Which BSD base with better Hardware Detection?

[mbzadegan]

Hi,
I'm search for a BSD base that can detection Hardware better than others?
Which is better than (NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, DragonflyBSD)?

[ocicat]

Originally Posted by mbzadegan

I'm search for a BSD base that can detection Hardware better than others?

Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses. Given that you haven't given any information about what hardware is in question, why not install the platforms you find interesting, and answer the question yourself?

[mbzadegan]

Originally Posted by ocicat

Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses. Given that you haven't given any information about what hardware is in question, why not install the platforms you find interesting, and answer the question yourself?

I installed more linux distros last years and all of them could recognise and detect my Networks/Video/USB... but know I need BSD.
I installed FreeBSD but it can not detect my notebook network device.
So I'm going to install NetBSD but it panic on initial installing because of my RAM (4GB) and when I notify to NetBSD developers they told me that is BUG and will resolve at least 6 month later!
SO, I need a BSD base for my project that detect the generic notebook device.
My Notebook is ASUS S200E with 4GB RAM.
Thanks for your Guides.

[bsd-keith]

The kernel detects the hardware on start up, but whether there are the necessary modules for your hardware in each flavour will be your problem.

FreeBSD is most likely to run on more varied hardware, followed by NetBSD.
(Personally I use OpenBSD. )

[scottro]

Oddly enough, I've had more success with Open than Net on various machines. However, haven't installed either in quite awhile.

FreeBSD, at least, has a liveCD mode where you can boot it and see if it will run on your hardware.

[LeFrettchen]

Originally Posted by mbzadegan

My Notebook is ASUS S200E.

Your model seems to have a really bad LAN adapter, which have bunch of updates on differents OS...

[shep]

SO, I need a BSD base for my project that detect the generic notebook device.

FreeBSD, at least, has a liveCD mode where you can boot it and see if it will run on your hardware.

There is also a livecd for OpenBSD 5.7 with security patches here.

I would also get the specifications for your laptop networking device (nic vs wireless?) and check the manual pages - you may be missing firmware.

[mbzadegan]

Yes, I liked FuguIta but it don't have memstick image and my Notebook have not any DVD Devices!
I boot the OpenBSD last release on my NoteBook, I start its Live Shell but I'm surprised when running ifconfig command.
It do not detected any Network interface as other BSD.
Does OpenBSD must be install to full interface detection?

[ibara]

When you have some *BSD installed on the laptop, please post your dmesg to http://dmesgd.nycbug.org/ so others can benefit.

[mbzadegan]

I have installed OpenBSD 5.7 on my NoteBook ASUS(S200E).
It do not detected any Networks Interface such as LAN or WiFi.
http://dmesgd.nycbug.org/index.cgi?a...o=view&id=2739
How Can I Install them?

[ibara]

These devices are not yet supported in OpenBSD. You would have to write drivers for them.
Alternatively, purchase a supported USB Ethernet and/or USB WiFi module.

[shep]

Your dmesg indicates you have an Atheros AR9485 which is supported in FreeBSD

[LeFrettchen]

Originally Posted by shep

Your dmesg indicates you have an Atheros AR9485 which is supported in FreeBSD

Well, poorly supported, for sure !
Even Windows has a really bad driver for this LAN adapter...

The best thing to do is to forget this crap, and find an alternative solution.

[fn8t]

Its nice to have a handful of these around -> Edimax EW-7811Un 150Mbps 11n Wi-Fi USB Adapter or AirLink101 AWLL5088 Wireless N 150 Ultra Mini USB Adapter. I think they are RTL8188CUS. They work as a quick fix anyway. The Edimax cost is less, I think.

[ibara]

Originally Posted by fn8t

Its nice to have a handful of these around -> Edimax EW-7811Un 150Mbps 11n Wi-Fi USB Adapter or AirLink101 AWLL5088 Wireless N 150 Ultra Mini USB Adapter. I think they are RTL8188CUS. They work as a quick fix anyway. The Edimax costs less, I think.

If you search eBay for RTL8188CUS you'll get a whole bunch of them, some as cheap as $3.

[bsd-keith]

Addon is another name for a wifi stick that uses the RTL8188CUS chip which then uses the urtwn driver under OpenBSD.

[scottro]

Yeah, that Edimax worked for me in FreeBSD-10.x and up. (Not 9). I don't think it worked with OpenBSD-5.6, haven't tried 5.7

[mbzadegan]

At the final still I didn't get my answer.
Which BSD base will be the first selection to support new hardware? (even if there is a little different)

[jggimi]

Originally Posted by mbzadegan

Which BSD base will be the first selection to support new hardware?

You are insisting on a single answer. OK: It depends.

Support of any new hardware has two phases.

1. Recognition of vendor/device codes transmitted by a device in response to probe actions by the OS.
2. Development, testing, and deployment of an operational device driver.

Each phase requires development effort. Phase 2 is usually significantly more effort than Phase 1. Both phases require interest, resources, time, and information. Each BSD will have varying amounts of these, at different times, for different types of hardware.

TL;DR:Time-to-availability of a functional driver will always vary between the BSD projects.

If you require the use of a particular hardware component at a particular point in time, you must choose an OS which can exploit that hardware at that point in time. Whether that OS is one of the BSDs or not. If you don't know which OS supports that particular hardware, you must test them.

[fn8t]

Originally Posted by scottro

Yeah, that Edimax worked for me in FreeBSD-10.x and up. (Not 9). I don't think it worked with OpenBSD-5.6, haven't tried 5.7

I was pretty sure it worked with both 5.6 and 5.7. I know for sure the Airlink works with 5.6. A couple years back I did have a wifi unit work on a i386 but not amd64, using the save version.

Edit: Yes, the Edimax works with OpenBSD-5.6.