OpenBSD Project Needs Alpha's

sekure writes "I was just on OpenBSD.org, and as I was reading the wanted hardware page I noticed that the OpenBSD project needed more Alpha gear, and if they don't get what they need, they won't ship OpenBSD/alpha on the 2.7 CD-ROM. I don't know what everyone else thinks, but I think it would be a shame. I know I'm going to talk to my boss about lending (or maybe even giving?) an Alpha to the OpenBSD project. Maybe people have old (or new) Alpha's kicking around they don't use anymore, or maybe there are some multi[million|billion]aires that wouldn't mind donating some fresh new Alpha's. What do you think?"

Re:Unfortunately

[The Finn]

``I run NetBSD as my OS of choice, and I still read /.''

Re:Unfortunately

[Daeron]

FreeBSD-5.0-CURRENT here :-))

Shucks

[unitron]

I thought they meant they wanted alpha testers : (
Really, I did. And I'd certainly be the perfect "clueless newbie" test bed : )

Re:Unfortunately

[RowanRedbeard]

Present. I run a *BSD-only shop; several Open, one Free, and one Net. Unfortunately, I just allocated my one newer Alpha (a Miata) to running Net in a critical role. Otherwise I'd be jumping at the chance to donate it to the Open cause.

Maybe I'll try to convince the powers to let me donate our HPPA box to the cause. Not the same, but it'd make me feel better.

Re:Unfortunately

[obobo]

Yet another occasional BSDer.

Re:Unfortunately

[tomreagan]

I'm here and I don't even run BSD!!

Do use OpenSSH, though. Thanks, Theo.

tkr

Re:OpenBSD foundation

[lw54]

But Compaq is 0wn3d by Microsoft.

Re:Unfortunately

[lw54]

1 FreeBSD 3-STABLE
1 FreeBSD 5-CURRENT/Windows 98 SE/Windows 2000
1 Windows 2000
1 PicoBSD

I've never ran Linux though. :-)

OpenBSD foundation

[Nonesuch]

We (The ISP from Hell) have been discussing this off and on for a while, and Theo is not opposed...

A non-profit, 501(c)3 educational foundation, dedicated to improving OpenBSD. This would allow for tax-deductible donations of money and hardware.

One reason we have not taken this idea further- we are based in the USA, while OpenBSD is, for very good reasons, run from Canada.

It would make much more sense to base the Foundation in Canada. Any volunteers?

Re:Unfortunately

[shrub34]

I tried OpenBSD but stopped when I discovered that it did not support my dual processor machine. I currently run FreeBSD, but would go back to OpenBSD once SMP support is added.

=====

Re:Unfortunately

[Doppelgaenger]

I read /. religiously and my OS of choice is FreeBSD... Frankly, I'm still trying to figure out why everyone thinks Linux is so great :)

Re:Unfortunately

[hubertf]

Oink :-)

NetBSD here, on i386, arm32, sparc.
Anyone want to give me an alpha? :-)

- Hubert

Re:Unfortunately

[jeroenb]

It really amazes me how quiet this section is... Even when you multiply the amount of follow-ups to this message by a thousand, it's still not much... :(

Re:Unfortunately

[DrWiggy]

In the days before I joined the .com (or rahther .co.uk) startup I work for now, I used to work a biggish ISP. We originally ran about 20 OpenBSD machines, and about half a dozen Linux boxes. Before I left there was a move to push them all over to FreeBSD.

Where I am now, I have merely 2 FreeBSD dual-processor machines, but I'm going to be watching the new SMP branch of OpenBSD closely. I suppose I'll take whichever BSD has the best SMP support, and would ideally like to consider moving everything over to Alpha machines. I will always have a soft spot for OpenBSD as it was the OS that showed me Linux was pants, and proper Unix was far better. It would be a shame if there were not the resources for development for Alphas and even for SMP.

In the UK this time of year is normally the best time to try and get charitable donations due to the end of the tax year, but unfortunately we're already fully allocated on that front. If there is some loose budget after allocation next month, I'll consider putting some money towards a few of the BSD projects. To be honest, any small company that put money behind any of them is going to get a raised profile and a bit of respect from the community, so it's probably a good idea, especially as it comes at 'half price' when you take the tax write-off into account...

I can't find it now, but I seem to remember Theo having a page on OpenBSD.org that listed all the donations, along with amounts. The amounts have now been taken away, but IIRC Theo's contribtutions were a few orders of magnitude greater than everybody elses. Even when combined. :-)

I know a few rich people who are geeks. Perhaps I shall make a few phone calls. ;-)