Your understanding of terminal, CPU, FS and auth are mostly correct. The idea of the CPU server can be bent a bit to include IoT devices being treated as a compute resource. Generally CPU servers are understood as powerful, dedicated computers, usually servers, meant to serve compute as a resource. The idea of the file server can be bent quite a bit depending on application and purpose. Generally the file server acts as a main storage device on the network. The auth server can be viewed as an identity management system like FreeIPA in the Linux world. Though in Plan 9 this system is much simpler and easier to setup.
In Plan 9 the network of machines make up the computer. Often acting as dedicated components. When it comes to setting up a plan 9 network with auth I would recommend picking 9front for now and making sure every machine runs it. Just for compatibility and support sake. I feel your pain when it comes to finding Plan 9 docs and learning material. It's best to accept that Plan 9 is very niche and one can't solely rely on the scraps they find while searching the internet. The manual and papers are very helpful. I suggest taking time on a weekend to read through them. I also suggest taking a look at Henesy's Awesome Plan 9 repo and the adventuresin9 YouTube channel. Lots of valuable information to be found. https://github.com/henesy/awesome-plan9 https://youtube.com/@adventuresin9?si=u1HJBRhLliXE5Unf On Tue, Sep 16, 2025, 9:36 AM <[email protected]> wrote: > Newb here. I'm trying to wrap my head around these different roles and > which goes where. Conceptually, they kinda make sense: > > TERMINAL - a lightweight install that depends on the other roles to get > work done. I think drawterm from linux qualifies, but could be another > plan9 system - can it run alone or do you also need CPU on the machine > (seems like you would). > > CPU - where processing gets done, could be a superpowered workstation in > the networks, could also be the same as the terminal. > > FILESERVER - even though they all pretty much serve files, I get the > impression this is more than than - a dedicated server for the network > serving up stuff, kinda like NFS? > > AUTHSERVER - some 9front thing that adds more sophisticated > authentication? > > That's how I'm thinking about now. I have installed 9front on a t430. If I > installed a terminal, cpu, fs, or authserver, it was by design of the > inst/start program or by accident... although, I did do some keychain stuff > to get the ability to drawterm into the system > > Similarly, I have installed 9legacy on my rpi3b+ and configured a > barebones way of drawterming into it. > > I'd like to learn more and do more hands on stuff. Ideally, I'd like to > distribute some pieces-partses on a few pis. I'm not finding the right docs > to help me figure out what I'm interested in to doing (admittedly, I'm not > real clear on what needs to be done). I am thinking that I want to: > > Install a CPU (just a cpu? or does it make more sense to do CPU+FS). > Install an FS (does this require a CPU?). > Install a couple Terminals (needs a CPU?). > > The authserv is that strictly 9front, or does it also apply to 9legacy? If > so, then I prolly ought to build an authserv, either independent or with > one of the others. > > All that and I have to also note that the pi doesn't seem like an install > - it seems like a live boot system that's preconfigured? If so, how does > that change the complexion of what I need to do, or does it? > > Finally, there are a plethora of tiny plan9 howtos splattered from here to > timbuktu in cloudland. It's hard to judge their quality, applicability, or > reasonability as a newb, so please don't think I haven't been looking, but > I haven't had a a lot of success with a lot of what's out there. It's > either deep enough to drown, or so shallow, my feet hardly get wet. > > Thanks, for any help y'all can offer. > > Will > *9fans <https://9fans.topicbox.com/latest>* / 9fans / see discussions > <https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans> + participants > <https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/members> + delivery options > <https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/subscription> Permalink > <https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/Tf4bb650e9449e4d9-M6548bcef9f20efcbbe76f8e7> > ------------------------------------------ 9fans: 9fans Permalink: https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/Tf4bb650e9449e4d9-Mcad030bf17c41bc2966596f8 Delivery options: https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/subscription
