ThePowerpuffGirls Posted October 8, 2018 #1 Share Posted October 8, 2018 A curious question. I was wondering where can I find the rules for ship's public computer access. I was wondering if it were OK to boot from your own hard drive, with your own operating system (Ubuntu, Linux)? I don't mean installing it, but just to boot from it, if you know what I mean? If not, what could happen if someone does it? Do cruise ships offer free Wi-Fi? What if you need to print something, could you do that from your own computer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted October 8, 2018 #2 Share Posted October 8, 2018 I have no idea what you are asking to do, but the computers on the ship are just a keyboard and screen, except on Celebrity where they use mac laptops. Ships do not offer free wifi. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamloops50 Posted October 8, 2018 #3 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Bo you can't . The computers are actually dumb terminals with USB ports . The IF station has a PC for their use only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePowerpuffGirls Posted October 8, 2018 Author #4 Share Posted October 8, 2018 With a USB, is how one can boot from their storage drive, with a SATA to USB cable, access BIOS/UEFI and select select it from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamloops50 Posted October 8, 2018 #5 Share Posted October 8, 2018 With a USB, is how one can boot from their storage drive, with a SATA to USB cable, access BIOS/UEFI and select select it from there. Many of thise uSB ports are locked when staff isn't around. I've had to ask tje IT person to unlock the ports. I personally don't understand why you want you own Hard Drive to boot from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePowerpuffGirls Posted October 8, 2018 Author #6 Share Posted October 8, 2018 It's a preference. I have a storage drive that has Ubuntu (a Linux operating system) installed on it. I can connect it to any computer, select from the boot menu during the computer start-up, and select the drive from the list. It is like using your own computer, except the computer is the host; providing the processor, RAM, etc. Everything is as it were. When I'm done using it, I can shut-down or restart the computer and remove it, and the computer will start up the same as it were before, as if nothing had happened. I hope that makes sense. An example Let's say want to use a public computer, but don't want to use Windows (Or Mac, if it happens to be), and you had a storage drive with from your laptop or a clone (just to make it more understandable) you can connect it, reboot, and select it from the boot menu, and there all your settings and files will appear as if you were on your laptop. You do your work, or whatever, when done, restart and remove the drive, the computer boots back into Windows, the same as it were before. Someone at campus does it all the time. It's something I've done before, but different places have different policies. I've done it at a library once, even the screen came on to enter my library card to assess the Internet when I went to Firefox worked the same, on Ubuntu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted October 8, 2018 #7 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Our own experience (on multiple cruise lines) is that all the external ports have been deactivated (this is a necessary step to maintain security of the computer and network). On ships where they actually have a friendly Internet expert you can certainly ask if he/she can activate a port...but it is very doubtful that any expert is going to let you boot a computer with your own operating system. I sure would never allow that :). In fact one could make a good case to fire any network administrator or Internet expert that allowed anyone to connect an external drive (even a thumb drive) to a networked computer. Entire corporate networks have been compromised by less. The solution for you is actually pretty simple. You need to bring along your own computer or other device that you can connect to WiFi. Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted October 8, 2018 #8 Share Posted October 8, 2018 the short answer is NO just take your own and pay the fee to use the WIFI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted October 8, 2018 #9 Share Posted October 8, 2018 I have no idea what you are asking to do, but the computers on the ship are just a keyboard and screen, except on Celebrity where they use mac laptops. Ships do not offer free wifi. EM Though one could make the argument that the cost is built into the base cabin price, some lines do offer "complimentary unlimited wifi internet" (though it may be limited to a single device at any given time). As for printing, it depends on the ship policy. On our most recent cruise the IT guy allowed me the IP address to remotely print without incurring the per page charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi13 Posted October 8, 2018 #10 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Most ships lock down the public computers including the USB ports. Best to bring your own laptop. With respect to free wifi. The mainstream mega ship lines all charge for wifi, but some of the luxury/premium Lines provide free wifi. Viking Ocean have always provided free and unlimited wifi and I recall reading that Oceania will also shortly provide a similar service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted October 8, 2018 #11 Share Posted October 8, 2018 A curious question.I was wondering where can I find the rules for ship's public computer access. I was wondering if it were OK to boot from your own hard drive, with your own operating system (Ubuntu, Linux)? I don't mean installing it, but just to boot from it, if you know what I mean? If not, what could happen if someone does it? Do cruise ships offer free Wi-Fi? What if you need to print something, could you do that from your own computer? It is impossible to do what you suggest. They are Windows machines and all ports on the public computers are disabled and access to the control panel is blocked. The BIOS is also password protected. Apps are also limited to a web browser or two. You are stuck with using what they have. If you could figure out how to pull it off you could face anything from no punishment to being removed from the ship and made to get home on your own. You have to pay for every minute of Internet time, unless you have a package with a perk. Printing is charged on a page by page basis. If you want to print very much, bring your own portable printer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underwatr Posted October 8, 2018 #12 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Shipboard public computers are "locked down" to prevent a user from booting their own OS and otherwise taking control of ports and drives. It's too easy for a miscreant to install malware on the computer otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlp20 Posted October 9, 2018 #13 Share Posted October 9, 2018 I know of no cruise line that would allow this. The last I saw, the user had the ability to use a media card or thumb drive. This would be for access to files only. For over 10 years we have cruised with our own laptop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teknoge3k Posted October 9, 2018 #14 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Apparently I am the only other person who uses Linux on here. (I'm a Red Hat user) but I do carry around a LiveOS with me when I go out into the field for various purposes. That being said, I do think they have this blocked (at least on Carnival) but honestly have never tried. I don't think I've ever used a computer on the ship... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted October 9, 2018 #15 Share Posted October 9, 2018 I’ve never seen one on any of the mainstream lines that allow you to use the USB ports, little thing about viruses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calliopecruiser Posted October 17, 2018 #16 Share Posted October 17, 2018 I sail on Crystal, and accessing the internet is free (their computers or WiFi), and each computer has 3 or 4 USB ports to use - I use them often to transfer things between their desktop and my laptop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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