The article discusses the process of running NetBSD on an IBM ThinkPad 380Z, a vintage laptop from 1998. The author details the steps taken to upgrade the hardware, connect to a network, and boot the NetBSD installer. They also cover the installation process, enabling the framebuffer, saving RAM, and setting up various software components like WireGuard, the X server, and a window manager. The article highlights the smooth performance and stability of NetBSD on this older hardware, making it a valuable resource for BSD enthusiasts interested in reviving vintage machines for modern use. The author concludes by praising NetBSD's lightweight and efficient design, suggesting it as an ideal OS for underpowered or spare machines.
The FreeBSD Journal's Virtualization edition for November/December 2024 is now available in both HTML and PDF formats. This issue covers a range of topics including tutorials on character device drivers, introductions to bhyve and Xen for FreeBSD, and discussions on embedded virtualized systems. Experienced BSD users will find valuable insights into advanced virtualization techniques and real-world applications. The journal also includes community contributions and event calendars, making it a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in FreeBSD and virtualization technologies.
Security Audit of the Capsicum and bhyve Subsystems, ZFS on Linux and block IO limits show some limits of being out of the kernel, NetBSD on a ROCK64 Board, Domain Naming, BSDCan 2025 CFP, The Internet Gopher from Minnesota, and more.
Learn how to identify and resolve storage performance issues using tools like iostat, zpool iostat, ztop, and ioztat. This article covers essential tools for sysadmins to manage and optimize ZFS storage systems, providing insights into storage bottlenecks and system reliability across FreeBSD and Linux platforms. Key tools include iostat for low-level storage analysis, zpool iostat for ZFS pool insights, ztop for dataset-level monitoring, and ioztat for flexible dataset-level tracking. These tools help sysadmins diagnose and address storage bottlenecks, ensuring efficient and reliable system performance.
OpenZFS 2.3.0 introduces several key features, including RAIDZ expansion, fast deduplication, direct IO, JSON output for commands, support for long file names, and numerous performance improvements. This release also addresses critical bug fixes and supports FreeBSD releases 13.3 and 14.0 to 14.2.
FreeBSD 13.3 EOL, booting FreeBSD on Steam Deck, porting to Pinephone Pro and more.
The post discusses the process of installing FreeBSD on a Steam Deck. The author shares their experience and the steps involved in booting FreeBSD on the handheld gaming device. This resource is valuable for BSD enthusiasts who are interested in experimenting with different operating systems on their Steam Deck, offering insights into the challenges and rewards of such a project.
This repository focuses on porting FreeBSD to run on the Pinephone Pro. It includes modifications and additional files to the FreeBSD source to enable this functionality. The project tracks changes that are intended to be merged upstream once ready. Key features include basic system functionalities such as booting via serial console, LED control, and battery status. However, significant hardware components like the modem, WiFi, and USB are not yet functional. The repo provides detailed instructions for setting up the development environment, building the kernel, and installing it on the device.
The Valuable News weekly series provides summaries of news, articles, and other interesting content related to UNIX/BSD/Linux systems. This edition covers a range of topics including porting FreeBSD to the PinePhone Pro, debunking FreeBSD myths, and various hardware and software updates..
OpenBSD is renowned for its focus on security, correctness, and simplicity, reflected in both the core operating system and the various sub-projects that the OpenBSD team maintains. This article explores key OpenBSD projects such as OpenSSH, OpenBGPD, OpenNTPD, OpenSMTPD, and LibreSSL. Each of these solutions was developed with the OpenBSD philosophy in mind, emphasizing clean, readable code and a proactive approach to security. The article provides an extensive look at these projects, their origins, unique advantages, and their roles in modern computing.
The HardenedBSD 13-STABLE package repository has been archived and is now permanently available at https://installers.hardenedbsd.org/packages/13-stable/.
This article discusses the suspend/resume functionality in FreeBSD, highlighting its stability over different versions. The author shares their experience with FreeBSD on desktops and laptops over two decades and provides videos demonstrating suspend/resume cycles on FreeBSD 12.2 and 14.1.