[SunRescue] NetBSD v. Linux v. Solaris 2.51

[Phil Brutsche]

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A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far way, someone said...

> <GAUNTLETS><ASBESTOS>
> Once I have finally managed to get my SS1+ working, I'll need an
> OS. I have heard that NetBSD is faster than Linux on the Sun4c
> architecture due to how they handle memory, but of course,
> a great deal more software is available for Linux, and  much of
> the software I want to use would have to run under Linux emulation.
> My guess is that Linux would be faster than NetBSD emulating
> Linux.  Does anyone want to back that up?

It just depends on how good their faking the Linux syscalls - FreeBSD, for
example, has a minimal impact on Linux binary-only programs.

In the end, just go with the one you're most familiar with.

Linux kernel 2.2 "felt" faster than NetBSD 1.4.1 to me, btw.

> Also, how would Solaris 2.51 (the only version I have for SPARC)
> compare, performance-wise?

No idea.  I've got SunOS 4.1.4 on my sun4c :)

> </ASBESTOS></GAUNTLETS>
>
> Last question:
> Here's my hardware: SS1+ (going to work, not going to get a choice.)
> cg6 "GX" frame buffer, 64 mbs ram, 2x 500mb SCSI disks, Plextor
> 4x cd-rom,  and on-board 10Base5 Ethernet.  I know I can't expect
> thrilling speed from this machine, no matter how cool they were
> back when I was in junior-high (I'm in my 3rd year of college, now.)
>
> To the point: I often hear "run your X server on another machine."
> Can that other machine be x86 based? If it is x86 based, will
> setting it up be non-trivial?  Assuming I do set it up that way
> would it be a heretical, blasphemous, evil thing, possibly
> a >bad< thing?

Configuration is trivial.  Assuming your X11 server is already correctly
configured, all you need to do is tell the X11 server to connect to the
sparc.

This is the command I use on a Linux system to connect to a remote xdm
(I'm using XFree 4.0.1):

XFree86 :1 vt8 -depth 16 -dpi 100 -query <hostname>

This has worked for be connecting to a PC running Linux, a PC running
FreeBSD, a PC running Solaris 7, and a certain IPX running NetBSD,
and Linux (don't have any X11 stuff installed under SunOS4).

Alter the command line as needed to suit your needs.

- -- 
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Phil Brutsche				    pbrutsch at tux.creighton.edu

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