Danschmid

In this post, I will explain how we can install FreeBSD.

The FreeBSD installer is in text mode, but it is easy to do.

We just select “Install” on the first screen.

In the first step, we choose the language of the keyboard. In our case, we pick the German layout.

Next, we are asked for a hostname.

Here, we can select optional system components. We choose “lib32” here if we want to run a 32-bit program. We can choose “ports” if we want to build packages locally and “src” if we want to build our kernel.

Next, the installer wants to know how we want to partition the disk. We can partition it manually or let the installer automatically partition our disk using UFS or ZFS. In our case, we select UFS because I don't have any experience with ZFS.

In this step, we have to decide if we want to use the whole disk or a specific partition for the installation.

Now we can select the partition scheme. If we have a UEFI system, we choose GPT-run MBR.

The installer will show us a suggestion on how to partition the hard drive. At this point, we can still edit with the editor.

At this point, we can confirm the selection and start the installation process.

The base system was installed with the packages we selected.

We now select our root password.

Next, we select our network card, either WI-FI or LAN.

Now the installer asks us if we want to use IPv4 first and then DHCP. The same happens with IPv6.

Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC) is a method of stateless and automatic configuration of IPv6 addresses on a network interface. By “stateless” or “stateless” it meant that the respective IPv6 address is not centrally assigned and stored. Accordingly, the host generates its IPv6 address with additional information. SLAAC is the further development of the procedures for classic IP autoconfiguration under IPv4. Unlike IPv4, IPv6 routers play an active role in this process.

We now see the configuration and confirm it.

In this step, we can now set the time zone—we select Europe ⇾ Germany.

Here we can see if the date is set correctly.

Here we can see whether the time is set correctly.

At this point, we can select which services will be started when the computer starts. We choose the following services:

• sshd: we can access our PC via SSH.
• nptdate: the system and network time synchronized at start-up
• ntpd: the system and network time synchronized
• dumpdev: kernel Crash Dump activated

We can now make some security settings. Here, we will set the following options:

• clear_tmp: the temp directory is deleted when the system starts.
• disable_sendmail: Sendmail is deactivated.

Now we will be asked if we want to add more users.

When we are asked, “Invite USER in other groups?” We will add our newly created user to the following groups: wheel operator dialer video.

• wheel: allows root to be passed with the su command
• operator: required to use the su command and shut down the PC
• dialer: enables using the serial interfaces (with “cu” and “tip”)
• video: enables access to the graphics card

Login class: leave it on “default” (we will change it later)

Shell: tcsh

Home directory: standard

Then we choose a password and confirm the creation.

Now we can finish the installation process.

At this point, we could open a shell and edit it manually. But we prefer not to do that.

We restart the PC, and we successfully installed FreeBSD.

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