Miscellaneous Operating Systems/Hardware

http://undeadly.org/cgi?action=article& ... e=expanded

Looks like they're making progress again, v.cool

let's move this.

I was just about to make a post to let people know about the SGI port of OpenBSD. X11 support


good news. May be fun to play with I love the little O2 systems.

Although only the O2 is currently supported, there are some recent commits for IP30 and IP27 and IP35 is being worked on too. Backwards support for IP22 doesn't seem to be that much of a priority looking at the thread, which is a shame - I'm happy with Irix on the faster machines but OpenBSD is increasingly useful on many older architectures as an alternative to linux. It's already effectively superseded linux on sparc32 now that nearly everyone has dropped support, and I'd really like it as an option on my older MIPS stuff, like the Indy currently running Debian under my desk. OpenBSD 4.3 is looking very promising.

Installing 4.3 as I type this message

Though I've always thought it a bit loopy to run anything but IRIX on SGI hardware, I notice that OpenBSD 4.3 has just been released, and that the SGI port (an O2 port, really) has gotten some attention:

See http://www.openbsd.org/sgi.html#hardware for supported hardware.

Cool, I'll add it to my list of things to do. All the recent OSS progress has really made me wish I had more free time.

Also, what's up with the O2 case on the linked page? Is that an OpenBSD logo by the O2 logo or some kind of extra button hack?

Looks like a sticker of the wireframe version of the OpenBSD "Puffy the Blowfish" logo . The OpenBSD folks usually bundle a sheet of stickers if you buy the official CD.

If you do try the 4.3 release on the O2, I'm sure that many Nekochanner's would be interested to hear what you think of it.

Perhaps you should merge this with the existing thread here , which links to an interesting article on the same subject.

Thanks -- I missed the earlier thread. Merger complete!

Looks like the Fuel, Octane and Origin 200 are now supported
http://www.undeadly.org/cgi?action=arti ... ed&count=0

To improve support the developers are looking for hardware donations

As much as I hate to say it, I think that'd work out well on an Origin 300 for a webserver. IRIX is kind of dated, security-wise, and I don't want to put a huge break-in target on the public Internet.

Nekochan runs on IRIX on the public internet.

So just out of interest, how is nekochan.net kept 'secure'?

Since there's no graphics on an Origin, it's not like you're losing so much. I wonder if most exploits are operating system or application weaknesses, tho ? If it's applications then heck, we're already using the latest and greatest.

The same way you keep any system secure - make sure all public facing services are patched and up to date.

I'm just afraid of a breakin. I'm sure IRIX would be fine, but meh.

Then keep your eyes on the advisories and swap in rebuilt binaries from your favorite FOSS system (Solaris would probably be closest, followed by GNU/Linux and then xBSD) when a compromise comes up.

The important ones will be the services you use (SSH/SSL, HTTP, FTP), and those are the most likely to be third-party anyway.

Yep, exactly right. I roll my own builds of all those (excepting a commercial, third-party FTP server), plugging them in usually within hours of release. I'm even running openssl-1.0.0-beta2 for grins I also offer all of the Nekochan builds for download if anyone desires to use them elsewhere.

Another part of the equation is the software you run on the stack (things like phpBB, Gallery, SquirrelMail, etc.). Those need to be kept up to date as well on any platform you ultimately choose.

Security is an ongoing process on any platform. The only truly secure system is one not connected to the public internet.

(And yes, hamei - I know php-5.3.0 was just released today. xcache doesn't support 5.3 just yet so I'm going to wait a little)