NetBSD 5.0 Better on Multi-CPU Systems
The NetBSD project has released version 5.0 of its free UNIX derivative. The release above all improves performance and scalability on multiprocessor and multicore systems.
Multithreading applications can use more CPUs and processor cores more efficiently with the new NetBSD. Developers have reworked the threading subsystem, brought kernel synchronization to a better footing, and rewrote the scheduler and its real-time extensions. New support for processor sets (psets), cpusets and thread affinity allows for binding processes or threads to specific CPUs or CPU groupings.
Enhancements to NetBSD 5.0 include Power Management Framework (PMF) and ACPI suspend/resume support for a range of laptops. Also included are write support for UDF filesystems and a preview of metadata journaling for FFS filesystems (known as Write Ahead Physical Block Logging, or WAPBL).
The project release notes contain a full list of changes, as does the changelog. NetBSD 5.0 is available for download as source code and binaries at various mirrors over FTP, bittorent and other protocols.
The NetBSD Foundation is running a funding drive to help finance its next version 6.0. The foundation reports that most of the 2007 donations went into improving the multiprocessor system.
Issue 173/2015
Buy this issue as a PDF
News
-
Old Vulnerabilities Are Kept Alive Through Bad Configuration
HP's annual Cyber Risk report offers a bleak look at the state of IT.
-
Linus Torvalds Announces Linux 4.0
But what do the big numbers really mean?
-
Microsoft Frees CoreCLR
.NET Core execution engine is the basis for cross-platform .NET implementations.
-
New Trojan Attacks Linux Servers
The Xnote trojan hides itself on the target system and will launch a variety of attacks on command.
-
Cisco Releases Annual Security Report
Spammers go low-volume, and 90% of IE browsers are unpatched.
-
Zero Day Exploits Target Flash
Adobe scrambles to release patches for vulnerable Flash Player.
-
Intel Unveils Compute Stick
Four-inch-long computer on a stick lets you boot a full Linux system from any HDMI display device.
-
Obama Proposes Personal Data Notification Law
New statute would require companies to report break-ins to consumers.
-
TGXf Project Warns of File Transfer through Screen Pixels
Weird data transfer technique avoids all standard security measures.
-
Industry Giants Announce a Fix for the Password Mess
FIDO alliance declares the beginning of the end for old-style login authentication.