Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2019 21:23:22 +0100 From: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Installing FreeBSD on HP Computer that is using software RAID 5 Message-ID: <20190104212322.018833a6.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <SN1PR20MB2109AE36981AA4407E1CE4F2808E0@SN1PR20MB2109.namprd20.prod.outlook.com> References: <SN1PR20MB2109CC11BEFFA9383FDCA406808C0@SN1PR20MB2109.namprd20.prod.outlook.com> <20190102222619.c63f20f0.freebsd@edvax.de> <SN1PR20MB2109B69D2E6B7E9E5C6C0087808D0@SN1PR20MB2109.namprd20.prod.outlook.com> <alpine.BSF.2.21.9999.1901031243160.25281@mail.fig.ol.no> <SN1PR20MB2109D5A7EAFFFD226B85293D808D0@SN1PR20MB2109.namprd20.prod.outlook.com> <6d05c736-8020-4963-fe29-3e6bd9110fe3@FreeBSD.org> <SN1PR20MB210964F5AA73DB24FF0CA079808D0@SN1PR20MB2109.namprd20.prod.outlook.com> <8a1d9b31-8dc7-753c-8d37-1eed2d0bd06a@FreeBSD.org> <SN1PR20MB2109BED976DBEE2EFA4A850C808D0@SN1PR20MB2109.namprd20.prod.outlook.com> <fcfedf7b-4ce5-5157-60c7-2f50bcf694f3@FreeBSD.org> <SN1PR20MB210918B0A8CD8367518477CD808E0@SN1PR20MB2109.namprd20.prod.outlook.com> <61b4143c-1991-805e-4b4e-8ddb3c20b032@FreeBSD.org> <SN1PR20MB2109AE36981AA4407E1CE4F2808E0@SN1PR20MB2109.namprd20.prod.outlook.com>
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On Fri, 4 Jan 2019 17:43:57 +0000, Carmel NY wrote: > I inadvertently used the term "STABLE" when I meant "RELEASE". Sorry > about that. You can understand the FreeBSD-specific terminology when you think about a "distillery process": HEAD / CURRENT This is where actual development takes place. Things are introduced, tested, changed very often, and sometimes even removed. You usually track this branch via svn. It is primarily intended for developers who need the absolutely most recent version of the code. This can be slightly (!) compred with "rolling release", but as this is a development branch, there is no guarantee the software will run correctly - or even compile. STABLE All the changes considered "good" and "stable" are located here. The ABI is _stable_ across the many STABLE versions, which means that no further need for reinstalling / recompiling ports is given. Again, svn is the common tool to access this branch. This version is intended for users who want "bleeding edge software" that they can rely on. STABLE versions are happening less often. BETA ALPHA RCx (release candidate) RELEASE This finally will be what ends up in the images to be written to optical media and USB sticks. It is the final result of release engineering and is "the complete operating system, in a fixed state". You typically get this from the FTP server or a mirror. A RELEASE only happens once. RELEASE-pX The security patches are to be applied with the freebsd-update program to add important fixes to the installed RELEASE version. Those patches are issued as needed. This is quite simplified, but I think it's still a good analogy about how FreeBSD development happens and what a common interpretation of the terms is. As you can see, STABLE is a somewhat "moving" thing... ;-) > Interestingly enough, I have had users who are not using > some form of *nix tell me that the terms seem counter intuitive. > Stable would seem to indicate a final version where release would seem > to be something that was not yet quantified as stable. Fully correct - depending on who you ask, there can be enormous differences in the exegesis of termini technici, and the termini themselves can significantly change upon domain. > By the way, and nothing personal, but your claim that "installer images > simply takes too long" in invalid. It reminds me of the old adage, > "There is never enough time to do it right, but there is always enough > time to do it over." If you cannot do it right, hire people who can. In my opinion, providing RELEASE-pX images (patched versions) could be a nice addition to the offerings FreeBSD already has. I think you will agree that STABLE "snapshots" probably aren't that interesting, while BETA, ALPHA, and RCs might be useful for testers. Given an Internet connection is activated upon system installation time, a non-intrusive dialog could be presented like this: You are about to install FreeBSD 12.0. Currently there are patched versions available which you can install. Please select the version you want: [ ] FreeBSD 12.0 of 2018-12-12 [ ] FreeBSD 12.0 p1 of 2019-01-23 [ ] FreeBSD 12,0 p2 of 2019-02-34 Sorry for the nonsense dates. :-) This is especially handy for installation via "bootonly" media where no actual data to be installed is present. -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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