Hi everyone, hope you don’t mind self-linking 
We were really happy to present how we use NixOS at FOSDEM this year, link:
NixOS @ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) - why we use it and how
35 Likes
As someone who’s worked with MSF in the field in the past, I can see how NixOS is a brilliant solution to all the specifics of that context.
I missed you at FOSDEM, you guys were too popular 
but I would have asked about data transfer, and how you handle it. I’m fairly new to nix/nixos, but I have a feeling that each update is heavy on transfers, so I’m curious if that’s ever a problem in your work?
3 Likes
Hi @laurents, about bandwidth, the number of base packages is actually quite small because it’s building a generic server environment.
It can take quite some time, especially when installing from scratch. Our sites have a big mix of LEO/GEO internet and local ISPs. We did have to install once over VSAT and that was very slow.
For the upgrades & patches however, they’re scheduled to run automatically during the night, and for this reason it’s not so important that they take a long time.
All the best, -I
1 Like
There was also an interesting discussion here, where someone was trying to use NixOS under extreme bandwidth constraints: Nix store copy closure or import/export with binary diff - #3 by seandepagnier
4 Likes