Re: [9fans] Plan9 topology

[Duke Normandin <dukeofperl@ml1.net>]

On Thu, 13 Jan 2011, David Leimbach wrote:

> On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 10:38 AM, Duke Normandin <dukeofperl@ml1.net> wrote:
>
> > Just read:
> >
> > http://lsub.org/magic/man2html/1/0intro
> >
> > [quote]
> > Plan 9 is a distributed computing environment assembled from separate
> > machines acting as terminals, CPU servers, and file servers.[/quote]
> >
> > Does the above imply, that ideally Plan9 should be running on a LAN?
> > Not so good as the OS on a stand-alone box?
> > --
> > Duke
> >
> > A lot of us with just one machine to spare tend to install the system, then
> build and configure a CPU/Auth/FS server on one box, or even just a VMWare
> or other virtualization instance.

OK! So it _is_ possible to run a "full" Plan9 OS in one partition, on
one machine?

> With plan 9 you do not have to run your CPU, authentication and file system
> parts of your computing system all in one place

I understand. In bygone days, Unix shops ran exactly that way. A
central file server box, with terminals 9or workstations) connected to
it.

> From there we can log into our plan 9 server using unix programs like
> drawterm, or even 9vx, each of which are more or less ports of Plan 9 to
> other OSes with different pros and cons.

You bet!

> With plan 9 you do not have to run your CPU, authentication and file
> system parts of your computing system all in one place, and really,
> you can just run a terminal and play around with that to get started
> if you like.

I don't have any extra boxes to play around with at the moment. So if
I can let one partition be Plan9 - in all it's glory - so much the
better.
--
Duke