“In December 2003, I wrote a script for remotely upgrading a linux system to FreeBSD. I gave it a catchy name (‘Depenguinator’, inspired by the ‘Antichickenator’ in Baldur’s Gate), announced it on a FreeBSD mailing list and on Slashdot, and before long it was famous. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for changes in the layout of FreeBSD releases to make the Depenguination script stop working; so for the past three years I have been receiving emails asking me to update it to work with newer FreeBSD releases.” And now it’s back.
This is so geeky it made my day
But I’m still not sure of exactly what it would be used
for…can we run FreeBSD in a virtual image
like a virtual machine(Vmware) does?
And how does it make BSD installation easier?
We do have DesktopBSD for that as well of course.
This has nothing to do with DesktopBSD or the desktop per se,
“This is a method to convert a Linux system to FreeBSD remotely. Colin tested the script using Ubuntu 7.10. I have a few Red Hat 8.0 systems and one or more Fedora Core 4 systems that I would like to convert to FreeBSD 7.0.”
http://taosecurity.blogspot.com/2008/01/from-linux-to-freebsd-with….
From one underdog operating system to a lesser known niche operating system.
Nice
There is no underdog, just a massive lack of any knowledge.
From the depinguinator page:
After waiting for the system to reboot, SSH back in; FreeBSD is now running in a memory disk; so now you can slice, partition, and create file systems on the hard drive(s) and install FreeBSD however you wish.
So it doesn’t actually install FreeBSD. It runs a live FreeBSD system from where you can install.
How is it different from booting the FreeBSD install cd?
You can do it 30000 miles away with no hands on
To be that far away is not possible on earth
That just means that NASA can install FreeBSD over Linux on their robots on Mars if they feel so inclined
I’m not normally one to add gratuitous comments, but I have to say ++ here. I like a laugh.
Perhaps not as the crow flies, but as the packets route 30k miles is much more achievable. 😉
No, you can’t.
Take your live cd and try it remotely =)
the name is very nice, even funny.
other things, well why not….
But the real thing to build is the “dewindowsgator”
I didn’t realize we would need a “gator” to install another os over windows! ;-D
Broken for 3 years , no one to pay for it to be fixed or fix it , wil be broken at next update.
I say usual BSD …
It seem to me , that anything that allow for easy instalation of my OS should be maintained and kept up to date by the core developers and offered on the default website and offered with the default distribution. But then I remember we are talking about BSD here.
Why should the core developers maintain something they didn’t write, and are not interested in. They are concerned with writing FreeBSD.
It’s the same as Ubuntu not supporting Automatix, It’s useful, but it’s also dangerous. If I was the FreeBSd devs, I would not support a 3rd party installation script, they have their own installer to support.
You should not waste your time in commenting comments where the commenter obviously does not get the point.
But this news is more or less a flamebait by it self, but it is one damn cool flamebait.
I had some time to waste….
Just for the record, the author of this script is a long time FreeBSD developer.
That doesn’t mean that FreeBSD.org wants to be responsible for, and support such a hack, even if it is a very cool hack (and it is)
“That doesn’t mean that FreeBSD.org wants to be responsible”
Thats the point precisely , bunch of irressponsible people complaining how they are always behind everyone else because of a bunch of self invented excuses …
Simply put your either a fool or a BSD for not adopting , using , supporting or doing something that help your project adoption or platform adoption.
I guess , GNU/Linux hype and FUD is behind that one too …
“Simply put your either a fool or a BSD for not adopting , using , supporting or doing something that help your project adoption or platform adoption.”
Uh, I don’t really see how this would really help FreeBSD that much, and they have the right to decide how they want things done.
“Thats the point precisely , bunch of irressponsible people complaining how they are always behind everyone else because of a bunch of self invented excuses …”
I don’t really hear that from the BSD’s, maybe Theo, but he doesn’t speak for everyone. And it is irresponsible to officially support a script that can change a computers OS remotely. I think it’s pretty dangerous, and there are better ways (not easier) to build a FreeBSD system.
