Re: [TCLUG:17303] FreeBSD

[Eric F Crist <ecrist@ardent-hacker.net>]

Ok then,

If FreeBSD isn't really that great as far as running linux compiled software,
here's more of what I need to know.

1) I need to be able to run some sort of MTA.

2) I need to be able to run the apache web server package.

3) I need to have better security 'built-in,' out of the box, as I'm still
learning a great deal about *nix type OSes. 

4) Until I can afford a third
computer, this machine must also be able to operate as my desktop machine.  I
would like to be able to run such software as web-browsers, multimedia
utilities (shockwave, CD Player, RealPlayer, etc.)

Any advice, ASAP would be appreciated.

Thanks, 

Eric F Crist
aka Slinky



On Sun, 07 May 2000, you wrote:
> BSD != Linux, Linux != BSD. BSD is similar to UNIX, Linux is similar to BSD,
> BSD is similar to Linux.
> 
> First thing to consider, Caldera OpenLinux (as well as Corel Linux) are
> desined to be desktop distributions, not server distributions. RedHat does a
> semi-decent job of being both. Debian does an excelent job of being a sever
> operating system "out of the box" do to the extremely strict security
> policies and stale but rock solid distributions. As far as the future goes,
> I think all servers I set up will be of Debian's Stable distribution (or
> frozen.) with distribution corss compiled (ie, compiling woody (v2.3) source
> under potato(v2.2)) packages if the newer version has something I absoutely
> have to have.
> 
> As a desktop Linux goes, Corel, OpenLinux, RetHat, and Turbo should be ok in
> an office type setting.
> 
> If your looking to run applications and services that are developed under
> and for Linux specifically, you probally won't be pleased with a BSD system
> as it would suffer the same flaws as Slink (Debian 2.1) Stale software.
> Check the development cycles for the critical software under BSD and compare
> to Linux before you completely decide on BSD.
> 
> You'll encounter some "strangness" when you go to BSD, as in things under
> /dev won't be familar to you (ethX is something completely different under
> BSD.) Also your hard drive assignment will be quite different.
> 
> Example: Under linux, /dev/sda has a scsi ID of 5, under BSD it would be
> /deb/sde, even if it is your primiary hard drive (I at least think I'm
> right, I'm not that familiar with BSD so PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong
> here.) But I'm rather sure that devices are given their sdX by their scsi ID
> instead of by primiary and seconday hard drives.
> 
> I'm also farily certen the BSD requires you to boot from a primiary
> partition even if you're doing fun lilo tricks. Linux is pretty happy to
> boot from and drive, and wilt a few lilo tricks (or bios tricks) you can
> boot Windows from your slave drive. BSD is pricky about that.
> 
> Also know BSD is NOT derived from Linux in any way. BSD is Berkly's
> implementation of UNIX, and the current BSD distributions (FreeBSD, OpenBSD,
> I think there are at least to more xxxBSDs...) are in some way based on
> Berkly's BSD, hence the BSD in the name.
> 
> Anyway, the information I've typed out is only slightly more than you know
> about BSD. I know just slightly more than you're next to nothing about BSD
> and the history of, and I'm completely willing to admit that and learn from
> those who have actually used BSD.
> 
> Pleas, those wilt more knowelge than me, politely correct my mistakes and
> teache me more. Teache me the benifits of BSD over Linux, xontinue teaching
> me the benifits on Linux over BSD. Continue teaching me the benifites of and
> OS over another OS over any other. Continue teaching me the benifits of any
> of (even a MS OS), but please, please, please, don't flame me and turn me
> off from your OS of choice as so many try to do. Be open about what your OS
> of choice does well as wll as be open about what it doesn't do so well. Give
> me the pros, but don't leave me to discover the cons on my own.
> 
> We're all here to learn and share what we have learned, so unless I'm
> completely missing the ideals behaind an open discussin UG (even if it is
> supposed to be a Linux specific users group.) don't flame me. I don't see
> any harm in discussing the merits of any other operating system over Linux.
> 
> I'm now very tired and in no shape to continue this debate (with myself) any
> further.
> 
> Happy trails, Andy.
> 
> 
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