Nuclear power plants in Russia began to be transferred to the Russian OS

2021: Start using the Russian OS at nuclear power plants in the Russian Federation

At the end of June 2021, it became known about the beginning of the use of the Russian operating system at nuclear power plants in the Russian Federation. Rosenergoatom installed Astra Linux on the service computers of nine nuclear power plants: Balakovskaya, Beloyarskaya, Kalinin, Kola, Kursk, Leningrad, Novovoronezhskaya, Rostov and Smolensk.

As Izvestia was told in the concern, more than 5 thousand users, including employees of the main office and nuclear power plants, were transferred to Astra Linux. By the end of 2021, it is planned to introduce the domestic OS at several more Rosenergoatom facilities, including the Bilibinsk NPP, the Akademik Lomonosov floating NPP, as well as more than 10 subsidiaries. The innovation should affect a total of 15 thousand users.

Nuclear power plants in Russia began to be transferred to the Russian OS - Astra Linux Common Edition

Oleg Shalnov, Director of the IT Projects and Integration Management Department of Rosenergoatom, noted that import substitution concerns an administrative network for organizing work processes: from planning material flows, finance, volume and calendar plans for operation processes, construction, modernization, support for equipment monitoring processes, emergency preparedness, analysis of experience in operating facilities, sales activities and document management and the conclusion of all financial indicators on analytical panels for management

Shalnov complained that Russian companies and users practically do not use domestic software and equipment.

And there are no users - there is no feedback, reports on certain shortcomings. No feedback - no development. There is no development - low quality remains. As soon as it is possible to break this vicious circle, the situation will change very quickly for the better, "he said.

According to him, in the future, Rosenergoatom plans to import computers. By the end of June 2021, the company is testing devices on Baikal and Elbrus platforms to choose one manufacturer. Computers are evaluated, including on the functionality of processors and the quality of assembly, he added.^[1]

2020

Purchase plan for 4250 Astra Linux licenses

The State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom" declared on November 2, 2020 purchase of licenses for the operating room sistemuastra Linux and also technical support and consultations for the enterprises of the industry. In total, Rosatom will acquire more than 40,000 licenses for 90 subsidiaries.

It is planned that the first part of the indefinite licenses will go to the IT block of Rosatom in 2020. The largest number of software in 2020 - 4250 licenses, will be purchased for JSC Concern Rosenergoatom. More details here.

Import substitution of AWS at Rosenergoatom

Prerequisites^[2]

• The risks of stopping or critically slowing down the processes of enterprises due to a partial or complete ban on the use of foreign software due to sanctions restrictions.
• The devaluation of the ruble led to an increase in the cost of products and services of foreign developers, and Russian software with similar functionality can be purchased at more moderate prices
• Formation of internal need for domestic software for the development of the internal market for its developers. If not state-owned companies, then who?

• Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation and Order of the Ministry of Communications "On Approval of a Plan for Import Substitution of Software" dated 01.02.2015   No. 96
• Order of the General Director of Rosatom Group of Companies on import substitution of software in the industry
• Import Substitution Strategy of the Electric Power Division

Selection criteria:

• User convenience - how similar it is to Windows.
• Support of existing infrastructure, both hardware (computers, office equipment) and software.
• Compliance with information security requirements.
• Compatibility with existing infrastructure.
• Technical support activity and qualification.
• Assessment of prospects and timelines for the development of fixed assets.

Based on the test results, it was selected

• Astra Linux Common Edition
• Office software package LibreOffice
• Mode of operation via VDI

Key Steps

• Test the operating system, identify and eliminate errors and inconsistencies critical to our work
• Preparation of basic images of workplaces with basic functionality for installation at user workplaces.
• Prepare the infrastructure to replicate the base images
• Design and deploy a VDI infrastructure to work with a basic AL image
• Preparing a Print Infrastructure for Operating Systems
• Create an RDS farm to access older Windows applications
• Preparing Users for Transition
• Replicating Basic Workplace Images

Resistance reduction tools that used:

• In advance, they began to inform users about the upcoming changes: news in corporate media, thematic online conferences, information mailings (why now, what will change, who will be affected, how the transition will take place, etc.)
• Organized prompt feedback with users (the opportunity to ask a question, send a comment, "speak out")
• Publicly demonstrated leadership support and engagement
• Provided quality user training
• Provided high-quality user support

Major Challenges

• User Resistance
• Complex distributed org. structure and infrastructure of division companies
• Covid-19. Remote operation. First losses
• Partial support for Linux-based OS hardware (no drivers)
• Limited compatibility of Linux-based operating systems with existing MS Windows-based infrastructure
• Limited Linux-based OS functionality
• Current application software does not work "off" on Linux
• Unstable configuration operation during mass implementation

Notes