I always wondered what happens to our software when a company purchases it. Okay, I know they will install it and use it. But where do they install it? On what kind of machines? In what kind of environment? And why is it important for them to collect and handle logs? The possibilities are endless. We have customers worldwide; from shoemakers to telecom companies, NXLog is everywhere. But where are the most remarkable places NXLog Enterprise Edition is employed? For the length of this post, let the inner child out and gaze out of the porthole, as we embark on a journey to the deep ocean.
When we think about where our log collection software is installed, we tend to think about some office space and Bridget’s computer at accounting or, at best, a web server hidden in the IT team’s basement dungeon. If you think that, you are probably very close to the truth. Well, most of the time. However, in some edge cases, our software is installed in much more exciting places than computers and servers. Don’t get me wrong; the corporate web server is a fascinating place, as is Bridget’s computer. These are all important, but they are missing a bit of oomph.
I have always been fascinated by submarines and how they patrol the darkness below. I even read a lot about them when I was young. The concept of underwater combat started with men using hollow tube-like sticks to be able to breathe underwater, but the first actual military-like usage of submarines dates back to the year 415 BC during the time of the Peloponnesian War.
It is incredible how far we’ve come to today’s nuclear-powered submarines. They are among the most complex engineering systems ever designed in the history of humanity. At least, so far. They employ a complete and complex system of valves, flaps, and filters just for navigating up and down and keeping the necessary buoyancy, not to mention the system that makes them go forward and backward. And I have yet to mention the worldwide navigation system and the ICS/SCADA technology behind it. Just imagine.
A modern submarine independently sustains a crew of up to 150 people, deep underwater, for an extended period of time. Often hundreds of miles away from emergency support, in a hostile habitat where warnings and issues need to be addressed ASAP, or they might result in catastrophic failure. Not only is it a highly demanding environment, but it is often isolated and 100% self-sufficient, with a high price to pay for failure. And with all this complex technology in a critical environment comes the necessity of logging, the tedious job of keeping track of what happened and when it happened.
So, you can imagine my excitement when I had a conversation with our sales and marketing teams, discussing existing and future industries and customers, when they mentioned a prospective customer with rather unusual requests. They wanted to use NXLog Enterprise Edition on submarines. And we’re not talking about the small, unmanned, or lightweight RC submarines. We’re talking about the big leagues here: military submarines. "Wow, tell me more about that!" you say. I would love to, but the subject is a sensitive one. You know, it is one of those top-secret military things that no one likes to share the details of. However, there are a few exciting quirks I was told regarding the case and the customer.
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They weren’t permitted to tell us anything about the system they would use NXLog Enterprise Edition on, not even the operating system type, let alone what versions it ran.
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They weren’t permitted to say anything about the log types they used or provide any examples.
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We asked how we could support them, perhaps by getting supervised access to their systems. They smiled and said, "You won’t!"
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They wanted a license that is unusual for our business model. It required some out-of-the-box thinking.
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Everyone involved had to sign a top-secret confidentiality agreement.
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They asked some questions about NXLog Enterprise Edition, but the subject of those conversations is confidential, too. Even from me.
Knowing that NXLog Enterprise Edition not only managed to conquer vast corporate networks but also the vast unknown of the deep sea is astonishing.
A truly exciting case, and we managed to close the deal. I know it’s a drop in the ocean, but I hope we managed to make the lives of those who serve there easier and safer.
There are many more exciting edge cases where NXLog Enterprise Edition is installed. When our legal team finally declassifies them, you’ll be the first to know!
PS: By the way, there was a job posting from SpaceX where NXLog Enterprise Edition was on the wishlist. I wonder if we’re running in space, too? Maybe in a red Tesla…
