Date: Sat, 03 Feb 1996 08:53:48 -0500 From: Andrew Heybey <ath@bellcore.com> To: "Karl Denninger, MCSNet" <karl@mcs.com> Cc: jkh@time.cdrom.com (Jordan K. Hubbard), hackers@freebsd.org Subject: Re: And the winner is! Message-ID: <199602031353.IAA01781@grapenuts.bellcore.com> In-Reply-To: Your message of Fri, 02 Feb 1996 10:19:32 -0600. <m0tiOCz-000IDUC@venus.mcs.com>
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>>On Fri, 2 Feb 1996 10:19:32 -0600 (CST), "Karl Denninger, MCSNet" <karl@mcs.com> said: >> > a) What code base would you use? Pointers to supfiles please; >> > I have the one for -STABLE, but I bet its out of date. I >> >> To be honest, I'd probably start supping the CVS tree to some >> local location on your site and just check a -stable tree out of >> it for your builds. This gives you the highest degree of >> flexibility should something pop up in -current which turns out >> to be the answer to some prayer and you need to do a little >> mucking around with CVS in order to merge it across into your >> -stable tree. karl> Ok. >> > b) How to handle replication? I know how to do this on BSDI, > >> but on FreeBSD it has always eluded me. Presume that there >> >> You want to be able to stamp out multiple machines from one >> build, or..? I'm afraid that "replication" is a little ambiguous >> in this context. Due to a number of historical bogons in our >> build process, I still recommend that each and every machine have >> its own copy of /usr/src, the problems with shared obj links >> otherwise becoming a real pain. karl> No, we want to be able to have a "code server" which can load, karl> and keep updated, multiple machines. That is, when I have karl> system #15 to load, I want to plug in the Ethernet, point the karl> new box at the server, and say "go fetch your load, kid". karl> Also, the ability to somehow have this update process karl> automated (so that I only have to make a code change on *ONE* karl> machine) would be nice. karl> I don't care about /usr/src; the production machines don't karl> have to have the storage, or the ability, to customize things karl> *for themselves only*. There are a couple of files that don't karl> get screwed with (obviously -- they are different, such as the karl> stuff in /etc) but the rest should be able to be kept current karl> without hassling over doing it by hand. >> > and the companion "I want to add a disk and not do a disktab > >> by hand -- since I have a ZBR disk and don't KNOW the right >> >> That's still kind of rough, yes. karl> I understand it can be done with /stand/sysinstall. True? >> > d) How about stability in general? PCI Ethernet card drivers? >> > PCI disk drivers? NFS stability problems (we used to have > >> those up the wazoo). Support for >64M without kludges? Any > >> surprises I should expect (and benefits of current .vs. > >> stable, etc)? >> >> Stability in general is good. PCI ethernet drivers good. PCI >> disk drivers, getting better. NFS stability problems are bad. >> Most people trying to seriously beat up on NFS find that it beats >> back. A lack of NFS experts with spare time is a big problem for >> us right now or we'd fix it. karl> Ok. >> If I'm going to have an unsupported OS, damnit, then I'm going to KNOW its >> unsupported and not pay for support! I don't mind doing my own qualification >> One thing I might suggest is hiring in some local talent who >> finds the idea of hacking on free software cool, for god knows >> whatever reason, and can provide you with at least one source of >> immediate recourse in case of failure. It all depends on whether >> or not the numbers add up for you, of course. >> >> Jordan karl> I think its cool myself, and don't mind as long as I know what karl> I'm getting into. Its when I get surprised and *don't* know karl> how much fat is in the fryer that I get a little ticked off. karl> -- -- Karl Denninger (karl@MCS.Net)| MCSNet - The Finest karl> Internet Connectivity Modem: [+1 312 248-0900] | T1 from $600 karl> monthly; speeds to DS-3 available Voice: [+1 312 803-MCS1] | karl> 21 Chicagoland POPs, ISDN, 28.8, much more Fax: [+1 312 karl> 248-9865] | Email to "info@mcs.net" WWW: http://www.mcs.net/ karl> ISDN - Get it here TODAY! | Home of Chicago's only FULL karl> Clarinet feed!
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