The Month in BSD: November 2004

by Sam Smith
12/02/2004

Hi, and welcome to the roundup of what happened in the BSD-related world in the last month. It's been relatively quiet.

OpenBSD

Wireless firmware licensing update

• Intel refuses to allow redistribution
• People at Intel to contact
• Kerneltrap interview with Theo de Raadt
• Slashdot article

OpenBGPD released
"a free implementation of the Border Gateway Protocol, Version 4".

• OpenBGPD
• Release Announcement
• Undeadly discussion

Hackathon Donations needed
"Magic happens when the developers get together in person; if you expect magic to keep on happening, we need your help."

• Theo's initial request
• More information

FreeBSD

5.3 Released

• Release Announcement
• Kerneltrap article
• Release notes

FreeBSD 6.0 and onwards
(covers improvements to processes)

• Roadmap going forward
• Discussion thread

Misc

• tail now supports multiple files
• 386 support removed from 6-CURRENT
• FreeBSD trademark transferred to the FreeBSD Foundation.

Related Reading BSD Hacks 100 Industrial Tip & Tools By Dru Lavigne

NetBSD

PkgSrcCon 2005

• Website and announcement
• PkgSrc website
• PkgSrc on DragonFlyBSD

Misc

• Hubert Feyrer musing about NetBSD history
• NetBSD Live CD runs ACM Programming Contest
• Interview with Hubert Feyrer by NetBSD Portugal

DragonFly

Work ongoing

• Discussion of VFS/NFS work
• Commit of part 9

OpenNTPD imported
(not difficult to migrate)

• Discussion

Chroot within init(8)
(possibly a nice idea)

• Used for multiple OS on one disc

Misc

• Dillon goes on a bug fix frenzy
• "an interesting conversation that I don't understand"
• Process checkpointing fully integrated "with manpages and everything"

How the timers work in DF and FreeBSD

• from Matt Dillon
• from Joerg Sonnenberger

Apple

Apple open store in London

• Apple on the grand opening
• BBC news article and video

Misc

• iPod and iTunes Hacks
• NSA Security Guide For Panther (PDF)
• Tiger's Opportunities for Developers

Other

EuroBSDCon Roundup

• Inside EuroBSDCon 2004 by Federico Biancuzzi
• EuroBSDCon 2004 report
• Group of pictures 1 ...
• ... 2 ...
• ... 3, 4 and 5

Emerging Technology Conference

• ETCon Website
• Speakers
• Sessions
• Registration

Xen released
(Emulation of multiple Virtual Machines; currently Linux, but FreeBSD soon)

• Kerneltrap introduction
• Xen homepage
• Performance comparisons

How enthusiasts are changing our economy and society
"Everyone needs a hobby and government should invest in leisure activities to encourage community cohesion"

• BBC News Article
• Downloadable PDF of the report
• Publication Information
• "Give Geeks A Chance Says Think-Tank"

BSD settlement between USL and Regents of California published
It's a peace treaty between the parties.

• Groklaw Article on content and proceedure used to get it
• PDF of settlement

Worth Reading

• "Keep it Simple and Sloppy"
• Text Editor Addicts
• FreeBSD for Linux users
• Review of "Secure Architectures with OpenBSD"
• Not all open source licenses are the same
• Make: Evolution and Alternatives
• eWeek Review: OpenBSD 3.6 Widens Its Scope
• Windows accident takes out 80,000 systems at UK DWP
• Danny O'Brien: To Evil!

Sam Smith lives in Manchester, England, and works on interfaces to data. When he's not in front of a computer, he's usually in a theater, probably with MUGSS.

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