FreeBSD vs. Linux - Page 2 - Overclock.net

DesertFox · 05-26-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by chemicalfan

Wow, thanks for the lengthy reply!!!

I've already worked out that FreeBSD is a difficult install - so similar to Arch, it's mad! Well, from the user perspective anyway - I know it's compiling away in the background. I've got BSD installed now, but couldn't get X to play. It would start, but present 2 mis-sized 'tiled windows', and then refuse to respond to any keyboard & mouse input. Found out today that I need to configure it first, so might give that a go later. It's a shame about the file system - I had the option during the install to go with ext2, but decided to stick with the BSD system as I thought it would be more optimised for the kernel!

If I can get X working (with Fluxbox - my WM choice), then I'll give it a fair run. My initial opinion, is that FreeBSD is similar to Arch (that is, if you can get Arch working, you can probably get FreeBSD working too). I'll have to get it working properly to get a true opinion though

Edit: I'm against Slackware, because it's a 7Gb download! If they allowed you to do it Arch/BSD-style, where you download a minimal install, and then the extra modules are downloaded as required, I'd give it a shot. The minimal install could even be CD ISO size, but to force a DVD-size download isn't a great selling point

Your welcome and thanks for the rep. I agree on your choice of wm, I run Fluxbox on all my NIX machines.

You definitely DO NOT need to download the Slackware DVD and it's not 7 GB anyway, I don't think. You can download individual CDs. I don't know where you are looking but go to slackware.com and follow the get slack link. Don't download distros from 3rd party links. You can do a minimal install, slackware doesn't have that many packages anyway, most you build yourself or use slackbuilds.org to find build scripts. The rest of the installation CDs are mostly source code.

DesertFox · 05-26-09

Ok, do [as root]

Xorg --configure

It will do a good job of finding your devices and write a config file for you in the root directory if I remember right. Move that file to /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Then go logon to your user account and create an .xinitrc like this:

echo startfluxbox > .xinitrc

then do

startx

Enjoy!

If that doesn't work, lemme know. I'm going offline soon. I remember there was one setting in xorg.conf for the mouse I may have had to monkey with. Everything else should work out of the box with the Xorg --configure

Edit: if your mouse still locks up after you have done all of the above, then try this. Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and change the mouse device line to

Option "Device" "/dev/psm0"

At least that is what you should do if you have a PS/2 mouse. If you have USB maybe it will be figured out automagically from the xorg configuration option.

chemicalfan · 05-26-09

I'll give this a little try in a bit - if it doesn't work, it can wait till tomorrow

Edit: It worked! It loaded Fluxbox perfectly, albeit a very basic framework! And the mouse worked!
On Slackware - the download is 4Gb, my mistake. I don't see an option for minimal install (don't worry too much though, as I've next to no interest in Slackware, as there are plenty of other distros out there I haven't tried!)

DesertFox · 05-26-09

See you later, mate!

Mr Pink57 · 05-26-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesertFox

Ok, do [as root]

Xorg --configure

It will do a good job of finding your devices and write a config file for you in the root directory if I remember right. Move that file to /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Then go logon to your user account and create an .xinitrc like this:

echo startfluxbox > .xinitrc

then do

startx

Enjoy!

If that doesn't work, lemme know. I'm going offline soon. I remember there was one setting in xorg.conf for the mouse I may have had to monkey with. Everything else should work out of the box with the Xorg --configure

Edit: if your mouse still locks up after you have done all of the above, then try this. Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and change the mouse device line to

Option "Device" "/dev/psm0"

At least that is what you should do if you have a PS/2 mouse. If you have USB maybe it will be figured out automagically from the xorg configuration option.

You can also do sudo pacman -S hwd then hwd -xa and let it auto config for you. Once its done check your /.xinitrc for startfluxbox as NON root user. If it still does not work try to output your xorg file to us. Also check your daemons in the rc.conf file to make sure they are in proper order.

pink

DesertFox · 05-27-09

Uh, no he can't. This is FreeBSD we're talking about

DesertFox · 05-27-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by chemicalfan

I'll give this a little try in a bit - if it doesn't work, it can wait till tomorrow

Edit: It worked! It loaded Fluxbox perfectly, albeit a very basic framework! And the mouse worked!
On Slackware - the download is 4Gb, my mistake. I don't see an option for minimal install (don't worry too much though, as I've next to no interest in Slackware, as there are plenty of other distros out there I haven't tried!)

EXCELLENT!

Thanks for the update.

Now for Slackware:

You can use torrents at http://slackware.com/getslack/torrents.php

You have a choice of downloading:

Code:

 Torrents for 12.2

Slackware 12.2 Install ISO disc 1 (A/AP/D/E/L/N, bootable installer, kernels, Slackbook)
Slackware 12.2 Install ISO disc 2 (F/K/T/TCL/X/XAP/Y, L source)
Slackware 12.2 Install ISO disc 3 (KDE/KDEI)
Slackware 12.2 ISO disc 4 (A/AP/D/E/F/installer source, extra/, pasture/, old Berkeley DB packages)
Slackware 12.2 ISO disc 5 (K/KDE/KDEI source)
Slackware 12.2 ISO disc 6 (N/T/TCL/X/XAP/Y source, USB and PXE installers)


Slackware 12.2 DVD ISO (everything)

Or you can download the DVD if you want everything on it.

