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BSDanywhere Announces First Release

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the anywhere-that-has-an-optical-drive-that-is dept.

The call of ktulu writes "Good things come to those who wait. After eight months of work the relatively new project BSDanywhere has announced its first final release 4.3. BSDanywhere is a bootable Live-CD image based on OpenBSD. It consists of the entire OpenBSD base system (without compiler) plus enlightenment desktop, an unrepresentative collection of software, automatic hardware detection and support for many graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and USB devices as well as other peripherals. Give it a spin."

29 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. BSD? by stim · · Score: 5, Funny

    BSD? Whats that, some type of lunix?

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    1. Re:BSD? by stim · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yeah, i can't really fathom why one would need a livecd for BSD other than ease of install... Unless they are gunning for desktop use, which BSD isn't exactly famous for, unless you count OS X (which I don't).

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      Browse at -1 to keep an eye out for abuses.
  2. no compiler? by X0563511 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    No compiler? What, why?

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    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    1. Re:no compiler? by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 2, Informative

      Because CDs can only hold what -- 700 MB? Compilers take space. The purpose of the LiveCD is attract new users into the fold, not to preach to the choir.

      --
      My blog
    2. Re:no compiler? by mi · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No compiler? What, why?

      Why would you want a compiler on a read-only system? A text-editor may be useful to craft an e-mail (in /tmp), but results of compilation are typically expected to survive a reboot or two...

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    3. Re:no compiler? by X0563511 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Shame. Who would use OpenBSD beyond system admins and developers I can't really see. And as another post noted below, you still have to roll your own install media or fork over money.

      (oh, and the instructions on making your media are not very clear. Basically says "look at the files here, and have fun)

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    4. Re:no compiler? by Piranhaa · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's not a big deal. You can simply extract comp43.tgz from any OpenBSD mirror.. Just for the record, it's 75MB gzip COMPRESSED. But ya, why would you need a compiler for a bootable CD?

      Found here: http://sunsite.ualberta.ca/pub/OpenBSD/4.3/i386/comp43.tgz

    5. Re:no compiler? by bhima · · Score: 2, Informative

      It's just a rescue CD anyway...

      I am trying think of a time I needed a compiler on a box I was using a rescue CD on and I'm pretty sure I've forced the experience from my memory. I have a pretty low tolerance for that sort of thing anyway. So usually I just go in grab the data and config files, then reinstall current. But I haven't done that recently either. Knock on wood...

      Also I am not sure of the utility of having an "unrepresentative collection of software" on a rescue CD. I guess this must be significant to someone...

      --
      Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
    6. Re:no compiler? by Piranhaa · · Score: 3, Informative

      Sorry, you are mistaken:
      http://sunsite.ualberta.ca/pub/OpenBSD/4.3/i386/install43.iso (203M)

      They've had a bootable CD ISO for quite some time, but would be required to do a net install. It's not a big deal since the whole download is just over 100MB. If you couldn't do that you, would need to supply another CD or USB with the install files on it. In the last 2-3 releases, the OpenBSD started created a pre-compiled bootable ISO with all the files included.

    7. Re:no compiler? by OrangeCowHide · · Score: 2, Funny

      I did fork over the money for a OpenBSD 4.3 CD, and I installed it on one machine. A few months later I was going to install it a second time, and the CD was nowhere to be found. I suspect they send out Daemons to sneak into your house and steal copies of your CDs so you have to buy it again (note: yes I am aware that they have downloadable ISOs now, that doesn't stop me from wanting to contribute to a good project).

      --
      Creationists are a lot like zombies. Slow, but powerful and numerous. And they all want to eat our brains. - Evilest Doe
    8. Re:no compiler? by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Who would use OpenBSD beyond system admins and developers I can't really see.

      What's wrong with OpenBSD? The latest release comes with a lot of software, including a recent(-ish) version of KDE. While it's not my first choice for a desktop, I wouldn't cry if someone told me I had to use it.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    9. Re:no compiler? by BPPG · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Shame. Who would use OpenBSD beyond system admins and developers I can't really see.

      Think kids. As in smart, curious kids. Yes, they still make those.

      --
      What's the value of information that you don't know?
    10. Re:no compiler? by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What about something like a student lab. The system boots to an always clean environment, you do some programming exercises including compilation and save the results to a USB flash drive. Next student reboots so nothing nasty is left over from previous users (except filth sneezed onto the keyboard).

    11. Re:no compiler? by Spit · · Score: 2, Interesting

      OpenBSD has distrbuted the full install iso online for a few releases now. But if you're not a jerk you'll support the project by buying the official package.

      --
      POKE 36879,8
    12. Re:no compiler? by mi · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Student labs tend to be administered by professional admins. Those people neither need nor will accept a one-size-fits all solution made by someone else. And they can devise a read-only boot-from-the-network solution, that works better, is easier to maintain, and is otherwise superior to a pre-made CD.

