OpenBSD 4.0 Review
In an era when the next edition of Microsoft Windows is pushed back more than a year, and popular GNU/Linux distributions are almost expected to have their release dates delayed by weeks or months, it's nice to know that at least one operating system releases on schedule without all kinds of showstopping bugs and problems. OpenBSD 4.0 was released on November 1 with its usual mix of new hardware support and enhanced operating system features.
What's new in 4.0
OpenBSD now has support for various ARM-based devices (the Thecus N2100 and IOData HDL-G are the only ones known at this time); UltraSPARC III-based machines are also now supported, as is the Sharp Zaurus SL-C3200.
As for new and improved hardware driver support, there are too many updates to print here, but you can see the full list on the OpenBSD site. Mostly the new peripheral support includes wired and wireless network cards of various kinds, some new SATA chipset support, and improved CPU scaling on processors that support it.
One major new feature in OpenBSD 4.0 is the introduction of OpenRCS, a BSD-licensed, compatible rewrite of GNU RCS. RCS stands for revision control system, in case you were wondering, and the GNU version had come to a point where it made more sense to rewrite it under the BSD license with security and portability in mind.
IPsec has also gained several new capabilities and features, including IPv6 support.
The theme for the 4.0 release is "Humppa Negala" -- humppa being a style of music that many OpenBSD programmers enjoy.
Putting it to the test
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version
- 2281 reads
- PDF version
More in Tux Machines
- Highlights
- Front Page
- Latest Headlines
- Archive
- Recent comments
- All-Time Popular Stories
- Hot Topics
- New Members
digiKam 7.7.0 is releasedAfter three months of active maintenance and another bug triage, the digiKam team is proud to present version 7.7.0 of its open source digital photo manager. See below the list of most important features coming with this release. |
Dilution and Misuse of the "Linux" Brand
|
Samsung, Red Hat to Work on Linux Drivers for Future TechThe metaverse is expected to uproot system design as we know it, and Samsung is one of many hardware vendors re-imagining data center infrastructure in preparation for a parallel 3D world. Samsung is working on new memory technologies that provide faster bandwidth inside hardware for data to travel between CPUs, storage and other computing resources. The company also announced it was partnering with Red Hat to ensure these technologies have Linux compatibility. |
today's howtos
|
Using OpenBSD 4.0
If you're a software enthusiast who has never used OpenBSD before, you might enjoy installing it by yourself and figuring it out as you go. If, however, you're looking for a more practical approach to using OpenBSD as a desktop or server operating system, here's a quick guide to get you started in this spectacular operating system.
Full Story.
----
You talk the talk, but do you waddle the waddle?