FreeBSD 6.0 to Target Wireless Devices

BSDForums writes "FreeBSD is hoping to move beyond the server and desktop market by providing expanded wireless support. FreeBSD developer Scott Long said that 'one of the primary reasons for improving wireless support is to give companies the tools to put FreeBSD into their wireless devices. The guy at FreeBSD who is adding wireless support is under contract from wireless companies to do the work.'"

Comments

Re:FreeBSD on routers? I hope not...

[stox]

God help us if someone ran FreeBSD on routers, oops, oh wait, someone does. Some little company known as Juniper. JunOS is derived from FreeBSD.

Juniper

[RT Alec]

Juniper uses FreeBSD (they call it 'JunOS'). Their routers have become quite popular for very high traffic installations, due in no small part to the efficient networking code of the FreeBSD kernel. Also, don't forget that the f-root name server (actualy a distributed network of servers) is exclusively FreeBSD.

Re:Code GIveaway

[The Vulture]

I posted something to this effect on the original CNet article

I work in embedded development myself (previously video game consoles, then DOCSIS cable modems, now video equipment), so I've seen the shift from expensive proprietary systems (like vxWorks) to free (as in money) systems like Linux.

The proprietary systems typically have high up-front costs, along with a per-unit royalty, which inflates the cost of the devices. Linux allows for cheaper devices (whether or not the savings are passed to the customer remains to be seen), at a cost (complying with the GPL). This can be somewhat mitigated by making modules that are not licensed under the GPL.

BSD entering the space will provide some good competition for Linux. Whether newer designs switch to BSD will depend on the chipmakers (like Broadcom), as they are the people who usually write the drivers. Most devices nowadays are just the reference design hardware tweaked a bit with the reference software. So, whatever OS is used for the reference designs is what will be the dominant OS in the embedded space.

Only time will tell, but if FreeBSD can pull this off, they'll definitely gain some traction.

-- Joe

Re:Why lose a stepping stone to freedom preservati

[HishamMuhammad]

Actually, KHTML is LGPL.

I agree with your comment, but you mention that the bet is that companies will foster further development of the projects even if they're not forced to provide code back [I'd quote but I'm posting this from links]. I have my doubts.

Re:Proprietary source is not the reason..

[daeley]

First of all: why are those 'remote', legal possibilities not existant in FreeBSD?

Because BSD has already been through a clarifying legal process, one that Linux has yet to go through -- or rather it's in the middle of a big honkin' legal process right now. See for more info 4.4BSD and descendants in the BSD article on wikipedia. You are correct that one prime BSD advantage is the lack of GPL lock-in, but it is not the only advantage in the current Linux legal climate -- no matter what the validity of SCO claims, as we all know the FUD is the point.