From owner-freebsd-embedded@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Dec 30 17:20:52 2008 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-embedded@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0D334106566B for ; Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:20:52 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from bms@FreeBSD.org) Received: from out1.smtp.messagingengine.com (out1.smtp.messagingengine.com [66.111.4.25]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id D41188FC1F for ; Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:20:51 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from bms@FreeBSD.org) Received: from compute1.internal (compute1.internal [10.202.2.41]) by out1.messagingengine.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4DF0E1FD268; Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:01:03 -0500 (EST) Received: from heartbeat1.messagingengine.com ([10.202.2.160]) by compute1.internal (MEProxy); Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:01:03 -0500 X-Sasl-enc: whVjMClzJNgvSnwixxk4LMjARa8bd2K3AgZm7j0E1Acc 1230656462 Received: from empiric.lon.incunabulum.net (unknown [81.168.51.182]) by mail.messagingengine.com (Postfix) with ESMTPSA id 9629C2D671; Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:01:02 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <495A53CD.7070007@FreeBSD.org> Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:01:01 +0000 From: "Bruce M. Simpson" User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.18 (X11/20081205) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Matthew Smith References: <495993FF.1060701@smiffytech.com> In-Reply-To: <495993FF.1060701@smiffytech.com> X-Enigmail-Version: 0.95.6 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: FreeBSD Embedded Subject: Re: Best FreeBSD version for NanoBSD on an old SBC X-BeenThere: freebsd-embedded@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Dedicated and Embedded Systems List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:20:52 -0000 Matthew Smith wrote: > Hi Folks > > I am putting together a machine to act as a GPS-disciplined time > server (NTPd with kernel PPS) and acquire data from my 1-Wire weather > system (OWW). > > The hardware I have to hand are a Pentium SBC with 16Mb RAM and a 12Gb > laptop disc. > > I assume that the best OS to put on this would be NanoBSD but was > wondering if there was a specific version of FreeBSD that would be > best to base it on. (Recent experience with a certain other Unix-like > OS has taught me that newer versions suck with older hardware; I don't > know if this is the case with FreeBSD.) NanoBSD is absolutely great. XORP, Inc. are using it for their LiveCD/LiveUSB builds at the moment. I got good results on a 400MHz Celeron w/128MB of memory. The key thing is to be able to leave enough in the base install for what you need -- it doesn't strip absolutely everything, and whilst the XORP LiveCD is now considerably smaller, and thus quicker to download, than it was (thanks to NanoBSD), it is quite a generic place to start: http://cvsweb.xorp.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/other/LiveCD/ The stuff there is intended to be checked out and copied 'on top' of a FreeBSD 7-STABLE source tree checkout. The USB stick generation stuff has been merged back to FreeBSD itself, but not the LiveCD bits. Of course NanoBSD would work just fine w/o the patches for making ATA drive images. You would probably do much better with CompactFlash in your rig. For DRAM, 16MB may be seriously pushing it now, 32MB is really a realistic minimum for FreeBSD on x86 these days on any platform. > > I can get away with putting a bigger disc on although I don't > particularly want to as this would cause issues with the power supply. > (Using a vehicle power supply so that I can run it on float-charged > gel cells.) The RAM, however, can't go any bigger. Gels are nice, though I believe they can't be reconditioned. Of course the embeddability situation should get better as time goes on. I would LOVE to see pfSense running on non-x86 embedded hardware. Don't forget I have an Emprex STR9104 ARM to donate to an interested developer. cheers, BMS