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GNU/Hurd Delayed To Fix Disk Size, Serial I/O Limitations

Posted by timothy on from the asymptotic dept.

gregger writes "This Infoworld article indicates that the GNU/Hurd is still waiting to stampede. Evidently they have to switch from the GNU Mach implementation they're using now to OSKit's Mach which will help them support faster serial I/O and larger hard discs. Currently GNU/Hurd will only support somewhere between 1 to 2 GB partitions."

5 of 552 comments (clear)

  1. Useful? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    This reminds me of those people who want to mathematically prove all their code. Interesting, but impractical.

  2. Tha HURD by cscx · · Score: 1, Troll

    Wow, this has been in the works since when, 1985? Does it support IDE hard drives too, or are they still on the MFM/RLL standards?

    Jeez... there is a point you reach when you just GIVE UP.

    "Hi, welcome to the GNU/HURD homepage. We enourage you to use our software, cause it's free as in freedom, y'know? Oh, but it doesn't support sound, any video cards, etc."

    Will all the HURD users please stand up so that I may fart in their general direction? I have one question: WHAT are you trying to desperately prove? That you can eventually make something that's "not quite Linux?" I'd like to know your motivation.

    1. Re:Tha HURD by BlueGecko · · Score: 2, Troll
      and both GNU/Hurd and GNU/Linux will each have their respective pros and cons
      For example, Linux supports more bleeding-edge hardware designs, such as serial ports, VESA, IDE, and may even fully support PCI in the near future.
  3. Hahahaha! by erroneus · · Score: 0, Troll

    I'm sorry, but I just think they're trying too hard.

    I thought the GNU/HURD thing was supposed to be more advanced than most other kernels. What's this with the 1 to 2GB limit? How long have they been planning this thing? It reminds me of famous quotes such as "...they'll never need more than 640k..."

    Call me a troll but that's a little more than a minor oversight. Is RMS really interested in putting his name on this one?

  4. Linus was right by zurab · · Score: 3, Troll

    To solve the serial port problem, the GNU project is switching from the GNU Mach to the OSKit Mach, a Mach based on the OSKit for OS development from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. "That version of Mach is supposed to get high speed serial line support, although it apparently isn't there in it yet," Stallman said. Before the GNU project could switch to the OSKit Mach, it had to rewrite the terminal support in the Hurd to support virtual consoles.

    By the time these guys switch to the new kernel, test all modules, etc., etc. they will have to update it again for new speed improvements and HD sizes.

    Linus was right that Microkernels tend to be overdesigned, give up speed, and are less practical than monolithic. This is the living proof.