Welcome to ‘From Zero to Cloud: Building Modern Yet Simple Architectures with NetBSD.’ Throughout this series, I’ll be your guide on an exploration of NetBSD’s versatility and capabilities as a highly portable Unix-like operating system. Join me as we compile the system from source code, install it on various hardware, and deploy a plethora of sophisticated services, showcasing how NetBSD can effectively power modern architectures across diverse platforms.
Motivation
The reason I’m diving into this series is because I’ve noticed that modern architectures keep getting more complicated. To handle all this complexity, we tend to add more layers of abstraction, which just makes things even more tangled up. This endless loop ends up costing a lot and making us heavily reliant on these complicated systems. Through exploring NetBSD, I want to show that there’s another way—one that’s simpler, more efficient, and adaptable—demonstrating how this operating system can form a solid base for modern setups without getting bogged down in too much complexity.
Why NetBSD?
“Why NetBSD?” you might ask. Well, for me, it’s been a trusted companion since the early 2000s, offering a level of reliability and flexibility that’s hard to find elsewhere. One of its standout features is its cross-build capability, which allows me to compile software for various architectures effortlessly. But what really sets NetBSD apart is its simplicity. Unlike some other operating systems, it doesn’t overwhelm with unnecessary bloat or complexity, making it a breeze to work with.
Another reason I stick with NetBSD is its conservative release cycle. While some may see this as a drawback, I find it reassuring. It means the developers prioritize stability over flashy new features, ensuring that each release is thoroughly tested and dependable. This approach also means that resources can be allocated more efficiently, as there’s less need for constant reworking or patching. In essence, NetBSD offers a steady, reliable foundation for my projects, allowing me to focus on innovation rather than maintenance.
What to expect?
“What can you expect from this journey?” you might wonder. Well, first off, we’ll kick things off by rolling up our sleeves and building NetBSD from scratch, starting with compiling it from source code with only minimal requirements to the build host. As we progress, we’ll craft installation media, setting the stage for NetBSD to find its place on five different types of devices.
Our adventure will take us through installing NetBSD on various hardware: from your everyday laptop to the specialized environment of a NAS (Network-Attached Storage). We’ll also dive into virtualization, getting NetBSD up and running on a virtual host, where we’ll create spaces for multiple virtual machines to operate. And for a taste of the embedded world, we’ll explore single-board computing with a Raspberry Pi, demonstrating NetBSD’s adaptability across different hardware setups.
At every step, we’ll break down NetBSD’s installation process, offering insights, tips, and maybe even a few surprises as we navigate the road to successfully deploying NetBSD on each type of device. So get ready for an exploration of NetBSD’s capabilities across a range of hardware setups!