– By Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols –

For the basics of Wasabi Systems’ NetBSD 1.5.2, you can see
Russell Pavlicek’s “A Linux guy looks at NetBSD.” Today’s question: whether NetBSD 1.5.2, as Wasabi claims in a press release, is an off-the-shelf, easy-to-use NetBSD desktop operating environment.

First things first. Although the Package Release, five-CD, shrink-wrapped $64.95 box (a less expensive version, with only two CDs, is also available for $24.95) was released in late January 2002 at LinuxWorld, the contents reflect the state of the NetBSD operating system and programs circa September 2001.

That’s a significant five months. Current NetBSD
includes its Python portand an improved pkgsrc, which is a program installer roughly the equivalent of Linux’s RPM. While NetBSD is usable out of the box, you should be ready to do a lot of ftping and package updating before you have a state-of-the-art system.

As promised, though, the package comes with binaries that will run on just about every computer architecture known to desktop-using man, including Intel-based PCs, 680×0 and PowerPC Macs, and Amigas. It also runs on some architectures, like MIPS-based Cobalt Qube systems, that few people are likely to consider for desktop use.

The installations, on a generic Pentium 700MHz system, a NEC 9734 Pentium 200Mhz and an Apple Performa 6220CD powered by a 75 MHz PowerPC 603, went smoothly for someone who first installed Unix on a PDP off seven-track tape.

Unless Mom and Dad are computer pros, this is one installation they don’t
want to do. Think of a Linux installation circa 1997, and you’ve pretty much got it.

On the plus side, once installed, NetBSD ran like a champ even on the 1995 vintage Macintosh. If you’ve gotten tired of standard Linux installations that can rival Windows XP for disk and memory requirements, Wasabi’s NetBSD is a pleasant blast from the past. If you want a Unix system with a modern KDE or Gnome interface that will run on an old, slow machine, NetBSD is for you.

This is also, to the best of my knowledge, the first commercially packaged BSD marketed for ordinary desktop users. Others, like the Walnut Creek FreeBSD packages, were really for Unix addicts only or like Wind River’s BSD/OS, which is a server OS.

Once you’re past the installation, Wasabi NetBSD actually is about as ordinary-user-friendly as any BSD or Linux this side of MacOS X. It comes with games, StarOffice, and all the other trimmings that one might expect from a fully packed Linux distribution like SuSE’s everything-and-the-kitchen-sink packages.

Performance was good on the trio of test systems. In particular, network throughput was a tad faster than when the same boxes had Windows 2000, Corel Linux, and MacOS 7.5.5 on them. It was nothing to write home about it, but they ran a bit more sprightly.

Still, Wasabi NetBSD is not better than any commercial Linux desktop. While a Solaris-on-Intel orphaned user might like it better than Linux, it’s hard to conceive of any established Linux desktop user, much less a Windows or Mac user, finding any compelling reason to switch. The best reason to switch to NetBSD is for those who believe the BSD license is a better one than the GPL. Frankly,
that’s not an issue that matters much to Joe Desktop User.

Make no mistake — it’s a fine Unix desktop system, but it’s not compelling enough to win any news users to a NetBSD desktop. Wasabi really wants embedded system developers, not desktop users.

In a DesktopLinux interview, Wasabi founder and CEO Perry Metzger said that winning the desktop market is “not our primary business strategy — we’re actually mainly targeting the embedded market.” Why do it then? He answered, “Making NetBSD friendlier for people on the desktop supports that strategy, because the more people who use NetBSD, the higher Wasabi’s profile
becomes, and the more we’ll see engineers designing us into embedded applications.”

Agree with his logic or not, if you want to give NetBSD a spin, or if you’re an embedded system developer, Wasabi NetBSD is worth trying. It may not replace your desktop, but it is an excellent introduction to the BSD operating system family.

From Net-security.org: “Race condition in various utilities from fileutils GNU package may cause root user to delete the whole filesystem.”

