home-Average-Basalt SPO presented the first industrial line of operating systems for all Russian processors. Did Basalt people participate in the development of the core? Operating system viola

Basalt SPO presented the first industrial line of operating systems for all Russian processors. Did Basalt people participate in the development of the core? Operating system viola

LLC "Basalt SPO" - Russian developer software. The company was created by participants and users of the project of a daily updated package repository free software Sisyphus (Sisyphus). The company's goal is to develop the basic infrastructure of the repository and expand it to new hardware architectures. "Basalt SPO" specializes in the development of complex enterprise-level solutions based on free software. The company takes part in international projects and integrates its own developments into them.

On the base software platform, developed by the company, produces distributions for workstations and servers intended for use in the public sector and enterprises. Their implementation is carried out by the company’s partners at enterprises and in the state. Basic distributions are included in the Unified Register of Russian Electronic Software computers and databases.

The company collaborates with integrators, software and hardware manufacturers.

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2017: Linux users rebelled against the refusal of government agencies to purchase Russian software

Russian Linux users made an attempt to explain to officials that domestic operating systems can be used in the public sector for the same needs as foreign operating systems. The company that developed the line of Russian OS "Basalt SPO" posted on its website detailed description identity of their solutions, popular on the market OS Microsoft Windows Professional 64 bitRus version 7 and higher. The comparison on a number of key parameters concerns the OS “Viola Workstation”, “Viola Server”, “Viola Linux SPT”, “Viola Education”.

The first and second lines of support for Basalt SPO products are provided by its partner, the ALP company, and the third line is provided by the developer himself.

Basalt SPO says that the company has dozens of projects in the works. Clients are testing the platform. One of the projects is at the level of one of the regions, where about 18 thousand users are involved. The company chose not to specify in which region.


The entire Alt Linux team has joined the staff of Basalt SPO, and approximately 30% of the staff are third-party employees. In total, about 50 people work there.

Basalt SPO, created a year ago, presented a corporate operating system of its own development based on Linux.

Such systems differ from desktop versions in their ability to work with large amounts of data, remote control a large number of workstations (for example, for collective change of access conditions), increased reliability, etc. Basalt presented a server version of the OS and a version for workstations. These versions, “Alt server” and “Basalt workstation”, were included in the Unified Register of Russian Software in September 2016, as follows from its materials.

Unlike other Linux-based systems, the Basalt system has quality-guaranteed support, which is prompt and quite advanced: Basalt, responding to a client’s request, can not only create a cosmetic “patch”, but also eliminate the cause of the problem: for now Only Microsoft can do this, and even then it can often fix rather than fix the problem, says Smirnov. According to him, this opportunity is provided by the service network of Basalt’s partner, ALP Group, in 300 cities of Russia. The cost of ownership (implementation, staff training, etc.) at first will be somewhat lower than Windows, although the difference will grow over time, especially taking into account the 15% financial preference for Russian software provided for by the regulatory framework, he hopes. The Basalta system will be able to work with Russian hardware, in particular with Elbrus processors, Smirnov promises.

Linux and its branches are a fairly mature product: server versions, for example, are in no way inferior to Microsoft developments, and in some ways superior, notes Tagir Yapparov, Chairman of the Board of IT Group. Desktop versions, of course, are still much less widespread than Windows, but their presence on the market is becoming more and more noticeable, in particular because viruses, malware for Linux it is much less, he says. According to Yapparov, the success of the Basalt system depends on whether the new product is supported by the market. Obviously, at first the system will be in demand in law enforcement and other government agencies, in state-owned companies, Yapparov believes. In general, in market segments where a 15% preference applies, Basalt will be quite competitive, Yapparov predicts.

Representative of Microsoft, which produces OS for business applications Windows Pro, declined to comment.

12/14/2017, Thu, 15:03, Moscow time , Text: Valeria Shmyrova

The Basalt SPO company has launched a line of OSes capable of working with domestic processors of different architectures. In this case, commands are given to processors directly, through the compiler, without emulating x86 commands.

ALT OS line

The Russian developer "Basalt SPO" has created a line of operating systems called OS ALT, which supports all Russian processors. We are talking about support for Elbrus processors, which are used in servers, workstations, laptops and tablets, as well as compatibility with ARM and MIPS architectures in their 32- and 64-bit versions. The line is planned to be supplemented with another OS option designed for S/390 processors used in mainframes. ALT OS is rebuilt from ALT OS for x86 version 9.

So far, only those versions of ALT OS that support 32- and 64-bit ARM implementations are actually released. The company said that the remaining OS will be released as equipment based on the corresponding processor is put into mass production. "Basalt SPO" is going to cooperate in this matter with equipment manufacturers.

