From owner-freebsd-current@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Jan 20 16:43:23 2011 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-current@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 576551065670 for ; Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:43:23 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from mexas@bristol.ac.uk) Received: from dirg.bris.ac.uk (dirg.bris.ac.uk [137.222.10.102]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0EA488FC15 for ; Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:43:22 +0000 (UTC) Received: from ncsc.bris.ac.uk ([137.222.10.41]) by dirg.bris.ac.uk with esmtp (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1PfxbV-0001eP-Bb; Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:43:21 +0000 Received: from mech-cluster241.men.bris.ac.uk ([137.222.187.241]) by ncsc.bris.ac.uk with esmtpsa (TLSv1:AES256-SHA:256) (Exim 4.72) (envelope-from ) id 1PfxbV-00064k-3v; Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:43:21 +0000 Received: from mech-cluster241.men.bris.ac.uk (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mech-cluster241.men.bris.ac.uk (8.14.4/8.14.4) with ESMTP id p0KGhKNh018264; Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:43:20 GMT (envelope-from mexas@bristol.ac.uk) Received: (from mexas@localhost) by mech-cluster241.men.bris.ac.uk (8.14.4/8.14.4/Submit) id p0KGhKNm018263; Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:43:20 GMT (envelope-from mexas@bristol.ac.uk) X-Authentication-Warning: mech-cluster241.men.bris.ac.uk: mexas set sender to mexas@bristol.ac.uk using -f Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:43:20 +0000 From: Anton Shterenlikht To: Ade Lovett Message-ID: <20110120164320.GA17624@mech-cluster241.men.bris.ac.uk> Mail-Followup-To: Ade Lovett , Marcel Moolenaar , freebsd-current@freebsd.org, freebsd-arch@freebsd.org References: <4D309563.1000404@freebsd.org> <7029F1A3-87A2-4203-840C-48B712EA70B8@mac.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.2.3i Cc: freebsd-arch@freebsd.org, Marcel Moolenaar , freebsd-current@freebsd.org Subject: Re: BSDInstall: merging to HEAD X-BeenThere: freebsd-current@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Discussions about the use of FreeBSD-current List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:43:23 -0000 On Sat, Jan 15, 2011 at 12:58:33AM -0600, Ade Lovett wrote: > > On Jan 14, 2011, at 19:31 , Marcel Moolenaar wrote: > > On Jan 14, 2011, at 10:26 AM, Nathan Whitehorn wrote: > > > >> The final architecture on which we use sysinstall, ia64, is currently unsupported, because I don't know how to set up booting on those systems -- patches to solve this are very much welcome. > > > > Don't let this stop you. I'll work with you on this after the dust > > has settled. > > Just out of random curiosity. Seriously. > > Exactly why, short of "of course it runs", in which case NetBSD is --> way, why are we even trying to handle ia64 as a platform, regardless of tier, when it is patently obvious that it is going absolutely _nowhere_ in terms of a viable platform? > I was waiting for a developer to reply, but anyway.. I don't know why you, the FreeBSD project, offer ia64 distribution, but as a user I'm very grateful to you for providing it. I think NetBSD is nowhere near FreeBSD on ia64 support. I've learnt things with FreeBSD/ia64 (and with FreeBSD/alpha before it) which I woudn't have leart otherwise. I've 3 FreeBSD/ia64 boxes and by and large I'm very happy with this platform. I can do all I need to do with it. The ~400 or so ports installed on my system is good enough. > At least I can pick up a box for <$50 from ebay and run /sparc64 on it. Say the same for /ia64? Didn't think so. > Well.. ia64 is more expensive, yes. But.. I think it can give you more. I'm quite tempted to get this server, for example: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280618792191 But sparc64 is good as well. In fact, I use a FreeBSD/sparc64 box as an Xserver to view clients running on FreeBSD/ia64. many thanks for your excellent work anton -- Anton Shterenlikht Room 2.6, Queen's Building Mech Eng Dept Bristol University University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TR, UK Tel: +44 (0)117 331 5944 Fax: +44 (0)117 929 4423