From: edguer@ces.cwru.edu (Aydin Edguer)
Subject: comp.unix.bsd Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ] (with answers)
Followup-To: comp.unix.bsd
Summary: FAQ
Reply-To: edguer@ces.cwru.edu
Organization: Computer Engineering and Science, Case Western Reserve University
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 92 01:44:44 GMT

Archive-name: bsd-faq
Version: 0.1
Last-modified: 15 Apr 92 00:00:01 EST

comp.unix.bsd Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ] (with answers)

	-1-  What is the purpose of this newsgroup?
	-2-  How can I search this list to find the answers?
	-3-  What computers does BSD UNIX currently run on?
	-4-  What computers will the next release of BSD UNIX run on?
	-5-  What will be in the next release of BSD UNIX?
	-6-  Where can I get more information on BSD UNIX?
	-7-  What are some of the BSD-derived operating systems?
	-8-  Were there ever any commercial BSD-derived operating systems?
	-9-  Where can I find 386BSD sources and binaries?
	-10- How much does BSD cost?
	-11- Are there any *free* UNIX systems available?
	-12- How can I find answers to other questions?

Please send suggested corrections and additions to: edguer@ces.cwru.edu

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Subject: -1-  What is the purpose of this newsgroup?

From the agreed upon charter which established comp.unix.bsd, comp.unix.bsd
exists:

	To be an umoderated newgroup that provides a forum for discussion
	of BSD-derived operating systems and related topics including new
	releases and upgrade issues.

This newsgroup is NOT for the general discussion of specific software bugs
in BSD-derived operating systems.  We suggest you use comp.bugs.4bsd or
comp.bugs.2bsd for such postings.  This is a reasonable place to compare
software bugs between BSD-derived systems.

------------------------------

Subject: -2-  How can I search this list to find the answers?

This FAQ follows the RFC1153 recommendations for message digests and
thus should easily be viewed by newsreaders that understand message
digests.

This FAQ also uses the Subject: lines with the answer to each question
and thus should be easily step through the answers with the "^G" command
of rn.

This FAQ marks each question with a "dash number dash" so that using
a regular expression search pattern you can easily get directly to any
question on the document.

------------------------------

Subject: -3-  What computers does BSD UNIX currently run on?

The last full release from CSRG at UCB was the June, 1990 release of
4.3BSD-Reno.  The 4.3BSD-Reno release included support for the following
computer systems:

+    VAX (86x0, 78x, 750, 730; MicroVAX II, 3200/3500/3600; 82x0)
+    Tahoe (CCI Power 6/32, 6/32SX; Unisys 7000/xx; Harris  HCX7, HCX9)
+    HP 9000/300 series

The last release from CSRG at UCB was the July, 1991 release of the
"BSD Networking Software, Release #2".  The second networking release
included complete support for NO architectures.

------------------------------

Subject: -4-  What computers will the next release of BSD UNIX run on?
From: bostic@okeeffe.CS.Berkeley.EDU

The only truly accurate answer is, you'll have to wait and see.

The "subject to change without notice" answers are:

Platform:		Port done by:		Status for 4.4BSD:
---------		-------------		------------------
HP 9000/300 (68K)	Univ. of Utah		Completed
Sparc I			Chris Torek (LBL)	Completed (not yet merged)
Sparc II		Chris Torek (LBL)	Probable
386/486			Bill Jolitz		Completed (still unstable)
DECstation 3100		Ralph Campbell		Completed (still unstable)
DECstation 5000		Ralph Campbell		Possible
HP9000/700 (PA-Risc)	Univ. of Utah		Completed (4.3BSD, proprietary)
Tahoe, VAX					Unlikely to be completed
88K, Amiga, SGI, Sun3				Unlikely to be completed

Details are as follows:

The Sparc I port is completed and believed to be stable, but the code is
still in the process of being merged into the official source tree.

The x86 and DECstation 3100 ports are still unstable, at the moment neither
of them can compile the source tree or run reliably.

The HP9000/700 port is a port of the 4.3BSD system, not the current system.
Additionally, some of the device drivers used in the port are proprietary
to HP.  It is unknown if this can be fixed by the time that 4.4BSD is
ready for distribution.

The Tahoe and VAX architectures are being deprecated, and the CSRG does
not have the manpower necessary to write the code to make the new virtual
memory system support them.  People outside the CSRG have discussed doing
this work, but nothing has been done yet.

Finally, ports to the 88K, the Amiga, an SGI and the Sun3 are all being
worked on at some level, but none seem likely to be completed for 4.4BSD.

------------------------------

Subject: -5-  What will be in the next release of BSD UNIX?

