Re: Is there a way to use Linux on the E450 ?

On 2006-09-16, Josh McKee <jtmckee@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

Please note that I am not questioning the feature set of the OBP over
the PC BIOS. I'm just wondering how useful all those features are. The
systems that I've been exposed to are used to run applications within an
operating system. For these systems getting from power on to booting the
OS is about the extent of the OBP benefit. I would think that this
situation applies to the majority of systems.

Alright, we'll cough up some honesty: The OBP is more pleasant to deal
with than a PC BIOS. 99% of the time it gets used to specify boot device
and do a "probe-scsi-all" to find devices. It provides a predictable,
sane interface and is piss-easy to use. On usability alone, nothing else
comes close. Also, the sane network booting is damn useful.

I only wish Sun provided OBP for their x86 hosts - it'd get rid of the
pure nastiness that is grub. I don't care what defences anyone can come
up with, grub is just plain horrible, and the need for grub is a grand
shining perfect example of why the OBP is a fantastic icon of perfection
compared to the PC BIOS.

The OBP is an *engineered* and *designed* solution. The current PC BIOS
is an evolution of hacks and workarounds.

--
Andre

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Is there a way to use Linux on the E450 ?
    ... GRUB has nothing to do with the BIOS. ... What, specifically, are you doing day to day with the OBP? ... and the only reason PCs have stuck with the ...
    (comp.sys.sun.hardware)
  • Re: Is there a way to use Linux on the E450 ?
    ... OS is about the extent of the OBP benefit. ... interested in having OBP instead of a BIOS. ... On failure, I can switch of the machine using the lom, switch into ... I need a serial console switch port for 50 Euro for each machine. ...
    (comp.sys.sun.hardware)
  • Re: Is there a way to use Linux on the E450 ?
    ... OS is about the extent of the OBP benefit. ... interested in having OBP instead of a BIOS. ... On failure, I can switch of the machine using the lom, switch into ...
    (comp.sys.sun.hardware)
  • Re: Is there a way to use Linux on the E450 ?
    ... program that the BIOS loads. ... GRUB has everything to do with the BIOS. ... If the system had an OBP, ...
    (comp.sys.sun.hardware)
  • Re: Is there a way to use Linux on the E450 ?
    ... OS is about the extent of the OBP benefit. ... with than a PC BIOS. ... the sane network booting is damn useful. ... You just said that 99% of the time the OBP is used to specify boot ...
    (comp.sys.sun.hardware)