Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 17:24:13 GMT From: Salvo Bartolotta <bartequi@inwind.it> To: cyberstorm <cyberstorm@prodigy.net> Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: BSD Inquiry... Message-ID: <20000817.17241300@mis.configured.host> In-Reply-To: <399BEE09.F77DDD6C@prodigy.net> References: <399BEE09.F77DDD6C@prodigy.net>
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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< On 8/17/00, 2:52:10 PM, cyberstorm <cyberstorm@prodigy.net> wrote regarding BSD Inquiry...: > Hello. > I'm a Linux user and was wondering why BSD hasn't hit mainstream > yet??? Dear "Cyberstorm", *BSD systems, and in particular FreeBSD, are probably known as "difficult[-to-learn]" OSes. They are certainly not designed/intended for the "point-click-and-do-not-think" people. However, with a little configuration work, you can have graphical interfaces (e.g. Gnome, KDE, etc.) if you like, as well as GUI administration tools (cf /usr/ports/sysutils/webmin, found in the FreeBSD Ports Collection). Also, you can install a variety of "desktop" software under FreeBSD: StarOffice, WordPerfect, Gimp, etc. Incidentally, the FreeBSD Ports Collection includes over 3,000 applications, a number of which are desktop ones. Actually, unlike e.g. Windows, these operating systems simply require that one should understand what one is doing -- ie study the relevant (very often superb) documentation. Flexibility, stability and power come with a little price. One further note: whenever you meet with problems, if you "do your homework", you very often get excellent support from *BSD lists. The kind of support for which people usually pay $$$$. As far as diffusion is concerned, you may wish to note that insects, too, are **incredibly** widespread; this fact, in general, not implying that they are very intelligent beings ... > The other question is... how does BSD compare to LINUX??? IMHO, there is no "absolute" or "perfect" operating system. Sorry. Even if I think that *BSD, and especially FreeBSD, come close ... :-))) Some people have performed tests in which *BSD, in certain areas (networking; single CPU), obtain better results than Solaris 7/8 and Linux. In other tests, Linux, Solaris et al. get (or might get) better results, I shouldn't wonder :-) If you want to form a really unbiased picture, please fetch a more or less "fancy" bootloader, a couple of HDs, and try ALL of these OSes ... > For my last question... is there a variety of security software for > this operating system, or does it use the same as Linux??? If not, > would you recommend a firewall and antivirus[if needed]. > --------------------- > Thanks There IS security software for FreeBSD: packet-filtering tools such as ipfw and ipf, as well as other software (cf /usr/ports/security/* in the Ports Collection). Albeit some viruses for Unix HAVE been written, the concept of "virus", AFAIK, provided you get used to few simple administration rules, is virtually meaningless. Just my 2 picoEuro. Best regards, Salvo To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the messagehelp
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