====== FreeBSD Installation ======

Latest: Installing [[https://download.freebsd.org/releases/amd64/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/14.2/FreeBSD-14.2-RELEASE-amd64-memstick.img|FreeBSD-14.2-RELEASE-amd64]] (**202501070736** Use dd to write the image to a USB drive)

===== Base System =====

A fresh install - full hard disk available.

  * boot installer
  * select lib32 (kernel and base always selected)
  * added main user account to {//wheel//,//operator//} group
    * for desktop use, all users need to be in //video// or //wheel//
    * so normal users should be in //video// group
    * normal users should also be in //operator// group (some DE need this)
  * enable sshd, enable ntpdate(on-boot), disable sendmail

===== Desktop (GUI) =====

Information from this [[https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/handbook/|book]].

Lightweight path... using ''pkg'' to install

  * going jwm <code># pkg install -y xorg jwm xlockmore xfontsel</code>
    * a more newbie-friendly option could be <code># pkg install -y xorg mate libreoffice firefox</code>
    * also <code># pkg install -y lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter</code>
  * needed if group not assigned during user creation <code># pw groupmod video -m user || pw groupmod wheel -m user</code>
  * basic X should work (as user) <code>
$ echo "exec jwm" >.xinitc
$ startx
</code>
  * get proper graphics driver (list from handbook)
    * e.g. intel/drm-kmod/i915kms, amd/drm-kmod/amdgpu@radeonkms
    * e.g. nvidia/nvidia-driver/nvidia@nvidia-modeset
    * e.g. vesa/xf86-video-vesa/vesa, scfb/xf86-video-scfb/scfb
  * check graphics hardware <code># pciconf -lv | grep -B4 VGA</code>
  * e.g. if it is intel, get drm-kmod <code># pkg install drm-kmod</code>
  * test loading the module <code># kldload i915kms</code>
  * if no issues, set to load on boot <code># sysrc kld_list+=i915kms</code>
  * **note20250107** on 14.2-RELEASE, this has problems
    * install older one, works ok <code># pkg install drm-515-kmod</code>
    * this will remove ''drm-kmod'', but it works fine
  * some may also need these <code># pkg install libva-intel-driver mesa-libs mesa-dri</code>

//dumped...//

<file>
** try this!
https://wiki.freebsd.org/unitrunker/JWM
</file>

  * enable switching virtual consoles during X session<code># echo "kern.vty=vt" >> /boot/loader.conf</code>

===== Applications =====

  * development <code># pkg install -y git geany</code>
  * console multitasking <code># pkg install -y screen</code>
  * office & browser <code># pkg install -y libreoffice firefox</code>