FreeBSD/arm64 becoming Tier 1 in FreeBSD 13 (opens in new tab)

(lists.freebsd.org)

190 pointsDucki5y ago33 comments

33 comments

OpenBSD has no equivalent to FreeBSD's support tiers, but arm64/aarch64 is supported with binary packages and syspatches today.

https://www.openbsd.org/arm64.html

Amusing seeing people reacting here on HN to the Apple M1 SoC Linux kernel upstreaming, meanwhile in OpenBSD.. FreeBSD hasn't made any public progress yet on M1 support.

https://marc.info/?l=openbsd-arm&m=161386122115249&w=2

https://github.com/openbsd/src/search?q=m1&type=commits

jchw5y ago

I mean, Hacker News also reacted to that. I still remember the thread!

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26209345

I also wouldn’t fault HN for being more interested in the port for an OS they actually use to a platform they’re intrigued by. Not to say there’s anything wrong with OpenBSD, but I am not interested in switching to it.

notaplumber5y ago

Sure that's fair, just thought it was interesting to point out the progress they've been making, especially with their 50th release around the corner (6.9 is due May 1st), and M1 SoC support in pretty good shape OOTB. USB works, Wireless, Ethernet on the M1 Mini, etc. It is lacking SMP and a bunch of other stuff, but still.. ton of impressive work.

Not trying to convince anyone to look at OpenBSD who has no inclination toward *BSD, but out of curiosity, what's missing for you?

jchw5y ago

Last I checked OpenBSD lacked any support for Wayland (I tend to use SwayWM; it is supported on FreeBSD I believe, though realistically Linux is going to have the best story here for now.) I also don’t believe Docker runs natively, which is a pain for some stuff. I don’t expect most commercial software (REAPER, IDA/Binja, etc.) to really support BSDs either.

I run multiple machines so it’s not a huge issue if one OS doesn’t do everything I need, but I expect roughly all of the things I want to do to require some kind of VM or emulation under BSD, if it’s even possible at all. So for me, the value proposition is limited. It just seems like more stuff to learn, and I’m not entirely sure what to do with it.

2 more replies

eek04_5y ago

I have a problem with the leadership. OpenBSD does good technical work, but I don't want to deal with deraadt again.

trasz5y ago

FreeBSD has been providing binary packages for aarch64 for quite some time - this doesn't happen only for Tier1; I think even mips64 still gets them.

emaste5y ago

The difference is that binary packages for Tier-2 and lower are on a best-effort basis, and might be more or less out of date depending on the available package build hardware. For arm64 we now have multiple high-end arm64 servers and can guarantee packages will be built in a timely fashion for all supported branches.

mnd9995y ago

Fantastic, congratulations and big thanks to all that made this happen. I was outspokenly grumpy when the news came out that this wasn’t happening, now I’m so pleased it is.

flatiron5y ago

I remember when it was x86 only. Free=best x86, open=crazy security and docs nuts, net=runs on university toaster. Times have changed!

ashton3145y ago

Wait, so does this mean FreeBSD will work better on a raspberry pi without having to hack on your config files just to get it to recognize all available RAM? I’ve got FreeBSD running on a rpi4—took some doing. It would be nice to just slap an image on it and have it work.

maxioatic5y ago

> We will also be suggesting one or more low-cost reference platforms for FreeBSD/arm64.

A boy can dream this would be the Pi.

kevans915y ago

This is pretty unlikely, unfortunately. We're generally looking out for a Pi maintainer because it doesn't really have one -- it's not the most desirable platform to hack on, from a developer POV.

maxioatic5y ago

Hmm, bummer. Curious as to why it's not that desirable, and is there something else you would rather use?

1 more reply

Klwohu5y ago

Are you saying this as a FreeBSD core development team member?