The only truly accurate answer is, you'll have to wait and see.

The "subject to change without notice" answers are:
 * new FileSystem organization
   + ufs
     - ufs filesystem routines common to the UFS on-disk format
     - ffs (fat) fast file system
     - lfs log file system
     - mfs memory file system
   + nfs
 * new Process Management internals
   + new session, proc, and user data structures
   . this is basically a reorg of the high kernel, using malloc among
     other things.  It's intended to start the kernel toward threads
     and multi-processors.
 * A new Virtual Memory system based on Mach 2.5.
   + new kvm library and kernel program interface
 * POSIX 1003.4 nanosecond timers
 * Support for X.25 connections.
 * bstreams "Berkeley Streams"
 * new db(3) routines permit easy database structures
 * library support for fast file hierarchy traversal

Things introduced in 4.3-Reno [6 Jul 90]
 * almost all P1003.1 interfaces
 * new terminal driver
 * new filesystem support
   + ffs (fat) fast file system
   + mfs memory file system
   + nfs network file system
 * new quota system 
   + supports both user and group quotas
 * OSI Network Protocols
   + TP-4
   + CLNP
   + ISODE
     - FTAM
     - VT
     - X.500
 * SLIP
   + Van Jacobson "header prediction" algorithm
 * bpf Berkeley Packet Filter
 * Kerberos 4
 * new sleep interface

Things introduced in 4.3-Tahoe [1988]
 * A new general purpose kernel memory allocator
 * Disk labels
 * Fat Fast File System
 * New TCP algorithms
   + Van Jacobson "slow-start" algorithm
   + Phil Karn retransmission timer "RTT" algorithm

Keith Bostic (UCB CSRG) maintains a list of projects that are needed to
complete 4.4BSD.  Contact bostic@cs.berkeley.edu for detailed information
on these and other projects.

------------------------------

Subject: -6-  Where can I get more information on BSD UNIX?

If you want to learn more about 4.3BSD and its descendants, you might
start with the following sources:

TITLE: The Design and Implementation of the 4.3 BSD UNIX Operating System
AUTHOR: Leffler, McKusick, Karels, Quarterman
ISBN: 0-201-06196-1

TITLE: The Design and Implementation of the 4.3 BSD UNIX Operating System
       Answer Book
AUTHOR: Leffler, McKusick
ISBN: 0-201-54729-9

TITLE: Porting Unix to the 386 [a multipart series]
AUTHOR: Jolitz, Jolitz
JOURNAL: Dr. Dobb's journal.
DATES: January 1, 1991-December 1, 1991, volume 16, number 1-number 12.
DATES: January 1, 1992-March 1, 1992, volume 17, number 1-number 3.

note: Bill and Lynne Jolitz have stated that they are working on a book
      on the internals of 386BSD.

------------------------------

Subject: -7-  What are some of the BSD-derived operating systems?

Bill Jolitz has released his work on porting the BSD Networking Software,
Release #2 to 386/486 based systems.  For more information see the section
"Are there any *free* UNIX systems available?"

Berkeley Software Design, Inc. [BSDI] sells and supports BSD/386.
BSD/386 is a derivative of the BSD Networking Software, Release #2
for 386/486 computers.
For more information contact: bsdi-info@bsdi.com Phone: +1 800 800 4BSD

mt Xinu, Inc. sells and supports Mach386.  Mach386 is based on a Mach 2.5
kernel with 4.3BSD-Tahoe enhancements and runs on 386/386SX/486 processors.
Mach386 is currently a binary-only release.  mt Xinu also produces a similar
Mach *source* distribution called 2.6 MSD which requires an AT&T source
license.
For more information contact: mtxinu-mach@mtxinu.com Phone: +1 510 644 0146

mt Xinu, Inc. sells and supports MORE/bsd.  MORE/bsd is based on the
4.3BSD-Tahoe release and runs on VAX and HP 9000/300 series workstations.
For more information contact: info@mtxinu.com Phone +1 510 644 0146

------------------------------

Subject: -8-  Were there ever any commercial BSD-derived operating systems?

Yes.  There were many commerical BSD-derived operating systems.
Although many vendors are switching to an AT&T System V or OSF base,
companies such as Sequent, MIPS, DEC, Sun, IBM, HP, DG, Convex, Alliant,
Tektronix, Apollo, ISI, and OSF offer or have offered systems based on BSD
code.

The AT&T Research versions of UNIX were based upon 4.1BSD.

IBM used to sell Academic Operating System 4.3 [IBM/4.3].
IBM/4.3 ran on selected models of the IBM RT System and the IBM 6152
Academic System.  The product was distributed in source form and required
an AT&T source license.

