The NetBSD Project is pleased to announce that release 1.6.1 of the NetBSD operating system is now available. NetBSD 1.6.1 is a maintenance release for users of NetBSD 1.6 which provides the following updates relative to 1.6: A number of security issues have been fixed.
Some performance fixes have been incorporated.
Improved device support in some existing drivers.
Some new device drivers have been added.
The evbsh3 port has been added to the binary distribution.
Some minor userland fixes have been applied.
The NetBSD 1.6.1 distribution consists of the full NetBSD source, binary releases for 40 ports including the X Window System, and the NetBSD Packages Collection 1.6.1 release.
Please note that ISO images bootable on a number of platforms will be made available shortly.
I’ve been waiting for this release! Great work NetBSD crew!
I have been usng NetBSD since 1.4 as a server OS hosting all our internet services. Just power it up and don’t really have to worry too much about it except to patch them whenever there are security advisories which is not very often depending on what services are running.
Just started using it as my primary desktop OS and I am thrilled with it. I am able to run all the applications I need and want. Well maybe with the exception of playing the latest games, but I don’t play too many games to speak of, so it is not a big deal.
Here are some screenshots of NetBSD in action:
http://www.netbsd.org/gallery/in-Action/
Kudos to the NetBSD team!!!
I think it is not yet released, I have been involved somewhat with the release of 1.6.1 because I am translating the release announcement to Dutch. The 1.6.1 announcement is already on the website so the translators can start translated, it has already been there for a while. Currently mirrors are syncing with http://ftp.netbsd.org, so it is pointless to rush to http://ftp.netbsd.org right now, because you’ll make it harder for the mirrors to sync. I think the final release will be released in the coming days.
Please, be kind and don’t load the NetBSD FTP site and wait for the official announcement.
I like the change list: “We added some new stuff and fixed some old stuff”
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I just downloaded and burned the iso files for 1.6 yesterday, preparing to switch from Windoze. A few more days…
“preparing to switch from Windoze”
Simply hilarious. Another “l33t guy” who has read too much Slashdot and wants to get away from the “evil empire.”
Well, at least you’re not going to try and goto Linux, you get some credit for that.
Carlos said: “Simply hilarious. Another “l33t guy” who has read too much Slashdot and wants to get away from the “evil empire.””
Well, I’ve been installing Windoze, i.e. Windows 2000, and Windows 98 on my friend’s computer yesterday. I spent FIVE freaking hours trying to get it to recognize a stupid modem! And guess what? Windows didn’t even notice any PCI devices! I am not a newbie — I run Slackware and FreeBSD at home, but I’ve NEVER had such a problem with those.
When I was trying to install drivers on Win2K, the setup program said it wants “a different Windows installer version”; when I tried it on Win98, it simply crashed… When I installed drivers manually, the system refused to recognize ANY PCI devices.
I can’t understand how all those *nix bashers assume that Windows is easy to install for a layperson.
Excuse me, I meant “Anonymous said about Carlos.”
So why exactly is it wrong for someone to try out another OS?
How can someone know which OS suits his/her needs best without first having tried out a couple?
You don’t have to hate windows in order to try out something else. Though there is a possibility you’ll get to like the other OS more than windows. But then again, maybe you won’t, and you’ll stick to windows. Still, you wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t tried, or would you?
Or maybe Anon. has a number of non-win boxes, and one Windows box he finally has the liberty to change over. Or is everyone a 1337 n00b by default?
He’s just a troll. Pay him no attention and he’ll fade away.
I’ve been waiting to swtich OSes for the past few years, but until a couple of months ago I was required to use Windoze because of work. Once I was at liberty to change I spent the next several weeks researching which OS to try, and this website was one of the primary resources in my selection process.
My dislike of Windoze is born of long and painful experience. In a world full of alternatives, why settle?
I’ve been using using Linux for about 5 years. I admit, I suffered from self-induced myopia regarding Windows and it’s perceived inferiority. I do hate to admit it but W2K is quite a bit better than most of the MS products… I’m not saying I don’t recommend Linux – I do and whole-heartedly. I happen to work as an out-sourced IT guy and well, you can see from there, I see and work on a lot ‘dows servers, PC’s and laptops.
Some of my acquaintances prefer the ‘dows platform, me, well I prefer Linux. Once I got down from soap-box about licensing and freedom and really looked at my reasons for using Linux, I realized I use it because I enjoy learning about things from different perspectives. This brings me to the ‘next’ exploration – NetBSD. I am curious about all OS’s but this one seems to have things I want and need in an OS. For me, moving into this might take a little effort or maybe a lot – I don’t know yet.
Will anyone share a bit of their experience regarding a similar path going from ‘dows-Linux-‘BSD? Beside ensuring my hardware is supported, what else should I watch out for?
If you are familiar with Linux I don’t think you are going to run into too much trouble with using NetBSD. You’re not going to find a pretty gui installer like YaST, but you will find that the NetBSD to be quick, slick, and intuitive. Also, you will not be able to find as many applications out there for NetBSD as you will for Linux, but for me personally, I am able to run NetBSD as my desktop and I am not lacking for applications for my needs. Additionally, you can also run a lot of Linux apps in emulation as well. Currently, it based on Suse Linux 7.3. You will find that performance will not be lacking running apps under emulation.
Here is a link to the excellent guide for installing NetBSD and some NetBSD related links that you might find of interest:
http://www.mclink.it/personal/MG2508/nbsdeng/netbsd.html
http://www.mreriksson.net/faqs/netbsd/
http://bsdvault.net/sections.php?op=listarticles&secid=3
http://www.bsdtoday.com/resources/
Have fun with exploring NetBSD, hopefully you will find it to be a pleasing and worthwhile experience.