Debian gets FreeBSD kernel support
Summary
Topics
The project was announced in a message to the Debian developers' announcement list.
Traditionally Debian runs on the Linux kernel, but Debian developers said the Unix-based FreeBSD kernel offers certain benefits, such as support for drivers that might not be available on Linux.
According to the message, FreeBSD compatibility was added via two architectures added to Debian's "unstable and experimental" archive, supporting FreeBSD on the Intel i386 and AMD64 hardware platforms. The project developing FreeBSD kernel support is called kFreeBSD.
Although support for different kernel versions or hardware platforms is routine, support for a kernel from a different operating system is unusual. Another example is Gentoo, whose Gentoo/Alt project aims to allow Gentoo software to run on a BSD core.
Users might prefer a FreeBSD kernel to get support for certain features, such as Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) drivers and possibly Sun's ZFS file system, that might not be found on Linux, according to Debian developers. In a document defending kFreeBSD, they said some users have found FreeBSD to have better performance or stability than the Linux kernel.
"kFreeBSD offers an alternative in case Linux is branded illegal by the SCO case or other threats," the developers wrote. "In legal terms, Linux sources are like a minefield. kFreeBSD is much less vulnerable to such attacks."
This article was originally posted on ZDNet UK.
Talkback Most Recent of 8 Talkback(s)
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Debian on a FreeBSD kernel
This is good news. The BSD distributions have fallen so far behind the Linux distros in terms of ease-of-use and installation that I'll be happy to see what Debian brings to the table. I'll have to try out kFreeBSD this week.
the.ksmm6th Apr 2009 -
Good news for BSD.
I much prefer a BSD variant over a Linux variant so this is good news indeed.
mikefarinha6th Apr 2009 -
RE: Debian gets FreeBSD kernel support
LOL, linux is in so bad of shape that one of the longest running distros is dropping it in favor of FBSD!! That is just too funny. We all knew how badly linux was but to go completely to FreeBSD, well thats just humiliating to linux users everywhere. On the bright side, now they will see what a real unix operating system is supposed to be like instead of a hacked up clone of unix that is nothing but a series of patches taped together.
Loverock Davidson6th Apr 2009 -
Dude... maintain!
Calm down LD and RTFA before commenting. Linux is not being dropped, they are simply adding support for BSD.mikefarinha6th Apr 2009 -
Interesting project
I have tested Nexenta (which combines the OpenSolaris kernel with the GNU/Debian user experience to provide a versatile and powerful ZFS-based server platform.) and found it to be usable (though needs some more development, but is promising). Debian or Gentoo with a BSD kernel is another interesting prospect.
B.O.F.H.6th Apr 2009 -
Open source continues to provide
Debian steps up with a choice of kernels.
Unix OS's are powering ahead, the competition is stagnant.
Richard Flude6th Apr 2009 -
What about the conflicting licenses?
GPL vs. BSD? I'm positive there will be issues around this. Of course, my proposal to LGPL ALL binaries would get around this . . .
Roger Ramjet7th Apr 2009 -
Great!
This will be interesting. Great for servers.
On the desktop however Linux has better support for diverse hardware and peripherals.
Although I run Debian GNU/Linux on everything from servers to desktops to notebooks and netbooks and it is already rock-solid and robust on these systems.
Tim Patterson7th Apr 2009
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