pfSense® Software Embraces Change: A Strategic Migration to the Linux Kernel

[CreationGuy]

@mcury I'm not too familiar with the freeBSD vs Linux debate and being that it's 4/1 I wasn't sure if it was meant for a joke.

[Bob.Dig]

It is a joke for sure, although I really would like it to be not.

[Gertjan]

@CreationGuy

Thanks for making sure that I wasn't the only one reading the blog - RSS feed.

Serious ...

Migrating to .... a Linux kernel with a FreeBSD userland.

You can stop reading after that phrase. I'm not sure what they are smoking over there in Texas, but I want some too.
This :

Following in-depth evaluation and collaborative discussions ...

Where ? With who ?
For me, this is a one man's discussion with the one he sees in the mirror.
Or, and why not, I totally do not understand how this might be possible.
( without a whole lot more work - entering new uncharted territory and probably sinking the boat called pfSense with the captain called "Netgate" )

Btw : that's a hint : no one dared to put it's name at the top.

[mcury]

The best day to say something like that is today..
If the repercussion is horrible, they just could say: HAHA April fools..

[michmoor]

I will say that if you are on the Reddit forums for pfsense - Gonzopacho - i think is the name did mention that pfSense will be moving to Linux..or something to that effect..a while ago.
I don't think this is a april fools joke. This is the real deal.

[SteveITS]

@michmoor https://www.reddit.com/r/PFSENSE/comments/1bt3whd/pfsense_software_embraces_change_a_strategic/

If true it's a really bad day to announce it.

The thing is they moved TNSR to Linux a while back, as the post notes.

[michmoor]

@SteveITS
Oh i agree. Communication has never been Netgate's strength as we know.
That being the case, i still think this is legit.

[rcfa]

The blog post makes a bunch of valid points, in particular the matter about WiFi support, support for hardware platforms, etc.
So it's plausible and there are points to be made for such a shift. But the timing is either a giveaway, or badly chosen.
In a time when satire has trouble keeping up with reality, if this is an April Foolsday post, it's deceptively close to something believable.

[the other]

@rcfa said in pfSense Software Embraces Change: A Strategic Migration to the Linux Kernel:

if this is an April Foolsday post, it's deceptively close to something believable.

but isn't that the spice of every good prank? I mean, announcing "hey guys, we finally give up, opnsense is way better...so with our upcoming release everything will look kinda orange..." wouldn't really do the job.
Much better to pick something that makes ppl laugh...but leaves a small nagging uncertainty in your head...until finally on April 2nd that feeling of relieve hits.

[planedrop]

I feel like this is legit, but what a terrible day to announce it....

[YannTKO]

As you know, 24.03 will be probably the last update for 32 bit ARM proc.
Moving to Linux Kernel (if it is not a joke) is maybe the solution to keep old hardware working (all the 3100 fleet for example).

[planedrop]

@YannTKO That would be nice, I have some 3100's deployed that I'd prefer not to swap out.

[JonathanLee]

It should be Xenix

$mkuser pfContainerOSfingerprintingPlease

[keyser]

@CreationGuy I’m certain its a joke given the date and the “BSD userland” comment, but honestly…
I really think they should consider a move to Linux even though that would be a massive undertaking.
Truth is BSD is dying when it comes to new hardware and developer support.
Fx: We need modern LTE/5G/WiFi support for more WAN flexibility.

It would be better to embrace it and try before its too late - because its going to become too late at some point.

[JonathanLee]

@YannTKO said in pfSense Software Embraces Change: A Strategic Migration to the Linux Kernel:

ARM

ARM is the future. You can embrace it or get out of the way for the next generation of professional programmers. I am sure everyone is well aware of the power of Raspberry PI ARM systems with the flag ship quad core x64 and it doesn't need heat sinks all under 100 dollars. ARM is are never going away. ARM will only grow its market share at this point. Apple has even jumped ship over to the M1-now M4. Get over it. The 2100-MAX is a work of programming art.

It reminds me of Cars 3

[YannTKO]

@JonathanLee
I edited my post with 32 bit CPU to be accurate.

[planedrop]

@keyser No BSD Userland is a thing, it's been done before, recently: https://www.phoronix.com/news/Chimera-Linux-2022

I don't think this indicates it's a joke at all.

[keyser]

@planedrop ?? What would be the point of making a stategic move to a modern kernel only to lock yourself into a frankenmonster that will be unflexible and missing everything you are missing on the current limited BSD world?

[planedrop]

@keyser I'm not sure, not a dev so I don't really know the ins and outs, I just know that it's been done before (see that article, it talks about some benefits).

[SteveITS]

https://www.reddit.com/r/freebsd/comments/1bhvt2e/comment/kvulz1m/

">...are you also saying Netgate is on a path to abandon FreeBSD?

No.
That doesn’t mean you won’t, say, see a variant of pfsense on Linux."

...and from the Reddit link I posted earlier:
"The FreeBSD userland (and musl for libc) is actually true"