Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:01:26 -0800 From: Patrick Mahan <mahan@mahan.org> Cc: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Replace Cisco IOS/CBOS with freebsd - possible? Message-ID: <49833266.4020602@mahan.org> In-Reply-To: <20090130070359.riaj3vq4aock4k0s@webmail.1command.com> 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>
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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 and didn't run AUX (if by AUX you mean Apples Unix OS). 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" > >
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