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Re: OFFTOPIC: OpenBSD



> > > > > I'm interested in borrowing an OpenBSD CD or a binary/source
> > 
> > > > What bad with FreeLSD ?
> > 
> > > Nothing bad, actually - purely a religious matter. FreeBSD is a
> > > single-architecture beast and I'd like to see how some things are
> > > different for other architectures. Apart from it, I happen to like the
> > > ideas behind OpenBSD.
> > 
> > If I don't confuse things, the multi-platform is NetBSD and neither
> > OpenBSD nor FreeBSD.
> 
> Yes you do. :-) OpenBSD IS multi-platform. Moreover, it started as a
> NetBSD branch! :-)))))

No I don't. NetBSD is indeed multi-platform. As an owner of NetBSD
installation, and as one who saw today a non-Intel NetBSD, it was
strange to read about my confusion (although I was the first one to
suggest this confusion), so I checked it again before sending this
message, and the following is quoted from "SunExpert Magazine", August
1997, pp.34:

    "NetBSD, in contrast, has always been a multiplatform family of
     ports. It currently supports more than a dozen architectures."

Note: The current number is much higher. I believe that at least 15
platforms are already supported by NetBSD, including some embedded
systems. The reason: Some big companies (e.g. Oracle) push the
efforts of porting and sponsor them in order to fight Microsoft.
Oracle, for example, chose FreeBSD for its NCOS Server, but preferred
NetBSD for its NCOS Client, in order to allow using it with any
architecture, including thin clients and set-top boxes. And indeed,
the non-Intel NCs (such as StrongArm) are much cheaper than the Intel
based (such as Funai).

Yes, OpenBSD runs on some non-Intel (after all, it started life as a
spin-off from NetBSD), but not on so many as NetBSD. And regarding to
preferring OpenBSD because of other reasons, I agree: People say it
is superior in relative to the other *BSDs. But Linux is even more
superior than all of them  :-)

Anyway, if you are interested in portable *BSD, take a look at the
"Ports Collection". This is a "must" tool for people who want to
port *BSD to new platforms.

-- 
Eli Marmor