It’s not based on Linux, as they develop their code for everything. Even if there are many similarities, it includes several differences, more or less visible.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
To help you as much as possible, I will start by an introduction to FreeBSD, then I’ll show you how to install it, and finally, everything you need to know to use it the way you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note:<\/strong> I’m not an expert in BSD systems. I’m a fan of Pfsense which is based on FreeBSD, but I never really used it beside that. The goal here is only to share with you my notes about this system.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n If you’re new to Raspberry Pi or Linux, I\u2019ve got something that can help you right away! FreeBSD is not a new system, far from that. The first release comes in 1993! (same year as Debian). FreeBSD works on two branches : <\/p>\n\n\n\n FreeBSD can be used in any situation. It’s fast, stable and secure<\/strong>. So, it’s perfect for a Raspberry Pi, but also for a server or a desktop usage. Can FreeBSD replace my current operating system? We’ll see in the next parts how to install it on your Raspberry Pi, but it’s also a solid system for your computer or on server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FreeBSD has been adopted by many companies over the world. As I told you in introduction, FreeBSD is not a Linux-based system<\/strong>. FreeBSD don’t use this base, they develop and release everything, including the kernel and drivers. <\/strong> So, why do I need to try FreeBSD if it’s almost the same thing? But in theory, FreeBSD is a minimal system that should be faster, more secure and with less compatibility issues than most Linux systems<\/strong>. Let’s see how to install a basic FreeBSD system on your Raspberry Pi:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent models are not necessarily supported on FreeBSD, it may take time to get them fully supported, as the release cycle is slow. You might need to check the release notes for more details, but basically, at the time of my last edit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There may be other options, like using a custom firmware, but I haven’t tested it, so I can’t recommend it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FreeBSD offers pre-built images for the ARM and ARM64 architecture. Here is the general link to the FTP server: https:\/\/download.freebsd.org\/ftp\/<\/a> Download the file you need on this server, and feel free to ask in the community<\/a> if you are lost with this, or if I need to update it for the latest versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have the image on your computer, the installation part is similar to what you may already know with other systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I generally use Raspberry Pi Imager for everything now, even for custom images. Here are the main steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a few minutes, your SD card is ready to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have a full guide on how to install and use Raspberry Pi Imager<\/a> on the site, feel free to check it out if you need more guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the first boot, a terminal prompt will appear where you need to log in. Connect with root for now and continue to the next part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want, SSH is enabled by default<\/strong>, so you can absolutely continue from your computer once the network cable plugged. But the root user is not accessible directly with SSH. You need to connect with “freebsd” and then use “su” to switch to the root user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no sudo command available by default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once installed and logged in, it’s time to check that everything is configured properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the tool I show you just after, you can manage almost everything in your configuration, but the “Packages” part didn’t work for me<\/strong> (didn’t found the server). The package management tool on FreeBSD is “pkg”. There is a tool on FreeBSD to manage most of the configuration from the terminal <\/strong>(a bit like “raspi-config” on Raspberry Pi OS). The main menu looks like this: Use the arrows to scroll to the part that you need to change, and follow the instructions to configure it (if you are connected with SSH, the mouse is working).<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, to change the root password (which is recommended), go to “Root Password” and enter the new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The network will work directly with an Ethernet cable if there is a DHCP server on the network<\/strong> (your router probably). The Wi-Fi is not supported yet<\/strong>, as the driver is not included in the image. Note<\/strong>: Personally, I’m using a Wi-Fi extender to plug Ethernet cable on systems that doesn’t support Wi-Fi for Raspberry Pi. This one on Amazon<\/a> is working perfectly in this case if you are interested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I told you, two users are already there after the first boot: freebsd and root. But you can obviously change this as you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the “Login\/Group Management” from bsdconfig, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For your information, the “wheel” group add the permission to use “su”.<\/strong> In this last part, I’ll share with you a few other things that may be important depending on your current level on FreeBSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We already used the “pkg” command to manage packages that is the main change with Debian. As you can see, it’s really close from apt, yum or any other package management tool you might know. So, it should not be complicated to switch for pkg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By default, the only text editors pre-installed on the system are vi and ee. If you prefer, vim is also available: If you need help using these tools, I have two cheat sheets that you might like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the root user is directly available after the installation, the sudo command is not installed automatically with the system. But you can install it later if needed, here is how to do this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the next login, freebsd will be able to use sudo with any administrator command, for example: I have spent several hours trying to install a graphic interface, but unfortunately, I can’t achieve it. The error is always the same: it doesn’t start automatically, and when I start it manually I get an error like “No screen found”.