“I don’t really see”
Can’t make a blind men see …
“they have the right to decide how they want things done.”
No , or they need to stop complaining that GNU/Linux is more widely used , distributed , supported , etc … Because the fault for it is themself.
“I don’t really hear that from the BSD’s”
your deaf too ?
“maybe Theo, but he doesn’t speak for everyone.”
Right , project leaders speak only for themself and everyone is jumping in to tell him he is wrong …
“And it is irresponsible to officially support a script that can change a computers OS remotely.”
BSD security is best handled by letting other’s handle it , and that it stay broken … People have trouble installing BSD but yet a tool that could help change that is best left hidden for **pseudo** security sake ?
BSD logic at work here. ( Meaning it’s illogical )
“I think it’s pretty dangerous, and there are better ways (not easier) to build a FreeBSD system.”
Shock , horror , gasp !! Something that install a FreeBSD system remotely over GNU/Linux to help with replacing it that is easier !!!
All BSD must unite to stop such a thing …
People don’t believe me when I say the BSD are against having more people using BSD or make life easier for those who want to try it but don’t know how.
“Right , project leaders speak only for themself and everyone is jumping in to tell him he is wrong ..”
Theo is only project leader for OpenBSD. Not FreeBSD, NetBSD, or any other BSD.
“BSD security is best handled by letting other’s handle it , and that it stay broken … People have trouble installing BSD but yet a tool that could help change that is best left hidden for **pseudo** security sake ?
BSD logic at work here. ( Meaning it’s illogical )”
That is a ridiculous argument.
“Shock , horror , gasp !! Something that install a FreeBSD system remotely over GNU/Linux to help with replacing it that is easier !!!”
It’s bad practice, if you ask me. If something goes wrong, you aren’t there to fix it, and then you have no options left, you have a hosed system instead of a working one, and you aren’t even there to fix it. It’s a stupid idea.
“People don’t believe me when I say the BSD are against having more people using BSD or make life easier for those who want to try it but don’t know how.”
People don’t believe you because you make arguments with no real information to back them up. For people who want to use BSD in a more Linux like manner, there is DesktopBSD, PC-BSD and others.
Contrary to popular belief, a graphical installer does not magically make an OS easier to install. BSD is already quite easy to install, just as easy as Windows 2000 or XP, and adding applications is very easy. I would like to see a live-cd, and hopefully that will come.
The changes in FreeBSD has been immense since I started using it (FreeBSD 4.9) They are moving forward, and making good progress.
“Theo is only project leader for OpenBSD. Not FreeBSD, NetBSD, or any other BSD.”
No , Theo is the current leader for all BSD. Because you don’t see , hear or most people evn know the name of the other’s. Theo is more harmfull then people know.
Theo is a lot like Linus Torvalds , except LT is not surrounded by people who let him say and do what he wants , who let him in control of things he clearly don’t grasp or should be doing.
“That is a ridiculous argument.”
No your’s is , it’s even proven as false. Security is not made by leaving something out and unmaintained.
“It’s bad … It’s a stupid idea.”
Why ? Because then someone would need to man phone to actually offer support over the phone or over skype or remotely connect if the problem is some driver ? God forbid that people could be hired to go on site or send UPS bag triple ways send client – receive support – return client …
God forbid they made money at it and re-invest some in new development.
“People don’t believe you because you make arguments with no real information to back them up.”
No , people want me to do the job and fix the problem for free. Also that I Shut-Up too.
“For people who want to use BSD in a more Linux like manner, there is DesktopBSD, PC-BSD and others.”
You just showed your incompetence on the subject. GNU/Linux is actaully at it’s weakest on the desktop even do it’s the first mainstream OS by usage and first by
income but lack OEM sale visibility.
“Contrary to popular belief, a graphical installer does not magically make an OS easier to install.”
