Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 13:11:35 +0930 From: Greg Lehey <grog@lemis.com> To: James Arthur <arfa@www.jado.org>, info@suse.de, webmaster@debian.org, faq-maintainer@redhat.com, freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG, webmaster@slackware.com, info@calderasystems.com Subject: Re: SuSE Linux specifications Message-ID: <19990402131135.R413@lemis.com> In-Reply-To: <004f01be7c81$8d9f3800$6a4d08c3@arfa>; from James Arthur on Thu, Apr 01, 1999 at 09:51:46PM %2B0100 References: <004f01be7c81$8d9f3800$6a4d08c3@arfa>
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On Thursday, 1 April 1999 at 21:51:46 +0100, James Arthur wrote: > Dear Linux Distributor, > > Since I started using Linux a few months ago, I have found it extremely > difficult to work out which distribution is for me. There is a brief > description on www.linux.org, but what I am really after is a direct > comparison between distributions - perhaps in the form of a table. I cannot > seem to find such a beast anywhere (although I have looked). > > What I am planning to do is to obtain specifications of the latest major > Linux distributions (SuSE, RedHat, Debian, Slackware, Caldera, and the > FreeBSD Distribution). I will then tabulate the results, so that a direct > comparison of distributions can be obtained. The table will appear on my > website so that other Linux newbies can choose the best distribution for > themselves first time, rather than go through several distibutions until > they find one they like. Well, speaking for the FreeBSD distribution, I should say "FreeBSD isn't Linux". It's based on the 4.4BSD UNIX distribution and shares a large amount of code with commercial UNIX. But, like Linux, it's free. > I would like the specifications of the latest official version > released (or the next revision if one is planned for within the next > month or two). > The information I require is as follows: > > * Distribution version and revision date The current FreeBSD distribution is version 3.1, which was released in February. We don't have a date for 3.2, but it'll be in a few months. This is approximately duration of the FreeBSD release cycle. > * Supplied kernel FreeBSD. The release number defines the kernel. > * Supported processors (and whether enhancements for MMX, P2/3, K6-2/3 etc > are directly supported) FreeBSD supports all i386 architecture processors. The kernel uses some extensions, but I don't have an overview handy. It also runs on the DEC alpha processor. > * Supported hardware (soundcards, SCSI, network, printers, parallel drives > etc.) Changing daily. Check http://www.FreeBSD.org/ > * libc/glibc version FreeBSD 3.1. FreeBSD is a complete system. > * C/C++ compiler version (and whether it is gnu or ecgs) The FreeBSD C compiler is based on gcc 2.7.2.1 with a number of modifications. We've had trouble with 2.8, and we won't move to it for compiling the system, though it's available in the Ports Collection (see below) > * Default shell (version number) csh (FreeBSD 3.1). Of course, this means nothing. I personally use bash, which is also supplied, as is just about any other open source shell your heart may desire. > * X Windows? Yes. > (and what version of XFree86) XFree86 3.3.3. > * Is KDE or GNOME supplied? Yes, in the Ports Collection. > * Setup utility (name and version) /stand/sysinstall (FreeBSD 3.1). > * Price (and if it is available for free download) You can get a four CD-ROM set from Walnut Creek CDROM for $39.95, or with an 1800 page book "The Complete FreeBSD" for $69.95. It's also available for free download from ftp.FreeBSD.org, the world's busiest ftp server (3600 concurrent users, 800 GB/day transfers), which runs FreeBSD on a single processor Pentium Pro. > * Amount of supplied software (total amount in MB, and a few of the more > impressive items) :-) Quantity or quality? We're having difficulty keeping to 4 CD-ROMs without duplication. I really don't know what would impress you, but I think you'd have difficulty finding anything that isn't included in some form. > * Support Options - The FreeBSD-questions mailing list (to which you sent this message). It has an excellent reputation for free, quality support. - Check out http://www.freebsd.org/support.html for various commercial support options. > * Other features that make your distribution stand out Well, it's the original. It has the world's most stable TCP/IP stack, bar none. It has a reputation for very high performance (see the FTP site above). There haven't been too many unbiased comparisons of FreeBSD and Linux, in fact only one I can think of, at http://advisor.gartner.com/n_inbox/hotcontent/hc_2121999_3.html. > * Anything else you think should be mentioned The FreeBSD project is a non-commercial operation, which, ironically, distinguishes it from the Linux distributions I know (though I'm prepared to be corrected on this point). We do this in the interest of good software, not to make money. Nevertheless, as near as we can tell, the FreeBSD installed base is about 10% of the Linux installed base. FreebSD is particularly popular in the ISP arena. > I will, obviously, put links to respective websites along with any > logos of your company (if I can find them). Sure, put a link to http://www.FreeBSD.org/. About the Ports Collection: this is a collection of over 2,000 different software packages. Obviously, you can't install them all (you'd need about 100 GB of storage), so the collection supplies Makefiles and any patches needed to make the software compile and run under FreeBSD. To install one, you just change directory to the build directory and type 'make install'. The Ports Collection does the rest, including finding the source files for you. For more details, take a look at http://www.freebsd.org/ports/. Greg -- See complete headers for address, home page and phone numbers finger grog@lemis.com for PGP public key To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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