Ted Kenney writes: “Core Internet bandwidth grows at triple the rate of CPU power, but the promise of high-value applications can only be realized by managing much more data traffic at the network’s edge. This requires rapid evolution of the fundamental edge infrastructure device, the IP router. To keep pace, routing table management (RTM) software within routers must respond quickly to changing protocol and provisioning requirements. But as demands increase, proprietary routing table implementations encounter limitations in scalability, extensibility, and ease of maintenance. McObject’s new white paper “The Role of In-Memory Database Systems in Routing Table Management” examines using in-memory database systems (IMDS) within RTM software to overcome these barriers. Performance examples on Linux confirm IMDSs can meet RTM lookup and update requirements. In addition to greater development flexibility, IMDS technology provides built-in data integrity and fault tolerance. The IMDS solution improves infrastructure vendors’ competitive position by cutting the time-to-market and development costs of next-generation IP router technology.

Download the white paper at McObject’s Web site.”

Victor Domine sends us this press release: Building upon its expanding success with the most advanced and open embedded operating systems and tools solutions portfolio, LynuxWorks today announced the general availability of its next major revision to its popular LynxOS real time operating system (RTOS).

LynxOS 4.0 raises the bar for RTOS vendors by adding Linux binary compatibility and enhancements in networking, porting support, and performance.Squarely positioned to set a new industry benchmark for performance and openness, LynxOS 4.0 adds an array of new enhancements that have been designed to attract customers away from using similar products offered by Wind River, QNX, and other off-the-shelf or in-house proprietary operating systems.

LynuxWorks is offering LynxOS 4.0 as a stand-alone solution with a selection of tools, or as part of several new industry specific software solutions designed to further streamline the development process (see related release).

“With this new version of LynxOS, our customers can leverage significant technological advances such as increased real-time performance and the latest in networking technologies,? said Inder Singh, CEO of LynuxWorks. ?In addition, with the application binary interface (ABI) compatibility, we offer unprecedented levels of openness and compatibility between Linux and LynxOS, which gives customers a strategic advantage when using our products. For the first time, embedded developers can truly plan long-term and be assured that as their products and market requirements change, they can quickly migrate between operating systems, or add new products that are compatible with very little effort.”

LynxOS has a long history of technology leadership, meeting the most rigorous performance and compatibility demands of real-time and embedded applications. The operating system has been a popular choice among embedded developers for more than thirteen years in key industries, including telecommunications, Mil/aero, automotive, and office, industrial and retail automation. Unparalleled in its hard real-time response, stability and open standard interfaces, LynxOS provides the full determinism and reliability necessary for mission-critical and real-time embedded applications.

Unique in the high-performance RTOS world, LynxOS also offers its users the Linux processing model, POSIX conformance and open, standard application programming interfaces (APIs). The result is that OEMs have access to a larger pool of programming talent, and a greater choice of compatible applications and tools, decreasing overall development times and related costs for new embedded products.

30 Percent Performance Boost
Recent internal tests show that LynxOS 4.0 task response has been improved over the previous release by over 30 percent. It exhibits true linear scalability, remaining deterministic regardless of the number of tasks performed at any point. Absolute determinism and kernel threading allow for interrupt routines to be short and fast, ensuring predictable response even in the presence of heavy I/O. Systems based on LynxOS are able to perform their multiple tasks more reliably and deterministically than previously possible.

True ABI Compatibility
The only hard real-time operating system to offer true application binary interface (ABI) compatibility to Linux, LynxOS 4.0 lets users run Linux applications unmodified under LynxOS or to augment real-time applications on LynxOS with applications from Linux. The innovative capability eliminates porting and maintenance issues when migrating existing Linux applications to the hard real-time LynxOS platform. The compatibility is implemented through the use of dynamically linked shared libraries for minimum intrusion into the kernel, providing flexibility while maintaining stability and compatibility.

Updated for Advanced Networking
LynxOS 4.0 gives developers access to state-of-the-art networking technology. The new networking capabilities make it the most advanced of all the commercial RTOS offerings, with features such as IPSec, IPv6 and an integrated firewall. The TCP/IP stack has been enhanced for reentrancy, determinism and performance, and includes the latest protocols for networking and routing, such as OSPFv2, BGP-4 and RIPv2. Tests, with small packets where 100BaseT wire speed is not a limiting factor, showed performance increases by more than 90 percent over the previous LynxOS release. This is due to enhancements to the new stack for better throughput and drivers optimized for speed. Gigabit Ethernet support is also provided with performance at up to 93% of wire speed. This will enable LynxOS users to quickly deploy systems with the latest in networking technology.

About LynuxWorks
LynuxWorks, the technology leader in the embedded software market, provides complete solutions that incorporate operating systems, software development products and services for the world’s most successful communications, aerospace/defense, and consumer products companies. Established in 1988, the company is a founding member of the real-time operating systems (RTOS) industry, and a leading participant in the Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC). LynuxWorks’ headquarters are located in San Jose, California. The company focuses on leading the embedded software market in performance and openness and its products include the open-source BlueCat Linux and the scalable, Linux-compatible LynxOS real-time operating system. World class companies use LynuxWorks’ products, including: 3Com, Alcatel, Boeing, Ericsson, Hewlett Packard, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, Lucent Technologies, Marconi, Mitsubishi, Motorola, NEC USA, Raytheon, TRW and Xerox. For more information, please visit www.lynuxworks.com.

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http://www.lynuxworks.com/corporate/news/press/200 2/031102a.php3

Victor Domine writes: “Popular Real-Time Operating System Sets New Industry Benchmark for
Performance, Enhanced Networking and Linux Compatibility.”

EMBEDDED SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 11, 2002 – Building upon its expanding success with the most advanced and open embedded operating systems and tools solutions portfolio, LynuxWorks today announced the general availability of its next major revision to its popular LynxOS real time operating system (RTOS).

LynxOS 4.0 raises the bar for RTOS vendors by adding Linux binary compatibility and enhancements in networking, porting support, and performance.Squarely positioned to set a new industry benchmark for performance and openness, LynxOS 4.0 adds an array of new enhancements that have been designed to attract customers away from using similar products offered by Wind River, QNX, and other off-the-shelf or in-house proprietary operating systems.

LynuxWorks is offering LynxOS 4.0 as a stand-alone solution with a selection of tools, or as part of several new industry specific software solutions designed to further streamline the development process (see related release).

?With this new version of LynxOS, our customers can leverage significant technological advances such as increased real-time performance and the latest in networking technologies,? said Inder Singh, CEO of LynuxWorks. ?In addition, with the application binary interface (ABI) compatibility, we offer unprecedented levels of openness and compatibility between Linux and LynxOS, which gives customers a strategic advantage when using our products. For the first time, embedded developers can truly plan long-term and be assured that as their products and market requirements change, they can quickly migrate between operating systems, or add new products that are compatible with very little effort.?

LynxOS has a long history of technology leadership, meeting the most rigorous performance and compatibility demands of real-time and embedded applications. The operating system has been a popular choice among embedded developers for more than thirteen years in key industries, including telecommunications, Mil/aero, automotive, and office, industrial and retail automation. Unparalleled in its hard real-time response, stability and open standard interfaces, LynxOS provides the full determinism and reliability necessary for mission-critical and real-time embedded applications.

Unique in the high-performance RTOS world, LynxOS also offers its users the Linux processing model, POSIX conformance and open, standard application programming interfaces (APIs). The result is that OEMs have access to a larger pool of programming talent, and a greater choice of compatible applications and tools, decreasing overall development times and related costs for new embedded products.

30 Percent Performance Boost

Recent internal tests show that LynxOS 4.0 task response has been improved over the previous release by over 30 percent. It exhibits true linear scalability, remaining deterministic regardless of the number of tasks performed at any point. Absolute determinism and kernel threading allow for interrupt routines to be short and fast, ensuring predictable response even in the presence of heavy I/O. Systems based on LynxOS are able to perform their multiple tasks more reliably and deterministically than previously possible.

True ABI Compatibility

The only hard real-time operating system to offer true application binary interface (ABI) compatibility to Linux, LynxOS 4.0 lets users run Linux applications unmodified under LynxOS or to augment real-time applications on LynxOS with applications from Linux. The innovative capability eliminates porting and maintenance issues when migrating existing Linux applications to the hard real-time LynxOS platform. The compatibility is implemented through the use of dynamically linked shared libraries for minimum intrusion into the kernel, providing flexibility while maintaining stability and compatibility.

Updated for Advanced Networking

LynxOS 4.0 gives developers access to state-of-the-art networking technology. The new networking capabilities make it the most advanced of all the commercial RTOS offerings, with features such as IPSec, IPv6 and an integrated firewall. The TCP/IP stack has been enhanced for reentrancy, determinism and performance, and includes the latest protocols for networking and routing, such as OSPFv2, BGP-4 and RIPv2. Tests, with small packets where 100BaseT wire speed is not a limiting factor, showed performance increases by more than 90 percent over the previous LynxOS release. This is due to enhancements to the new stack for better throughput and drivers optimized for speed. Gigabit Ethernet support is also provided with performance at up to 93% of wire speed. This will enable LynxOS users to quickly deploy systems with the latest in networking technology.

About LynuxWorks

LynuxWorks, the technology leader in the embedded software market, provides complete solutions that incorporate operating systems, software development products and services for the world’s most successful communications, aerospace/defense, and consumer products companies. Established in 1988, the company is a founding member of the real-time operating systems (RTOS) industry, and a leading participant in the Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC). LynuxWorks’ headquarters are located in San Jose, California. The company focuses on leading the embedded software market in performance and openness and its products include the open-source BlueCat Linux and the scalable, Linux-compatible LynxOS real-time operating system. World class companies use LynuxWorks’ products, including: 3Com, Alcatel, Boeing, Ericsson, Hewlett Packard, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, Lucent Technologies, Marconi, Mitsubishi, Motorola, NEC USA, Raytheon, TRW and Xerox. For more information, please visit www.lynuxworks.com.

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http://www.lynuxworks.com/corporate/news/press/200 2/031102a.php3“

Mozilla 0.9.9 is out! MozillaQuest Magazine (MozillaQuest.com) reports: “AOL-Netscape’s Mozilla Organization released the Milestone 0.9.9 edition of its Mozilla browser suite today — ten days behind schedule. . . . Mozilla 0.9.9 is the last planned milestone before the scheduled April 2002 Mozilla 1.0 release. . . . Mozilla 0.9.9 is, in effect, analogous to a final product release-candidate. Although Mozilla 0.9.9 overall seems to be the best Mozilla milestone yet, it’s really not final release-candidate quality. . . . Still noticeably absent from Mozilla is a spell checker . . . Mozilla still has lots of annoying bugs and behaviors. There are pages that display correctly with the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser that do not display correctly with the Mozilla browser. . . . All-in-all, the Mozilla browser-suite still does not offer any compelling, performance reason for people to switch from Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser to AOL-Netscape’s Mozilla browser. Check this MozillaQuest.com story for pictures, details, links, release notes, and full story!

NewsFactor Network writes: “Japanese customers recently complained so vociferously about Xbox video-game consoles scratching the edges of discs played in them that Microsoft had to post a public apology on its Japanese Web site. But the defects — which Microsoft said yesterday involve “significantly less than 1 percent of systems sold” in Japan — may not be the biggest problem the company faces in trying to crack one of the most important video-game markets. The most daunting problem for Xbox could be the lukewarm reception it has received since it launched two weeks ago on the home turf of competitors Sony and Nintendo.”

Anonymous Reader writes: “The EFF has taken the bnetd v. Blizzard case. LawMeme has the story.”

Yahoo: “AOL Time Warner has hired software firm Red Hat Inc to convert some of its computer systems to the open-source Linux operating system, according to sources close to talks between the two companies.” This story doesn’t mention that the Red Hat/AOL talks were first reported at NewsForge.

Gaudenz Alder writes: “JGraph 1.0 is now available with full documentation. With this final release, the open-source component offers a 100 % stable, fully standards-compliant API to display and edit graphs (networks). JGraph is already known for its outstanding quality and performance, and this release continues the tradition with a wealth of features at a surprising small size of 130 K! JGraph integrates nicely into the Swing component class hierarchy and supports drag and drop, clipboard, history, zoom, layering, grouping, editing, and much more. Visit the JGraph website at http://www.jgraph.com/“