Aside from Linux running on NASA hardware, phones and consoles. Does it run on ATM machines, PDAs and point of sale monitors?

I ask this because I’ve seen Windows being used in airport terminals and really old versions being used for cash machines as well. The crowdstrike problem made this more prevalent by seeing “non end user computers” using the OS.

Does Linux fill this niche as well do you know? I don’t recall hearing any big name embedded distro used for those sorts of machines. Maybe Alpine Linux or NetBSD?

Thank you in advance for your input!

  • @wildbus8979
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    1327 days ago

    A ton of digital signage (think fast food restaurant menus) run Linux as well.

    Most home routers do as well.

      • @wildbus8979
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        927 days ago

        Probably would also need like ten times the amount of ram and disk space. These things usually run on 64/128Mb of RAM and anywhere from 8 to 32Mb of flash.

        • Norah - She/They
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          127 days ago

          I think those numbers might be on the low side. Like, not by heaps though. My Asus RT-AC86U has 512MB of RAM and 256MB of flash. It’s not exactly new either, I’d imagine an AX router would need more.

          • @wildbus8979
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            127 days ago

            Yeah for wifi ax/6 they are. But they are perfectly normal for AC. N even ran on stuff like 4mb of flash and 32mb of ram.

      • bjorney
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        327 days ago

        More, but not way more - they would be licensing window IoT, not a full blown OS, and they wouldn’t be paying OTC retail rates for it.

    • @ReveredOxygen
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      126 days ago

      Don’t most routers run some form of BSD?

      • @wildbus8979
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        126 days ago

        Never heard of a commercial home router running a BSD derivative, but I’m sure it’s possible. Almost all of them have a GPL li censée disclosure so…