jc.sb wrote:

> Hi,
> Suppose I want to build netbsd for an internet appliance
> which has typical IPv4 routing features, for example as 
> listed in a standard router like this..
> http://www.netgear.com/products/details/RP614.pgp?view=
> or like this..
> http://www.zcom.com.tw/product/product%20info/XI-2250.htm
> 
> 
> nat, ipfilter, web browser, dhcp, maybe smb, etc.
> 
> How much flash mem does the kernel and minimal userland require 
> for this kind of config using arm or mips.  2 megabytes bzipped?
> 4 megabytes bzipped?   Then, how much RAM is required for
> unpacking & running..  4 megabyte?  8 megabyte?
> 
> For example taking evbarm, compiling in this config, 
> and running on an eval card.  What's the ballpark estimate.
> 
> I have been attempting this with linux recently and have
> found that kernel + gnu libs is about 3x to 4x too big,
> using other clibs like uclibc gets it down to about 2x to 
> 3x too big, compared to other embedded o/s.
> 
> How much physical memory does a network-attached-storage 
> kernel + userland require, for example.
> 
> I also am curious how much of netbsd userland would require 
> replacing with other apps, for example fully-featured dhcpd 
> may need replacing with something else for size reasons, where
> fancy features are not required.  In the linux world the 
> udhcpd package is used with busybox.
> 
> Anyone have a comment on this kind of target.
> 
> 
> 

I don't have any data for this particular target, however I did manage to 
get a non-trivial kernel+login and tools down to around 1MB compressed. 
This was a full, multiuser kernel with a few tools for managing files.

This was done for an x86 target. I suspect that you could do the same for 
the other processors. You should be able to use the same process to get 
your small build.

http://www.bsdnewsletter.com/2003/09/Features102.html


--

Brian