If you haven't already, I would recommend finding Adventuresin9's YouTube videos. They cover a lot of basics for plan 9 and give good avenues to explore use cases for the system. I think they will answer a lot of your questions, and your assertions about how the system can operate seems mostly in order.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhkYrUkoYPR8ng_dU5nEuhxlJXCmElDa On Tue, Sep 16, 2025, 6:36 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-Mc7246c6d2fe4cc240b860fb7 Delivery options: https://9fans.topicbox.com/groups/9fans/subscription