The new line of OS is designed to work with servers of various capacities, workstations, office PCs, industrial computers, mobile devices, controllers and telecom equipment, including switches and routers, as well as information terminals where the speed of data processing and transmission is important. The developer promises round-the-clock and year-round support for the ALT OS in a one-window format according to the Service Level Agreement (SLA) standard. Comprehensive OS support is possible along with the DBMS and other components.

Product benefits

The developers include among the advantages of the product that the development infrastructure allows you to assemble program code, which gives commands to the processor immediately in its language. In particular, on the Elbrus processor, ALT OS operates in “native” mode - without emulating x86 architecture commands. As Basalt SPO explains, this can significantly increase productivity, when performing some tasks - “up to hundreds of percent.”

The Basalt SPO logo is similar to the Alt Linux logo, with the difference that the penguins have been replaced by fur seals

Another advantage is that ALT OS includes free components similar to Microsoft directory services Active Directory and means of organizing collaboration Microsoft Exchange, such as Samba DC/Free IPA and SoGo. This helps simplify migration to domestic software, the developers note. Since catalogs and collaboration can be implemented on servers with Russian processors, in particular Elbrus, the customer will be able to transfer critical infrastructure to a Russian OS and Russian hardware at the same time. Basalt SPO claims that this was not possible before.

Another advantage of the ALT OS stems from the specifics of Russian processors, including Elbrus. These processors have no undeclared capabilities, which increases the level of security of the systems where they are used. The emergence of a line of OSes designed to work with them should make processors more in demand. Basalt SPO claims that it can increase its share of the OS market for Russian processors to 80% in three years. The developers also note that a single line of OS for all Russian processors will make it easier for Russian software developers to port it to Linux.

Repository "Sisyphus"

The ALT OS line is based on the Russian Sisyphus repository, which is developed and controlled by persons from Russia, without foreign influence. "Sisyphus" allows you to create, upgrade and support the OS. Its foreign analogues are Debian, Red Hat and SUSE.

Since Sisyphus is independent of other repositories, ALT OS should avoid problems with the continuity of the life cycle that arise, for example, when there is a discrepancy in the timing of the release of new versions and their inclusion in them latest changes. Also, the independence of the repository should reduce information security risks and make it possible to practically influence the development of the repository and the operating systems based on it. Thanks to all this, the ALT OS will be in demand in systems whose service life is measured in decades, the developers believe.

Russian MIPS processors

Russian manufacturers have today created processors of various architectures. In particular, if we talk about the MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages) architecture, we should mention the Baikal-T1 processor from Baikal Electronics. The architecture itself is designed in accordance with the RISC concept (that is, for processors with a reduced instruction set). The development of the processor was completed at the end of 2014, and in December Baikal Electronics transferred the so-called GDS product code to the TSMC factory for its release. In May 2015, the company announced the release of engineering samples.

Having made sure that the samples were working, Baikal Electronics requested and received a preferential loan for mass production in October 2015. With the company's own investments at RUB 288 million. the volume of this loan amounted to 500 million rubles. In September 2016, the so-called installation batch of approximately 10 thousand processors saw the light of day. In March 2017, Baikal Electronics announced the imminent release of the 100,000th industrial batch.

In February 2016, CNews wrote that T-Platforms were replaced in its secure all-in-one for government agencies Intel processors on Baikal-T1, releasing new model"Tavolga Terminal", which became the first mass user device based on them. In August 2017, Baikal Electronics conducted a full performance test of Baikal-T1, working with clock frequency 1.2 GHz. The results obtained were comparable to the characteristics of Intel processors.

Russian ARM processors

Concerning ARM architecture, then here is Baikal Electronics processor Baikal-M for PCs, Baikal-MS for microservers and Baikal-S for servers.

Baikal-M is designed for desktop PCs, embedded systems, industrial automation, smart cameras, etc. Systems on a chip (SoC) are manufactured using a 28 nm topology. The processors have up to 8 high-performance ARMv8-A cores, ARM Neon vector coprocessors, as well as up to eight graphics cores ARM Mali-T628.

Baikal-MS, built on a 28 nm topology, is designed for microservers and embedded systems. They include up to 8 ARMv8-A cores and feature 10GB Ethernet ports for high-speed data transfer and packet routing. Distinctive feature microprocessors of this line should have low power consumption.

Baikal-S are intended for server equipment. They will be produced on a 16 nm topology, will include up to 32 high-performance ARMv8-A cores and support the HMC interface (Hybrid Memory Cube - a new type random access memory). Their designed power consumption should not exceed 50 W. The release of engineering samples is scheduled for the end of 2017.

