OpenBSD Archive

OpenBSD project leader Theo de Raadt today announced the official release of OpenBSD 3.6 for fourteen architectures. This regular release includes new support for the luna88k platform as well as a long list of enhancements such as SMP support for x86 and AMD64. NewsForge has details and a list of mirrors. There is also an interview with openbsd developers on new technologies in 3.6.

Ryan McBride requests the help of the OpenBSD community in convincing Texas Instruments to change the license of their firmware for the ZCX100 802.11b chipset. Theo de Raadt makes a similar request directed at Intel. A success story from Theo de Raadt in using this tactic on Adaptec. This is also important for Linux and the rest of the BSDs. I had to "pirate" my Prism's firmware files in order to make the pcmcia card work with my Linuces. I don't see the point of keeping these firmware files bound.

OpenBSD will perform best for low-traffic Web sites requiring strong protection. The key theme here is small and secure — therein lies the strength of OpenBSD, says ServerWatch.

OpenBSD supports several authentication methods besides a simple password. Here are some ways you can keep your systems safe. Also, the new song for the next OpenBSD was released but Theo says that CD sales are very dissapointing.

The OpenBSD 3.6 announcement is available here. It will be released on November, you get an early look of what's new.

UnDeadly notes that the CVS' log message now reads: "move to 3.6-beta".

The OpenBSD Project released OpenBSD 3.5 exactly on schedule on May 1, adding support for new functions and devices in the kernel and updating the base system. While it may not be the most versatile operating system in the world, OpenBSD shines when it comes to security, providing a default installation that doesn't have to be locked down and partially disabled before using it. Here's also another article on how to setup OpenBSD.

In the following article, DistroWatch explores OpenBSD, an operating system built from the ground up with security in mind. Though not suitable for every taste, OpenBSD will no doubt save many system administrators gray hairs. Even for those not running a server, this is a very stable and powerful OS and you don't necessarily need to be paranoid (though it helps) to enjoy using it.

According to this SMP support is now in OpenBSD-current.

"I'm busy and want to sleep soundly and not with one eye on my internet-exposed hosts. Therefore I picked OpenBSD 3.5 as the operating system for the firewalling router handling my new home office connection." Read the article at ComputerWorld.

Alexander Yurchenko recently added device hotplug support to the tree and will be enabled by default in GENERIC once testing is complete for all architectures which can support it.

In my recent article reviewing OpenBSD 3.4, I ran into a few issues. First off, a few days after my OpenBSD 3.4 article went up, OpenBSD (without bothering to consult me) went and released OpenBSD 3.5. I hope no one noticed.

OpenBSD celebrated release 3.5 on 1 May 2004. In honor of this release, Federico Biancuzzi interviewed the developers of OpenBSD's PF, a powerful and flexible packet filtering interface. This is the second half of an interview. Elsewhere, the DaemonNews Ezine was released with new articles.

We are pleased to announce the official release of OpenBSD 3.5. This is our 15th release on CD-ROM (and 16th via FTP). We remain proud of OpenBSD's record of eight years with only a single remote hole in the default install. As in our previous releases, 3.5 provides significant improvements, including new features, in nearly all areas of the system. Read the official release announcement and changelog.