Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:54:53 -0800 From: Chris H <chris#@1command.com> To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Cc: Patrick Mahan <mahan@mahan.org> Subject: Re: Replace Cisco IOS/CBOS with freebsd - possible? Message-ID: <20090130165453.zny1a1ctq8sk0kk0@webmail.1command.com> In-Reply-To: <49833266.4020602@mahan.org> References: <20090129015034.7dxisep21w04gksg@webmail.1command.com> <0bca01c98202$a6124350$f236c9f0$@co.uk> <20090129051522.a92df0myf44gsko4@webmail.1command.com> <62b856460901290538x5d857f08ka3b2ffb5a7aa8e7f@mail.gmail.com> <20090129060243.adauuua9eokcsos8@webmail.1command.com> <F9598B04-9CAD-4785-89E8-513095252B18@lamness.info> <00fe01c98247$d6872600$83957200$@com> <49822E90.1010306@FreeBSD.org> <20090129181838.l9cr09o0kk400gwc@webmail.1command.com> <4982EB63.50703@FreeBSD.org> <20090130070359.riaj3vq4aock4k0s@webmail.1command.com> <49833266.4020602@mahan.org>
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Hello Patrick, and thank you for your reply. Quoting Patrick Mahan <mahan@mahan.org>: > > > Chris H presented these words - circa 1/30/09 7:03 AM-> >> Hello Bruce, and thank you for your reply. >> >> Quoting "Bruce M. Simpson" <bms@freebsd.org>: >> >>> Chris H wrote: >>>> ... >>>>> >>>>> I know Peter Grehan was looking at getting FreeBSD onto the Cisco >>>>> 827 a while back. >>>> >>>> That's good news. I'll have to see if I can get more info on that. >>>> I just purchased a "lot" of cisco *DSL/routers on ebay, in an effort >>>> to push this project forward (I can experiment on these with less >>>> concern). >>> >>> IMHO pfSense beats the pants off OpenWRT from a user/deployment >>> point of view, and often that is ultimately what counts. >> >> I guess I'd have to agree, except if it weren't for the fact I always >> have a zillion things going simultaneously, I wouldn't even know what >> X was - I can't get enough VC's (virtual consoles), so I'm forced to >> use X. But, of course for most "end users" /convenience/ is everything, >> and most don't want to any more that how to turn it on. :) >> >>> >>> Thing is, it's "only" for x86-based PCs. I had the foresight to >>> purchase some relatively quiet 1U boxes, but they're still too >>> noisy to have in a room where people sleep live or socialise -- >>> they belong to the computer nook at the front of the apartment (I >>> have a very odd C-shaped apartment). >> >> Yes, the (older) cisco's CPU's were MIPS - aka - Motorola, and ran AUX. >> I've got the latest version of AUX, which is a newer version than they >> ran. In fact, it wouldn't be a bit surprised if I could load AIX on it. >> > > Yes, most of the core CPU's used by Cisco were MIPS, however, they were > not made by Motorola Please take no offense. But as I look inside, the CPU does, in fact say Motorola. The documentation for it also confirms that most of (if not all) of the 800 series also used the Motorola RISC. > and didn't run AUX (if by AUX you mean Apples Unix > OS). I probably stand corrected on this. :) But I'll bet - given the CPU, it wouldn't be much of a streatch to run either AUX, or AIX on it. Thanks again for your response. --Chris > Instead they ran Cisco's own IOS kernel/software. > > Patrick Mahan > >>> >>> I believe something that could really make pfSense fly, would be >>> a viable port to mass-market, low-power consumer hardware. Then >>> again, old Ciscos "sort of" fit the bill. >> >> Funny you bring that up. I was thinking the very same. As a matter of >> fact I have been contemplating whipping something up myself, and doing >> just that. While psSense initially seems appealing. The more I look into >> it, the more I find it's laking - where a simple roll-out is concerned. >> There isn't anything in the way of documentation. What's there is /horribly/ >> unorganized. It's scattered all over the place. What's more, the front >> page of the wiki suggests that reading the m0n0wall documentation would >> probabl;y be a better choice. Make no mistake, I know how daunting and >> hectic an opensource project can be, and am grateful to /anyone/ whom is >> willing to share the fruits of their labor at no cost. But I think I >> could do better, that's all. >> >>> >>> Repurposing old vendor hardware is just as subject to >>> engineering process as anything else, in some cases, the varying >>> Bill-of-Materials may make the economic cost too high to do things >>> on a mass scale. >> >> I think I have a solution for that. I'll elaborate further when I can >> confirm that. >> >>> >>> If people would be reasonably expected to use such a system, >>> they should not have to understand the mechanisms, in great detail, >>> of how firmware is loaded onto a device. This is one of the main >>> stumbling blocks behind mass uptake -- we can't just say "fire up >>> this tool and click this 1 button" to extend/build new network >>> infrastructure. >>> >>> Given the current economic and ecological situation, though, >>> devising systems which allow people to do this might be something >>> worth investigating, and funding to that effect may be available >>> "out there". >> >> I /quite/ agree, and intend to persue just that. I've already >> commissioned the artwork - and it looks GREAT. :) >> >> I'll elaborate further as things firm up. >> >> Thanks again Bruce, for taking the time to respond. >> >> --Chris >> >>> >>> cheers >>> BMS >>> _______________________________________________ >>> freebsd-stable@freebsd.org mailing list >>> http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-stable >>> To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-stable-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> freebsd-stable@freebsd.org mailing list >> http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-stable >> To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-stable-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" >> >> > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-stable@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-stable > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-stable-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" >
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