Linux used for Large Hadron Collider project

linuxlhc

According to InternetNews.com, the Large Hadron Collider project that we’ve been hearing so much about runs a customized version of Linux called CernVM. Apparently it ran Vista at first, but the Aero interface kept slowing down the proton acceleration. Try as they might, scientists just couldn’t get the Windows Experience Index above a 4.2.

I kid, I kid. There was also an interesting comment left on the original article that appeared to be sent from a CERN IP address:

“While VMware is in use, the primary configuration for machines in the LHC computing grid is based on Scientific Linux distribution running directly on the hardware. This grid is used to receive and distribute the 15PB of data across the 100,000s of CPUs across the world.”

Cool. Nice work, Tux.