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Date:      Wed, 19 May 1999 13:10:44 +0300 (EET DST)
From:      Siris Vasilios <vsiris@csi.forth.gr>
To:        Networks.Manager@rncm.ac.uk, vsiris@csi.forth.gr
Cc:        freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org
Subject:   RE: What do newbies do with FreeBSD?
Message-ID:  <199905191010.NAA15873@sappho-lane.ics.forth.gr>

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 >From Networks.Manager@rncm.ac.uk Wed May 19 12:37:42 1999
 >> Hello folks.
 >
 >Greetings.
 >
 >[snippage]
 >>
 >> Indeed, everything has gone so smoothly that the other workstations
 >> I will be purchasing (to be used for analyzing traces), will definitely be
 >> Pentium boxes running FreeBSD. Why ? Well simply because my software
 >> runs on the Pentium (450Mhz w/256 MB) over three times faster than
 >> on our Enterprise and Ultra servers...
 >
 >I'd just like to check something here.
 >
 >Are you talking about _SUN_ Enterprise and Ultra Servers running Solaris?
 >
 >And are you also saying that FreeBSD on a P450 w.450MB will out perform
 >similar spec machines or any machine?
 >
 >It's just that we are getting a Sun E250 and I'd like to know what to
 >expect.
 >

Let me be clear about this. The programs I am talking about do instensive
math calculations, and do *no* disk I/O. The user+system CPU time
on the FreeBSD machine (P450 w/450MB) about 40% the corresponding user+system
CPU time on an Ultra-1 with one UltraSparc at 170 MHz running Solaris.
I get similar results on Enterprise servers with similar CPUs.

I have no numbers on other specs (e.g., related to disk I/O or video,
but then these would depend highly on the controller and video card).

Of course I am not saying that a FreeBSD machine is a better buy than
a Sun Solaris machine, since this obviously depends on the hardware
and what you value most. However, it seems clear to me that in terms
of price/performance (at least in terms of number crunching), 
FreeBSD is the way to go !

 >Also, I've seen articles saying that Linux is cool but if you want a high
 >performance OS for mission critical apps Solaris is the way to go.
 >
 >Get the impression that FreeBSD is suffering from a distinct lack of
 >marketing?
 >

Yes, I have been catching up on Linux/BSD/Solaris reading and I have seen
both your points. But I must also add that FreeBSD is also noted
for its stability and speed (hence used by many *busy* www sites - 
yahoo being a notable example). Also, I think those working on FreeBSD
have realized the lack of marketing and are trying to do something about 
it. (I for sure will help here by making my decision to go with FreeBSD
known).

Regards
Vasilis


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