1. HydroLynx Systems presents NovaStar 5 The next generation of ALERT base station software

2. NovaStar 5 Highlights Linux based operating system SQL server database
Reliable, robust, fault tolerant.
Well known by software engineers.
SQL server database
Open data access to simplify user access.
Database queries return raw, scaled, discharge and interval data.
Web page, client based user interface
Workstation independent.
Familiar internet browser user interface design.
Client based design.

3. Reasons for migrating from NovaStar 4X to NovaStar 5
Computer hardware that supports QNX 4 X-windows is difficult to find.
QNX 4 operating system is unknown to most system administrators.
X-Windows user interface uses too much band width on the network.
NovaStar 4 proprietary database design restricted access to data.
NovaStar 4X web page interface did not support secure communication with the server.

4. Why Linux? Problems with other Operating Systems
Slow release pattern.
High cost.
Tech Support?
Lack of source code availability.
Planned obsolescence of hardware.
Monopolistic attitude.
Crash-prone.
Technical merits of Linux
Linux is Network-friendly.
Linux is Multi-user.
Linux is Open.
Linux is "Free“.
Linux is Reliable.
Linux is Backwards-Compatible.
Section 2: Problems with existing systems
There are certain problems which are common to all commercial-release operating systems - that is, any operating system which has all of the following attributes:It costs money, typically more than $50 Source code for the system is not available
There are strict limits as to how the system may be copied.
Consequently, Windows, MacOS, DEC Ultrix, Solaris, OS/2, and other similar platforms are commercial operating systems. Linux (including Red Hat Official Linux, though that is a borderline case) and FreeBSD are free operating systems. They are often available for the cost of media ($2 to $5), the source code is available, often included with the main distribution; and there are few limits to redistributing the system.
Since commercial systems are a source of revenue for the companies who make them, some situations develop which are not necessarily advantageous to computer users. Most of these are directly related to the need for trade secrets and the protection of source code. Some of these problems include:
Section 2.1: Slow release pattern
Major upgrades to operating systems come very slowly. Windows 95 came out three years after Windows 3.11; Windows 98 might be released this year. Other systems are similar. The major distributions of Linux, on the other hand, are releasing major updates every six months or so.
Minor upgrades also take longer to acknowledge and fix in commercial systems. Recent problems with Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are good examples of this. In the case of the "denial of service" TCP/IP bug, a Linux patch was posted for it mere hours after the problem was isolated. Anyone who is technically capable can fix the bugs, too, merely by changing the code in question and recompiling.
Section 2.2: High cost
Commercial operating systems, especially server operating systems, like Windows NT Server and Novell IntraNetware, can can cost more than $400 for a single copy and limited number of user licenses. Even the more modest $100 for Windows 95 can be a problem for people in developing countries, as well as students and others. The price for commercial systems almost never includes development tools, which cost even more. Linux, on the other hand, includes free C, C++, FORTRAN, and other development tools.
Section 2.3: Tech Support?
Commercial systems require their customers to depend on their companies for technical support. If there is a problem, users must often wait on hold (while paying for a toll call). While decentralized, it is often easier to get help with problems in Linux.
Section 2.4: Lack of source code availability
The fact that the source code for Windows and other systems is a closely guarded secret keeps people from learning from it, tinkering with it, and (perhaps) improving it. It means that problems which are technically easy to fix (like the infamous teardrop Pentium bug) cannot be fixed by any user with the technical expertise, but everyone must wait until Microsoft publishes a patch. The availability of source code is a particularly useful thing for programmers and computer science students, which form a significant percentage of Linux users.
In addition to the general problems noted above, there are some others which seem to particularly affect Microsoft Windows in all its variations. (Our intent is not to pick on Microsoft specifically, but since it is the single largest OS vendor, and most people are familiar with DOS and/or Windows, it would serve as a useful example for our purposes. Note also that we recogniz certain advantages to commercial systems, which we will discuss in detail later on.
Problems particular to Windows include:
Section 2.5: Planned obsolescence of hardware
A growing computer industry requires that people periodically get faster and more capable hardware to keep up with the advances the industry makes. Microsoft does not make it a priority to maintain backward-compatibility with older systems when it releases new operating systems. While it is technically possible to run Windows 95 on a 386/25 (I have seen it done), it is not an experience any user would relish. Running Windows 95 on any hardware less than a 486/66 with 16MB of RAM is an exercise in masochism. Cost becomes an issue again: until quite recently a new system would cost close to $2000; many people do not have the money to upgrade every two or three years. (I have heard that Windows 98 will not support any processor below the level of the "classic" Pentium.) So that 486 becomes a very expensive paperweight unless there is a platform which can run on it acceptably. Linux is such a platform.
Section 2.6: Monopolistic attitude
Epitomized by recent legal troubles with the Department of Justice and Sun Microsystems, there is a general perception that Bill Gates just wants to rule the world. (The latest Bond film, "Tomorrow Never Dies," even has a brief allusion to this.) Whether true or not, many people are seeking alternatives to Microsoft systems just because they are uncomfortable with Microsoft having a monopoly in this area.
Section 2.7: Crash-prone
No one in the computer industry was surprised when Steve Ballmer, Microsoft Vice-President, admitted that in the rush to beat Netscape, Microsoft had cut corners in quality control. (So had Netscape -- we're not playing favorites here.) Based on anecdotal evidence, many people have problems with Windows crashing for no particularly good reason, often causing people to lose work. Sometimes it is just an annoyance, but other times it can be quite serious. While Windows 95 and in particular Windows NT are far more stable than Windows 3.1x, they still fail with alarming regularity. There are documented cases of Linux servers running for over a year at a time without a system-halting crash.

