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FreeBSD on DVD

FreeBSD Services Ltd. has announced their intention to distribute FreeBSD on (bootable) DVD, including packages, ports distfiles, the CVS repository, and a technical documentation set. I managed to get one of the promotional DVD's here at USENIX and I can't wait to get home and check out what's on it. Ultimately it will be offered as a subscription based service and documentation will be kept up-to-date.

19 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. "DVD's"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5
  2. DVD-ROM != DVD-Video by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5

    It would be a good idea not to use the catch-all 'DVD' to describe a specific kind of DVD disc. There is DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-Video, and DVD-Audio. A DVD-ROM is just another type of media to store data. DVD-Video is a subset of DVD-ROM; it is a special kind of DVD-ROM with a particular file system layout and a specification for the format of the files. Don't confuse the two

    Note that all DVD-Video discs do not have encrypted content.

    DVD-ROM will eventually replace CD-ROM, it is good to see FreeBSD looking ahead. The price of DVD duplication is getting down to where it can economically replace multi-CD-ROM datasets.

  3. Cool... by Mullen · · Score: 5

    Now with this DVD with there be:

    Developers commentary channel?
    Option to view deleted code?
    See previews for other OS's?
    Multi-Language stero channel. FreeBSD Code in spanish!
    Making of FreeBSD?
    Multi-Angle FreeBSD coding?

    I look forward to watching this puppy.


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    Linux O Muerte!
  4. Another word for you . . . by SimplyCosmic · · Score: 3
    . . . choice.

    FreeBSD (and most of the alternative open operating systems for that matter) will allow you to choose the model you'd prefer.

    Although I honestly don't understand how a subscription model that forces you to upgrade using time limited software can be more "efficient" than a subscription service that provides upgrades that aren't required, only requested, as the software is yours to run as long as you like once you've initially installed it.

  5. One word makes the difference . . . by SimplyCosmic · · Score: 4
    . . . and that word is "forced".

    With the oft mentioned Microsoft subscription model, it truely is a forced upgrade. Even if you're happy with your system and apps after a particular upgrade, you're out of luck when the time limit expires.

    There's no forced upgrades being done with the FreeBSD subscription. Once you've installed it, you can either not upgrade, upgrade through the regular means (buying a new CD/DVD, downloading from the internet, etc), or subscribe and have new DVD's mailed to you on a regular basis.

    The subscription model FreeBSD is proposing is one of convenience for the customers. What Microsoft is proposing is convenient for Microsoft.

  6. Fsck the MPAA! by tosderg · · Score: 4

    Down with DVD! Distribute DeCSS on tshirts, televisions, and toilet tissue!

    BOYCOTT AMAZON.COM!

    BURN DOWN THE PATENT OFFICE!

    FREE KEVIN MITNICK!

    Wa.. wait a minute.

    FreeB... oh. Nevermind.

  7. Straight to DVD by blazerw11 · · Score: 3

    Straight to DVD, that's a bummer. I would have loved to see it in the theaters!

    --
    A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices. -- William James
  8. Re:Been waiting for Linux Dist to Do this... by LocalYokel · · Score: 3
    SuSE has been available on DVD since version 7.0, nearly a year ago.

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    E2 IN2 IE?

  9. This kicks ass! by Galvatron · · Score: 3

    I've been wondering why, with the increasing ubiquity of dvd drives, people don't start putting software on DVD. Hell, I think it'd be a brilliant way of encouraging people to buy the commercial version of Linux distros. Don't want to burn 4 cds? (okay, right now most distros are at 3, but the 4th can't be far behind) Buy one DVD! Sure, they'll provide DVD images for download, but not many people have DVD burners. I'd love to be able to hit the install button, walk away, and not have to come back to change CD's midway through.

    The only "intuitive" interface is the nipple. After that, it's all learned.

    --
    "The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than that of whether a submarine can swim" -EWD
  10. Working with the shell is going to be difficult... by mr_gerbik · · Score: 4

    using only my DVD remote control.


    .... yes, that was a joke.

  11. Re:why FreeBSD? by jbarnett · · Score: 3


    *sigh* this is probably a troll, but...

    My facts are not completly right on this, but closer than the post above. Correct any details I get wrong.

    BSD was "born" from AT&T's Unix (forget which version). After a messy legal battle, BSD 4.2 was released into public domain.

    FreeBSD and NetBSD both where orginally built from this code. Some time after that OpenBSD split off the NetBSD code base due to political differances.

    They are all orgianlly from the same place, but years of hacking on each makes them a little differant. Although they should support binaries (in emualation) from the others quite easly. Compiling user land apps from one *BSD to another should also be fairly easy. I do not have information about kernel land stuff/drivers at this time.

    FreeBSD goals are to create a Free mainstream Unix that is optimised for the x86 proc (support for alpha also though).

    NetBSD goals are to be portable as possiable. They run on more archs than almost any other OS out there. IIRC they are number #1 in number of archs they will run on (if they are not #1, they are very very close to being).

