The time has come to make the switch from embedded Linux to embedded BSD.... In this talk we will focus on the building of embedded appliances in the BSD world, and more specifically on using NanoBSD to create FreeBSD images that run on embedded systems. In the stock FreeBSD distribution an application (script) called NanoBSD is present that takes a configuration file and builds an image for a flash disk which then can be used on an embedded system. A short cookbook will be presented on the steps needed to actually create the image, and deploy it. Also the in-system upgrading of the image will be discussed. The use case we will present is an Stratum 0 NTP appliance that serves as network time server using GPS with PPS synchronization. This appliance is capable of providing highly accurate time service to a network of servers and desktop machines, even when disconnected from the internet. The example will use a Soekris 4501 embedded board and an OEM hockey puck-style GPS device and some tricks to use the high-res timing on the board, together with a temperature controlled crystal oscillator. The contents of talk have previously been published by the presenter in ;login:. the USENIX periodical [1]
Speakers: Rudi van Drunen