM crashed when i was using it. very interesting seeing windows XP booting up on an ATM.
 
With the threat of a BSOD induced meltdown constantly hanging over their heads, licensing issues are the least of their worries. :p
 
Burnsy2023 said:
What would you suggest then?

Windows has successfully been deployed in multiple safety critical situations without incident.
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Any of the others but Windows, imho. :p My previous post was based on the (incorrect ?) information that it was a standard version of Windows.

Yes, I know, but personally, were I to choose, Windows (XP/Vista) would not even be close to the top of the list. Based on what i know from my own personal experiences of Windows (XP/Vista) and from articles and other people. Linux/BSD would be up there, definitely.

As has already been said, a thin client/minimum/heavily customised version of Windows would be more suitable.
 
In an emergency situation in which the computer controlled system fails, reactor shutdown be that by injecting ball bearings or simply controlling the rods isn't ultimately controlled by a pc anyways, hardwired C&I systems exist which will allow a safe controlled shutdown to be performed regardless of the state of this system.
 
I certainly wouldn't be using something as high level as windows in a critical system, bsod's are not what you want when running a power station! I remember that the USS Yorktown was dead in the water for hours after windows bluescreened.
 
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knowledge123 said:
Any of the others but Windows, imho. :p My previous post was based on the (incorrect ?) information that it was a standard version of Windows.

Yes, I know, but personally, were I to choose, Windows (XP/Vista) would not even be close to the top of the list. Based on what i know from my own personal experiences of Windows (XP/Vista) and from articles and other people. Linux/BSD would be up there, definitely.

As has already been said, a thin client/minimum/heavily customised version of Windows would be more suitable.
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Just a generic unix based operating system? Picture this:

'Oh no, there was some kind of error and the pc wont boot properly any more. I recorded the error for you'

But no, theres very few operating systems out there with the support the MS can provide and even less that a nuclear government would trust. Huge amounts of governments will use windows as a basis for a lot of their systems purely because they can pay for the support that covers them.
 
Sorry to rain on peoples parade but powerstations nuclear or ortherwise are not controlled by windows. Windows might be part of the system that interfaces with control system but there will be hundreds if not thousands of smaller dedicated control cards (simple computers) each dedicated to a particlaur function or set of functions.

The fancy graphics rarely has anything to do with the control, I've known the interfaces to go down on several occasions and the control system carry on working to its set points. It is amusing seeing the BSOD on control board whilst the unit is cracking out 500MW.
 
Windows in any shape or form will NOT be controlling the actual Nuclear Power plant, this will be performed by Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Distrubited Control System (DCS) and Safety Intrusment systems, which are basiclly special industrial computers which only perform a control function.

Windows is used to run the Front-End Software such as SCADA which is used to see what the items on the plant are doing and to Stop/Start enter data etc in and out of the System, but it is not doing any control, you could turn it off and the Power Plant will continue to perform its operations in a safe manner.
 
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