NetBSD is big. Linux has more libraries at its disposal, more different set of tools (busybox being the smallest full set) and way more configurable parts of the kernel and the c libraries. You can choose the smallest scheduler or the most stable one, memory models, XIP, flash devices etc. More configurable. Thats what makes it more portable.
We have 7 odd laptops in that list, and I'll be doing the legwork getting serial numbers and sending/receiving batteries. Sure they pay for shipment but its unwanted hassle.
Not that we use its batteries at all... if the composition of the paper was changed, who knows it wont explode.
I'm typing this on a rather dangerous Tecra A7 timebomb.
Of the 3 BSDs, I use OpenBSD the most. The FreeBSD market is the same as Linux and I just use Redhat due to support, commercial apps etc. OpenBSD is used mostly in firewalls and simpler servers that you'd like to install and forget for the next 5 years. 0 maintenance and damn secure. OpenBSD also is a standard with many technologies like the various VPN SSH and crypto technologies, and its openospf and openbgpd gives me a better feeling than quagga.
I suspect NetBSD is dead, and its core developers should work to port OpenBSD around. Maybe they can combine the functionality of FreeBSD and OpenBSD, port it everywhere and just call it 'BSD'.
I for one, only want a BSD that will run on an ARM7TDMI in 1MB flash and 1MB ram including a minimalist library and busybox. And I dont want to resort to porting minix.
The whole point of NetBSD is portability. If it weren't for portability, NetBSD might as well not exist. But the problem is Linux has taken over as the portability leader and has a huge margin.
Every 32-bit cpu out there has a corresponding Linux BSP or distro. At least ones with enough ram or external bus interface. To compete, NetBSD will have to do without MMUs in some cases, and allow the kernel to be configured to be really small. Linux can scale and has enough configuration options to be able to produce a 200kb kernel and boot in under 1MB on an ARM7TDMI.
Given its license and code cleanliness (and maturity) I'd prefer NetBSD if it was portable enough. Its not.
Lets make a new game console using the Sun Ultrasparc T1 CPUs.
I was mildly tempted to buy one, and make a rudimentary game, with one core running the base game, anther just being the GPU and having 6 enemies with really good AI.
I use dd from a knoppix boot disk as a quick solution.
Theres barely anything faster than this beside a dedicated system.
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda
Needless to day be damn sure its the right disk if there are other disks in the system.
I have a customized USB boot stick with busybox which can boot faster. However it doesnt have all kinds of SCSI drivers you might need, so I keep extra knoppix CDs at each site (rather than carry). Its the single most useful CD I have.
We have two buildings interconnected at 1km using 802.11b connections. No other method is in this price range so I cannot goto dedicated lease lines or VPN through Internet or licensed spectrum radio.
If I could get two or more 802.11n at its highest spec speed and load balance it (with directional antennae), I'm home. I know I could use 11g but even g speeds wont allow me to remove the citrix licenses, second domain controller etc, unless I use MANY g connections.
Someone mixed 98 with XP. Windows 98 needed regular defrags and reboots. WindowsXP maintains its memory, automatically defrags and only needs reboots on software installation or updates. Even in that case many registry changes (primary reason for the reboots) are taken up instantly or by restarting certain services.
All NT based Windows are more reliable, but not as reliable as linux/unix can be. I'm saying 'can be' because I've been playing with Linux since 1996, and have crashed it lots of times. Use the wrong compiler, use an experimental feature or driver, and Linux is as reliable as Windows 95. I've also managed to mess up FreeBSD to that point.
On the other hand, if you set things up properly and not touch them, they are all equally reliable (I'm not including Windows 95/98 here).
I just hate Windows because its a black box and I cant work with it. I spend hours looking for knowledgebase articles and ways to fix certain things rather than do it myself manually as in Linux. Also slipstreaming, SUS etc are a pain, I could just script things up with Linux. Lastly, I hate needing SMP Core 2 Duo machines to run apps that will run on a PII with Linux. The apps are as guilty as the OS here. These are more solid reasons to be a Linux fanboy than the obsolete reasons.
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NetBSD is big. Linux has more libraries at its disposal, more different set of tools (busybox being the smallest full set) and way more configurable parts of the kernel and the c libraries. You can choose the smallest scheduler or the most stable one, memory models, XIP, flash devices etc. More configurable. Thats what makes it more portable.
As a matter of fact I would.
I would in any case that deviates from what was written in the datasheet.
I wouldnt complain if it works within its spec within its lifetime. Like the rest of the laptop.
And thats just the development time. Wait till you see the debug cycle.
Imagine a Beowulf of these...
I could build a car.
Maybe not a lucky break for its customers.
We have 7 odd laptops in that list, and I'll be doing the legwork getting serial numbers and sending/receiving batteries. Sure they pay for shipment but its unwanted hassle.
Not that we use its batteries at all... if the composition of the paper was changed, who knows it wont explode.
I'm typing this on a rather dangerous Tecra A7 timebomb.
This message will self destruct in...
Of the 3 BSDs, I use OpenBSD the most. The FreeBSD market is the same as Linux and I just use Redhat due to support, commercial apps etc. OpenBSD is used mostly in firewalls and simpler servers that you'd like to install and forget for the next 5 years. 0 maintenance and damn secure. OpenBSD also is a standard with many technologies like the various VPN SSH and crypto technologies, and its openospf and openbgpd gives me a better feeling than quagga.
