Re: Request for updates: EWG call next week

I’m personally inclined towards NVIDIA because they officially support FreeBSD. Intel / AMD on the other hand come in via the drm-kmod package from Linux. It’s been really difficult to find authoritative info on which models are supported. I can go to nvidia.com and find exact models that will work.

So my concerns around GPUs in order:

1. Reliable info on models that work with FreeBSD (this is a huge pain point in the forums)
2. CUDA / an alternative
3. Open source

Pat

On Tue, Sep 10, 2024, at 6:01 AM, Greg Wallace wrote:
> Hi Tomek!
>
> Let's discuss the question of broadening the NVIDIA AI topic to include 
> other chip makers on the next call. 
>
> When we started the WG, the pain point that was raised and that 
> participants agreed on was NVIDIA support on FreeBSD. This I think is 
> due to two factors. First is NVIDIA's lead in AI chips and associated 
> software and second because CUDA is proprietary. The latter point 
> making it important that the Foundation play some role.
>
> For Intel and AMD, it's great to see them emerging with strong 
> alternatives. In addition, my understanding is that their respective 
> CUDA alternatives are primarily open source. This makes it possible for 
> the community to work on FreeBSD support. At least that's my 
> understanding. 
>
> All the above said, I will add for next week's agenda
>
> Regarding Wifi, this is a known area that needs improvement but that, I 
> submit, is outside the scope of the enterprise WG.
>
> Greg
>
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 9, 2024 at 9:04 AM Tomek CEDRO <tomek@cedro.info> wrote:
>> Hey there :-)
>> 
>> I can see only NVIDIA GPU support but no AMD GPU support.. and so no
>> INTEL GPU support. I guess the problem is with general GPU support
>> that relates to DRM right? Can we add this broad scope please?
>> 
>> Also recently I was traveling more and used WiFi more than Ethernet
>> connections. I must admit current WiFi support looks really bad (old
>> standard support, speed, reliability, no 5GHz band). We should also
>> add WiFi to the list..? Not to mention setups like modern WiFi AP +
>> wireguard access network on FreeBSD my friend recently was thinking
>> about.
>> 
>> Have a good day :-)
>> Tomek
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Mon, Sep 9, 2024 at 2:02 PM Alice Sowerby
>> <alice@freebsdfoundation.org> wrote:
>> >
>> > Hello everyone,
>> >
>> > Heads up that the next EWG call is next Wednesday, September 18 at 5pm UK. I will be on PTO and Greg Wallace (cc'd) will be hosting.
>> >
>> > Please let me know in advance any updates you may have, and copy Greg in.
>> >
>> > Or, please update the spreadsheet directly:
>> > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pM3boLIcKj26lq7XbwGMBXW0-F84We3r_Xc3zovHjaQ/edit?usp=sharing
>> >
>> > Hope you have a great call!
>> >
>> > Alice.
>> > --
>> > Alice Sowerby
>> > Part-time Program Manager, Partnerships & Research
>> > M +44 7787 953393
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> CeDeROM, SQ7MHZ, http://www.tomek.cedro.info
>
>
> -- 
> Greg Wallace
> Director of Partnerships & Research
> M +1 919-247-3165
> Schedule a meeting <https://calendly.com/greg-freebsdfound/30min>
> Get your FreeBSD Gear <https://freebsd-foundation.myshopify.com/>