Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:11:06 -0700 From: Devin Teske <dteske@vicor.com> To: Randi Harper <randi@freebsd.org> Cc: freebsd-sysinstall@freebsd.org Subject: Re: removing the junk. Message-ID: <1277223066.9209.94.camel@localhost.localdomain> In-Reply-To: <1277221641.9209.73.camel@localhost.localdomain> References: <AANLkTik3Afnh3ctxTLS6aPwYyV-kQ08shh-TdWWUpzLO@mail.gmail.com> <1277221641.9209.73.camel@localhost.localdomain>
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On Tue, 2010-06-22 at 08:47 -0700, Devin Teske wrote: > On Mon, 2010-06-21 at 19:14 -0700, Randi Harper wrote: > > Networking - anyone that knows how to use these services won't be > > using sysinstall to set them up. > > AMD/AMD flags > > Anon FTP > > inetd > > NFS client > > Referring to performing installs over NFS? We do this multiple times a > day (many thousands of times-over a year, year-after-year). > > Please-oh-please don't remove ability to install via NFS. Though, I realize that perhaps we're talking about the cadre of questions that comes after the standard install. You may be right that anyone whom knows how to use said services won't be using sysinstall to set them up... ... but what about the people that don't know how to use said services whom are trying out FreeBSD for the first time? I can conceptualize some of my friends whom may know Linux, or even other BSDs, but are not familiar with the way that FreeBSD works -- speaking specifically to the localization of settings and toggle-bits in /etc/rc.conf (and *.local -- and now in /etc/conf.d too). It is occasionally rather nice to be able to -- when showing a competent engineer around FreeBSD -- fire up sysinstall and point out all the things that FreeBSD knows how to do (by way of all the things you can set up). >From a marketing stand-point, the cadre of options that come after the standard install also serve a purpose to "advertise" (simply by visibility) to the user all the things that FreeBSD can do "out of the box". Last, if they really wanted to not be bothered with a list of questions, perhaps they ought to have not chosen to be bothered (if I recall correctly, there's a single question which allows you to opt-out of the cadre of questions). There's also an express and custom install path for people that really know what they are doing. I'll bite that the questions are a bit cumbersome though... PLUS... It's annoying as all-hell that I can't just (a) jump to the option that interests me and (b) skip [immediately] options that I don't care about. So, if the prevailing logic is... "let's keep the ability to configure these things through sysinstall purely because it's nice to have from a marketing and/or advertising stand-point for new users that may need assistance in getting required services up and running in a limited fashion" ...then the next natural jump in logic is... "rather than barrage the user with question-after-question, simply list all the services that can be setup and let the user choose which ones interest him-or-her ... if none are of interest, they have a "cancel" option which gets them out of the post-install configuration options." This indeed sounds like it would be a very minor change. After the install is complete, I think we already ask them if they would like to perform some post-installation configuration of services... ...I feel if they opt-into configuring additional services, that they should then be dumped into a menu where they can bee-line straight to the guy that they want. Naturally, gurus won't care to use these "simplified" configurators (ala sysinstall) and would rather opt to set things up manually, but it is arguable that those people are already hard-set on staying with FreeBSD (they know the system afterall), while the configurators made available via sysinstall are designed first-and-foremost to entice and aid the users whom are perhaps simply just trying FreeBSD (and therefore are far more likely to be put-off if they can't figure out how to do something). -- Cheers, Devin Teske -> CONTACT INFORMATION <- Business Solutions Consultant II FIS - fisglobal.com 510-735-5650 Mobile 510-621-2038 Office 510-621-2020 Office Fax 909-477-4578 Home/Fax devin.teske@fisglobal.com -> LEGAL DISCLAIMER <- This message contains confidential and proprietary information of the sender, and is intended only for the person(s) to whom it is addressed. Any use, distribution, copying or disclosure by any other person is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the e-mail sender immediately, and delete the original message without making a copy. -> END TRANSMISSION <-
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