OpenBGPD 9.0 boosts performance, OpenBSD’s fw_update improves device detection and more.
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OpenBGPD 9.0 released with performance and memory improvements: OpenBGPD 9.0 has been released, featuring significant optimizations for memory efficiency and processing speed. The update includes a rewritten Adj-RIB-Out handling system that reduces memory usage by over 50% for large deployments like IXP route servers. A two-phase UPDATE message processing approach minimizes latency by separating route table updates from Adj-RIB-Out processing. New CH hash tables improve cache locality for better performance, while additional metrics track route decision engine efficiency. The release also addresses minor issues identified by static analysis tools and maintains compatibility with FreeBSD and major Linux distributions.
OpenBSD’s fw_update enhances device detection by checking runtime dmesg: A recent commit to OpenBSD’s fw_update(8) utility expands its device detection capabilities by scanning both the boot-time dmesg.boot file and the runtime output of dmesg(8). This change ensures newly connected devices requiring firmware updates are identified even after system startup, while still accounting for devices present at boot that might otherwise be obscured by verbose log messages. The modification addresses scenarios where the kernel message buffer rolls over due to high activity, improving reliability in firmware management. The update was reviewed and approved by OpenBSD developers, including Theo de Raadt.
Valuable News – 2025/12/29: The Valuable News weekly roundup highlights key developments in UNIX/BSD/Linux ecosystems, including FreeBSD 15’s advancements in pf(4) packet filtering, now comparable to OpenBSD’s implementation, and updates on WireGuard integration. Notable projects include XLibre 25.1, a modernized X11 server, and Phoenix, a new X11 server written in Zig, alongside hardware news like AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 CPU. The edition also covers historical UNIX discoveries, such as the recovery of a UNIX V4 tape, and practical guides like setting up ZFS on FreeBSD for home NAS systems.
HardenedBSD December 2025 status update covers infrastructure and development: The December 2025 report combines updates for November and December, detailing HardenedBSD’s transition from 14-STABLE to 15-STABLE infrastructure, including the migration of package repositories to a new 30TB NAS. Infrastructure changes involve reallocating resources from the OS installer VM to the package build VM to improve performance, though at the cost of slower installer builds. Significant work was done in the ports tree to address build failures caused by hardening techniques like -Werror=format-security, with dozens of ports receiving fixes or adjustments. Development efforts also included enhancements to libhbsdcontrol, plans to migrate the hbsdfw firewall to 16-CURRENT, and upcoming lab setups for testing Reticulum and Radicle protocols. The report highlights ongoing challenges, such as kernel panics in OpenZFS, and outlines priorities for early 2026, including improved error handling and censorship-resistant network research.
BSD Now 643: OpenZFS updates and FreeBSD 15.0 release: This episode covers key developments in the BSD ecosystem, including community contributions to OpenZFS such as performance improvements and new utilities. It explores the history of OpenBSD’s Propolice stack protector, a security feature designed to mitigate buffer overflow vulnerabilities. The show also discusses practical ZFS administration, like refreshing zpools by migrating data to a new pool structure, and highlights the official release of FreeBSD 15.0, which introduces new features and optimizations. Additional segments touch on challenges in funding open-source maintenance and a technical guide for rebuilding storage pools, alongside lighter topics like retrocomputing and OPNsense updates.
How the FreeBSD Foundation funds development and community growth: The FreeBSD Foundation allocates over half its budget to software development, focusing on projects like improving desktop usability and security while maintaining build and testing infrastructure for stable releases. Donations also support community engagement by expanding contributor participation, funding education initiatives, and organizing events to sustain long-term ecosystem health. The 2025 budget highlights that 62% of funding directly supports development work, with additional resources dedicated to infrastructure and community programs. FreeBSD’s reliability and growth depend on this financial backing, which strengthens both the core system and projects built on it. The Foundation emphasizes transparency, providing detailed budget summaries to illustrate funding distribution.
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