Ever More NetBSD Packages

Dan writes "Alistair Crooks says that by his calculations, at the end of January 2003, there were 3461 packages in the NetBSD Packages Collection, up from 3402 the previous month, a rise of 59. The package of the month award goes to rdesktop (pkgsrc/net/rdesktop), nominated by Andrew Brown and Ross Harvey. Rdesktop is a "dependency-free" utility to manage a session on a Windows box in an X window."

Rdesktop

[glitchvern]

The package of the month award goes to rdesktop (pkgsrc/net/rdesktop), nominated by Andrew Brown and Ross Harvey. Rdesktop is a "dependency-free" utility to manage a session on a Windows box in an X window.

Sweet. I've been using rdesktop on the linux boxes at work to connect to the one Windows machine when I need to do something off of it occasionally for a few months now. For those who don't know what it is it's a remote desktop client for X to connect to Windows machines running Remote Desktop. It's right up there with samba and wine for unix/Windows compatibility in my opinion, but it seems like there aren't many people who know about it.

No 'depenencies' but license issues

[nurb432]

MS still has license issues for each connecting client ( CAL ). .. and it isn't cheap :)

Though I agree its a GREAT tool.. just that its not the holy grail in "Terminal Server Land'.. Only a fully functional WINE has that potential.. someday...

Re:No 'depenencies' but license issues

[ralphart]

CAL seems to be an issue only with Win2K Advanced Server editions. Windows XP Pro (but not home) has the ability to run a single "Remote Desktop Connection" session without complaining about licensing. RDesktop works fine with it.

Incidently, should you have the Terminal Services client, especially the 16 bit version for Windows 3.1, it can be used to set up a Remote Desktop Connection with Win XP as well.

Techincally that is true

[nurb432]

However, you need to check the license issues more closely. And remember they have consultants who's entire life is just sorting out Microsoft licensing issues..

When you have 2000 pro you get a CAL for TS.. ( or at least you used too.. that may have been dropped )

Rdesktop was mainly designed for W2KTS, the ability to run XP remote desktop just came along as a bonus later on. ( the project started before XP was out ). However its not legal to use unless you have a corresponding XP license, and matched appl

Great, but...

[Istealmymusic]

FreeBSD's ports collection already has well over 7000 ports. I can see how NetBSD is useful to run Unix on esoteric hardware, but for i386 or Alpha platforms FreeBSD is king.

Re:Great, but...

[Arandir]

Don't look back now, but I think NetBSD is gaining on us...