You can also use an http or ftp mirror like this:

ftp://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/ftp.slac...kware-12.2-iso

Code:

Up to higher level directory
File: README.1st 	                                1 KB 	12/09/2008 	10:47:00 PM
File: slackware-12.2-install-d1.iso      680508 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:29:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-install-d1.iso.asc    	 1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:29:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-install-d1.iso.md5 	1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:29:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-install-d2.iso 	  679754 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:30:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-install-d2.iso.asc           1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:30:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-install-d2.iso.md5 	 1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:30:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-install-d3.iso 	  676778 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:31:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-install-d3.iso.asc 	  1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:32:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-install-d3.iso.md5          1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:32:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-install-dvd.iso 	4057568 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:38:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-install-dvd.iso.asc 	  1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:38:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-install-dvd.iso.md5         1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:38:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-source-d4.iso 	 671060 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:39:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-source-d4.iso.asc           1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:39:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-source-d4.iso.md5 	        1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:39:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-source-d5.iso       677436 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:40:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-source-d5.iso.asc           1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:40:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-source-d5.iso.md5 	        1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:40:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-source-d6.iso 	  674130 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:41:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-source-d6.iso.asc 	         1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:41:00 AM
File: slackware-12.2-source-d6.iso.md5 	        1 KB 	02/14/2009 	10:41:00 AM

Not all mirrors have everything. You will have to check from the get slack link on slackware.com.

bowman · 05-27-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesertFox

If BSD would come up with their own compiler and toolchain and completely bypass gcc it would probably be the best desktop OS going. What I mean is I can take almost any piece of source code and compile it and make a package on Linux. That may be because most apps are developed on Linux and with gcc. If you use FreeBSD ports you are fine. But if you like to go find some app and compile it from source without using a buildscript from FreeBSD ports, in my experience you find problems about half the time.

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...item&px=NzI1Ng

DesertFox · 05-27-09

Thanks for the link.

Yeah I follow the newsgroups so I had heard some rumblings about this but I think the jury is gonna be out on this one for a long while until we can really see what difference it makes.

It's coming from Apple, so I'm not very hopeful that it won't be "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" kinda thing.

What I would like to see happen is for some of the BSD heavyweights to get together and write their own BSD-licensed end-to-end toolchain. It would have to have compatability with or offer conversion utilities for the wretched GCC stuff. It's such a huge job it would take years to do.

The one extremely bright spot in gcc is Ada support. Ada is just fantastic despite the gcc underpinnings. But unfortunately FreeBSD doesn't have an AMD64 port for gcc-Ada. I haven't verified that the 386 port builds either, but at least it is supposed to.

thiussat · 05-27-09

What exactly is wrong with GCC?

05-26-09	#12 (permalink)
DesertFox Programmer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Delete me Posts: 177 Rep: 21 Unique Rep: 11 Trader Rating: 0	Ok, do [as root] Xorg --configure It will do a good job of finding your devices and write a config file for you in the root directory if I remember right. Move that file to /etc/X11/xorg.conf Then go logon to your user account and create an .xinitrc like this: echo startfluxbox > .xinitrc then do startx Enjoy! If that doesn't work, lemme know. I'm going offline soon. I remember there was one setting in xorg.conf for the mouse I may have had to monkey with. Everything else should work out of the box with the Xorg --configure Edit: if your mouse still locks up after you have done all of the above, then try this. Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and change the mouse device line to Option "Device" "/dev/psm0" At least that is what you should do if you have a PS/2 mouse. If you have USB maybe it will be figured out automagically from the xorg configuration option. Last edited by DesertFox : 05-26-09 at 04:09 PM

05-27-09	#19 (permalink)
DesertFox Programmer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Delete me Posts: 177 Rep: 21 Unique Rep: 11 Trader Rating: 0	Thanks for the link. Yeah I follow the newsgroups so I had heard some rumblings about this but I think the jury is gonna be out on this one for a long while until we can really see what difference it makes. It's coming from Apple, so I'm not very hopeful that it won't be "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" kinda thing. What I would like to see happen is for some of the BSD heavyweights to get together and write their own BSD-licensed end-to-end toolchain. It would have to have compatability with or offer conversion utilities for the wretched GCC stuff. It's such a huge job it would take years to do. The one extremely bright spot in gcc is Ada support. Ada is just fantastic despite the gcc underpinnings. But unfortunately FreeBSD doesn't have an AMD64 port for gcc-Ada. I haven't verified that the 386 port builds either, but at least it is supposed to. Last edited by DesertFox : 05-27-09 at 04:19 PM

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FreeBSD vs. Linux

05-26-09	#14 (permalink)
DesertFox Programmer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Delete me Posts: 177 Rep: 21 Unique Rep: 11 Trader Rating: 0	See you later, mate!

05-27-09	#16 (permalink)
DesertFox Programmer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Delete me Posts: 177 Rep: 21 Unique Rep: 11 Trader Rating: 0	Uh, no he can't. This is FreeBSD we're talking about

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