This article provides a detailed guide on installing NetBSD on a JavaStation, a vintage network computer from the late 1990s. The author shares their personal journey of acquiring and reviving a JavaStation, including overcoming challenges like a dead NVRAM battery and configuring network boot settings. The guide covers setting up a NetBSD filesystem, configuring network services like RARP, TFTP, DHCP, and NFS, and troubleshooting common issues. It also explains how to interact with the JavaStation's OpenBoot environment, which is based on a FORTH interpreter. This resource is valuable for BSD users interested in retro computing, as it offers practical insights into working with older hardware and network protocols.
This article provides a detailed guide on installing NetBSD on a JavaStation, a vintage network computer from the late 1990s. The author shares their personal journey of acquiring and reviving a JavaStation, including overcoming challenges like a dead NVRAM battery and configuring network boot settings. The guide covers setting up a NetBSD filesystem, configuring network services like RARP, TFTP, DHCP, and NFS, and troubleshooting common issues. It also explains how to interact with the JavaStation's OpenBoot environment, which is based on a FORTH interpreter. This resource is valuable for BSD users interested in retro computing, as it offers practical insights into working with older hardware and network protocols.
This article provides a detailed guide on setting up and running the Librewolf web browser within a FreeBSD jail. It covers the process of preparing the system, installing the jail, configuring it for optimal performance, and installing Librewolf. The guide also includes tips for tuning the jail and ensuring smooth integration with the host system. Experienced BSD users will find this resource valuable for enhancing security and managing web browsing in a controlled environment. Key updates include using FreeBSD 14.2, ZFS dataset configurations, and improved jail management practices.
The Valuable News weekly series provides a summary of news, articles, and updates primarily related to UNIX/BSD/Linux systems. This resource is curated to filter out the noise and deliver only the most relevant information for sysadmins and enthusiasts. The March 3, 2025 edition includes updates on GhostBSD, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and other related projects. Key highlights include the GhostBSD 2024 Year End Finance Report, guides on creating snapshots on OPNsense, and discussions on running Docker on FreeBSD.
OpenBSD has transitioned its -current development branch to 7.7-beta. This update, committed by Theo de Raadt, marks the beginning of the beta testing phase for the upcoming 7.7 release. Users can expect snapshots on OpenBSD mirrors soon. This is an opportunity for the community to test the new version and contribute through donations.
The EuroBSDCon 2025 Call for Papers (CfP) is now open, accepting submissions until June 21. This is an opportunity for individuals who have worked on interesting projects related to NetBSD to present their work to a broader audience. The conference will be held in Zagreb, Croatia, from September 25 to 28, 2025. Interested participants can submit their proposals via the official website.
The first Release Candidate build for the FreeBSD 13.5 release cycle is now available. ISO images for the amd64, i386, powerpc, powerpc64, powerpc64le, powerpcspe, armv6, armv7, aarch64, and riscv64 architectures are FreeBSD mirror sites.
The HardenedBSD February 2025 status report highlights significant advancements in security features and infrastructure improvements. Key updates include the integration of PaX SEGVGUARD with Capsicum, the creation of a new sysctl tunable for ELF executables, and fixes for FORTIFYSOURCE on arm64. The ports tree saw register zeroing enabled for critical ports like OpenSSH and Firefox. Infrastructure upgrades include the deployment of new servers and a NAS with 30TB capacity. The report also discusses ongoing R&D for the BATMAN port and expresses gratitude to community donations for enabling these expansions.
GhostBSD 25.01-R14.2p1 is now available, marking a shift to FreeBSD RELEASE for improved stability. This release introduces a new versioning scheme, updates the MATE desktop to 1.28.2, and includes 2025 wallpapers. Key features include better hardware support, Brazilian Portuguese translations, and a default workstation firewall. The release also addresses bug fixes, security updates, and offers detailed upgrade instructions for existing users.
FFmpeg is a complete solution for recording, converting and streaming audio and video for the FreeBSD platform. This quick video will only scratch the surface on just some of it's abilities.
The NetBSD Foundation has announced its participation in Google Summer of Code 2025. This program offers a unique opportunity for contributors to work on NetBSD and pkgsrc projects. A list of possible projects is available, and participants are encouraged to propose their own ideas. Interested individuals can connect via the netbsd-code IRC channel on Libera.Chat or through the official mailing lists. This initiative highlights NetBSD's commitment to fostering open-source development and community engagement.
This episode of BSD Now marks its 600th milestone, covering key updates such as the lead Asahi developer stepping down, OpenBSD support for the Radxa Orian O6 board, and discussions on FreeBSD for hi-fi audio setups. The hosts also reminisce about their journey and discuss future directions for the podcast. Additionally, the release of OpenBGPD 8.8 and its implications are highlighted.