From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Jan 8 14:55:28 2007 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [69.147.83.52]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 37ECF16A40F for ; Mon, 8 Jan 2007 14:55:28 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from roberthuff@rcn.com) Received: from smtp02.lnh.mail.rcn.net (smtp02.lnh.mail.rcn.net [207.172.157.102]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id DB4A713C457 for ; Mon, 8 Jan 2007 14:55:25 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from roberthuff@rcn.com) Received: from mr08.lnh.mail.rcn.net ([207.172.157.28]) by smtp02.lnh.mail.rcn.net with ESMTP; 08 Jan 2007 09:55:25 -0500 X-IronPort-AV: i="4.13,159,1167627600"; d="scan'208"; a="383625542:sNHT371295634" Received: from smtp01.lnh.mail.rcn.net (smtp01.lnh.mail.rcn.net [207.172.4.11]) by mr08.lnh.mail.rcn.net (MOS 3.7.5a-GA) with ESMTP id IBN16232; Mon, 8 Jan 2007 09:55:03 -0500 (EST) Received: from 209-6-203-219.c3-0.smr-ubr1.sbo-smr.ma.cable.rcn.com (HELO jerusalem.litteratus.org.litteratus.org) ([209.6.203.219]) by smtp01.lnh.mail.rcn.net with ESMTP; 08 Jan 2007 09:55:04 -0500 From: Robert Huff MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-ID: <17826.23332.240822.587622@jerusalem.litteratus.org> Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 09:54:28 -0500 To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org In-Reply-To: References: <73387c420701071410p710a3436gdecda61d57643950@mail.gmail.com> X-Mailer: VM 7.17 under 21.5 (beta27) "fiddleheads" XEmacs Lucid X-Junkmail-Status: score=10/50, host=mr08.lnh.mail.rcn.net X-Junkmail-SD-Raw: score=unknown, refid=str=0001.0A09020A.45A25997.00BB,ss=1,fgs=0, ip=207.172.4.11, so=2006-05-09 23:27:51, dmn=5.2.125/2006-10-10 Subject: Re: Why is sysinstall considered end-of-life? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 08 Jan 2007 14:55:28 -0000 Ivan Voras wrote: >> I've read up a few things stating that sysinstall is at its >> end-of-life and there are plans to replace it. I'm wondering about the >> reasons or rationale behind this. > > Two reasons AFAIK: > > 1. it simply doesn't even know how deal with the more modern > features like GEOM & RAID, more advanced authentication > mechanisms (nsswitch), and devices like sound cards (there are > many more in this list...) There's a strong argument often made it behaves correctly in this regard. The job of sysinstall is to bring a basic system up and running (thus enabling the use of more conventional tools), not to be tha all-singing, all-dancing, fill-out-the-taxes-and-change- the-baby's-diaper installation program. Should you want one of those, I'm sure you could talk to MicroSoft. :-) Even if you accept that position, there are things it could do differently, do better, and even do at all. Robert Huff