Astra Linux
Astra Linux is a Russian Linux-based computer operating system developed to meet the needs of the Russian army, other armed forces and intelligence agencies.[1] It provides data protection up to the level of "top secret" in Russian classified information grade. It has been officially certified by Russian Defense Ministry, Federal Service for Technical and Export Control[2] and Federal Security Service.[3]
Astra Linux Operating System | |
Developer | Rusbitech |
---|---|
OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
Working state | Current |
Available in | Russian, English |
Update method | APT |
Package manager | dpkg |
Platforms | x86-64, ARM, S390, Elbrus 2000 |
Kernel type | Monolithic |
Default user interface | fly, twm |
Official website | www |
Specifications
The creator of the OS is the Scientific/Manufacturing Enterprise Rusbitech which is applying solutions according to Russian Government decree №2299-р of 17/10/2010 that orders federal authorities and budget institutions to implement Free Software usage.[4]
The OS releases are named after Hero Cities in Russia and CIS. There is one release for "general purpose" code named "Oryol" aimed at "achieving small and mid-business goals".[5] Other releases are marked "special purpose" — the "Smolensk" for x86-64 PCs, "Tula" for networking hardware, "Novorossiysk" for ARM mobile devices and "Murmansk" for IBM System Z mainframes.
Rusbitech also manufactures a "soft/hardware trusted boot control module" MAKSIM-M1 ("М643М1") with PCI bus. It prevents unauthorized access and offers some other raised digital security features. The module, besides Astra Linux, also supports OSes with Linux kernel 2.6.x up to 5.x.x, as well as several Microsoft Windows OSes.[6]
It is declared the Astra Linux licenses correspond with Russian and international laws and "don't contradict with the spirit and demands of GPL license".[7] The system uses .deb packages.[8]
Astra Linux is considered a recognized Debian derivative[9], Rusbitech has partnership relations with The Linux Foundation[10] and The Document Foundation.[11]
Usage
The Special Edition version (paid) is used in many Russian state-related organizations. Particularly, it is used in the Russian National Center for Defence Control.[12]
There are talks to deploy mass usage of Astra Linux in numerous state institutions of the Republic of Crimea — legitimate usage of other popular OSes is questionable because of international sanctions during the Ukrainian crisis.[13]
Also there are plans on cooperation of Rusbitech and Huawei.[14][15]
In January 2018, it was announced that Astra Linux was going to be deployed to all Russian Army computers, and Microsoft Windows will be dropped.[16]
In February 2018, Rusbitech announced it has ported Astra Linux to Russian-made Elbrus microprocessors.[17]
In February 2019, Astra Linux was announced to be implemented at Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in China.[18]
In September 2019 commercial sales of smartphones and tablets with Astra Linux are expected to start.[19]
Version history
Version | Release date | Linux kernel |
---|---|---|
1.2 | 28 October, 2011 | 2.6.34 |
1.3 | 26 April, 2013 | 3.2.0[20] |
1.4[21] | 19 December, 2014 | 3.16.0 |
1.5[22] | 8 April, 2016 | 4.2.0 |
1.6 | 12 October, 2018 | 4.15.0 |
Version | Release date | Linux kernel |
---|---|---|
1.5 | ending of 2009 | 2.6.31 |
1.6 | 23 November, 2010 | N/A |
1.7[23] | 3 February, 2012 | 2.6.34 |
1.9 | 12 February, 2013 | 3.2.0 |
1.10[24] | 14 November, 2014 | 3.16.0 |
1.11[25] | 17 March, 2016 | 4.2.0 |
2.1.2 | 21 August, 2018 | 4.15 |
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Astra Linux. |
- Звезда по имени Linux: почему "военные" ОС прочнее (in Russian)
- (in Russian) http://fstec.ru/en/
- (in Russian) http://www.astra-linux.com/sertifikat.html Archived 2018-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
- (in Russian) http://www.computerra.ru/vision/609608/
- (in Russian) http://rusbitech.ru/products/os/11/ Archived 2014-07-15 at the Wayback Machine
- "Archived copy" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Derivatives/Census/AstraLinux - Debian Wiki".
- (in Russian) http://www.cnews.ru/news/line/2019-02-19_gk_astra_linux_rasshiryaet_sotrudnichestvo_s_the
- "The Document Foundation welcomes RusBITech in the project Advisory Board". 6 October 2015.
- (in Russian) http://spbit.ru/news/n119990/
- (in Russian) n:ru:Власти Крыма планируют переход на Linux из-за санкций — Russian Wikinews, 22.07.2015
- "Huawei, RusBITex to design information protection systems".
- (in Russian) http://e.huawei.com/ru/news/ru/2015/201510111513
- Sputnik. "Russian Defense Ministry May Transfer All Computers to Russian Software". sputniknews.com. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- (in Russian) http://www.astralinux.com/home/novosti/469-rbt-elbrus.html Archived 2018-02-27 at the Wayback Machine
- (in Russian) http://corp.cnews.ru/news/line/2019-02-05_rossijskaya_os_astra_linux_vnedrena_na_tyanvanskoj
- (in Russian) https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3999021
- Основные компоненты Archived 2015-01-27 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
- Операционная система "Astra Linux Special Edition" релиз "Смоленск" (версия 1.4) (in Russian)
- Завершен инспекционный контроль версии 1.5 релиза "Смоленск" операционной системы специального назначения "Astra Linux Special Edition" Archived 2016-05-08 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
- Вышла версия 1.7 релиза Astra Linux Common Edition (Orel) Archived 2018-04-19 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
- Вышла новая версия "Astra Linux Common Edition" 1.10 - релиз "Орёл" Archived 2015-08-11 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
- "Вышла фиксированная версия 1.11 релиза "Орёл"". Archived from the original on 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2018-04-19.