*BSD News Article 90481


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From: aw1@stade.co.uk (Adrian Wontroba)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.sco.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc,comp.sys.sgi.misc
Subject: Re: What does the user community think?
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 10:14:35 GMT
Organization: Stade Computers Limited, UK
Message-ID: <E6KF4C.pF@stade.co.uk>
References: <331BB7DD.28EC@net5.net>
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[Mailed and posted]

According to N Shaw  <admin@net5.net>:
>We are totally a SGI & SUN house. 
>
>I am trying out BSDI, freeBSD and SCO OS5 to see if it is feasible to
>run on the INTEL platform.
>
>In my opinion SCO seems to be the best of the lot. 
>
>I would like to find out what the general user community thinks?

You don't say what you're intending to do with the system(s), which
makes it difficult to comment on what is "best".  But I will.

I'm a computer "consultant" (contractor).  My main professional area of
expertise is in an aging mainframe database system and and its
operating system, but have always had a penchant for UNIX, C etc.

I've been running SCO UNIX on my own machines for close on a decade.
SCO has (many) good points, pay for support, a thriving net support
community and a probable rosy future (the tie up with HP, acquisition of
Unixware etc).  SCO have worked hard to make SCO UNIX "modern" and
"compatible", with a lot of success.  OS5 has moved on a long way from
Open Desk Top - known fondly and more accurately by SCO's own
programmers as "Open Death Trap".  OS5 is good.

Despite this, my recent experiences with setting up another web server
for ACCU under FreeBSD have convinced me that the time has come for me
to ditch SCO and convert to FreeBSD, as it works, is very stable, has
good support, and has an unbeatable price.  I initially chose it over
LINUX as, being BSD based, it should be better at comms and has a more
tightly controlled development - all official FreeBSD changes and
releases go through one group of hard working and dedicated people.
This is not to denigrate LINUX - the server mentioned in my sig runs
under it, and runs well.  The looser control means that there is a lot
more LINUX software out there.  However, one of main needs for this
server was stability, and FreeBSD is reputedly more stable.

Basicly, you should evaluate[*], take your choice and pay your money (or
not).  With a commercial UNIX, you at least have the get out that if
something goes bad you wave the "we paid for support - provide it"
stick.  To be seen waving this could be career-preserving.  This is
probably one of the main reasons why so many organisations ignore the
Free Software world - if it goes wrong, and you can't fix it or get it
fixed, there is nobody else to blame.

Also - visit the FreeBSD web site and check out the gallery - you may be
surprised by some of the FreeBSD users you find there.

[*] If you can afford the costs (time, effort, disruption) try several
of the alternatives for months on low-risk projects, to find out which
really works best for you.

-- 
Adrian Wontroba, Stade Computers Limited.       phone:  (+44) 121 373 9546
Mail info@accu.org for information about the Association of C and C++ Users
or see <http://bach.cis.temple.edu/accu>