For trivia fans, there is a company, NBI, who used to sell a UNIX workstation
based on a port of 4.2BSD.  The significance of the initials NBI, "Necton
Bilenium Incorporated", was dropped when the company was incorporated.

------------------------------

Subject: -9-  Where can I find 386BSD sources and binaries?

The most common way to obtain 386BSD sources and binaries is via anonymous
FTP.  FTP sites that mirror the primary site have been set up in many
countries.  PLEASE use the site nearest you!

In North America, 386BSD sources and binaries are available from:
banjo.concert.net               REMOVED
capella.eetech.mcgill.ca        132.206.71.161  /pub/386BSD
dsuvax.dsu.edu                  138.247.32.2    /pub/os/386BSD
ferkel.ucsb.edu                 REMOVED
ftp.cis.ksu.edu                 129.130.10.80   /pub/386BSD
ftp.uu.net                      137.39.1.9      /pub/OS/386BSD
gatekeeper.dec.com              16.1.0.2        /pub/micro/386bsd
iceberg.cs.wwu.edu              140.160.140.160 /pub/BSD386
terminator.cc.umich.edu         141.211.164.8   /unix/386bsd

In Europe, 386BSD sources and binaries are available from:
ftp.lysator.liu.se              130.236.23.254  /pub/386bsd
ftp.stacken.kth.se              130.237.237.3   /pub/OS/386bsd
hpb.mcc.ac.uk                   130.88.200.7    /pub/386bsd
nic.funet.fi                    128.214.6.100   /pub/unix/4.3bsd/i386-jolitz
rusmv1.rus.uni-stuttgart.de     129.69.1.12     /soft/unix/i386/386BSD
src.doc.ic.ac.uk                146.169.2.1     /unix/386bsd-public
ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de	131.159.0.110	/pub/BSD/386BSD

In Australia, 386BSD sources and binaries are available from:
ftp.ee.mu.OZ.AU                 128.250.1.80    /pub/386bsd
kirk.bu.oz.au                   131.244.1.1     /pub/OS/386BSD

If you would like to become a "mirror" site and offer 386BSD for anonymous
FTP to others, please contact cgd@agate.berkeley.edu (Chris Demetriou).

Due to the immense size of the distribution (~45MB) it is not suggested
that you try to use ftp-mail to retrieve the sources.

Paul Vixie <vixie@pa.dec.com> has offered to make tapes for people.
	"I am willing to make tapes for people if they:
	
	 include a tape (tk50, tk70, 8mm, rdat, qic-60, qic-320)
	 include a self-addressed, stamped return mailer
	 include no special requests other than a note saying "386bsd"

	 Do NOT include new postage and labels and expect me to re-use
	 your shipping container.  Include a little container inside a
	 big container with your tape.

	 Anything that arrives without all of those things is mine to
	 keep or throw away without notice to the sender.  I expect
	 hundreds of people to want this, so anyone who doesn't make it
	 REALLY EASY FOR ME TO DO is just going to get their tape thrown
	 away to make time for the other 299 tapes I'll need to write.
	 send it to:

		Paul Vixie
		3477 South Court
		Palo Alto, CA 94306
		U.S.A.
	"

------------------------------

Subject: -10- How much does BSD cost?

From the announcement of BSD Networking Software, Release #2:
This software suite is Copyright (C) 1991 The Regents of the University
of California and may be freely redistributed without further charge.  No
previous license, either from AT&T or Berkeley is required.  The release
costs $850.00 US on 6250 BPI 9-track magnetic tape or 8mm Exabyte cassette
or $950.00 US on 1600 BPI 9-track magnetic tape.  The distribution is
approximately 90Mb in size.  To request an order form, please contact our
distribution office by phone at 415-642-7780, or by sending email to
bsd-dist@ucbarpa.berkeley.edu or uunet!ucbarpa!bsd-dist, or by U.S. Mail at:

	CSRG, Computer Science Division
	University of California
	Berkeley, CA  94720

The BSD Networking Software, Release #2 is also available via anonymous
FTP from ftp.uu.net.

------------------------------

Subject: -11- Are there any *free* UNIX systems available?

No, there are no "free" UNIX systems completed.

386BSD [0.0] is a freely distributable UNIX compatible operating system.
Based around a port of the BSD Networking Software, Release #2, written
by Bill and Lynne Jolitz, it was recently released and is rapidly being
enhanced by a large number of people.
386BSD implements full BSD and a large subset of POSIX.1 functionality.
386BSD currently runs only on 386/486 ISA bus [AT-bus] machines, and
requires the presence of a 387 [or equivalent] math co-processor.
386BSD is almost a complete system but still requires an experienced
programmer to install it.  The work is not yet completed.
386BSD should not be confused with BSDI BSD/386 software.
This newsgroup comp.unix.bsd is currently the only place to discuss this
port.

