WeRecoverData.com - NetBSD

Introduction
NetBSD is an open-source version of Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) operating system. BSD is a derivative of UNIX operative system and is being developed and distributed by the Computer Systems Research Group of the University of California, Berkeley. NetBSD is freely distributed under a business friendly license. The software is best known for its portability and security features, and it is mostly used in embedded systems. Being an open-source software solution, NetBSD is being developed and supported by an open community. The current stable release of NetBSD is version 4.0.1, released in October 2008.

Important features
Stable Codebase
NetBSD codebase has been open to public scrutiny since the early 80s, so it has become one of the cleanest and most stable codebases available today. Because of this reason, NetBSD is used for building custom projects by several reputed organizations, including NASA. NASA used NetBSD in its SAMS-II project of measuring the microgravity environment on the International Space Station. Force10 Networks, which develops high-density Ethernet network infrastructure equipment, uses NetBSD as the underlying operating system for their high scalability switches/routers. Wasabi Systems, a provider of iSCSI SAN Products, offers a commercial Wasabi Certified BSD product based on NetBSD for embedded, server and storage applications.

Support for Multiple Platforms
The clean architecture of NetBSD enables it to support the latest hardware platforms available in Alpha, PowerPC, and PC systems, while still retaining support for older platforms. All this is done from a single source tree. This platform independence of NetBSD makes it the ideal platform to port to new machines and embedded platforms such as ARM, MIPS and Super-H based devices.

Support for Multiple File Systems
NetBSD can handle and manipulate different file systems to enable data exchange and binary compatibility. Some of them are ffs (Berkeley fast file system), lfs (log-structured file system), tmpfs (a type of memory file system), iso9660 (standard CD file system), msdosfs (Windows, MS-DOS, and Atari TOS) ntfs (Windows NT native file system), ext2fs (Linux extended file system), ados (AmigaDOS file system), and filecorefs (Acorn RISC OS file system).

Apart from these, NetBSD also has a number of virtual file system types, including kernfs (access kernel information), nullfs (for loopback mounts), portal (portal daemon file system), procfs (access process information), umapfs (automatically remap uids and gids) and unionfs (attaches).

The new NetBSD also provides the puffs framework to create file systems as user space servers, giving a number of possibilities for developing new file systems in user space.

Kernal Authorization Framework (Kauth)
This is a new security feature incorporated starting from NetBSD 4.0 release. Kauth is a subsystem capable of managing all authorization requests within a kernel. It allows external modules to plug-in the authorization process. This feature allows implementation of new security models, either as part of the base system or as Linux Kernal Module (LKM).

In-Kernel Packet Filtering Engine and Network Address Translation
NetBSD uses an in-kernel packet filtering to filter traffic based on different criteria such as interface, protocol, operating system, source and destination. Another in-kernel feature, the network address translation (NAT) permits a local network of machines to use one set of addresses internally and a different set externally- a feature that would enhance the security of the network.

Comprehensive Network Features
NetBSD supports a variety of network types including ARCnet, ATM, Ethernet, FDDI, HIPPI, PPP, SLIP, and Token Ring. NetBSD provides total in-kernel network file system (NFS) client and server support, for both NFS2 and NFS3 protocols. It also supports other protocols, including Appletalk, ISO, TCP/IP (IPv4) and TCP/IP (IPv6).

Compatibility
NetBSD is nearly compliant with IEEE 1003.1-1990 standard (POSIX.1) and mostly compliant with IEEE 1003.2-1992 (POSIX.2). It also provides system call-level binary compatibility with several UNIX-like operating systems including Linux, Apple’s Darwin, Solaris, HP-UX, Sun OS as well as other BSD variants like FreeBSD.

WeRecoverData.com - OpenBSD

OpenBSD is a freely available operating system derived from Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) operating system. BSD is a UNIX derivative developed at the University of California, Berkeley. OpenBD supports binary emulation of programs from a number of operating systems such as Solaris, Linux, SunOS, HP-UX, as well as other BSD variants like FreeBSD and BSD/OS. It is known for enhanced security features that are not found in other operating systems.

OpenBSD project insists on open source code and quality documentation. Developers audit the source code for software bugs and other security threats. The project is licensed through the open source BSD license or its variants. The project is coordinated by Theo de Raadt, Canada and is supported by several developers worldwide. The latest release is the OpenBSD 4.4, released in November 2008. The next release is scheduled for May 2009.

Important features

Supports Multiple Hardware Platforms
OpenBSD runs on 17 different hardware platforms. Some of them include Digital Alpha-based systems, AMD64-based systems, ARM-based appliances, HP 9000 series 300 and 400 workstations, HPPA Systems, Apple New World Power PC-based machines, and Sun SPARC systems.

Because of its interoperability with many hardware platforms, users can avoid customizing and tweaking of the software. OpenBSD project also discourages this practice.

Clean and Secure Source Code
OpenBSD is reportedly the most secure UNIX-like operating system. This is achieved by the scrupulous auditing process of the source code.

OpenBSD is distributed with a large number of third-party software products. Some of them include X.org. 7.3, GCC versions 2.95.3 and 3.3.5. GNU C Compiler, Perl 5.8.8., Open SSL 0.9.7j, Lynx 2.8.5rel.4 text web browser, BIND 9.4.2-P2 DNS server Sendmail 8.14.3 mail server, OpenNTPD Secure and simple Network Time Protocol implementation, and OpenBGPD and OpenOSPFD routing applications.

Developers often patch the third-party products to improve the quality and security of the product. As a result, the software may differ slightly from the original version, though the patches usually do not largely affect the functionality.

Available in Source Form
OpenBSD kernel and userland programs are developed together in a single source repository. Third party software is available as binary packages, or they may be developed using the ports tree.

New Features Added to OpenBSD 4.4

• Support for machines using the UltraSPARC IV/T1/T2 and Fujitsu SPARC64-V/VI/VII.


• Improvement for dhcpd. dhcpd now supports synchronization of lease files across multiple servers for redundancy. Unlike in the earlier versions, the new dhcpd does not use the dhcpd.interfaces file, but uses an entry in rc.conf.local.


• A sysmerge tool derived from the Mergemaster port. This tool makes it easier to merge configuration file changes while upgrading the software.


• hostname.* files with mode 600. This feature enables to keep the wireless keys and other configuration information secret.

• BeleniX: A *NIX distribution being used as a LiveCD distribution.


• Jaris: Jaris, aka Japanese Solaris, boots from LiveDVD and LiveUSB. Several Microsoft Windows –based applications run under this application.


• MarTux: This is the first non-SXCR OpenSolaris distribution available for SPARC, and is bootable from Live CD/DVD.


• NexentaOS: A GNU-based open source operating system built on the top of OpenSolaris kernel and runtime. It integrates OpenSolaris and open source software (OSS) applications.


• NexentaStor: Based on Nexenta, NexentaStor is optimized for storage workloads.


• OpenSolaris 2008.05: Includes a network-based package management system (IPS), the GNOME desktop, and LiveCD technology supported on AMD64, Pentium, and Xeon EM64T platforms.


• SchilliX: An OpenSolaris based UNIX Live CD and distribution for the x86, x64 and EM64T architectures.


• MilaX: MilaX is based on Solaris Nevade. Because of its small size, the software can be installed in small-capacity storage devices such as bootable business cards, USB flash drives or Zip drives.

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