Subject: NetBSD for embedded i386 apps
To: None <netbsd-advocacy@NetBSD.org>
From: Paul Taylor <ptaylor@ashdown-electronics.co.uk>
List: netbsd-advocacy
Date: 07/22/2003 10:24:12
Hi,

I have used Linux for a minimal embedded system running on i386
compatible hardware and have come across NetBSD (and FreeBSD +
OpenBSD).  I am considering looking at creating a minimal system using
NetBSD and would like some basic information.

With Linux I go through the following sequence:
(1) Configure/Compile the kernel
(2) Compile my library 
(3) Compile the bootloader (lilo)
(4) Compile Busybox (which gives me commands such as insmod, ls, cat,
plus all others I need; and provides init, getty so that I can log in)
(5) Make some device nodes in /dev
(6) Put some config files in /etc
(7) Install everything to my compact flash card and my Linux System
boots.

I download the latest versions of the software I use from the internet.

For NetBSD, I would guess the procedure is similar.  Are there any major
differences to the procedure described above?

Are there any advantages to using NetBSD in a minimal configuration over
Linux, OpenBSD or FreeBSD.  I would guess that they all would do a
pretty good job but I am sure there are some differences between them.

Regards,

Paul Taylor.