OK, all the advocates who think this is a Good Thing(tm) because it makes Open Source look better than commercial software, consider this (slightly at best) scenario: I have both personal and home business accounts at my local credit union. It's a small organization, completely insured, with good rates. However, being a credit union and not a huge multinational bank, their IT budget is rather tight. Let's say their using FooBar Inc. software for all of their database and financial transactions. UCITA is passed, and the clause in FooBar's EULA states that they maintain the right to change the terms of the license without notifying their customers (a common clause, I'm sure). Then one day, My Little Credit Union, receives an invoice stating that the terms of FooBar's EULA has been modified, and all users of their software must pay a rental fee of twice the original purchase amount, or immediately cease using remove all (now unlicensed and illegal) software from their computers. Since the credit union does not have the funds to pay such an outrageous 'rental fee', they call their attorneys to pursue available legal options. Meanwhile, FooBar Inc. decides that the payment window has passed, and promptly disables their software in use at the credit union remotely. This will stay in effect at least until a judge can hear arguments and issue a preliminary ruling on whether FooBar Inc. has to reactivate the software while fighting things out in court. So, during this time, me and all of My Little Credit Union's other customers have: 1) No way to access our money. Since the computers have been disabled, my account details can't be accessed. 2) Many small businesses are also locked out of their accounts. Payroll checks cannot be issued, nor those already issued cashed. 3) Personal and business bills go unpaid, causing a wide array of problems, from auto repo's, to mortgage forclosures, to business backruptcy and loss of jobs. All this because FooBar Inc. knows that their software is used by 80% of the financial institutions in the world. If one puny credit union doesn't play by their new rules, SO WHAT! All the bigger fish will, especially now that an "example" has been set. This may seam a bit far fetched, but is it really? This type of scenario is what is needed to wake the sleeping non-technical masses up. When someone tells you, oh *I* won't be affected by that stupid computer law, I don't even own a PC! An example like the one above illustrates that even though *they* don't use FooBar Inc.'s software, business and institutions critical to their well being *do*. Just a thought... I'm sure someone's bound to call this an overreaction... So be it~
I just had a horrible thought... This whole deal sounds alot like someone at the US Patent Office sent some of their rubber-stampers to school so that they'd "under"stand the IT patent apps they approve. This would explain much...
Actually, a lot (most?) of M$ networking is still based upon IBM PC-LAN, which was designed much like the Token Ring topology as far as Master Browsers and such. This is, IMHO, Winbloze's biggest problem. They strapped a bloated GUI ontop of a 1985/6 peer-to-peer LAN and called it innovative! Oooh, please show me more....
What the world needs now is GEM, sweet GEM
on
GNOME 1.0 Released
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· Score: 1
Hey, I've still got the entire GEM + Artline installation disks, manuals, etc. Unfortunately, I don't have a 5.25" floppy drive to read them!!
Good to see someone else remembers the original Windows Alternative(tm).
Well, your question's been answered several times here, so I'll respond to your painful modem issue.
I've performed several installs via a 56K modem using the FTP method. It's sweet compared to my attempts at doing the same for a Linux dist. Here's the basic process:
Download a boot.flp image (1.44M)
Transfer image to floppy and boot
Perform your disk setup process (nothing rights to disk until you complete all of the setup info)
Select FTP and the closest mirror to you as the source
Configure your PPP connection info (if you have a lame ISP and DNS resolution fails, ping the site and use the IP address instead of site name)
Select Base System as your pre-packaged source (this installs the basic system, no X, no source)
Reply YES to the do you really want to do this
Leave it alone for a few hours (because it doesn't require the entire source to be downloaded just to do a basic install, it is far quicker that Linux)
Once the system is installed and rebooted, setup PPP and connect to your ISP. Re-run the/stand/sysinstall program and select Configure - then Packages.
Install the CVSUP-BIN package and configure it to pull the source tree and ports tree to your PC (make sure you have lots of space on/usr)
Kick off the cvs update and leave it alone for several hours.
When it completes:
cd to/usr/src and make world (compiles and installs the entire system - now you have much more than the Base System you started with)
cd to/usr/ports/x11/XFree86 and make;make install X (if desired)
cd to/usr/ports/(insert favorite app here) and make;make install
It's that easy - The several times I've installed this way, I started the initial install around 8pm on a Saturday night. By 11pm the system was installed and running so I kicked off the cvsup and let it run overnight. Sunday morning, I kicked off the make world to install the complete system. By Sunday afternoon I installed the various ports I wanted and by Sunday evening the entire system was complete.