5. NovaStar 5 Server Design
Server is dedicated to data collection and dissemination, alarm detection and notification.
Hard disk software raid system provides local backup of system data.
User interface is moved to client workstation so a GUI is not required on the server.
Client based backup of data to removable CD or DVD disks does not require server drivers.
Client based user interface eliminates the need for printer drivers on the server.

6. NovaStar 5 Server Design Diagram
SERVER SIDE
CLIENT SIDE
Radio Receiver
Workstation
Telephone modem
Workstation
CD Backup
Printer
NovaStar 5 Server
Network

7. NovaStar 5 Data Collection Features
Automatic and manual data collection: ALERT, two-way radio, satellite, internet import.
Alarm checking and notification: Visual and audible, , pagers, voice auto-dialers, map display.
Automatic and manual local and remote control.
Automatic and manual data computations: Rating tables, power curves.
Automatic and manual data reports and export.
Data editing and calibration drift.

8. NovaStar 5 Server Design Diagram
SERVER SIDE
CLIENT SIDE
Data Collection
Data Storage
Data Analysis
Data Display
Database Setup
Data Editing
Remote Control
Automatic Computation
Automatic Reports
View Reports
Alarm Message
Alarm Checking
Alarm Display

9. NovaStar 5 SQL Database
Open system SQL server design using PostgreSQL.
PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source relational database system.
Database tables include: stations, station types, devices, device types, data reports, data calibration, rating assignment, rating tables, alarm triggers, alarm actions.
Report, plot, and map tables will be used for display parameters.

10. Why PostgreSQL ?
PostgreSQL is an enterprise class database that runs on all major operating systems.
It includes most SQL92 and SQL99 data types including INTEGER, NUMERIC, BOOLEAN, CHAR, VARCHAR, DATE, INTERVAL, and TIMESTAMP.
It also supports storage of binary large objects, including pictures, sounds, or video.
It has native programming interfaces for C/C++, Java, .Net, Perl, Python, Ruby, Tcl, ODBC.
It is highly scalable both in the sheer quantity of data it can manage and in the number of concurrent users it can accommodate.
There are active PostgreSQL systems in production environments that manage in excess of 4 terabytes of data.

11. NovaStar 5 SQL Access
NovaStar 5 database will support standard SQL queries.
It will also provide a front end process to deliver regular time interval data from a sparse data set.
Support for standard NovaStar data analyses
Interval rainfall
Storm rainfall
Rainfall intensity
Report count
Maximum, minimum, mean
And more

12. SQL Database Access Direct query for table or data editing SQL
Workstation
Data analysis
front end
Workstation
Data collection

13. Web Page User Interface
Operating system independent.
Intuitive well known user interface.
Client based Java scripting manages data displays returned by database queries.
Printing, data exporting done on client side – no server setup required.
Guest access for data display.
Administrator login for database setup and edit.
Secure ssh based login.

14. NovaStar 4X Data Request

15. NovaStar 5 Data Request

16. Server vs. Client Based User Interface
NovaStar 4X was server based
Each key stroke or mouse event was sent to server.
Server redraws screens based on server input.
Lots of network band width is used to update screens.
NovaStar 5 will be client based
Key strokes and mouse events are handled by the local browser on the client workstations.
Local Java scripts redraw screens without contacting server.
Commands sent to server when Submit button is clicked.
Screen is redrawn by server response to submission.
Network band width use is minimized.

17. Server vs. Client Based Network Traffic
NovaStar 4X Network traffic
NovaStar 4X Server
Workstation
NovaStar 5 Server
Workstation
NovaStar 5 Network traffic

18. NovaStar 4X Data Display

19. NovaStar 5 Data Display

20. Client Based Data Maps Data requested from NovaStar 5 server.
Data readouts overlaid on map backgrounds.
Data background colored to indicate hydrologic significance.
Client side selection of
Data interval displayed (1hour, 6 hours, 1 day, …).
Data type displayed (rain, level, battery, …).
Map background.
Data, ID, Site name, Site tag display.
Tool tip on data readout expands information.
Hot links on data display to display or plot data.

21. Server Based Map Display

22. Client Based Map Display

23. NovaStar 5 Computer Platform
Intel ATX motherboard
Intel Dual-Core processor, 2.0+ GHz
1 GB RAM
Dual 160 GB SATA Hard Drivers
CDRW/DVD
Network interface card (10/100/1000 )
USB for future expansion
Internal modem for software support
Serial ports for data collection

24. NovaStar 5 Delivery Schedule
Customer Testing in December, 2006
Delivery in April, 2007

25. Thank you You can download this presentation from:
HydroLynx Systems, Inc.
950 Riverside Pkwy., #10
West Sacramento, CA 95605