Download my free Linux commands cheat sheet<\/a> \u2013 it\u2019s a quick reference guide with all the essential commands you\u2019ll need to get things done on your Raspberry Pi. Click here to get it for free!<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n\nFreeBSD introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Presentation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>The main goal is to offer a lightweight system, with critical part related to stability. So you can use it almost anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/raspberrytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/freebsd-logo.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Usage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By the way, the FreeBSD FAQ is pretty clear about this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>For most people, yes.<\/p>\nFreeBSD documentation<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>It may be a lesser known distro in the mainstream<\/a>, but other brands like IBM, Apple or Sony are using parts of the FreeBSD code (for example, the PlayStation 4 system is a fork from FreeBSD).
Some NAS operating systems are also based on FreeBSD (FreeNAS for example).<\/p>\n\n\n\nFreeBSD vs Linux<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Systems on Linux, are all using the same kernel and basic drivers, and then add many applications to offer a specific solution at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the differences while using it are minimal (I will show you the main ones).
But you may have some commands working differently on Linux and FreeBSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFreeBSD strengths<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As always when I test systems, the main goal here is to experiment, and see how it works. So you’ll get more details at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’ll see now if this is true for the Raspberry Pi version \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\nInstall FreeBSD on Raspberry Pi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Raspberry Pi models support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Download<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>The ARM64 version is working fine on Pi 3B+ and 4, I didn’t test on other models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once here, you have two choices:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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For example:FreeBSD-14.0-RELEASE-arm64-aarch64-RPI.img.xz<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
FreeBSD-15.0-CURRENT-arm64-aarch64-RPI-20240523-1e84b85aad10-270337.img.xz<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nSD card preparation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/strong>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/raspberrytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rpi-imager-home.jpg\")
<\/li>\n\n\n\nFirst boot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are two users available by default:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/raspberrytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/freebsd-ssh-1024x485.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nConfigure FreeBSD on Raspberry Pi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Packages management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
So we have to do this manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>It works almost the same thing as “apt” or any other tool in command line.
I’ll show you how to use it later, but for now, you have to install it with this command (with the root user):pkg clean -a && pkg upgrade -f<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/raspberrytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pkg-install.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nConfiguration tool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To open it, enter the command:bsdconfig<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/raspberrytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/bsd-config.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\nNetwork configuration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If not, you can go to “Networking Management” in bsdconfig and set a static IP.
You can also use this tool to find your current IP address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/raspberrytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/network-management.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
You can try a USB stick to fix this (my DLINK model<\/a> didn’t work, but maybe there is something to install).<\/p>\n\n\n\nUsers and groups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/raspberrytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/users-management.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
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So, if you create a new user (like “pi” in my example), you need to add it in the “wheel” group if you want it to switch to the administrator account.<\/p>\n\n\n\nExtra tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The pkg command<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here is a few examples on how to use it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/raspberrytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/sudo.jpg\")
<\/li>\n\n\n\npkg install nano<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\nText editors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Personally, I don’t really like these editors, so I installed nano with:pkg install nano<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\npkg install vim<\/code>
And probably other ones, try “pkg search” if you want to check for your favorite \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Sudo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/strong>pkg install sudo<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\nvisudo<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\nfreebsd ALL=(ALL) ALL<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nsudo bsdconfig<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\nGraphic interface<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Many graphic interfaces are available in the repository: Gnome 3, KDE, XFCE4, LXDE, etc.
<\/strong>But none of them worked, even on the latest version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I find several useful links that I’ll share with you, and if anyone manages to do this, I will edit this post with the solution:<\/p>\n\n\n\n