NetBSD

NetBSD is a free Operating system of type Unix BSD derived from 386BSD and Net/2 (4.3BSD-Lite). __TOC

Presentation

NetBSD is the Operating system more carried (about fifty different architectures); this portability is its great pride besides: its currency is that vis-a-vis any computer Of course, one can declare “, NetBSD turns” ( " above; Off race it runs NetBSD" ) (even on a toaster, cf bonds external). It is a system entirely founded on the free software, the majority of the components being subjected to the License BSD. The project strongly stresses the quality of the code written (" Solutions, not hacks"), which brings it closer more cathedral than of the bazaar in term to architecture. NetBSD is " admin friendly" rather than " to use friendly" , thus the support of the peripheral and their integration is in on this side distributions Linux general public. However for a programmer or a system administrator, the system is much easier to apprehend. All the interfaces of the pilot core and the are documented in pages man, and not in textual files scattered in various places. NetBSD made of the retro compatibility one of its war-horses, and core compiled with option COMPAT_09, the system is able to make turn the binary ones compiled in 1993!

Organization of the project

NetBSD is organized around NetBSD foundation, an association with not-lucrative goal whose the developers are members. The source code of NetBSD is available on Internet via CVS and accessible on line via an interface cvsweb to have an access made some on the cvs of NetBSD, each developer must sign an agreement of approval which returns it member of the NetBSD foundation. The board of directors of the NetBSD foundation, elected by the developers, publishes regular reports on his activities and finances of the project. NetBSD comprises 300 developers in 2006.

History

The NetBSD project was founded by Chris Demetriou, Theo de Raadt, Adam Glass and Charles Hannum in March 1993. Formation of the project made following the relative stagnation of the development and external impossibility of making accept patch S in 386BSD. In 1995 following a dissension in the development team, of old developers around Theo de Raadt create OpenBSD. Those which would like to be made a point of view on the question are invited to take their courage with two hands and to read the files of the mailing lists where the blows were exchanged during nearly 8 months. The two operating systems divergent in a certain number of fields, such as for example the initialization of the system, but remain however rather close so that the bearing of pilots of the one with the other is relatively easy. Thus the two BSD use both the framework wscons, the same system of nomenclature of peripherals, distribute same the shells in the basic system.

Portability

From any installation of NetBSD, it is possible starting from one only order make, to rebuild the whole of the NetBSD distribution for any architecture, compiler included/understood. It is even possible to compile a NetBSD distribution since FreeBSD or Linux. Thus it is possible starting from a system INTEL i386, to very easily compile a core for PowerPC, Alpha, MIPS, the script of build.sh cross-country race-compilation taking care itself of the compilation of all the necessary dependences. This made of NetBSD a system of choice for the system development embarked (routers, firewalls, video camera IP, and even dancing robot and toaster)

License

The majority of NetBSD is available under “traditional” license BSD to four clauses.

Organization of the system

NetBSD itself is a minimal basic system of 300 Mo including/understanding the traditional Unix tools and the environment. The external applications are available via pkgsrc, a system of packages multi platforms.

Versions of NetBSD

NetBSD 0.8 goes back in April 1993, which makes of it the free operating system oldest still in activity. NetBSD 0.8 is based on a considerably patché 386BSD.

NetBSD 1.0 , left in October 1994, is the first version multiplateforme of NetBSD, available for PC, HP 9000 Series 300, Amiga, Macintosh 68k, stations Sun 4c and PC532.

NetBSD 1.3 , left in January 1998, saw the introduction of the system of packages, pkgsrc, allowing the easy and fast installation of external applications starting from the source code or in the form of binary precompiled. Pkgsrc is inspired by the system of ports of FreeBSD.

NetBSD 1.6 , left in September 2002, saw the introduction of the framework of cross-country race-compilation between various architectures.

NetBSD 2.0 , left in December 2004, saw the introduction of the support SMP on a great number of architectures, as well as the installation of a delivery system of the isos of CD-ROM via BitTorrent

NetBSD 3.0.1 , left on July 23rd, 2006.

NetBSD 3.1 , left on November 4th, 2006, is the stable last version of NetBSD, integrating the native support for the solution of virtualisation Xen.

Criticisms

Of three systems BSD, NetBSD is that which has visibility at least. Before 1998, there did not exist any official distribution of NetBSD on CD-ROM, whereas FreeBSD and OpenBSD upon the departure used this channel of diffusion to make known itself and to generate incomes. The developers of NetBSD answer that their project is not a phenomenon of mode (" hype free"), and that it is intended for users having a good control of the computer tools. This is why NetBSD is the system having visibility at least, of share its specificities of interface and installation (line of orders).

See too

Internal bonds

  • Project Citrus
  • Ipfirewall or IPFw , one of avoid-fires of NetBSD
  • IPFilter or IPF , one of avoid-fires of NetBSD

External bonds

  • Official site in French (not always up to date)

  • Various easy ways on French NetBSD
  • Official site
  • Jibbed Live CD
  • NetBSD Wiki
  • Tree of the versions
  • FreeShell: Public access to a Shell NetBSD on architecture alpha.

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