From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Jun 27 15:01:15 2010 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8BE0F106564A for ; Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:01:15 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from doug@fledge.watson.org) Received: from fledge.watson.org (fledge.watson.org [65.122.17.41]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5DF4C8FC15 for ; Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:01:15 +0000 (UTC) Received: from fledge.watson.org (localhost.watson.org [127.0.0.1]) by fledge.watson.org (8.14.3/8.14.3) with ESMTP id o5RF1ERK011310 for ; Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:01:14 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from doug@fledge.watson.org) Received: from localhost (doug@localhost) by fledge.watson.org (8.14.3/8.14.3/Submit) with ESMTP id o5RF1Eov011306 for ; Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:01:14 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from doug@fledge.watson.org) Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:01:14 -0400 (EDT) From: doug To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org In-Reply-To: <20100627082530.25f9c5c3@scorpio> Message-ID: References: <4C262B13.4090707@wanadoo.fr> <4C26ECBA.10304@comcast.net> <20100627082530.25f9c5c3@scorpio> User-Agent: Alpine 2.00 (BSF 1167 2008-08-23) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed X-Greylist: Sender IP whitelisted, not delayed by milter-greylist-4.2.3 (fledge.watson.org [127.0.0.1]); Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:01:14 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Dell workstation / server Freebsd's compatibility X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list Reply-To: doug@safeport.com List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:01:15 -0000 On Sun, 27 Jun 2010, Jerry wrote: > On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 02:16:26 -0400 > Steve Polyack articulated: > > >> On 6/26/2010 6:07 PM, Tim Judd wrote: >>> On 6/26/10, Olivier GARNIER wrote: >>> >>>> Hi, >>>> >>>> I've got an old workstation wich i use to have FreeBSD server on it >>>> (http/samba/ 4 disk on RAID) >>>> It's summer time and the old workstation will not work at the end >>>> the summer time (too warm for it) >>>> >>>> So ii wish to change it. >>>> I don't need a big server, a tiny workstation will be enough. >>>> I wish a inter CPU and dell construction (i'm use to use there >>>> work) So herre is the question : >>>> >>>> If you have dell computer (wich is still sold by dell) and if >>>> you're working with FreeBSD on it with no more problem, can you >>>> tell me witch computer you have ? >>>> (it would be great to have the same list as laptop >>>> (*laptop*.bsdgroup.de) For workstation and server ...) >>>> >>> You have more people with success on generic hardware you buy at >>> newegg.com for example than you will with Dell or any other OEM. >>> >>> Moreover, you won't get support from Dell or an OEM for support >>> issues, including hardware replacements because they didn't sell the >>> machine with BSD. >>> >> This isn't true. Dell won't give you any operating system support, >> but they will honor your hardware warranties just fine. We've had >> various failures that were replaced with very little hassle from >> Dell. The most trouble they will give you is if it's an obscure >> issue, in which case they'll ask you to boot Linux and run their DSET >> tool. >>> >>> If you want a company that supports BSD, use iXsystems. >>> >>> If you want general compatibility that generally works better than >>> any OEM, use general parts from newegg, etc. iXsystems is the >>> exception because they test and support BSD on the parts they sell. >>> >> >> iXsystems products look very solid. We've had a good bit of luck >> with the various Dells we've had. Mostly 8th and 9th gen PowerEdge >> servers, and then the new R710s. They're all very solid systems and >> we've had very few driver issues. They FreeBSD team has done a great >> job at patching the issues we have had. We also have a handful of >> their Optiplex desktop workstations that run BSD quite well. > > Th only serious problem that I have had with compatibility between Dell > and FreeBSD is that FreeBSD does not have drivers for the 'N' class > wireless cards that Dell uses. However, FreeBSD does not have drivers > for most of the newer wireless cards anyway, so if you are not using > wireless, or don't mind using the older depreciated A/B/G protocols, > you should not have any problems. > > -- > Jerry ? > FreeBSD.user@seibercom.net My Dell experiences track this. Good for servers. Support is better if you buy as small biz rather than an end-user. In 1995 when I started, I got and used (many times) 4 hour support. The worst thing is RAID can not be hot swapped. I had a PE2400 that failed 1 month before they would not extend the warranty any further and they replaced everything but the disks. For a FreeBSD desktop however, unless you either an Xorg driver maintainer, an Xorg developer, or like beating yourself with chains, Dell should be avoided. Old hardware gradually gets un-supported and I have a new Inspiron 1764 that I can either use as a build system or a paperweight as far as FreeBSD goes. The newer Dells use the new Intel video chipsets which are not AFAIK yet supported in Xorg.