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November 26, 2009

Virtual Technology Afloat

The Problem

If you read this blog or have sailed with me then you will know that NINJOD has a waterproof toughened laptop from GETAC that contains lots of CMAP charts and runs Expedition navigation software. This system connects to all of my instruments, manages my sat phone and email, raises alarms when specific things happen, looks at AIS targets and allows me to quickly ascertain if I am heading in the right direction. The system is fairly important,especially when offshore.

A challenge is faced when trying to ensure that my computer system has a suitable backup. Yes, I can carry another machine however it isn’t that straight forward.

The 1st problem is that much of the software used on these systems is either locked to a specific computer, requires a dongle or both. CMAP chart management is a good example of something that is painful to move from primary system to backup system.

Then once you have spent hours reinstalling everything and setting everything up again on your backup machine your 2nd problem is keeping the 2 systems up to date and in sync. Any waypoints or courses defined on one machine are not automatically transferred to the other. Software versions and electronic charts all change fairly frequently and keeping them up to date ensures you get all the latest bug fixes, corrections and features. Doing this on multiple machines quickly becomes depressing.

The Solution

I think I have found a good solution to these problems and one that allows me to create an instance of Ninjod's computer system whenever I require it using something called Virtualization.

Simply put virtualization allows you to run a complete computer system as a program on any normal computer. This virtual machine is to all intensive purposes a fully functional computer system; you can install software on it, plug USB devices into it as well as read and write your emails.

One of the key benefits of virtualization is that once setup your virtual machine can be run on pretty much any device. For example I use Windows XP afloat, it is required by Expedition. With virtualization I can copy my Windows XP virtual machine to my Mac running OSX and run it, accessing al the features and functions as if it were a standalone machine.

The Result

The result of all of this is that I now no longer need to worry about keeping backup machines up to date. I keep my virtual machine on a memory stick (128GB ) along with the software required to run it. I can plug the memory stick into any reasonable computer and be up and running in no time at all. Gone are the hassles of synchronization and license management as everything is all installed on the same virtual machine.

I use products from VMWARE to achieve virtualization; there are other products available.

Posted by ninjod at 06:26 PM | Comments (1)