Linux [0.95(a)] is a freely distributable UNIX clone.  Initially written
by Linus Torvalds alone, it has since be extended by input from many people.`
It implements a subset of System V and POSIX functionality.
Linux has been written from scratch, and therefore does not contain any AT&T or
MINIX code--not in the kernel, the compiler, the utilities, or the libraries.
For this reason it can be made available with the complete source code via
anonymous FTP.
Linux runs only on 386/486 ISA bus machines; porting to non-Intel architectures
is likely to be difficult, as the kernel makes extensive use of 386 memory
management and task primitives.
Linux is not a complete system yet, but it does boot, and has a compiler (gcc)
and shell (bash) working on it, among other things.
There is a separate newsgroup for those interested in Linux, comp.os.linux.
comp.unix.bsd is not the correct place for Linux discussions, except as they
relate to BSD.

The Mach 3.0 operating system is a micro-kernel based operating system.
There is currently work being done by Randall Dean <rwd+@cs.cmu.edu>
to port the BSD Networking Software, Release #2 software to Mach 3.0
as a single monolithic server running above Mach 3.0.
PLEASE do not bother rwd for progress reports, each one only slows down
the work.  When completed, the code will be made available for anonymous FTP
and will be announced in both comp.os.mach and comp.unix.bsd.
There is a separate newsgroup for those internested in Mach, comp.os.mach.
comp.unix.bsd is not the correct place for Mach discussions, except as they
relate to BSD.

The GNU [no version] operating system is a UNIX compatible operating system
currently under development.  The GNU OS is based around the Mach 3.0
microkernel; the "Hurd" of servers providing file system, netwwork, terminal,
and operating system services; and the GNU utilities such as bash, gcc, gas,
groff, ghostscript, emacs and more than one hundred other UNIX commands.
The GNU OS will be source compatible with 4.4BSD and POSIX.1 compliant.
The GNU Hurd does not yet run on any computer, since it has not been completed.
Hurd development work recently began [finally] with the free release of the
Mach 3.0 microkernel.  Work proceeds under the direction of Michael Bushnell
of the FSF [Free Software Foundation].
There is currently a mailing list for those interested in the design and
development of the GNU Hurd.  To join, send e-mail to:
hurd-folks-request@prep.ai.mit.edu
comp.unix.bsd is not the correct place for GNU discussions, except as they
relate to BSD.

MINIX [1.5] is a new version of an operating system that is very similar
to UNIX.  MINIX was initially written by Andrew Tanenbaum and has since been
extended with the help of input from many people.
It implements system call compatibility with V7 of the UNIX operating system.
MINIX has been written from scratch, and therefore does not contain any AT&T
code--not in the kernel, the compiler, the utilities, or the libraries.
For this reason it can be made available with the complete source code.
It is not, however, free or freely distributable.
MINIX runs on the IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2, 386, and most clones.  Versions are
also available for the Atari ST, Macintosh, Amiga, and [soon] SPARC.
MINIX is currently a full operating system available for a low price [$169]
from Prentice-Hall.  It is described in the book "Operating Systems: Design
and Implementation" [ISBN 0-13-637406-9] by Andrew S. Tanenbaum.
There is a separate newsgroup for the system, comp.os.minix.
comp.unix.bsd is not the correct place for MINIX discussions, except as they
relate to BSD.

------------------------------

Subject: -12- How can I find answers to other questions?

By asking the questions in an appropriate manner in an appropriate newsgroup.
To find out about appropriate manners and appropriate newsgroups please read
all the postings in news.announce.newusers.  You might also want to take a
peek at some questions that already have answers in the news.answers group.

If you have a question about BSD4.3, BSD4.4, BSDI's BSD/386, CMU's BSD4.4
server for Mach, or the GNU HURD, then you have found the right place.
Please post your question and ask people to send you the answer via e-mail.
Once you have determined that you have a correct answer, please post a new
message with a Subject: line that begins with "SUMMARY:" followed by your
original subject line and post a BRIEF summarization of your question, the
correct answer, and the people who helped you find the answer.

If you just want to have a frolicking discussion on a topic dealing with
a BSD-derived operating system, then post away, BUT please try to limit
cross-posting and try to redirect follow-ups to the smallest possible
selection of newsgroups.  If people are interested in the discussion, they
will follow it [please point out that you have redirected discussion
to one or more newsgroups to help people follow it].

------------------------------