What does Basalt SPO do?

In December 2016, it was reported that Alt Linux's core development team, led by its former deputy CEO Alexey Novodvorsky organized a new structure called “Basalt SPO”. New company 100 million rubles. investments to create a line of domestic OS. The funds were invested by the owners of the IVK company through the investment structure they established, the Financial Support Agency, which owned 50% of the shares of Basalt.

According to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Bazalt SPO LLC was officially registered on August 10, 2015. Alexey Novodvorsky now owns 24% of it. Owns 5% each Dmitry Levin, Anton Farygin And Vladimir Farygin. The remaining 2% is credited to Ivan Korovin. The Basalt SPO logo is similar to the Alt Linux logo, but the penguins on it have been replaced with fur seals.

Alt Linux distributions are based on the Sisyphus free software repository. Basalt SPO is now providing the technical infrastructure for Sisyphus, developing its technologies, and also porting the repository to new hardware architectures. “Today we are the first and only company in Russia that brings Russian market products that can, can and must replace Microsoft solutions"- says the General Director of IVK Grigory Sizonenko.

The developers assure that the technologies integrated into the Viola Server and Viola Workstation OS, as well as their own methods for implementing Basalt SPO, allow a large organization to smoothly migrate to them from the Microsoft OS, having completed the transition of both the entire IT infrastructure and and its individual fragments.

The interview was based on questions from ENT users.

The current trend is to move from X to Wayland. Will ALT support this protocol soon?

We already support this protocol https://packages.altlinux.org/en/Sisyphus/srpms/wayland

But not all DEs support it.

Why is the strange rpm+apt-get combination used? Couldn't you use yum or dnf?

What is the support period for each stable version of the distribution?

Our standard distribution support time is at least 5 years from the release date, but not less than 3 years from the date of the last sale.

When will the apt-file utility appear in ALT Linux? ENT user grem asked for this back in 2008. https://bugzilla.altlinux.org/show_bug.cgi?id=14449

Thanks for reminding me, we'll think about it. Moreover, in 2017, the old discussion in bugzilla was resumed.

Are there official images or disks for Russian computers ELBRUS and are they supported?

We are working on this. The assembly environment on our server with Elbrus is deployed and works natively. A test workstation on Elbrus has also been deployed. I hope that soon we will be able to prepare official boot images and provide the opportunity for remote developers to build packages on our build server.

Did people from BASALT participate in the development of the core?

Yes. Although to a lesser extent than, for example, in glibc.

What is your nickname on ENT, if it’s not a secret :-)?

Does Alta have multiple branches like, say, Debian?

Does your company have clients outside the CIS and what is their number compared to clients from Russia and neighboring countries?

Their number is insignificant. And we need to work on this.

Does the distribution support ZFS?

It is not supported in distributions, but after installation you can create partitions with this file system.

Why did the School Linux project fail?

If we recall history, in 2006-2007 Linux was successfully introduced into schools in three pilot regions, in which we took part. The result was recognized by the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications as successful, and during the second distribution of the “Ambulance” (a software package for schools that was centrally distributed within the framework of the Federal Target Program “Children of Russia”), “School Linux” was also included in the package. And after that there were very inconsistent actions by the Ministry of Education, for example, the announcement of competitions for the training of thousands of teachers within a month. And the topic is on federal level died. Together with the well-known Government Order No. 2299 on the transition to open source software.

After that, we continued to independently release educational distributions, which were installed on thousands of computers in schools. The last one we released was “Alt Education 8” http://www.basealt.ru/products/alt-education/ The topic of education is generally close to us, for example, we annually hold a conference “Free Software in Higher Education” in Pereslavl-Zalessky in January

Well, the winner in the category “most original question” is :)

  • Basalt open source software products are based on one of the world's largest independent free software repositories, created as part of the Russian project Sisyphus. This allows the company to provide complete life cycle Software and its long-term support.
  • Basalt SPO provides technical infrastructure for almost any import substitution project. Constantly improves its technologies, ports the repository to new hardware architectures.
  • The entire life cycle of Basalt SPO solutions is controlled from Russian jurisdiction. The company has Russian founders, Russian centers development.
  • "ALT" is a mature OS that maintains continuity with ALT Linux - the oldest and most widespread domestic OS.

