Tue 2002-10-29 23:09, BEN RITCHEY (1:393/68) wrote to ANDREW CLARKE:

 > Hmmm...have you ever used one of the popular Linux distributions? If 
 > Yes, how does Linux compare to BSD? I D/L'd the FreeBSD v4.2 iso
 > to CD but have not made the time to play around with same to
 > date. :( I understand it's much more secure?

I've been using FreeBSD as a gateway (router/firewall) machine on my home
network since 1998.  Back then the Linux distributions weren't so
well-rounded and there were some security issues where some distributions
installed default services.  These problems weren't really an issue with
FreeBSD at the time.  They're probably on a par now, security-wise, but I
haven't used any of the recent Linux distros on a day-to-day basis though,
so I really can't comment on them.  FreeBSD is simple to configure and easy
to use for the purpose I use it for, so I've got no reason to switch.

Linux has better hardware support generally, but that doesn't bother me
since my FreeBSD box sits headless and keyboardless in a closet.  It also
has slightly more software available to it, even though FreeBSD will run
most Linux binaries (if you compile support for them into the kernel), eg.
apparently Borland's Kylix won't run in FreeBSD's Linux compatibility mode
for some reason.  I haven't actually tested that theory.  Binaries
generated by Kylix should run on both though.

My general feeling is to use FreeBSD for crucial networking operations,
Linux if you want X Windows and support for lots of peripherals, and MS
Windows if you have to.  I've never been particularly fond of X Windows
though.  So it's just BSD + Win for me.

Come to think of it, I'd rather run Mac OS X than Linux.  Particularly as
it's based on FreeBSD, so it's all familiar territory.  Too bad I don't
have a Mac that will run it.  My newest Mac is 8 years old.  %-)

-- mail{at}ozzmosis.com

--- Msged/NT 6.1.1