"Before anyone out there hurls a "RFM" at you, try going to FreeBSD's site. It's a real cool website with some really informative FAQs. I was almost ready to install it myself but decided to opt for something different. But since it is the most used of the "open source" BSDs out there, you'll have plenty of support for it. Yahoo, Microsoft's Hotmail (hee hee), Apache, etc., use it."
I've been to all the *BSD's website and its only FreeBSD that mentions SMP - hence why I mentioned them. Its just I wondered whether Linux or FreeBSD would get the most oomph out of 2xPII 400's!
I'm not a complete klutz honest;-)! I have experience with AIX and DRS/NX under my belt - its just that they were a long time ago.
After what you said about a dual RH61 server I think I'll stick to Linux for that box (im running a patched RH6) - but I have a P133 so I think I'll go mosey to CheapBytes and get some *BSD's!
More then anything, I've just got used to ipchains et al. Too lazy to start afresh!!
I was looking to perhaps move over to OpenBSD soon, however the real problem is that I'm intending to go SMP.
The OpenBSD website says SMP is a no go. I already got a nightmare due with recompiling etc my Linux install to go SMP. I chose a stock kernel and so I got to install the source/headers etc.
So while I would like to go to OpenBSD I can't (AFAIK). What is FreeBSD like in that respect? Educate me!!!
When I studied Computers in school (and thats how long ago it was, it was "Computers"), we did a hell of lot of work on the social effects.
One point that was mentioned was that IT is unfortunately a male-dominated reserve - and it's sad. We cannot allow this artificial dichotomy to continue.
However the Free Software movement has proven that IT can, and does, throw up changes that work.
Its a sad fact that plenty of the women I know who work in IT have to fight serious pettiness and ignorance just to be treated equally.
A friend of mine has just opened his own printing business. He is just starting out so he cannot afford to throw money away. He is relatively computer literate (for his field) proofing and working with Corel Draw and Pagemaker. He has two PC's, a PIII 450 and a P166.
He uses his machines to proof and design.
He came to me wanting to create a little network to make proofing easier. Now we went ahead and bought the NICS, Hub and cables to set up his network.
We were just about to buy a printer server when he let on he had a 386 in the attic.
With that - I dusted it down, installed a second LPT card in it and installed a bare Linux install. I then set up samba so that the two printers on the linux box were available on Network Neighbourhood.
Result: He can now proof his files to two printers. Both machines share his ISDN connection. He saved the £200 for a two-port printer server to but some software. Linux provides a file-server, firewall, faxing, print server for a fraction of the cost that a Windows only solution would have cost - and he is still using Windows on the clients so he can use Corel etc.
The linux firewall, print server etc are full fledged products. To save costs on the WIndows side would have required shareware products.
I taught him some rudimentary administration and he calls me when he has a problem. I also get cheap prints too !!!! (barter - the way to go!).
Moral: OS's can co-exist.
Don't let Open Source = Closed Mind or Closed Source = Closed Mind either.
Its nice to see that Linux distro's are beginning to "theme" themselves a little bit. We can only gain by such spread within the fold. Rather then chase the elusive dream of a "desktop-friendly" OS, we should be looking at how we can make ourselves more secure. In that respect, I would see Open-BSD as more of a worthy target then Windows. Face it people, Windows will endure. For example, I use Linux as a work server because of simple maths...NT+5CAL's+Exchange+5ExchangeCal's+ProxySer ver+ZetaFax= megabuck$ whereas Linux+Sendmail+Squid+HylaFax+Samba = nearly free (the only charge being the time learning them). Our challenge for the free *nixes should be to make them the OS of choice for home networks. As long as people use Office/SmartSuite at work it will be hard for them to justify the fuss in translating documents. However, show them how they can share their internet connection, how they can fax from any machine and you grab them. For example, I work a lot from home as a rep for Plaid Cymru and I do a lot of work faxing, e-mailing etc. Linux has revolutionised my work - but I still use Lotus SmartSuite on a WIn98 client. Not from any anti-M$ bias but because I have 3 years of work in it! Its just not feasible to swap so swiftly. Grab the home network market and lever that - rather then chase the elusive "Windows" user. In that respect, distro's like Stampede and SlackWare pay a very important role. And me.... I use RedHat because thats what I bought when I first heard of this "Linux thingy"! I bought 5.1 when it was already quite old. I ain't interested in flaming an OS, I just want to work effectively. That is the goal we should be chasing! "All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing".
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"Before anyone out there hurls a "RFM" at you, try going to FreeBSD's site. It's a real cool website with some really informative FAQs. I was almost ready to install it myself but decided to opt for something different. But since it is the most used of the "open source" BSDs out there, you'll have plenty of support for it. Yahoo, Microsoft's Hotmail (hee hee), Apache, etc., use it."
;-)! I have experience with AIX and DRS/NX under my belt - its just that they were a long time ago.