Only Basalt SPO products can be used as a reliable basis for import substitution of critical IT systems of any scale and complexity

  • Enterprise level servers are automatically integrated into the existing IT infrastructure based on MS AD. They also allow you to completely replace it with imports, using only packages already included in the repositories and guaranteed to be updated.
  • "ALT" is the only OS that technologically and organizationally supports integrators. The OS contains original technologies and tools for the creation and maintenance by integrators and IT departments of several categories of their own specialized products (specialized distributions, modified assemblies).
  • This allows integrators to make money not only from Linux licenses, but also from their own high-margin products and services.

Licensing of ALT OS is convenient for all categories of customers

  • It is simple, non-restrictive, and supports CAPEX (capital expenditure) and OPEX (subscription fee only) schemes.

"ALT" is the only domestic OS that has high-quality scalable technical support throughout the Russian Federation, which is not inferior to the best Western operating systems

  • Technical support for Basalt products is one SLA throughout Russia and real IT processes, adapted to the features of open source software. The level of technical support allows you to use the ALT OS in responsible systems supporting the core activities of the enterprise.
  • Technical support "Basalt SPO", which relies on the resources and technologies of a strategic partner - ALP Group and operates in more than 300 cities of the Russian Federation - this is a joint service professional IT outsourcing service providers(ALP Group, 1st, 2nd lines), the ALP Group competence center and the Basalt SPO competence center, responsible for the 3rd line.
  • Professional vendor support service providers provide: fast start support, wide geographical coverage, easy scalability, technological effectiveness, taking into account all the features of Russian and free software, mature IT processes, a clear understanding of the needs of narrow market segments.
  • Combining the competencies of Basalt SPO and ALP Group allows for any flow of requests to guarantee the fulfillment of even the most stringent SLA conditions for requests of any complexity. In addition, professional technical support guarantees prompt resolution of problems if they do occur.

Additionally

  • ALT from Basalt SPO is the only OS guaranteed to support all Russian processors"Elbrus-2000" and "Baikal-T1"
  • ALT from Basalt SPO is the only domestic OS that fully supports educational process based on open source software in universities. With the help of Basalt, universities can organize both a system of advanced training for users and developers, and full-fledged training in IT specialties.

Important technological features of ALT OS

  • Compatible with Active Directory at both the server and workstation levels.
  • Own domain controller based on FreeIPA (for Linux workstations).
  • Replacement of Exchange-based collaboration tools (SOGo).
  • Virtualization system included in a certified distribution kit (cloud solutions).
  • Office suite (LibreOffice) with good compatibility with the Microsoft office suite.
  • Availability of a separate product certified by FSTEC of Russia, which can be used for systems for processing personal data and state secrets (up to category "C"). The certificate requires security updates to be applied immediately, rather than after an inspection.
  • ESIA support

About Basalt SPO products

Operating systems (OS) "Basalt SPO" for servers and workstations

  • OS Viola Server and Viola Workstation are backbone IT solutions for large, geographically distributed government organizations.
  • OS Alt Education is focused on everyday use in planning, organizing and conducting training in universities, training centers large IT companies, etc.
  • With their help, the customer can create and effectively maintain a traditional, cloud or hybrid IT infrastructure, including directory services, collaboration tools, support for virtualization and clustering.
  • The technologies integrated into these operating systems allow a large government organization to migrate smoothly, without loss of time and money, from Microsoft OS to Basalt SPO operating systems.
  • Basalt SPO systems, oriented for use on servers and workstations, contain, in addition to the OS, a wide range of application programs. They are compatible with a wide range of other domestic programs.
  • The solutions embedded in them also allow for a complete replacement of the infrastructure, including the Active Directory directory service and the MS Exchange collaboration system.

Directory service

A domain controller for Microsoft Active Directory is:

  • A single space for user and group accounts.
  • Centralized settings for access to resources.
  • End-to-end authorization on the network with one-time password entry.

Server and client parts supported:

  • ALT workstations can be part of an Active Directory domain, implemented on the basis of both Windows Server, and ALT Server;
  • Windows workstations can be managed using ALT Server-based domain controllers;
  • Enabling and replication of Active Directory domain controllers based on ALT Server is supported, with possible output of domain controllers to Windows based Server.

Organizing Collaboration (SOGo)

SOGo is a collaboration service that provides the customer company with:

  • Working with by email, calendars and contacts, joint planning.
  • Fully featured web interface for collaboration.
  • Support as clients for Outlook 2010, newer versions and Mozilla Thunderbird.
  • Active Directory domain integration with full support for Windows-based clients.

    • Supports smooth migration from Microsoft Exchange Server to SOGo with the transfer of all user data.

Introduction of Basalt SPO products

Medical institutions
(50,000 jobs)

Educational institutions(5,000 organizations)

State Duma of the Russian Federation

Portal public services Russian Federation

State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM

All-Russian Research Institute of Automation

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