    OpenBSD goals are to be #1 in security (if not already) for unix/unix-like systems.

    It is pretty amazing that 2 out of 3 BSD's hold "number 1" spots (or very close to number 1 spots). I bet FreeBSD has a "#1" spot, but can think of it now :)

    They all have BSD or like licenses.

    Also:
    Quake will run on FreeBSD (x86) with Linux emulation support compiled into the kernel (if not in the generic kernel).

    BSD networking (sockets) is concerned "standard". (Since a standard was never defined). *BSD use this of course, as also Linux and Win32 (possiably solaris, etc). When I say "standard", I don't mean an offical standard, but a standard though it being so popular (in differant degrees) on numerous other platforms.

    If you are intresting in Unix any way, it worth you time to checkout and play with all 3 BSD atleast a couple times. They are all really well done and all differant goals which makes for a lot of playing you can do. ;) They all are very clean systems that pay attenation to detail.

    If you just want to see how a REAL OS works, check out any 3 of the *BSD and you will see clearly ;) All 3 BSD flavors are extermely strong and well done Unix systems.

    I hope I didn't feed a troll. :/


    --

    "`Ford, you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.'" -THHGTTG
  12. Re:*BSD is dying by Ziest · · Score: 3
    All major surveys show that *BSD has steadily declined in market share. *BSD is very sick and its long term survival prospects are very dim. If *BSD is to survive at all it will be among OS hobbyist dabblers. *BSD continues to decay. Nothing short of a miracle could save it at this point in time. For all practical purposes, *BSD is dead.

    Once again this loser posts this crap. *BSD is not dead. I run the BSD Counter Page. By our count we currently have 43,028 verified FreeBSD users. This page is not very well advertised and is in the process of being revamped. All you *BSD users out there come and register on this site and fuck this loser.

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    Another day closer to redwood heaven
  13. Re:Been waiting for Linux Dist to Do this... by stu_coates · · Score: 3
    RedHat have done this with RH7.1... you get the DVD in the box with the regular CDs. The DVD contains:
    • RH Linux 7.1 Binary CD 1 & 2
    • Source Code
    • EMEA Documentation CD
    • Server Application CD
    • Workstation Applications CD
    • PowerTools
    • StarOffice
    • DMA
    ...and it's bootable. The install on my Vaio went like a dream.

  14. What else does it come with... by Ian+Wolf · · Score: 4

    "Devil's Advocate"?

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    "The words of the prophets are written on the Slashdot walls."
  15. What are you watching? by ackthpt · · Score: 4
    "A movie, I think it's called 'cron'."
    "Interesting special effects."

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    All your .sig are belong to us!

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    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  16. Re:Cost? by Darth+RadaR · · Score: 4
    Though it might change, the current subscription price is US$25 per release according to Daemonnews.org.

    BSD subscriptions in a nutshell: They send you the DVD or CDs when the latest version is released and bill you instead of having to order it every time there's a new release.

    Since it's cheaper to ship 1 DVD as opposed to 10 or so CDs, I can't imagine it getting any more expensive.

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    /*drunk.. fix later*/
  17. this could be... by xtermz · · Score: 3

    a good route for linux to go. With the massive amounts of data that a DVD can hold, you can present a typical desktop user with one single 'cd' they just pop in their drive, and give them a whole linux distro, a X desktop suite of your choice (gnome or whatever, not trying to start a religious war), and a full suite of applications (staroffice, mozilla, etc etc.).

    They can take it for a spin as long or as little as they like, and if they want to, install it on next boot. Keep their settings and everything in a UMSDOS (sp?) partition or something, or some sort of big fat file that sits on their windows drive....

    i really should keep these ideas to myself...

    "Pussy: You spend 9 months trying to get out of it, and the rest of your life trying to get back in..."

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    I lost my concept of community when my community lost all concept of me.
  18. FreeBSD + Broadband != Need for DVD Distro by Helevius · · Score: 3
    While I won't argue strongly against pro-FreeBSD developments, I don't think FreeBSD and DVDs make a lot of sense. I like to install the base OS, then immediately update the ports tree with the latest and greatest via cable modem.

    I don't see the point of dropping a lot of soon-to-be-dated software on a whopping DVD-ROM, when broadband offers access to the latest and greatest. I'm a big fan of the ports system, since it will go to the Internet to resolve dependencies while compiling a new app. I installed the entire Gnome 1.4 distro from scratch this way.

    Helevius

  19. Been waiting for Linux Dist to Do this... by A+Commentor · · Score: 3

    Since Mandrake/RH have expanded to multiple CDs, I've been waiting for one of them to start making the distribution available on DVD.

    This would actually provide some value over just downloading and burning the CDs, you wouldn't have to switch CDs in the middle, and could probably put a few more things on it since the current distributions almost completely fill the two CDs, and they are cutting things to avoid overflowing to a 3rd CD. I would consider purchasing a single DVD instead of downloading, if the price was right...

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    Looking for any old 8-bit Heathkit/Zenith software/hardware - http://heathkit.garlanger.com