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Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.questions Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!munnari.oz.au!yarrina.connect.com.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!msuinfo!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!swrinde!pipex!uknet!cf-cm!myrddin.isl.cf.ac.uk!paul From: paul@myrddin.isl.cf.ac.uk (Paul) Subject: Re: FreeBSD1.1.5??? Message-ID: <1994Jun24.154034.29427@cm.cf.ac.uk> Sender: paul@myrddin.isl.cf.ac.uk (Paul) Organization: ELSYM, University of Wales, College of Cardiff, UK. References: <2u4p1r$1jn@keltia.frmug.fr.net> <2u79na$c55@news.ysu.edu> <2u9fdv$jvs@chleuasme.francenet.fr> <1994Jun22.153959.5131@cm.cf.ac.uk> Date: Fri, 24 Jun 1994 15:40:32 +0000 Lines: 70 This all needs some clarification because people are getting confused. Various parties who are involved in working on FreeBSD had nasty letters from USL regarding the use of Net/2 derived code. Walnut Creek was one of these as were some members of the core team. An agreement was thrashed out with USL that allowed the continued use of the Net/2 code until July 31st. This includes the source code to the encumbered parts so this was a very good deal since even BSDI aren't allowed to do that. The agreement was accepted since 4.4 was already out and FreeBSD was already committed to switching to 4.4 anyway so we basically had several months to finish up on Net/2, make a release and then switch our code base to 4.4 Unlike NetBSD we have begun with a virgin 4.4 src base and basically started from scratch. This ensures *ABSOLUTELY* that there is no USL encumbered code in FreeBSD 2, since 4.4 lite has been legally declared clean under the BSDI/USL/UCB court cases. We therefore expect to take some time before releasing 2.0 since there's a lot of work involved in bringing 4.4/FreeBSD up to the same standard as the last release. When I say "some time" I mean quite a few months so expect a release towards the end of the summer BUT we want to make sure that the new code base is at least as stable as the old one so we're not going to release it until we've got everything sorted out. Since the 2.0 release may be a little longer than we'd normally have between releases it was decided to make a final Net/2 based release right on the line so to speak, so that the latest work we've done is available while we go off to work on 2.0, this will be the 1.1.5 release which will be out in the next week or two. Since Walnut Creek has signed an agreement with USL that prohibits distribution IN ANY FORM after July 31st, then at that date ALL distribution of FreeBSD 1.X will cease from Walnut Creek. Net/2 is encumbered in its entirety, i.e. EVERY file in NET/2 is encumbered even if there's an identical one in 4.4 so the whole of 1.X has to be removed to be completely sure of being USL free. This is a bit of legal nonsense but that's the way it is since Net/2 was agreed to be encumbered in the settlement not just the listed files but the whole lot. This includes -current, ftp, *everything*, including CDROMS. Since the deadline is only 5 weeks away it's just not viable to produce a 1.1.5 CDROM because the window for sales is just too small. If you already have 1.x releases don't worry. The agreement only affects future distribution. Anything you already have is safe. At that time we will be switching to a 4.4 based src tree which will become our -current and eventually 2.0. How we make the 2.0 -current available hasn't been finalised since we're changing the way we work a little when we do the switch since this is a good oppurtunity to correct some of the mistakes we made when we set the project up originally. Don't worry though, FreeBSD isn't just going to dissappear on July 31st, only 1.X will. Since only Walnut Creek and a few individuals have actually signed these agreements only they have to cease distribution at the end of July. We expect that many archive sites will grab the dist before that date and leave it lying around until they see fit. Of course sites may not wish to take the risk so that may not happen either but I suspect that those who still have Net/2 up aren't going to be concerned about having FreeBSD 1.1.5 on their site. So, grab the 1.1.5 release before July 31st to be sure of getting it. Expect the next full release of FreeBSD 2.0, which will be entirely 4.4 based with no Net/2 code whatsoever sometime around the end of the summer. -- Paul Richards, FreeBSD core team member. Intelligent Systems Laboratory, ELSYM ,University of Wales, College Cardiff Internet: paul@isl.cf.ac.uk, JANET(UK): RICHARDSDP@CARDIFF.AC.UK