Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
| From: | Alex Ross <alexross-AT-gnusolaris.org> | |
| To: | debian-devel-AT-lists.debian.org | |
| Subject: | Debian based GNU/Solaris: pilot program | |
| Date: | Tue, 01 Nov 2005 18:21:45 -0800 | |
| Cc: | debian-devel-announce-AT-lists.debian.org |
Nexenta OS: Debian based GNU/Solaris ========================== This is to announce Nexenta: the first-ever distribution that combines GNU and OpenSolaris. As you might know, Sun Microsystems just opened Solaris kernel under CDDL license, which allows one to build custom Operating Systems. Which we did... created a new Debian based GNU/Solaris distribution with (the latest bits of) Solaris kernel & core userland inside. We'll open Nexenta web developer portal completely for the general public by mid-November. Today we are launching a Pilot Program. Debian developers and the entire Debian community - you are welcome to participate in the Pilot! What is Nexenta OS today ================= Several things: 1) A working prototype that runs on our 32-bit laptops and AMD64 box; the latter is used for development of the system itself, and it in turn runs our entire development environment, and hosts the web portal (below). 2) 2,300 Debian packages available for immediate usage. 3) Developer's portal at http://www.gnusolaris.org - fully functional, with downloads, APT repository, discussion forums, developer's "hack zone", bug database, blogs, and numerous Solaris and free software related resources. This will be 100% open and free-of-any-charge easy-to-install easy-to-use distribution. Coming out soon! The Future ======= We do hope that at some point, sooner rather than later, our changes (so far for the most part just cleanups to build the DEBs in the new Solaris-like environment) will be integrated with the upstream. At the end of the day - this would be the right thing to do. For Developers ========== There are probably very few projects that can come anywhere close to Nexenta OS, in terms of the size, complexity and openness. The Nexenta project offers a rare opportunity to take part in something as big as this mega-project at its early stage - and make a meaningful contribution, ranging from selected improvements and up to... well, the sky's the limit. One thing that makes it not only challenging but also a rewarding experience is - the kernel. It's a true UNIX (Solaris fully complies to The Open Group specifications). It's very stable, extremely development-friendly, well documented, cleanly architected, and well written. Contact ===== If interested, please send e-mail to <support at nexenta.com>, and tell us a few words about yourself. We'll respond with a user/password. Thanks! Nexenta Team <support at nexenta.com> www.gnusolaris.org
Posted Nov 2, 2005 16:59 UTC (Wed)
by jwb (guest, #15467)
[Link] (2 responses)
Posted Nov 2, 2005 17:45 UTC (Wed)
by lutchann (subscriber, #8872)
[Link] (1 responses)
Posted Nov 2, 2005 17:46 UTC (Wed)
by lutchann (subscriber, #8872)
[Link]
Posted Nov 2, 2005 19:11 UTC (Wed)
by piman (guest, #8957)
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I think this project will probably die a fast and deserved death.
Posted Nov 3, 2005 5:42 UTC (Thu)
by bajw (guest, #11712)
[Link] (4 responses)
Posted Nov 3, 2005 21:51 UTC (Thu)
by hazelsct (guest, #3659)
[Link] (2 responses)
Posted Nov 4, 2005 20:18 UTC (Fri)
by kreutzm (guest, #4700)
[Link]
Posted Nov 10, 2005 3:21 UTC (Thu)
by josh (subscriber, #17465)
[Link]
The fink project can distribute GPLed software for MacOSX because the fink project does not distribute OSX itself, and may thus take advantage of the exception for system libraries. The Nexenta project distributes GPLed software together with the CDDLed system libraries that it links together, which is not permitted. (This exception was designed for when a completely Free system did not exist, so that GNU software could be used to replace components of a proprietary system piece by piece, but proprietary vendors would not have an exception permitting them to distribute GPLed software linked to their proprietary libraries.)
Posted Nov 3, 2005 23:58 UTC (Thu)
by rqosa (subscriber, #24136)
[Link]
> The CDDL just doesn't provide the user protections of the
highly trusted GPL. Neither does the BSD license. It's arguable that the BSD license
provides even less "user protections" than the CDDL does (the FSF's license
list page calls the BSD license "non-copyleft" and calls the CDDL
"not a strong copyleft"). OTOH, the BSD license is GPL-compatible, which
the CDDL isn't.
Posted Nov 3, 2005 6:24 UTC (Thu)
by landley (guest, #6789)
[Link] (2 responses)
Posted Nov 3, 2005 12:02 UTC (Thu)
by Soruk (guest, #2722)
[Link]
Posted Nov 3, 2005 15:07 UTC (Thu)
by samb (guest, #32949)
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Posted Nov 3, 2005 11:25 UTC (Thu)
by wookey (guest, #5501)
[Link] (2 responses)
Any why on earth are they building debs on opensolaris on a hidden website? It makes no sense at all.
Posted Nov 3, 2005 17:35 UTC (Thu)
by aurel32 (subscriber, #7059)
[Link]
Posted Nov 3, 2005 20:21 UTC (Thu)
by piman (guest, #8957)
[Link]
These folks seem to be playin fast and loose with the terms "available", "immediate", and "now". Does anyone remember when new software came in the form of a CDROM, instead of a press release?Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
Where do any of those words appear in the announcement?Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
Wow, I think I need more coffee...Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
There have been some concerns about licensing expressed on debian-devel; their response was effectively "We'll let you know how we're not violating your licenses when you register for our site." Also, when asked about the advantages of the platform, they listed the ability to write proprietary drivers for it.Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
Though the Debian/kFreeBSD and Debian/NetBSD varieties have some attraction, I don't imagine I'd want to run an Unfree, Solaris-based version of Debian. I really *like* Free Software, especially Debian GNU/Linux. The CDDL just doesn't provide the user protections of the highly trusted GPL.Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
Please describe how Solaris under the new license is unfree. It's not GPL-compatible, but neither is MacOS X, which has a Debian port (fink).Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
AFAIK fink is not a Debian port but just uses apt / dpkg to install software (i.e. uses Debian tools).Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
The Freeness of the CDDL is one issue. The far more relevant issue, however, is that the CDDL is not GPL-compatible, which means that Nexenta *may not* distribute GPL software (such as most of the Debian core packages) linked to the CDDLed Solaris libraries.Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
Keep in mind that the debian people want to run debian on the hurd, run Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
debian on every bsd kernel out there, and even run debian on the windows
kernel.
No, I didn't make that last one up:
http://lists.debian.org/debian-win32/
I expect Debian on Solaris to have the same deep and abiding impact on the
software industry as debian-win32.
This appears to have stalled, if the mailing list (as linked in the parent) is anything to go by. The last meaningful post to the list was in June, with everything after that spam or unsubscribe requests...Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
If by 'the debian people' you mean the handful of people who actually work on those projects, you're right. The vast majority of the Debian people probably don't care and are not in any way directly involved in these projects.Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
Why on earth do they have a password-protected website pointed at by a press-release? That's crazy. It certainly doesn't endear them to anybody.Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
Maybe because they have no debs files?Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches
Perhaps it's because of the large-scale license violations they're committing, and ignoring.Nexenta (Debian-based GNU/Solaris) launches