I've been to all the *BSD's website and its only FreeBSD that mentions SMP - hence why I mentioned them. Its just I wondered whether Linux or FreeBSD would get the most oomph out of 2xPII 400's!
I'm not a complete klutz honest
After what you said about a dual RH61 server I think I'll stick to Linux for that box (im running a patched RH6) - but I have a P133 so I think I'll go mosey to CheapBytes and get some *BSD's!
More then anything, I've just got used to ipchains et al. Too lazy to start afresh!!
That sounds identical to the situation I have at home.
3 Machines connect to my linux box (300MMX). My P111 450, my wife's P133 and her brother (who lodges with us) has a P11 333.
We all use the internet, we can all print, fax, email, share my nice 13gb scsi samba share and basically play some seriously cool multi player games.
As you said, Linux enables you to have access to all this without an unnecessary OS upgrade. Why go to Windows 98 if 95 is doing fine?
Now all I'm waiting for is DSL/Cable in Wales and I'm in heaven!
I was looking to perhaps move over to OpenBSD soon, however the real problem is that I'm intending to go SMP.
The OpenBSD website says SMP is a no go. I already got a nightmare due with recompiling etc my Linux install to go SMP. I chose a stock kernel and so I got to install the source/headers etc.
So while I would like to go to OpenBSD I can't (AFAIK). What is FreeBSD like in that respect? Educate me!!!
When I studied Computers in school (and thats how long ago it was, it was "Computers"), we did a hell of lot of work on the social effects.
One point that was mentioned was that IT is unfortunately a male-dominated reserve - and it's sad. We cannot allow this artificial dichotomy to continue.
However the Free Software movement has proven that IT can, and does, throw up changes that work.
Its a sad fact that plenty of the women I know who work in IT have to fight serious pettiness and ignorance just to be treated equally.
Perhaps another example will clarify this.
A friend of mine has just opened his own printing business. He is just starting out so he cannot afford to throw money away. He is relatively computer literate (for his field) proofing and working with Corel Draw and Pagemaker. He has two PC's, a PIII 450 and a P166.
He uses his machines to proof and design.
He came to me wanting to create a little network to make proofing easier. Now we went ahead and bought the NICS, Hub and cables to set up his network.
We were just about to buy a printer server when he let on he had a 386 in the attic.
With that - I dusted it down, installed a second LPT card in it and installed a bare Linux install. I then set up samba so that the two printers on the linux box were available on Network Neighbourhood.
Result: He can now proof his files to two printers. Both machines share his ISDN connection. He saved the £200 for a two-port printer server to but some software. Linux provides a file-server, firewall, faxing, print server for a fraction of the cost that a Windows only solution would have cost - and he is still using Windows on the clients so he can use Corel etc.
The linux firewall, print server etc are full fledged products. To save costs on the WIndows side would have required shareware products.
I taught him some rudimentary administration and he calls me when he has a problem. I also get cheap prints too !!!! (barter - the way to go!).
Moral: OS's can co-exist.
Don't let Open Source = Closed Mind or Closed Source = Closed Mind either.
The right tools for the right job.
Actually it isn't trivial.
Internet Connection Sharing was introduced with Windows 98. So, if you are using 95 you can't do it.
Plus you don't get a firewall. Do any file and print sharing and without a little bit of thought you are broadcasting your shares across the 'net.
Fax sharing needs extra software (IIRC) from Windows.
I ain't no blind zealot - I'm just pointing out one thing that Linux has in it's favour - the ability to build a seriously useful home network.
Its nice to see that Linux distro's are beginning to "theme" themselves a little bit. We can only gain by such spread within the fold. Rather then chase the elusive dream of a "desktop-friendly" OS, we should be looking at how we can make ourselves more secure. In that respect, I would see Open-BSD as more of a worthy target then Windows. Face it people, Windows will endure. For example, I use Linux as a work server because of simple maths...NT+5CAL's+Exchange+5ExchangeCal's+ProxySer ver+ZetaFax= megabuck$ whereas Linux+Sendmail+Squid+HylaFax+Samba = nearly free (the only charge being the time learning them). Our challenge for the free *nixes should be to make them the OS of choice for home networks. As long as people use Office/SmartSuite at work it will be hard for them to justify the fuss in translating documents. However, show them how they can share their internet connection, how they can fax from any machine and you grab them. For example, I work a lot from home as a rep for Plaid Cymru and I do a lot of work faxing, e-mailing etc. Linux has revolutionised my work - but I still use Lotus SmartSuite on a WIn98 client. Not from any anti-M$ bias but because I have 3 years of work in it! Its just not feasible to swap so swiftly. Grab the home network market and lever that - rather then chase the elusive "Windows" user. In that respect, distro's like Stampede and SlackWare pay a very important role. And me.... I use RedHat because thats what I bought when I first heard of this "Linux thingy"! I bought 5.1 when it was already quite old. I ain't interested in flaming an OS, I just want to work effectively. That is the goal we should be chasing! "All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing".