NetBSD

Disclaimer: NetBSD is not Unix.

I really enjoy working with NetBSD. Ever since I started out working with Unix back in the time when a Sun-3/60 was a hot machine and SunOS 4 was radically new, I have wished for something like NetBSD.

NetBSD is, of course, based solidly on the BSD Unix tradition and (mostly) code. This is important to me, and coming from SunOS and Ultrix it's like coming home - it's the same thing, only done a little better and more right overall. This includes a solid and extremely well-documented TCP stack, well-suited for running critical services like this web server.

NetBSD is very good with regards to Posix. Again, it's done the right way: The default environment is Posix plus sane extensions. I really hate systems that are "posix-compliant", but where you have to turn off all extensions to get the posix interfaces. Posix isn't enough in itself to actually do much, but as a common basis it's simply wonderful.

NetBSD is a multi-platform OS. I want to run the same OS on my Suns, DECstations, VAXen, and PCs. NetBSD has all of these platforms and many more. The design is suited for supporting more than just one architecture. It was a pure joy the first time I booted NetBSD on a uVAX-II and everything Just Worked the Right Way.

Jump to the main NetBSD web server.


arnej@pvv.ntnu.no
Last modified: Wed Nov 29 18:11:31 MET 1995