[Infrastructures] using IA methodologies to build network element configuration

[Kysh]

> > Same goes for any production boxes I run. Bare necessities and that's
> > it.
> > 
> > 'Nifty' has no place in the datacenter. 
> 
> I suspect you folks are confused about what Joel really wants, even if
> he didn't say it precisely.

I'm open to that possibility, but..

> Consider the humble Linksys WRT54G.  This $60 router *IS* runnning a
> "full-featured OS" - Linux.  Yes, it is a rather stripped down version
> of Linux, which is necessary given its minimal hardware.  However,
> lots of people have already hacked on its Linux firmware to fix bugs,
> add VPNs, ssh, etc. support - in general make it work better FOR THEM.

For many applications, that'd be 'nice', but..

> So, when Joel H. said "full featured OS", replace with "Open Source
> OS", and I think you may come closer to what he was really trying to
> get at.

I simply don't know if I agree. I don't want an operating system so much
as I want basic control over hardware and firmware, and the logic to
handle what I need the box to do. 

I don't mind Linux in routers, even BFRs, but I don't see the point in
it for its own sake. Having 'featureful' network devices simply doesn't
fit my paradigm at all. Yes, it took IOS a long time to get certain
'features' that a Linux system has had for many years, but I don't
necessarily think that that's a bad model. 

-Kysh
-- 
mu