Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail • Hacker News Board

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#21

Post by JumpCrisscross » Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 5:01 PM UTC

Someone1234 wrote: post #5

planetjones wrote: post #4

I struggle a little to see how there is a single point of failure here (a fibre optic cable). I’d have thought the screens were powered by a device plugged into a LAN. Would be interested if anyone knows the architecture of such screens and why there is such a single point of failure in the whole airport.

These screens build information from multiple sources inc. airlines, ground control, and in some cases airport management. They're typically run off-site at a data center since that provides high resiliency and some data is sourced from outside the airport anyway. If the airport has a dedicated fiber channel between their data center and airport itself and it was damaged, this could be the result. The question I'd as…

> why they have no fallback strategies

They do. It's the whiteboards. Whiteboards are cheap, resilient and robust. Exactly what one wants for a backup.

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#22

Post by lgeorget » Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 5:02 PM UTC

lakisy wrote: post #14

MBCook wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems so strange that they wouldn’t have a redundant link (like the various options you suggested) or at least fall back to easily available public data (flight information sites) that would at least help some.

Some years ago, we lost access to our data center although it had triple network redundancy. What happened was that three cables were leaving the DC leased by three different companies. But a mile down the road, all three different cable entered the same physical pipe. When the physical pipe was severed, all three network cables went dark. We should wait until they announced details of what happened before we decide…

If my memory serves, one requirement of high-tier datacenters is that they have redundant electric lines leaving the building from opposite sides and in opposite directions. I guess it must be the same for optic fibers.

I fully agree with you on your last sentence. One should wait for a bit more than a vague declaration reported in a newspaper before giving unsolicited advice.

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#23

Post by the_mitsuhiko » Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 5:07 PM UTC

dhimes wrote: post #17

the_mitsuhiko wrote: post #16

If only London airports could print the gates on the tickets. But I guess they would miss out on that sweet revenue from consumption.

I think gates change when planes need to be re-routed.

That’s the exception and not the rule and when it changes it’s typically just around the corner and you can do show infos on the old gate.

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#24

Post by safgasCVS » Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 5:09 PM UTC

So... massive IT failure and everything carried on working because staff was really competent? Damn the Brits are hung up on complaining

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#25

Post by Farstrider » Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 5:13 PM UTC

Simplest solution to the problem, love it

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#26

Post by bhandziuk » Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 5:15 PM UTC

the_mitsuhiko wrote: post #16

If only London airports could print the gates on the tickets. But I guess they would miss out on that sweet revenue from consumption.

I agree and London is far from alone is this behavior.

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#27

Post by bhandziuk » Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 5:17 PM UTC

illwrks wrote: post #15

Have people forgotten they can use mobile apps?

Not everyone has a phone. Not everyone has that app (whatever it is... the airport, the airline, the travel agency), using an app is always harder than looking at the real-time displays especially if your hands are full of luggage.

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#28

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 5:18 PM UTC

ams6110 wrote: post #9

retSava wrote: post #2

My first thought was that the whiteboards themselves failed, that this was some kind of The Onion article, but it isn't. It's simply that the backup plan to the failing digital boards, are plain whiteboards.

Same. That is a really poorly worded headline.

[deleted]

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#29

Post by the_mitsuhiko » Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 5:22 PM UTC

bhandziuk wrote: post #26

the_mitsuhiko wrote: post #16

If only London airports could print the gates on the tickets. But I guess they would miss out on that sweet revenue from consumption.

I agree and London is far from alone is this behavior.

There it annoys me the most. I always know which section of the airport my flight connection is and it’s a 20 minute walk. I rather go there now and sit down with my laptop and work undisturbed.

Re: Whiteboards used after Gatwick flight information screens fail

#30

Post by tjohns » Mon, Aug 20, 2018, 5:22 PM UTC

bhandziuk wrote: post #27

illwrks wrote: post #15

Have people forgotten they can use mobile apps?

Not everyone has a phone. Not everyone has that app (whatever it is... the airport, the airline, the travel agency), using an app is always harder than looking at the real-time displays especially if your hands are full of luggage.

And on top of that, not everyone's phone will be charged, and not everyone will have cell service (if traveling internationally).

The mobile apps are great when they work, but still need to be considered a convenience rather than a primary information source.