*BSD News Article 50716


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From: gilb@ennews.eas.asu.edu (James P. K. Gilb)
Subject: Re: DEBATE:  BSD vs. Linux
Message-ID: <GILB.95Sep6101649@enws285.ennews.eas.asu.edu>
Sender: news@ennews.eas.asu.edu (USENET News System)
Organization: Arizona State University
In-Reply-To: imp@village.org's message of 4 Sep 1995 23:29:34 -0600
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 1995 17:16:49 GMT
References: <4233kp$t8p@hilly.apci.net> <42gchd$ptd@cnn.nas.nasa.gov>
	<42ger8$bc6@beowulf.gsfc.nasa.gov> <42gg3b$qn6@cnn.nas.nasa.gov>
	<42gn7u$bu@rover.village.org>
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Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc:995 comp.os.linux.advocacy:20150

In article <42gn7u$bu@rover.village.org> imp@village.org (Warner Losh) writes:

   It is my understanding from those close to the Linux world that a
   64bit port of Linux/Alpha is in the words, and that the 32bit port was
   just an exersize to understand the machine well enough to do the 64
   bit port.  Linus is supposedly doing the 64 bit kernel.

	Digital (via Jim Paradis) worked on a 32 bit port because it
was perceived to be a faster way to get a version of it on the market
(probably like the 32bit NT version on the Alpha).  In any event,
Linus exceeded all expectations and has the 64 bit version self
hosting and running X (limited cards, very alpha).  The 32 bit project
has been dropped.  BTW many vendors (SGI for example) maintain 32 bit
compatibility in their 64 bit OS'es because of bad programming habits
by application developers.  We have an R8K running Irix 6.0.1 and many
X-apps break when you try to compile them with the 64 bit X libs.

	For more info on the Alpha port try:

	http://www.redhat.com/alpha/alpha.html
	http://www.azstarnet.com/~davidm/Linux-Alpha/FAQ.html

--
James P. K. Gilb                "Well, it was either that or do research,
Arizona State University        so I guess the choice was pretty obvious."
gilb@emipx1.eas.asu.edu                        J.P.K.G.