BSD vs Linux

[Japlabot]

Well think about it, SCO has licensing threats against Linux, suspects their code might be in mac/darwin but arn't sure and most Linux apps work exactly the same in BSD anyway + the actual BSD OS works the simular

And another thing, linux has hundreds of distributions, which is good that there is so much choice, but bad at the same time because it's hard to make a choice of which is the best without trying them all, and there are only 3 BSD Distributions (NetBSD, OpenBSD & FreeBSD)

so think about it? which one is better for everything (day to day desktop / servers)? Could this be the next thing after linux? Could BSD be a right move for linux users and for new *nix users alike? it really makes me think that BSD is a viable *nix OS that isn't Linux.

[markwolfe Veteran]

Since the question is so open, I take this as what I prefer for my desktop. I picked Linux, because of all the choices. It is vibrant and healthy and expanding everywhere!

[kongit]

Try both. I have had good results with linux and never had a reason to try bsd as i am still trying different forms of linux :p

Additionally I think there is more modern hardware support for linux...but I might be wrong.

[Gism0]

BSD is fantastic, A much better system than linux. However hardware support isn't quite as far on as linux and I wouldn't reccomend it for newbies

[the evn show]

I'm running (IIRC) almost exclusively BSD based system in my home and have been for about a year. The only exception I'm aware of is my router, and there might be some out-of-the-way PC that has linux on it somewhere.

The hardware support for new hardware on linux tends to be great compared to BSD but occasioually flakey or incomplete. Linux has all sorts of crazy new technologies added to it all the time where as BSD tend only to add stuff that works. Because my computers are tools I prefer reliability over cutting edge craziness. For "entertainment" I'll write my own buggy software.

[Southern Patriot]

Well think about it, SCO has licensing threats against Linux, suspects their code might be in mac/darwin but arn't sure and most Linux apps work exactly the same in BSD anyway + the actual BSD OS works the simular

You are missing one point here. SCO suspects that there may be some of their code in OS X/Darwin specifically because it is *based on BSD UNIX*! Therefore if they did try to pursue that course of action with lawsuits, ALL of the BSD variants would be equally at risk.

[splatnix]

There's also DragonFly BSD and Darwin, making 5 BSDs (that I'm aware of).

In the desktop arena, BSD is a viable platform. There are BSD users that use it fulltime - and why not - there are those of us that use Linux or Windows 2003 Server or HP-UX or [insert server oriented OS here] as a desktop platform. I used Darwin/x86 for my desktop platform for awhile (about 1.5 years ago). BSD has it made in the stability department. That's why I use it for servers.

The hardware support for new hardware on linux tends to be great compared to BSD but occasioually flakey or incomplete. Linux has all sorts of crazy new technologies added to it all the time where as BSD tend only to add stuff that works. Because my computers are tools I prefer reliability over cutting edge craziness. For "entertainment" I'll write my own buggy software.

You make a good point. I've gone out of my way making sure hardware supports BSD for servers. For a pair of Dell PowerEdges that got setup for a client that were going to be sitting in unprotected space (reverse proxies sitting infront of the firewalls - to capture web clickthroughs as all of that was lost in the firewall translation), we used OpenBSD. We actually had to delay the project 3 months because Dell upgraded the RAID controller in the servers and we had to wait for OpenBSD 2.7 to be released for support. However, it was worth it and those servers, after nearly 4 years, are still chuggin' along with nay a minute of downtime (no hacks, no issues, etc) with only maintainence on the parts that need it (Apache and SSL mainly - wherever there is a security update). While I love Linux, I would never have used Linux on those servers.

You are missing one point here. SCO suspects that there may be some of their code in OS X/Darwin specifically because it is *based on BSD UNIX*! Therefore if they did try to pursue that course of action with lawsuits, ALL of the BSD variants would be equally at risk.

Yes, but 1. SCO has to win their current battles (or at least the Novell battle). 2. SCO would/will have a much harder time against BSD - as there is the gigantic cluster____ that is the AT&T v. BSD case and all that has occured with the UNIX licenses since in reguards to BSD. If you thought the Linux case was bad, just wait (as I'm sure SCO, if they still exist/win, will go after BSD).... the BSD case will be even worse.

[Southern Patriot]

Yes, but 1. SCO has to win their current battles (or at least the Novell battle). 2. SCO would/will have a much harder time against BSD - as there is the gigantic cluster____ that is the AT&T v. BSD case and all that has occured with the UNIX licenses since in reguards to BSD. If you thought the Linux case was bad, just wait (as I'm sure SCO, if they still exist/win, will go after BSD).... the BSD case will be even worse.

I'm well aware of that. I was just pointing out that Simon's reasoning was flawed when he said SCO might try to go after OS X and Darwin but not BSD, since OS X and Darwin *ARE* BSD.

[slimshady89]

Linux all the way becuase its easy to use. .. many choices and better looking

[splatnix]

I'm well aware of that. I was just pointing out that Simon's reasoning was flawed when he said SCO might try to go after OS X and Darwin but not BSD, since OS X and Darwin *ARE* BSD.

*nod*

[boomn]

Linux all the way becuase its easy to use. .. many choices and better looking

Not sure what you mean by better looking. They both run the same software and look the same.

[Japlabot]

Not sure what you mean by better looking.  They both run the same software and look the same.

No! But LINUX has five letters in it!

sorry I didn't realise that Darwin was BSD based :blush: I don't think SCO would have the balls to go up in arms against the entire apple userbase TBH :|

[Fred Derf Veteran]

don't think SCO would have the balls to go up in arms against the entire apple userbase TBH :|

Yes, yes they would.

[Southern Patriot]

No! But LINUX has five letters in it!

sorry I didn't realise that Darwin was BSD based :blush: I don't think SCO would have the balls to go up in arms against the entire apple userbase TBH :|

Considering that Apple's OS X userbase is about the same size as (or possibly smaller than) the Linux userbase, I'd say they most certainly WOULD have the balls. SCO seems to have balls the size of Jupiter.

[kongit]

I think there are actually more users of Linux than apples. It is just that there is no correct way to document the numbers of linux users as the it can be freely distributed.

[Southern Patriot]

Honestly, there is no real accurate way to know the true userbase of ANY OS, especially when you take piracy into consideration. I agree with you that the Linux userbase is probably MUCH larger than the OS X userbase, but you also have to consider that every Tivo owner is really a Linux user, as well as owners of countless other embedded devices.