From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Jan 17 21:12:56 2006 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 925AB16A41F for ; Tue, 17 Jan 2006 21:12:56 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from algould@datawok.com) Received: from elasmtp-junco.atl.sa.earthlink.net (elasmtp-junco.atl.sa.earthlink.net [209.86.89.63]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0433B43D49 for ; Tue, 17 Jan 2006 21:12:54 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from algould@datawok.com) Received: from [206.255.31.21] (helo=grokwell.org) by elasmtp-junco.atl.sa.earthlink.net with asmtp (TLSv1:AES256-SHA:256) (Exim 4.34) id 1Eyy8L-0004UT-De for freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Tue, 17 Jan 2006 16:12:53 -0500 Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:12:56 -0600 From: "Andrew L. Gould" To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Message-ID: <20060117151256.201626c9@grokwell.org> In-Reply-To: <20060117200231.GJ14213@dementia.beyondnormal.net> References: <7349.212.160.155.37.1137518111.squirrel@poczta.b.win.pl> <43CD3F73.2040003@matzsoft.de> <20060117200231.GJ14213@dementia.beyondnormal.net> X-Mailer: Sylpheed-Claws 1.9.100 (GTK+ 2.8.9; i386-portbld-freebsd6.0) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-ELNK-Trace: ee791d459e3d6817d780f4a490ca69563f9fea00a6dd62bc63a7b5f54fbadb8c60653fe4ed790d86350badd9bab72f9c350badd9bab72f9c350badd9bab72f9c X-Originating-IP: 206.255.31.21 Subject: Re: FreeBSD vs Linux X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 21:12:56 -0000 A FreeBSD vs Linux anecdote: I've read several articles over the years talking about how Linux can breathe new life into old computers. After the last couple of weeks, I don't buy it. After combining the hardware from 2 old computers (circa 1996 and 1998 -- anyone remember ISA cards, serial mice and AT cases?) I went through the process of finding a good operating system for it. The computer has a Pentium II 333MHz chip and 384MB RAM; so it's definitely worth keeping. I was unable to successfully install Fedora Core 4, SUSE Linux Professional 9.3, or Ubuntu 5.10. I was given the advice to try old versions of Linux; but how, then, does one deal with security issues? FreeBSD 6.0 and NetBSD 3.0 installed without any problems. The onboard sound chip was dead; so I swapped out the ISA modem for an ISA sound card, which was supported by both *BSD's. The onboard video is supported by both XFree86 and xorg. There are 3 PCI slots, so I added a D-Link Atheros wireless card and a USB2 card to get around most of the motherboard's limitations. For example, the hard drives connected via IDE are limited to ~8GB partitions; however, the computer seems to deal with a 60GB external, USB2 hard drive without problems. The computer is currently without keyboard, mouse or monitor. I am adding applications to the computer via ssh while I work. As soon as I get openbox and tightvnc installed, I'll switch to tightvnc so I can disconnect without disrupting jobs. (Hmm, I wonder if I'll have to add a mouse or keyboard at that point.) Andrew Gould