      But yes, there may be cases, where a compiler could come handy even on a read-only system. Yet, when deciding, what to throw out to save space, the compiler toolchain is the obvious first candidate — right after the UUCP subsystem (if OpenBSD still includes that even in the full distribution — FreeBSD no longer does, for example).

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  3. A LiveCD ... by upside · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... of a dead OS? (Netcraft etc.)

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    I'm sorry if I haven't offended anyone
    1. Re:A LiveCD ... by Piranhaa · · Score: 2, Funny

      OpenBSD is far from dead, buddy. PF, OpenSSH, OpenCVS.. all being widely adopted and ported across OS'. Hell, even windows uses OpenBSD code BSD Licensed code in its OS (traceroute anyone?). The code is solid and highly audited before AND after release. There's a reason there have only been a couple of remote holes in over 10 years. There are NO binary blobs in source and drivers are reverse engineered if necessary to add to the OS. And on another note, the BSD license is a very easy license to follow if needing to reuse the code. There are 3 clauses, and the last one is optional by the author(s) of the code:

      * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
      * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
      * Neither the name of the nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

      After having used OpenBSD now for 7 or 8 years, I REFUSE to put anything else facing my internet connection. It just doesn't make sense.

    2. Re:A LiveCD ... by stim · · Score: 2, Funny

      WOOSH!

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    3. Re:A LiveCD ... by JustOK · · Score: 3, Funny

      you must be new here.

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      rewriting history since 2109
  4. Fun, but not installable from this CD by gardyloo · · Score: 3, Informative

    Many live CD systems now have taken to being installable from those same CDs. According to the release announcement, one still has to acquire an OpenBSD release set to install to hdd. Too bad.

    1. Re:Fun, but not installable from this CD by BobNET · · Score: 4, Funny

      How do you manage to get out of bed in a morning?

      Morning routine:

      1. Wake up
      2. Start BSDanywhere download
      3. Get out from under the covers

      Laptops are weird.

  5. Re:Firewire Support? by Windows_NT · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cmon now, BSD isnt some flakey OS you put on a MacBook

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    Go go Gadget Nailgun!
  6. What exactly about the software... by TheModelEskimo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...is it that makes it "unrepresentative?" Is this like those people who hand you their resume and say, "actually this doesn't really represent me so please feel free to call if you have any questions?"

  7. Re:heh by bhima · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They've been up on a variety of torrent sites for a while and you can get them from the OpenBSD website. I've been using it off and on for years and I think it's worth ponying up for the install disks. I keep coming back so I guess they're doing something right.

    They also have a rather small CD image you could download and then do the rest of the install via FTP.

    --
    Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
  8. cd Enilightenment-dr0.13 by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 2, Funny

    mkxmf

    make enlightenment

    (hmmnn. I've got 15 minutes. I wonder what's on "Chips'N'Dips"?)

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  9. Great initiative by chrysalis · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Nowadays, anyone who wants to discover a new operating system wants to try a live CD first.

    Although there were other live OpenBSD CDs (like OliveBSD), yet another one, especially based upon something original like Enlightenment, is a great thing.

    OpenBSD is often described as a server-only (or network-stuff-only) operating system. Actually, it can also be a decent desktop OS.

    I'm using OpenBSD on my primary workstation for 7 years and I'm quite happy with it. The only thing I *really* miss, especially as a web developper, is the lack of Flash support (except crappy support with Opera). nspluginwrapper + linux emulation is still as stable as nitroglycerine.

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    {{.sig}}
  10. Downloading the ISO now by ducomputergeek · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I was waiting for this as we have a need for a few digital signage/internet kiosk application and I can't think of a better OS that OpenBSD on the default security side. Now to see if I can get it to boot off a Compact Flash card.

    --
    "The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money" - Thatcher.
  11. Re:heh by grub · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I received 3x copies of 4.4 today as well (we order a few at work). November 1 they'll have the ISOs up (they do that now).

    Just IMHO, though, if you're a *nix weenie and don't use OpenBSD it's almost a certainty that you use OpenSSH. It's a good gesture to toss them a few bucks for an ISO set or donate.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  12. Installs removed - - Was: Re:no compiler? by MrZaius · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Actually, it looks like the last prerelease beta's big "feature" was that it stripped away an already extant installation routine.

    There's a reason I don't bother with source-based Linux distributions anymore, and I've never seen one that made installation anywhere near the level of sheer PITA that you see in OpenBSD. User friendly LiveCDs like this are built to pitch an OS as a desktop OS, not a server OS. To strip away a user-friendly installation routine and call it a "feature" seems like a joke to me.

    It's intentionally thumbing your nose like this to users that drives them away. I'm at an absolute loss as to why this is supposed to be a decent alternative to a modern BSD and Linux based LiveCD with fully functional installation routines, limiting your level of hassle to one download or purchase. Again, PITA/not going to bother, although I would in a heartbeat if properly packaged ala an Ubuntu LiveCD.