OpenBSD benefits, FreeBSD installer updates with Lua scripting, graphical installer and more.
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News
Benefits and Features of Using OpenBSD: The article discusses the reasons for using OpenBSD, a free UNIX-like operating system known for its security and portability. Key points include its open-source nature, wide hardware and virtualization support, and robust security features like privilege separation and memory protection. OpenBSD offers a variety of server and workstation applications, extensive binary packages, and simple management tools. The system is praised for its straightforward installation, comprehensive documentation, and efficient service management. Additionally, the article highlights resources for further learning and community engagement, emphasizing OpenBSD’s simplicity and security as major advantages.
Valuable News Summary - 2025/07/28: The “Valuable News” weekly series provides a summary of news and articles related to UNIX/BSD/Linux systems. This edition highlights several key developments: FreeBSD’s advancements with Podman, BastilleBSD for WordPress, and the introduction of zfsd with necessary patches for SAN/FC networks. Additionally, it covers the release of Pogocache 1.0, which offers better performance than Memcache/Valkey/Redis, and FreeBSD 15.0’s aim to include a KDE/Plasma desktop install option. The summary also mentions various tutorials and guides, such as configuring additional IP addresses in FreeBSD VPS and installing FreeBSD without internet.
FreeBSD installer updates: Lua scripting and graphical installer: The FreeBSD project is enhancing its installer to improve desktop user experience. Key updates include adding Lua scripting support to address current limitations, such as prepopulating network settings. Additionally, a proof-of-concept graphical installer, gbsddialog, was developed using GTK+, although it’s not suitable for FreeBSD due to licensing issues. The article also discusses setting up a development environment and improving installer accessibility. The possibility of a complete installer rewrite is mentioned, requiring further discussion and input. These efforts aim to make FreeBSD more competitive as a desktop operating system.
NetBSD Blog: New Build Cluster Enhances Autobuild Efficiency: The NetBSD Blog discusses the upgrade of their autobuild cluster, which has significantly improved the daily autobuild process. The new cluster, consisting of four build machines with dual 16-core EPYC CPUs and 256 GB RAM each, has reduced build times and increased efficiency. The upgrade also involved moving to a new colocation with better network connectivity and overhauling the CI system to work with Mercurial instead of CVS. The new system allows for more accurate build timestamps and the ability to skip builds when no changes are detected. Additionally, the build log summary now provides detailed information to recreate specific builds. The upgrade ensures that all supported branches are continuously verified for compilation, benefiting users by providing up-to-date installation images for various architectures. The project acknowledges Two Sigma Investments, LP for providing space and connectivity for the new build cluster.
BSD Now 621: Designing a Storage Pool, The Report of My Death Was an Exaggeration, Generic BSD installations on ARM64 UEFI, dm_target_crypt_ng - Add next-generation implementation, The X Window System didn’t immediately have X terminals, The Book of PF 4th Edition Is Coming Soon, Periodical 20 Localized Computing, and more.
FreeBSD Guide to Lock-In Free Infrastructure: This curated roundup covers practical strategies for building lock-in-free infrastructure with FreeBSD. It includes articles on running your own DNS and NTP, managing ZFS storage, and customizing the FreeBSD kernel. The guide emphasizes the importance of controlling every layer of your infrastructure securely, efficiently, and on your own terms. Key points include the benefits of open-source solutions, the risks of vendor lock-in, and the strategic advantages of owning your infrastructure. The articles provide insights into cost-efficient paths, common pitfalls, and the practical steps required to achieve full control over your systems.
The Java Programming Language: A Silent Powerhouse: The article discusses the enduring relevance and importance of Java, despite perceptions of it being outdated. It highlights Java’s continued use in major technologies and applications, such as Minecraft, Elasticsearch, Tomcat, and LibreOffice. The author shares a personal anecdote about discovering Java’s prevalence through a conversation with family members playing Minecraft. The piece also emphasizes the significance of the OpenJDK project and the FreeBSD Foundation’s support for maintaining OpenJDK on FreeBSD, ensuring its compatibility and up-to-date status for various users, from enterprises to game developers. The work of individuals like Harald Eilertsen is crucial in keeping Java relevant and functional on platforms like FreeBSD, supporting a wide range of applications and bringing joy to users worldwide.
FreeBSD 15.0’s installer to gain option to install a full KDE Plasma desktop environment: FreeBSD 15.0’s installer will include an option to install a full KDE Plasma desktop environment, aiming to simplify the process of setting up a desktop experience on FreeBSD. The new feature, developed by the FreeBSD Foundation’s Laptop Support and Usability Improvements project, will guide users through installing the correct graphics driver and configuring the system to boot into the SDDM login manager. This enhancement is part of a broader initiative to improve desktop usability on FreeBSD, with future plans including support for additional desktop environments and applications, as well as the option to use Wayland instead of X11. The development is targeted for FreeBSD 15.0 but may be included in a later release if not completed in time.
Tutorials
Guiding Principles for Building a Secure Backup System with FreeBSD: The article provides a comprehensive guide on setting up a robust backup system using FreeBSD, ZFS, and jails. It covers various backup strategies, including encryption, security hardening, and multiple backup methodologies for enterprise-grade data protection. The guide details the use of FreeBSD for backup servers, emphasizing its flexibility and security features. It discusses the setup of both local and remote backup servers, the importance of disk redundancy, and the use of encryption tools like GELI and ZFS native encryption. Additionally, it explores the implementation of backup strategies using tools like zfs-autobackup and BorgBackup, and the integration of Proxmox Backup Server in a dedicated VM. The article also highlights the significance of taking local snapshots of backups to protect against ransomware attacks and other data threats.
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