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Announcing WiFiBSD

Posted by michael on from the little-yellow-different dept.

flynn_nrg writes "WifiBSD is a minimalistic version of FreeBSD based on the 5.x branch. WifiBSD is aimed for wireless routers running on embedded devices such as boards from soekris.com. In addition to the wi driver WifiBSD includes support for Atheros's 802.11b/g and 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN Chipsets. The latest version of WifiBSD can be found here."

5 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. A good thing? by DesScorp · · Score: 2, Interesting

    While I'm glad to see BSD becoming more prominent and giving Linux some competition, I'm a little worried about something; the ongoing attempt to make BSD and Linux "all things to all people". In other words, to put these OS's on everything from small embedded chips in cell phones, to huge enterprise class server setups. I think this approach only creates more bloat in an OS.

    Granted, you can take the source code, modify it heavily for your purpose (embedded routers in this case), and it might bear little resemblance to the parent OS. But is it still BSD or Linux then? How far can you alter it before it becomes a radical offshoot, and in truth, a different OS?

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    Life is hard, and the world is cruel
    1. Re:A good thing? by Arandir · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If it's not going to be Linux or BSD based, then it's going to be Windows based. And my bias makes me lean away from Windows.

      For some devices, neither of these are appropriate, but try telling that to the CEO or his marketing department. But at least with a free Unix like OS, you can truly modify it for use on your unique hardware. And even if it's not a stock Linux or BSD anymore, when marketing demands it have a firewire port next year, you can still use the stock firewire driver.

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  2. Re:minibsd by Thornae · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Purely out of interest, how'd you know that?
    I wouldn't have guessed it, but looking at the wifibsd kernel's resemblance to the recommended kernel entries for minibsd, it appears you're right. I'm guessing you've either got inside knowledge, or scary familiarity with minibsd. Which is it, or am I completely off track?

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  3. Improvements over PicoBSD? by hhw · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Running a BSD based wireless router off a floppy has been possible with PicoBSD for years. I fail to see how WiFiBSD accomplishes anything, aside from distributing the floppy image, which has already been done by theWall

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  4. Re:Why is this a good thing? by hhw · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Thus the WiFi vendor does not adopt linux, and no one benefits because of the restrictiveness of the GPL.

    On the other hand, that same WiFi vendor adopts BSD since it can without any negative repercussions. Although it is not legally compelled to disclose its modification, it still makes good business sense for the vendor to support the BSD community since their products are based on it. It is thus likely for them to make some contribution, the extent depending on the vendor's management. In any event, the BSD community has benefitted.

    In addition, the consumers of that vendor's product benefit. The savings of the vendor over producing something inhouse or purchasing from a 3rd party can be passed on to consumers. As well, the consumers receive a quality product based on tried and true BSD.

    Thus, plenty of good things come from the vendor's adoption of BSD. Nothing good results when the vendor simply decides not to use linux.

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