Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    PFSense 2 Book Release Date

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Documentation
    92 Posts 35 Posters 62.4k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      Really? You're asking about that on the pfSense forum!  ???

      Have you any idea the effort that Chris and Jim put into the book?

      Steve

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • P
        phil.davis
        last edited by

        Seriously guys, this is an Open Source project with a group of dedicated and professional guys in ESF coordinating and nowadays doing the vast bulk of development. They deserve to be able to eat and pay the mortgage. Pay your $US99, get the subscription, get the PDF of the book, get auto config backup, get the monthly "hangout".

        As the Greek philosopher Isosceles used to say, "There are 3 sides to every triangle."
        If I helped you, then help someone else - buy someone a gift from the INF catalog http://secure.inf.org/gifts/usd/

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • jimpJ
          jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
          last edited by

          @ASGH:

          The draft copy of this book is available to be downloaded from the public! I found through my google search!

          PM me the search terms you used and the URL that had it and we can get it taken down if it's really there. I didn't see anything in the first couple of pages that was the 2.1 draft version.

          Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

          Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

          Do not Chat/PM for help!

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • A
            ASGH
            last edited by

            @jimp:

            @ASGH:

            The draft copy of this book is available to be downloaded from the public! I found through my google search!

            PM me the search terms you used and the URL that had it and we can get it taken down if it's really there. I didn't see anything in the first couple of pages that was the 2.1 draft version.

            Done, I've sent you the link & searching term.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • jimpJ
              jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
              last edited by

              Thanks, I passed it on and we'll try to get it taken down.

              Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

              Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

              Do not Chat/PM for help!

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                Edit: replied to a now deleted post.

                Ah, well that is a problem. Something I'd not considered in fact.  :-\

                Steve

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • A
                  AlexF
                  last edited by

                  @phil.davis:

                  Seriously guys, this is an Open Source project with a group of dedicated and professional guys in ESF coordinating and nowadays doing the vast bulk of development. They deserve to be able to eat and pay the mortgage. Pay your $US99, get the subscription, get the PDF of the book, get auto config backup, get the monthly "hangout".

                  Or,… how about just offer the book, without subscription, auto config backup, monthly "hangout", at reasonable price? They don't have to do it, of course - it's their product and business model, after all, however, at least be open with us - tell us if and (if so) approximately when.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • pttP
                    ptt Rebel Alliance
                    last edited by

                    Once it be ready/finished, they will be selling the book, same way the previous book

                    For now, they offer the "draft version" to the "gold subscription" customers as a "gift"

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • U
                      ulflun
                      last edited by

                      I was very close to buying both pfSense: The Definitive Guide and pfSense 2 CookBook but now when I read how outdated they are, I skip it and wait for the new book to be released. I would prefer to have the physical book and not a PDF so I'll just wait.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • A
                        AlexF
                        last edited by

                        @ptt:

                        Once it be ready/finished, they will be selling the book, same way the previous book
                        For now, they offer the "draft version" to the "gold subscription" customers as a "gift"

                        Documentation describes functionality and behavior - without it, no-one except the authors know what to expect. Undocumented, pfSense is just a complex toy.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • S
                          Supermule Banned
                          last edited by

                          Documentation should follow the release….its like that everywhere else.

                          Things change so quickly that the book will be outdated the time its released!

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • F
                            Finger79
                            last edited by

                            I have an idea for the team.  Right now we have two choices:

                            1)  Gold Subscription, which includes the book online.
                            2)  Buy the physical copy of the book as they are released.

                            Can there be a third option:

                            3)  "Book Subscription" for, say, $10 per year, that only includes an online version of the latest documentation but without the Gold Subscription support features?

                            I'm kind of undecided at this point.  I plan on ordering the 2.1 book when it comes out, but the 2.1.1 and 2.2 releases will be out and like the idea of online, fresh content.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • B
                              bennyc
                              last edited by

                              Good idea! But I would suggest to make it broader… there are plenty of "home" users (like me), and to be honest $100 for a gold subscription is not what I want to spend as a yearly recurring cost. Lower that enough (not talking about going down to $10), and I think much more people (including me) will sign up for a yearly subscription, even if the only advantage is funding the project & getting the latest software + documentation? (call it silver, book, basic, ... you name it)
                              It will create revenue, it's the economy of numbers...  8)

                              4x XG-7100 (2xHA), 1x SG-4860, 1x SG-2100
                              1x PC Engines APU2C4, 1x PC Engines APU1C4

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • A
                                AlexF
                                last edited by

                                @Supermule:

                                Things change so quickly that the book will be outdated the time its released!

                                (That's why, technical) paper books don't make sense in 2014.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • B
                                  bennyc
                                  last edited by

                                  True… but digital form is much more difficult to control, it tends to lead a life of its own, rather fast.
                                  So while I understand the motivation to make a paper version out of it and don't question the work & good intentions, the fact is that this (almost) release has been dangling before our nose for already quite some time. (carrot-and-stick approach  ::))

                                  Guess we need to consider ourselves lucky the software releases don't use the same pace  ;D

                                  4x XG-7100 (2xHA), 1x SG-4860, 1x SG-2100
                                  1x PC Engines APU2C4, 1x PC Engines APU1C4

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • stephenw10S
                                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                    last edited by

                                    A paywalled HTML version perhaps? Continuously up-datable. Kind of gets around piracy issues by rendering anything that appears on a torrent already out of date. Cannot be read somewhere you don't have internet connectivity though.
                                    I'm sure Chris and Jim will have considered other publishing models. Personally I'll definitely be buying the book simply because I like having books. Easy to read on a plane, doesn't go flat, can scribble notes on it.

                                    Steve

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • R
                                      ripper
                                      last edited by

                                      Any release date for the book yet ?

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • GruensFroeschliG
                                        GruensFroeschli
                                        last edited by

                                        When it's done ;)

                                        We do what we must, because we can.

                                        Asking questions the smart way: http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • ?
                                          Guest
                                          last edited by

                                          @bennyc:

                                          True… but digital form is much more difficult to control, it tends to lead a life of its own, rather fast.
                                          So while I understand the motivation to make a paper version out of it and don't question the work & good intentions, the fact is that this (almost) release has been dangling before our nose for already quite some time. (carrot-and-stick approach  ::))

                                          Guess we need to consider ourselves lucky the software releases don't use the same pace  ;D

                                          Actually, part of the solution means making both the book and the software rev faster.

                                          Think:  continuous development.

                                          This requires several things to change about the historic pfSense project.  The first change is in-place, as we now have dedicated editors (one is a former teacher) who are "pair editing" the book.  When that process completes we will fix a few formatting issues, and have everything in-place to keep the book updated and in-sync with what is happening on the software side.  Obviously, the 'electronic' edition(s) will be more up-to-date than a printed copy, but this and the additional costs are a downside for any hardcopy book.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • J
                                            jason0
                                            last edited by

                                            Hello,

                                            I have purchased a gold support membership, and am pretty happy: the autoconfig backup is pretty awesome: It keeps copies of my misconfiguration attempts, so I can roll them back as needed!  ;D

                                            Further accolades are needed though: Not only are the beta-docs in pdf form, but epub and mobi(kindle-readable) too!  THAT's been my life-saver.  The kindle Suuuu–ucks for reading pdf documents.  Even though I can't share my bookmarks and highlights between devices, I can live with that.

                                            I have a couple of requests though:

                                            1. when there's a new version of the beta-doc in place, is it announced anywhere?
                                            2. (never mind, I will post THIS thought where it belongs...

                                            Thanks for your time, the $100 is worth it!

                                            --jason

                                            --jason

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.