For its excellent backward compatibility: NetBSD 6.1 is still able to run a.out binaries built for NetBSD 1.0
For its system-independant build system. Building NetBSD needs a POSIX system with a C compiler, which does not need to be NetBSD. It first builds the tools for the host, including the compiler itself, and then the target NetBSD system, which may be for another CPU.
For its machine-independant drivers. Have a fancy platform with an odd CPU? If NetBSD has a driver for a chip, it will work a
I play with lots of different boards that use ARM application processors, but I've always used Linux of various flavors. It's not because of any particular attachment to Linux, but just because Linux runs on most things.
An alternative would be welcome. just for variety. And I did use BSD4.2 on VAXen a million years ago, so I'd like to deploy a bit of nostalgia too, if NetBSD can do it.
There are a lot of kernels built for ARM platforms [netbsd.org], but you will probably want to tweak and rebuild your own. This can be cross-built from your favorite Linux box, it is as simple as
run./build.sh -U -m evbarm tools to build the toolchain (-U for unprivilegied if you are not root, -m for target platform)
copy a kernel config file from sys/arch/evbarm/conf, and change whatever you need
run./build.sh -u -U -m evbarm kernel=YOUR_KERNEL_FILE to cross-build your custom kernel (-u for update, it does not rebuild what you already have, which will be useful when you will tweak things)
Kernel are ELF, so if you already have an ELF bootloader, it should be straightforward
Why NetBSD? (Score:5, Informative)
Why NetBSD?
What's the ARM support like? (Score:1)
I play with lots of different boards that use ARM application processors, but I've always used Linux of various flavors. It's not because of any particular attachment to Linux, but just because Linux runs on most things.
An alternative would be welcome. just for variety. And I did use BSD4.2 on VAXen a million years ago, so I'd like to deploy a bit of nostalgia too, if NetBSD can do it.
Re:What's the ARM support like? (Score:3)
Here is a good starting point [netbsd.org].
There are a lot of kernels built for ARM platforms [netbsd.org], but you will probably want to tweak and rebuild your own. This can be cross-built from your favorite Linux box, it is as simple as
Kernel are ELF, so if you already have an ELF bootloader, it should be straightforward