NOTE: There are obviously manual configuration steps necessary during/between the above steps. Times are approximate - Your Milage May Vary.
If so, FreeBSD has support for them - although I haven't used it to say if it's stable.
My suggestion would be to download a current boot floppy image and fire it up - if it detects the drive correctly, it should work. If not, check the mailing lists for more info.
Partition compatibility? Or my misconception?
on
FreeBSD Updated
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· Score: 1
Probably misunderstanding;-)
There is an option during install where you CAN choose to lose compatibility with other OS's - but you get a big warning message first.
If you want all the Gory Details(tm) then search the FreeBSD mailing lists for "dangerously dedicated" partitioning.
Another - not so ugly - case site.
on
Cooler Cases
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· Score: 1
There's an interesting looking case at http://www.goodpc.com/spec/sv600.htm but I've not seen one in person to comment on the construction and such.
Well, as someone who has taken advantage of learning as much about every OS I can, I can say completely unbiasedly - YES! Try them all!!!
Between Linux & FreeBSD, the most noticable differences from the start will be:
1) Internet Installation -
To successfully install RedHat (for example) I needed to download the entire sources to a seperate machine and perform the installation via NFS. The direct FTP "should" have worked, but my ISP connection timed out halfway through.
FreeBSD's direct FTP installation doesn't download anything until "after" you've selected which sources you want. This means installing a minimal system download just the minimal requirments - My ISP can handle this.
Ported Apps -
Checkout FreeBSD's ports mechanism - it makes updating sources so much easier than Linux. I can't count how often I've tried installing the latest GNOME and ended up breaking something else because of lib dependencies.
Kernel updates -
Again, so much simpler to configure and compile a custom kernel.
These are NOT slams against Linux, merely some of the differences in architecture between the two.
I presently run/work on the following:
AIX, Solaris, OpenServer, UnixWare, FreeBSD, Linux, BeOS, NT, Win9x, and Netware - in no particular order.
They all have strengths, they all have weaknesses. Take advantage of learning as much as you can - Knowledge is the only one true power.
Feel free to email me privately if you want any other insights to various OS's - playing with them is a major hobby of mine.
Slashdot Mirror
OUCH! Just noticed the nasty formatting... Sorry!
That'll teach me to submit a rant this late at night! Guess I should've used that handy "Preview" option Rob gave us!
OK, all the advocates who think this is a Good Thing(tm) because it makes Open Source look better than commercial software, consider this (slightly at best) scenario: I have both personal and home business accounts at my local credit union. It's a small organization, completely insured, with good rates. However, being a credit union and not a huge multinational bank, their IT budget is rather tight. Let's say their using FooBar Inc. software for all of their database and financial transactions. UCITA is passed, and the clause in FooBar's EULA states that they maintain the right to change the terms of the license without notifying their customers (a common clause, I'm sure). Then one day, My Little Credit Union, receives an invoice stating that the terms of FooBar's EULA has been modified, and all users of their software must pay a rental fee of twice the original purchase amount, or immediately cease using remove all (now unlicensed and illegal) software from their computers. Since the credit union does not have the funds to pay such an outrageous 'rental fee', they call their attorneys to pursue available legal options. Meanwhile, FooBar Inc. decides that the payment window has passed, and promptly disables their software in use at the credit union remotely. This will stay in effect at least until a judge can hear arguments and issue a preliminary ruling on whether FooBar Inc. has to reactivate the software while fighting things out in court. So, during this time, me and all of My Little Credit Union's other customers have: 1) No way to access our money. Since the computers have been disabled, my account details can't be accessed. 2) Many small businesses are also locked out of their accounts. Payroll checks cannot be issued, nor those already issued cashed. 3) Personal and business bills go unpaid, causing a wide array of problems, from auto repo's, to mortgage forclosures, to business backruptcy and loss of jobs. All this because FooBar Inc. knows that their software is used by 80% of the financial institutions in the world. If one puny credit union doesn't play by their new rules, SO WHAT! All the bigger fish will, especially now that an "example" has been set. This may seam a bit far fetched, but is it really? This type of scenario is what is needed to wake the sleeping non-technical masses up. When someone tells you, oh *I* won't be affected by that stupid computer law, I don't even own a PC! An example like the one above illustrates that even though *they* don't use FooBar Inc.'s software, business and institutions critical to their well being *do*. Just a thought... I'm sure someone's bound to call this an overreaction... So be it~
I just had a horrible thought... This whole deal sounds alot like someone at the US Patent Office sent some of their rubber-stampers to school so that they'd "under"stand the IT patent apps they approve. This would explain much...
Actually, a lot (most?) of M$ networking is still based upon IBM PC-LAN, which was designed much like the Token Ring topology as far as Master Browsers and such. This is, IMHO, Winbloze's biggest problem. They strapped a bloated GUI ontop of a 1985/6 peer-to-peer LAN and called it innovative! Oooh, please show me more....
Hey, I've still got the entire GEM + Artline installation disks, manuals, etc. Unfortunately, I don't have a 5.25" floppy drive to read them!!
Good to see someone else remembers the original Windows Alternative(tm).
MO!
Perhaps "software" would be the female, and "hardware" the male???
I can't believe you posted this. Is this supposed to state that FreeBSD didn't work or that your incompetent. At least you posted as an AC.
Anyone who upgrades any system should have read all available documentation[1] (and understood it) before even attempting the process.
[1] This refers not only to README's and such, but a quick search of the mailing lists would have provided more than enough warnings.
Well, your question's been answered several times here, so I'll respond to your painful modem issue.
/stand/sysinstall program and select Configure - then Packages.
/usr)
/usr/src and make world (compiles and installs the entire system - now you have much more than the Base System you started with)
/usr/ports/x11/XFree86 and make;make install X (if desired)
/usr/ports/(insert favorite app here) and make;make install
I've performed several installs via a 56K modem using the FTP method. It's sweet compared to my attempts at doing the same for a Linux dist. Here's the basic process:
Download a boot.flp image (1.44M)
Transfer image to floppy and boot
Perform your disk setup process (nothing rights to disk until you complete all of the setup info)
Select FTP and the closest mirror to you as the source
Configure your PPP connection info (if you have a lame ISP and DNS resolution fails, ping the site and use the IP address instead of site name)
Select Base System as your pre-packaged source (this installs the basic system, no X, no source)
Reply YES to the do you really want to do this
Leave it alone for a few hours (because it doesn't require the entire source to be downloaded just to do a basic install, it is far quicker that Linux)
Once the system is installed and rebooted, setup PPP and connect to your ISP. Re-run the
Install the CVSUP-BIN package and configure it to pull the source tree and ports tree to your PC (make sure you have lots of space on
Kick off the cvs update and leave it alone for several hours.
When it completes:
cd to
cd to
cd to
It's that easy - The several times I've installed this way, I started the initial install around 8pm on a Saturday night. By 11pm the system was installed and running so I kicked off the cvsup and let it run overnight. Sunday morning, I kicked off the make world to install the complete system. By Sunday afternoon I installed the various ports I wanted and by Sunday evening the entire system was complete.
NOTE: There are obviously manual configuration steps necessary during/between the above steps. Times are approximate - Your Milage May Vary.
I believe those are ATAPI floppies, correct?
If so, FreeBSD has support for them - although I haven't used it to say if it's stable.
My suggestion would be to download a current boot floppy image and fire it up - if it detects the drive correctly, it should work. If not, check the mailing lists for more info.
Probably misunderstanding ;-)
There is an option during install where you CAN choose to lose compatibility with other OS's - but you get a big warning message first.
If you want all the Gory Details(tm) then search the FreeBSD mailing lists for "dangerously dedicated" partitioning.
There's an interesting looking case at http://www.goodpc.com/spec/sv600.htm but I've not seen one in person to comment on the construction and such.
Well, as someone who has taken advantage of learning as much about every OS I can, I can say completely unbiasedly - YES! Try them all!!!
Between Linux & FreeBSD, the most noticable differences from the start will be:
1) Internet Installation -
To successfully install RedHat (for example) I needed to download the entire sources to a seperate machine and perform the installation via NFS. The direct FTP "should" have worked, but my ISP connection timed out halfway through.
FreeBSD's direct FTP installation doesn't download anything until "after" you've selected which sources you want. This means installing a minimal system download just the minimal requirments - My ISP can handle this.
Ported Apps -
Checkout FreeBSD's ports mechanism - it makes updating sources so much easier than Linux. I can't count how often I've tried installing the latest GNOME and ended up breaking something else because of lib dependencies.
Kernel updates -
Again, so much simpler to configure and compile a custom kernel.
These are NOT slams against Linux, merely some of the differences in architecture between the two.
I presently run/work on the following:
AIX, Solaris, OpenServer, UnixWare, FreeBSD, Linux, BeOS, NT, Win9x, and Netware - in no particular order.
They all have strengths, they all have weaknesses. Take advantage of learning as much as you can - Knowledge is the only one true power.
Feel free to email me privately if you want any other insights to various OS's - playing with them is a major hobby of mine.
oski@jps.net