Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:01:01 +0000 From: "Bruce M. Simpson" <bms@FreeBSD.org> To: Matthew Smith <matt@smiffytech.com> Cc: FreeBSD Embedded <freebsd-embedded@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Best FreeBSD version for NanoBSD on an old SBC Message-ID: <495A53CD.7070007@FreeBSD.org> In-Reply-To: <495993FF.1060701@smiffytech.com> References: <495993FF.1060701@smiffytech.com>
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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
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