Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 23:10:58 +1000 From: Chuck Dale <bug@aphid.net> To: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org Subject: Some Thoughts on the Handbook Message-ID: <20000808231058.S16708@aphid.net>
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Dear Most Respected Documenters,
I just finished reading (almost) all the Handbook. I have a few thoughts
- take them for what they are worth. A lot of things would be more
useful if I just went and did them myself but no I'll just talk.
Organisation
------------
The handbook seems to be organised by how much material has been
contributed on a given subject rather than on what would be useful
to the "typical" FreeBSD user.
In a similar vein, hyperlinks aren't used to best advantage -
there's a lot more reading required than simply to find what you're
looking for.
But then again, is a book format even the best arrangement of all
this information? Perhaps the facilities of hypertext could allow
better navigation of the material.
Networking
----------
SERIAL
Is it just me or are text terminals rare these days?
If so, I am assuming that most people who will be setting them up
will already know most of how to do it.
Obviously some people will still be interested, but I'm sure the
number of people using FreeBSD to do networking far outweighs those
doing serial comms (except modems obviously, but they are covered in
the PPP section).
So why not farm off the Serial Communications section to a separate
guide or at least take it out of #1 position in the Networking
section.
ETHERNET
Why is there so little on setting up a FreeBSD box to operate on a
LAN? Or did I miss it. ifconfig, route, NIC drivers etc.
Kernel
------
Need more information on KLDs/LKMs - whatever they are called. I
understand module operations in Linux but after reading the handbook
all I know is that the kldstat command (or something similar) lists
the currently running modules.
Even a little section referring to appropriate manpages and commands
and directories in the source would be useful.
SSH
---
The instructions for getting OpenSSL installed (particularly
international versions) are very unclear. It doesn't actually say
what to do - it explains lots of issues but that's about it.
This would have to be a very common thing for people to be doing.
Packages/Ports
--------------
The explanation of ports is very good. Yet there is almost no
explanation of packages and how they relate to the ports. I
understand that the packages are simply created before distribution
by doing a "make package" in the ports tree but I only know this
from using OpenBSD.
Example Installations
---------------------
It would be very useful to provide a section that gives example
installations - for example installing a FreeBSD dedicated web
server, installing as a gateway, as a workstation etc. This would
simply provide pointers to more information. In gateway you would
have references to the firewall section, networking section etc.
Otherwise it is a long slog picking out the bits of the manual which
are applicable.
<Summary>
I was gleeful watching the 700 pages of Handbook pour out of the
printer, but as I read I was disappointed that the system was not
explained clearly and some things were skipped altogether. I really like
the idea of a comprehensive guide (the Handbook) to a comprehensive
system (FreeBSD) as opposed to a haphazard guide (LDP) to a haphazard
system (Linux), but there is still a ways to go. (Of course..)
</>
Thanks for listening!
Chuck
[ charles hamilton dale <bug@aphid.net> ]
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