On 11/11/05, Andrew L. Gould <algould@datawok.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 14:13:42 -0500 (EST)
> Matthew Orgass <darkstar@city-net.com> wrote:
>
> > On 2005-11-11 algould@datawok.com wrote:
> >
> > > In the past, I've installed packages for my Nec MobilePro by having
> > > swap and /usr/pkgsrc on a FreeBSD computer and using them via NFS.
> > > In an effort to make it easier after installing NetBSD 2.1, I'm
> > > considering whether it would be better to run swap and pkgsrc
> > > locally by installing NetBSD to a 6GB microdrive or buying a cobalt
> > > raq2 on ebay.  The raq2 would actually be cheaper than the
> > > microdrive; and would provide yet another educational experience.
> > > The larger microdrive would provide more resources for the
> > > mobilepro on an ongoing basis.  I'm not sure what to decide.
> >
> >   The main problem with storage on hpcmips is that you can't do DMA
> > (this is particularly annoying on the Clio, where the internal CF
> > slot is behind the battery and so not hot swapable anyway).  The
> > microdrives and some flash cards are capable of DMA on an ATA/IDE
> > interface, but no hpcmips machine (or other handheld) I know of has
> > one.  NFS from a system that does DMA transfers could easily be
> > faster than a directly attached disk, even with the recent
> > performance improvement for CF.  The VR41XX series has direct mapped
> > data cache, which hurts performance in many situations (I don't think
> > the lack of FP hardware would affect compile speed, but I don't
> > know).  Also, microdrives are less reliable than 3.5" disks.
> >
> > Matthew Orgass
> > darkstar@city-net.com
>
> Thanks for the information.  I just purchased a not-used raq2 on ebay.
> (The description said it belonged to a web hosting company that never
> got started.)
>
> Next questions:
>
> Which pkgsrc should I use?  pkgsrc-2005Q3? or the file
> pkgsrc file dated 11/05/2005?
>
> Assuming I can get everything working right, what would be the best way
> to make binary packages available to others?

The raq2 is a good idea. I have a Qube2. It builds much faster than
the Mobilepro 880 I have.

I use the current pkgsrc branch, I can't comment on those other ones.

Andy