1 more reply

hibbelig5y ago

What does this mean for the different devices? Will more be supported? I’ve got a cubietruck and a pinebook pro...

rwaksmunski5y ago

Tier 1 mostly means binary updates and prebuilt packages. More details: https://docs.freebsd.org/en/articles/committers-guide/#archs

Decabytes5y ago

I’m glad to see this b/c I had a good experience with the RPI3 on FreeBSD but a terrible experience trying to get the RPI4 running on FreeBSD. I think I will still have to use a dongle to run the RPIs on FreeBSD which isn’t great but hopefully the overall setup will be easier

waynesonfire5y ago

so awesome seeing freebsd adapting.

m015y ago

It'd be nice if this was a stepping stone towards (the BSD-based) TrueNAS (formerly known as FreeNAS) coming to arm64/AArch64.

ggm5y ago

semi-kinda blob and blob-like exterality depending on rpi4, black magic to make things work with 8gb, nothing insurmountable but I kind of wish in the future some rpi8 doesn't inherit this risk. Absolutely awesome news and welcome news.

otterley5y ago

Mods: Can we update the link? Here is the actual announcement: https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-announce/2021-Ap...

dang5y ago

Changed from https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-announce/2021-Ap.... Thanks!

DuckiOP5y ago

Oh, my bad, sorry.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

33 comments

notaplumber5y ago

OpenBSD has no equivalent to FreeBSD's support tiers, but arm64/aarch64 is supported with binary packages and syspatches today.

https://www.openbsd.org/arm64.html

Amusing seeing people reacting here on HN to the Apple M1 SoC Linux kernel upstreaming, meanwhile in OpenBSD.. FreeBSD hasn't made any public progress yet on M1 support.

https://marc.info/?l=openbsd-arm&m=161386122115249&w=2

https://github.com/openbsd/src/search?q=m1&type=commits

jchw5y ago

I mean, Hacker News also reacted to that. I still remember the thread!

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26209345

notaplumber5y ago

Not trying to convince anyone to look at OpenBSD who has no inclination toward *BSD, but out of curiosity, what's missing for you?

jchw5y ago

2 more replies

eek04_5y ago

I have a problem with the leadership. OpenBSD does good technical work, but I don't want to deal with deraadt again.

trasz5y ago

FreeBSD has been providing binary packages for aarch64 for quite some time - this doesn't happen only for Tier1; I think even mips64 still gets them.

emaste5y ago

mnd9995y ago

Fantastic, congratulations and big thanks to all that made this happen. I was outspokenly grumpy when the news came out that this wasn’t happening, now I’m so pleased it is.

flatiron5y ago

I remember when it was x86 only. Free=best x86, open=crazy security and docs nuts, net=runs on university toaster. Times have changed!

ashton3145y ago

maxioatic5y ago

> We will also be suggesting one or more low-cost reference platforms for FreeBSD/arm64.

A boy can dream this would be the Pi.

kevans915y ago

This is pretty unlikely, unfortunately. We're generally looking out for a Pi maintainer because it doesn't really have one -- it's not the most desirable platform to hack on, from a developer POV.

maxioatic5y ago

Hmm, bummer. Curious as to why it's not that desirable, and is there something else you would rather use?

1 more reply

Klwohu5y ago

Are you saying this as a FreeBSD core development team member?

1 more reply

hibbelig5y ago

What does this mean for the different devices? Will more be supported? I’ve got a cubietruck and a pinebook pro...

rwaksmunski5y ago

Tier 1 mostly means binary updates and prebuilt packages. More details: https://docs.freebsd.org/en/articles/committers-guide/#archs

Decabytes5y ago

waynesonfire5y ago

so awesome seeing freebsd adapting.

m015y ago

It'd be nice if this was a stepping stone towards (the BSD-based) TrueNAS (formerly known as FreeNAS) coming to arm64/AArch64.

ggm5y ago

otterley5y ago

Mods: Can we update the link? Here is the actual announcement: https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-announce/2021-Ap...

dang5y ago

Changed from https://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-announce/2021-Ap.... Thanks!

DuckiOP5y ago

Oh, my bad, sorry.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse