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Date:      Fri, 21 Mar 2003 18:05:17 -0600
From:      Vulpes Velox <kitlists@hotpop.com>
To:        "Bluezmo" <bluezmo@earthlink.net>
Cc:        FreeBSD-Questions@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: question
Message-ID:  <20030321180517.26a29dea.kitlists@hotpop.com>
In-Reply-To: <JMEAJACIKMIJMPNGDNNJGEGICAAA.bluezmo@earthlink.net>
References:  <JMEAJACIKMIJMPNGDNNJGEGICAAA.bluezmo@earthlink.net>

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On Thu, 20 Mar 2003 09:27:33 -0700
"Bluezmo" <bluezmo@earthlink.net> wrote:

> I've been tussling with installing & implementing FreeBSD 5 on a laptop for
> about 2 weeks now.  The initial install took 4 days (which I expected given
> I knew nothing about BSD) & I've whittled down the install time to
> approximately 45 minutes from a DOS partition.  I reinstalled because not
> all my hardware functions.

1: What hardware and what was it doing?
2: What maker and model.


> Yesterday my buddy who recommended I try BSD as an alternative to Linux came
> over & we attempted the install of BSD 4.7 because it was "stable".  I had
> hoped that we would be able to configure a PCMCIA ethernet card on the front
> end of the install by checking the conflicts & punching in the ports & IQ's
> documented by Windows (laptop, dual booted).  We tried using the FTP site
> but the card didn't function.  I tried the same paradigm for the CD ROM with
> the same results.

1: Stable refers to the release version, which does happen to be very stable.
2: Check to see if it supported under the hardware list. Some times in the area of portables odd hardware is used.
	1: Is either detected?
	2: Read up one info about the sound on the system and PNP as that can cuase a problem with PCMCIA depending on the hardware setup. I had this problem when I was originally getting PCMCIA working on a machine a year ago.

> OK, rather than suffer the anticipated wrath of the BSD community by posting
> to an inappropriate area, I have several questions about this experience.  I
> joined the newbie group because I am a newbie & will want to ask questions.
> I've read until my eyeballs are swimming with "inuxes" & am slightly
> frustrated because I simply want to learn the OS rather than search
> newsgroups for the appropriate forum.  When I click the link
> http://www.freebsd.org/search.html , to search, a redirect shuttles me to a
> message that the link doesn't function.  So, I'm posting here because my
> concerns are newbie concerns.  Hopefully, someone will take the time to
> comment.
> 
> 1) If I don't find specific hardware listed in the hardware list, does that
> mean the drivers aren't available period?  People expound on the advantages
> of open source code being ultimately customizable.  In short, if the drivers
> aren't available for a device, and the kernel can't be configured, what can
> be done (if anything) to get the device to function?

1: It does list specific hardware, but the hardware it lists are chipsets.
2: Yeah, have not mentioned what hardware you are using.
3:

> 2) Given the scenario (and post discussion with other "inux" users) it has
> been suggested that I try Linux initially to get my feet wet in the "inux"
> environment.  My buddy says to stick with BSD.  In the endless documentation
> I've perused, mention was made of Open & Net BSD.  My perception was that
> those flavors maybe better suited to my goals.  Frankly I don't know & want
> to gather some feedback.

1: Try out BSD first.
	1: Nice support
	2: Nicely documented

2:
	1: OpenBSD is targeted at security.
	2: NetBSD is aimed at making a highly portable/ported OS.


> So, if someone is out there & cares to perhaps elaborate, it would be
> appreciated.  I have several computers, Windows & Macintosh & want to learn
> UNIX.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> 
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