FreeBSD – the unknown Giant

A couple of days ago, Google announced it’s sponsoring some FreeBSD related projects in its annual Summer of Code. Now the FreeBSD Foundation has also announced it has accepted a project (not GSoC) for funding.

Rui Paulo will be implementing the forthcoming IEEE 802.11s wireless mesh standard for FreeBSD. Wireless mesh networks are 

expected to become widespread as routers and network appliances deploy them, allowing wireless networks to be built and extended dynamically. Support for the standard will allow FreeBSD consumers to take advantage of this new technology.

As well as end-users, FreeBSD-based product vendors will benefit from access to mesh networking technology in building future versions of their products,

said Robert Watson, president of the FreeBSD Foundation.

I am thrilled to be bringing such an exciting and technically advanced feature to the FreeBSD operating system,

said FreeBSD Developer Rui Paulo. The project will be completed by July 2009.

Related posts:

1. Wireless Mesh Networks under FreeBSD (video)
2. FreeBSD Foundation sponsors BSNMP enhancements
3. FreeBSD Foundation Project: FreeBSD terminal layer
4. FreeBSD foundation newsletter – June 2009
5. New FreeBSD Foundation Project: Flattened Device Tree