I suspect NetBSD is dead, and its core developers should work to port OpenBSD around. Maybe they can combine the functionality of FreeBSD and OpenBSD, port it everywhere and just call it 'BSD'.
I for one, only want a BSD that will run on an ARM7TDMI in 1MB flash and 1MB ram including a minimalist library and busybox. And I dont want to resort to porting minix.
A small glass and small plates force you to visit the kitchen more often.
My fav are the short glasses with a thick heavy base. It has a good weight even when empty.
Free, sure. But I dont know about lean and mean.
The whole point of NetBSD is portability. If it weren't for portability, NetBSD might as well not exist. But the problem is Linux has taken over as the portability leader and has a huge margin.
Every 32-bit cpu out there has a corresponding Linux BSP or distro. At least ones with enough ram or external bus interface. To compete, NetBSD will have to do without MMUs in some cases, and allow the kernel to be configured to be really small. Linux can scale and has enough configuration options to be able to produce a 200kb kernel and boot in under 1MB on an ARM7TDMI.
Given its license and code cleanliness (and maturity) I'd prefer NetBSD if it was portable enough. Its not.
The way I read it, its not a fork of wikipedia.
As per title the co-founder was 'forking' Wikipedia.
Forking guy.
Electric cars have been 'practical' for a long time given the technology of 20 years ago. Don't believe GM.
Myspace was #1?
I clicked on #1 and I got to a generic pcworld.com site asking me to enter my personal info. I agreed with the choice.
My friend had a blade server eons ago.
He had a Tyan motherboard with CPU daughterboards. He could add upto 4 CPUs but he only had 2.
I wonder if Dell Poweredges lined up and interconnected with Ethernet (tm) will qualify as a blade server.
Assembly is as line oriented as it goes. Especially if youre reading disassembled code through JTAG.
I've my head spinning around jumps and branches to various hex numbers, and cant say line programming languages are dead.
But I do miss GWBASIC's simplicity. Anyone has a raw GWBASIC interpreter for the ARM7TDMI core?
So while the poor muck's MSDOS 6.22 Pegasus email is sending email, he's wondering where and how to download music.
Lets make a new game console using the Sun Ultrasparc T1 CPUs.
I was mildly tempted to buy one, and make a rudimentary game, with one core running the base game, anther just being the GPU and having 6 enemies with really good AI.
But then, the PS3 came along.
More appropriately, if the applicant tried to start his own business and filed Chapter 11, he wont get the job.
It used to be that people with personal business experience were preferred.
Makes me wonder.
Landfills in China must be cheap. Why dont we ship all garbage there?
I use dd from a knoppix boot disk as a quick solution.
Theres barely anything faster than this beside a dedicated system.
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda
Needless to day be damn sure its the right disk if there are other disks in the system.
I have a customized USB boot stick with busybox which can boot faster. However it doesnt have all kinds of SCSI drivers you might need, so I keep extra knoppix CDs at each site (rather than carry). Its the single most useful CD I have.
Youre on Slashdot.
Fiber was quoted at $50,000 by Bell.
We have more than 10 businesses between our sites. I tried this venue the first thing.
No.
100mbit connection through Bell is $3000 a month.
And fiber was quoted to us as $50,000 CDN just for the installation.
Our location is partly to blame.
The 11n is on many peoples radar including mine.
We have two buildings interconnected at 1km using 802.11b connections. No other method is in this price range so I cannot goto dedicated lease lines or VPN through Internet or licensed spectrum radio.
If I could get two or more 802.11n at its highest spec speed and load balance it (with directional antennae), I'm home. I know I could use 11g but even g speeds wont allow me to remove the citrix licenses, second domain controller etc, unless I use MANY g connections.
g is not fast enough for many people.
I think using your occupation as your last name is wrong.
-John Troller
Someone mixed 98 with XP. Windows 98 needed regular defrags and reboots. WindowsXP maintains its memory, automatically defrags and only needs reboots on software installation or updates. Even in that case many registry changes (primary reason for the reboots) are taken up instantly or by restarting certain services.
All NT based Windows are more reliable, but not as reliable as linux/unix can be. I'm saying 'can be' because I've been playing with Linux since 1996, and have crashed it lots of times. Use the wrong compiler, use an experimental feature or driver, and Linux is as reliable as Windows 95. I've also managed to mess up FreeBSD to that point.
On the other hand, if you set things up properly and not touch them, they are all equally reliable (I'm not including Windows 95/98 here).
I just hate Windows because its a black box and I cant work with it. I spend hours looking for knowledgebase articles and ways to fix certain things rather than do it myself manually as in Linux. Also slipstreaming, SUS etc are a pain, I could just script things up with Linux. Lastly, I hate needing SMP Core 2 Duo machines to run apps that will run on a PII with Linux. The apps are as guilty as the OS here. These are more solid reasons to be a Linux fanboy than the obsolete reasons.
You have a good point!
The home pgup pgdown arrow keys and numeric keypad should be moved to the left!!
I cant wait to debug a lefty's computer as a righty.... hitting ENTER on the left. The left pinky is so underused.