What if your wrong ? Better yet you are wrong !
“BSD is already quite easy to install,”
You got 20$ , you got a computer , you got a BSD OS.
go to a neighboor and tell him your going to pay him 20$ to install BSD. You cant help him at all. That might change your views on things.
You will have to learn that not everybody is as smart or as knowledgeable and has as much facility as you with installing OS.
“just as easy as Windows 2000 or XP”
There is no big brand named OEM system shipping with BSD at all , yet in your false view of the world somehow BSD will be able to beat the version of windows XP and Windows 2000 that is a rescue CD and install just as easy …
Windows XP/2000 was Factory modified to work with the Computer it shipped with. They had access to the hardware in the prototype stage that means 2 – 3 years before it hit market.
“and adding applications is very easy. I would like to see a live-cd, and hopefully that will come.”
http://www.freesbie.org/ ???
as opposed to
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php
“The changes in … making good progress.”
I would like to know what bizarre measure of success you use to say that since 2003 BSD as made good progress. But hey it got created in 2003 , no wait it’s been around since the 70’s …
In 1990 useable computer where 3000$
in 1995 useable computer where 2500$
in 2000 useable computer where 2000$
in 2002 useable computer where 1000$
in 2004 useable computer where 800$
in 2005 useable computer where 600$
in 2006 useable computer where 400$
in 2007 useable computer where 300$
It’s 2008 and there are useable computer sold 200$ or less new.
The price going down more people have acess to computers because they can afford it. The BSD number of user’s as actually declined , dramatically , because to be the same it had to minimum increase by a multiple of 2 each years , it did not.
Educate yourself about shift and numbers :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q
BTW GNU/Linux at it’s is stronguest in Bric country :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRIC
The real goal of an OS is to replace another. Blocking ways that help achieve that goal is only damaging to the OS that do the blocking.
I should know better but here goes..
You really like to show that you know nothing about the bsd’s don’t you?
And yet Theo is the leader of a successful project.
And your some kind of security expert?
You clearly don’t work with any kind of administration of production systems. If you did you would know why it’s a bad idea to hose a system you don’t have easily access to.
I don’t really believe anyone wants you to fix their systems. Your comments show lack of understanding in anyway posible way.
Yeah sure blame the oem’s for the lack of linux uptake. Wonder who will have to take the blame when linux doesnt get more uptake even if HP and the rest shows a little interest in selling linux pc’s.
How about you just for once try to back your “arguments” up with facts?
If you can read the documentation it’s pretty strait forward to install any OS.
What does that have to do with anything? Atleast reply to what you qoute. And so what if there arent any big oem’s shipping any of the bsd’s? How many has fallen for the linux hype and ships that?
And please do show the numbers that you have the shows the fall in numbers of *BSD users.
Do your self and all others a favor and stop making shit up. It would might actually posible to believe anything you write if you did’nt make up lies to make your stories true. None of the bsd’s are from the 70’s. They all started in the early 90’s. But hey why bother with facts when you can make up your own version of history.
Don’t the let fact that your usual stuff to back your “arguments” up are saying other things then you want it to say when other people read it. Do back this up aswell.
Who says it should be the goal of an OS to replace other OS’? You? Who gives a rats ass about what your saying? And what OS is blocking another OS and how?
Of course not, but that isn’t the topic. But apart from that, most of his “hacks” are in FreeBSD now 😉
Edited 2008-01-31 16:35 UTC
Has anybody tested this thing? So does it actually work without too many errors and headaches? Anyway, I’m sure it would be wiser to just do a clean install of FreeeBSD and then maybe move some files and some configurations from Linux by hand. But Depenguinator looks like an an interesting experiment nevertheless.
It worked back in 2003 and it works today.
Basically this piece of software is very useful when your ISP doesn’t install freebsd or charges you extra to get someone to install freebsd on your server. Or simply when some friend asks you to exorcise some tuxie at his place and you don’t want to get your geek butt out of home.
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