Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 21:29:23 -0400 From: Adam McDougall <mcdougall@ameritech.net> To: current@FreeBSD.ORG Cc: Jeremy Domingue <jer@hughes.net> Subject: Re: Disgruntled Linux User... questions about FreeBSD Message-ID: <35AAB473.614A964@ameritech.net> References: <199807132212.RAA02798@symbion.srrc.usda.gov>
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Glenn Johnson wrote: > I used Linux for a while so I may be of some help. I must say that I did not > experience problems with Linux of the magnitude that you outlined but I can > say without any hesitation that FreeBSD is better. > > > > > 1) First and foremost, I am wondering what issues I will face being a user > > very accustomed to linux. I know there will be differences between linux and > > FreeBSD, but can anyone outline some of the major ones? > > The first thing you will probably notice is that rather than have a ton of > software packages to choose whether to install or not, the FreeBSD > installation process loads a fairly minimal (relative to RedHat Linux) set of > tools. You then build your system up with the ports/packages that you select. > Also, there is no "default" X configuration. > > The next thing you will notice is that FreeBSD uses csh by default and Linux > uses Bash. Bash is available in the ports but of course needs to be installed > later. > > When it comes to administration, Linux, particularly RedHat uses SYSV > initialazion scripts for each service it starts up. The BSD style is to > basically configure the system with variable initializations in one script, > ie. /etc/rc.conf. Also, there are no runlevels as in Linux, although there are > different security levels and a single user mode. > > > > > 2) Is there a way I can install FreeBSD without losing all of the stuff on > > the server right now such as user files, web pages, programs, etc? And > > possibly keep linux on there somewhere in case I ever decide to go back? > > > > Yes, refer to the installation instructions for partioning your disk. > > > > > 3) Is anyone using SMP on FreeBSD with an Adaptec 7880 on-board SCSI > > controller? Linux people keep telling me that this is not a good > > configuration for Linux... how about for FreeBSD? > > > > Yes, I have 4 such systems running large computational chemistry calculations. > They literally run 24/7 with 100% CPU load. I also have two other systems with > dual PentiumPros. > > > > > 4) I know that the current build of FreeBSD is listed as development and > > should not be used in a mission critical environment, however, what are > > people's experiences with it so far? If it seems to be fairly stable, I > > would be willing to give it a shot... I really need the SMP support. > > > > Well, I consider the jobs that my systems do to be mission critiacal. I have a > total of 6 FreeBSD SMP systems and have never had a crash. The only problem I > have had in the past year and a half with -CURRENT was a few months ago when > NFS was broken for a few weeks. That has since been fixed. I find it necessary > to closely monitor the state of -CURRENT via the mailing lists and commit > e-mails. > > > > > 5) Are there any other problems or issues I may face with my hardware > > configuration (listed below)? > > > > > > Hardware Configuration: > > > > Gateway (formerly ALR) NS-7000 Server > > Dual PII 266mhz > > 512mb EDO ECC SDRAM (all from the same lot, same manufacturer) > > Adaptec 7880 on-board SCSI controller > > 3Com 10/100 Ethernet Card > > 2-4.1gb IBM SCSI hard drives > > The only possible problem you may have is with the Ethernet card. I am > assuming that is one of the so-called vortex cards. If it is a 3C509, you are > OK; if it is a 3C509B, then it will not work. I assume here you mean 905 and 905B respectively. I think the 509 and 509B work, and the 905, but the 905B is not currently supported. But someone IS working on the driver, and I think you may be able to attain a copy of it if you asked the person working on it, find out who by searching the mailing list archives. > I understand that there is a > driver being worked on but I do not know when it will be available. Ethernet > cards are not terribly expensive and most people recommend the Intel > EtherExpress Pro 100+. > > > > > I would also be very interested in hearing from other previous (or current) > > Linux users' experiences with FreeBSD, and what comments they may have about > > the differences and advantages (especially stability-wise) to using FreeBSD > > instead of Linux. > > > > I find the ports/package system of FreeBSD to be much less of a pain than the > package (rpm) system of RedHat. I find it easier to administer FreeBSD as > well, but these types of things are really a matter of taste. By the way, > FreeBSD can run Linux binaries. > > Finally, I do not know much about Linux mailing lists but the FreeBSD mailing > lists are excellent. I try to figure out things as much I can on my own, but > when I have asked a question I get a courteous and accurate response within a > day. I hope this helps. Good luck! > > -- > Glenn Johnson > Technician > USDA, ARS, SRRC > New Orleans, LA > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > with "unsubscribe freebsd-current" in the body of the message To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-current" in the body of the message
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