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NHSbuntu – an OS for the NHS [video]

nhsbuntu.org

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Re: NHSbuntu – an OS for the NHS [video]

#21

Post by irl_ »

signal11 wrote: post #9

I do think running hospitals on Linux is a good idea. However just sticking a skin over $YOUR_FAVORITE_DISTRO may not quite work. Hospitals have to work with proprietary devices -- for example, retinal scanners etc, many of which only have Windows drivers. Also, while updating individual Linux systems is easy, patching Linux at scale across the thousands of desktops in the NHS needs a proper, thought-out patching str…

The Debian Med project is working towards packaging software that is useful, including working with proprietary equipment.

https://www.debian.org/devel/debian-med/

Re: NHSbuntu – an OS for the NHS [video]

#22

Post by libeclipse »

cvoss wrote: post #12

A quick whois lookup suggests the domain name was registered on April 26. This is after we knew about EternalBlue and DoublePulsar, but suspiciously before the May 12th onslaught of WannaCry at the NHS. Also, the domain status is "serverTransferProhibited" ( https://icann.org/epp#serverTransferProhibited ). Very interesting.

That is very interesting. I don't see anyone having a significant motive here.

Only thing I can think of is really, really far-fetched. Someone who know what was about to happen to the NHS inserted a backdoor into this distro, and is now advertising it to them.

Yeah, I know. Probably not.

Re: NHSbuntu – an OS for the NHS [video]

#24

Post by new299 »

setrofim_ wrote: post #6

It's nice to see something like this being proposed, but, the NHS probably have a tonne of bespoke software running on top of Windows, all of which would need to be ported. And given the fact that they don't have the funding to even keep their existing systems patched and up-to-date, a full-on migration is out of the question, unless the cash is raised...

NHS Digital has a budget of 250M GBP a year. I don't think that's even the full budget however.

Looks like the full budget might be closer to 1B GBP:

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/your-practice/practice-topics/it...

Is this not enough provide infrastructure to keep maybe 200K PCs up to date? (I don't have number on how many PCs they have...).

I'm not saying it is, or isn't. But I would be useful to explore the issue. Throwing more money at the problem isn't necessarily the solution.

Re: NHSbuntu – an OS for the NHS [video]

#25

Post by tempay »

ageofwant wrote: post #20
signal11 wrote: post #9

I do think running hospitals on Linux is a good idea. However just sticking a skin over $YOUR_FAVORITE_DISTRO may not quite work. Hospitals have to work with proprietary devices -- for example, retinal scanners etc, many of which only have Windows drivers. Also, while updating individual Linux systems is easy, patching Linux at scale across the thousands of desktops in the NHS needs a proper, thought-out patching str…

The NSH simply states that Linux drivers will be provided and supported by the Vendor or no sale. This is not hard.

But what about the billions of pounds worth of existing equipment?

Re: NHSbuntu – an OS for the NHS [video]

#26

Post by sleepychu »

gwbas1c wrote: post #23

What is the NHS? Seriously, what is the NHS? Nothing defines the NHS, including the about page.

National Health Service (how most people receive healthcare in the UK). I guess they're context blind because of the recent WanaCrypt infection they're on the minds of the target audience of this joke? buisiness?

Re: NHSbuntu – an OS for the NHS [video]

#28

Post by revelation »

signal11 wrote: post #9

I do think running hospitals on Linux is a good idea. However just sticking a skin over $YOUR_FAVORITE_DISTRO may not quite work. Hospitals have to work with proprietary devices -- for example, retinal scanners etc, many of which only have Windows drivers. Also, while updating individual Linux systems is easy, patching Linux at scale across the thousands of desktops in the NHS needs a proper, thought-out patching str…

These devices don't come with drivers for any OS - they come with builtin Windows or otherwise computers with the software preinstalled and put into autostart.

That's why it is so difficult to update all those machines. They are simply not designed to be updated by anyone. For most of them, updating to Windows 7 or anything as recent is impossible because they have proprietary ISA or PCI cards or similar ancient technology that is used to interface with the actual hardware.

Re: NHSbuntu – an OS for the NHS [video]

#29

Post by prawl »

cvoss wrote: post #12

A quick whois lookup suggests the domain name was registered on April 26. This is after we knew about EternalBlue and DoublePulsar, but suspiciously before the May 12th onslaught of WannaCry at the NHS. Also, the domain status is "serverTransferProhibited" ( https://icann.org/epp#serverTransferProhibited ). Very interesting.

Can you spell out what you are implying? Are you saying that the NHSbuntu project is somehow involved with WannaCry, or that they are somehow profiteering?

Re: NHSbuntu – an OS for the NHS [video]

#30

Post by escapologybb »

signal11 wrote: post #9

I do think running hospitals on Linux is a good idea. However just sticking a skin over $YOUR_FAVORITE_DISTRO may not quite work. Hospitals have to work with proprietary devices -- for example, retinal scanners etc, many of which only have Windows drivers. Also, while updating individual Linux systems is easy, patching Linux at scale across the thousands of desktops in the NHS needs a proper, thought-out patching str…

You know, this kind of reminds me of that seen from Goodfellas where Ray Liotota's character is explaining about protection rackets. The quote goes something like "Having a bad day, fk you pay me. Your loved one is sick, fk you pay me. Business going badly, fk you pay me."

And that's exactly how I feel about all of these proprietary device providers that have all these massive contract with the NHS. It really should be "Want this massive NHS contract, fk you, support our OS"

I'm quadriplegic and rely on the NHS for my life, literally for my life and this kind of shit scares the absolute crap out of me. Yes it will be difficult, yes there are challenges but we are one of the richest countries on earth and we invented the Sinclair C5 for goodness sake. This is not beyond us.

Sorry, this hack and finding out about all those XP machines has terrified and angered me beyond all reason.

Edited to Add: Just to be clear, I agree with the OP!

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