This was written as simple install instructions for our customers who are installing FreeBSD 13.1 + Xfce
EDIT 1 - 13.2 is out - added upgrade instructions at end
Install on bare metal, generic kernel
Basic freebsd install is straightforward :-
Install
Explicitly choose keyboard map (likely UK if Ireland not available)
(Selections are made with space bar)
You know your hostname - enter your details when asked
Click ok at Distribution Select
Install with ZFS (single disk / mirror / raid 1+0 / raidz depending on your setup) & UEFI
Installer will do it’s thing, until…
At root password prompt enter unique, strong never used elsewhere password and repeat it
For network - chose wired (for now) and accept defaults for IPv4 & IPv6
At network configuration screen click OK
Local or UTC (GMT) clock prompt - click no
Explicitly choose timezone (likely Europe / Ireland)
IST is reasonable - yes
Skip date
Skip time
Select ntpdate & ntpd when asked at System Configuration (select other options as required)
At system hardening screen chose appropriately (maybe 5-10 on desktop install ?)
Add User Accounts - yes
When creating first user - at ‘invite $USER into other groups’ prompt:-
wheel operator video
Else, accept defaults, but give your user a password & type yes at end
If you have other users to add at this point type yes else type no
Exit
No
Reboot
At console - root login (use root password you entered above)
(these 3 lines should be run fairly often to keep up)
# freebsd-update fetch
(After it’s applied patches - might need a q or two or three to get back to prompt)
# freebsd-update install
# reboot
At console - root login again
# pkg install nano
(if it asks to install package manager type y)
note : pkg install requires affirmative y to proceed
you can do # pkg install -y ************
# pkg install xorg
# pkg install xfce xfce4-goodies xfce4-places-plugin
# pkg install lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter
# pkg install usbutils networkmgr fusefs-ifuse fusefs-ntfs
# sysrc dbus_enable=YES lightdm_enable=YES
# sysrc kld_list+=fusefs
Install relevant 1 of the following video drivers:-
AMD
# pkg install drm-kmod
# sysrc kld_list+=amdgpu
Intel
# pkg install drm-kmod
# sysrc kld_list+=i915kms
Nvidia
# pkg install nvidia-driver
# sysrc kld_list+=nvidia-modeset
You have already exported your pools
# zpool import
Will list pools and you can import by name/id
Give your user(s) relevant access to your pools, possibly :
# chown -R $USER: /$POOL
Install applications useful to you (below are just some suggestions)
# pkg install firefox terminator irssi thunar-archive-plugin libreoffice cmus file-roller sudo vlc ................
WiFi network
# sysctl net.wlan.devices
That will return something like rsu0
(Substitute your 3 letters for rsu if necessary)
# nano /boot/loader.conf
Add eof 1 line : if_rsu_load=“YES”
Save & Exit
# nano /etc/rc.conf
Add eof 3 lines : wlans_rsu0=“wlan0”
Ifconfig_wlan0=”WPA SYNCDHCP”
create_args_wlan0=“country IE regdomain ETSI”
Save & Exit
# nano /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
Add eof (note - might be an empty file) 4 lines :
network={
ssid=“your WiFi network ssid name”
psk=“your WiFi network ssid password”
}
Save & Exit
# service netif restart
This will show (towards the end of wlan0) … status: associated
WiFi is alive. Happy days
# ifconfig wlan0 list scan
This will show your WiFi network(s)
Some of you prefer zsh or fish etc to sh
# pkg search zsh
or
# pkg search fish
# pkg install **** as required
Note - you might also want to
# pkg install powerline-fonts
# chsh for user as per usual if required
Sudo
If you want sudoers : to allow your original created user as member of wheel group to be a sudoer
# visudo
Remove comment from line commencing # %wheel
Save & Exit (be very aware of and action any messages/warnings)
(Better to be safe rather than sorry :))
Sound
# pkg install xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin xfce4-volumed-pulse
# nano /boot/loader.conf
Add eof 1 line : snd_driver_load=“YES”
Save & Exit
# cat /dev/sndstat
This will list your sound card(s) & show current default
The unit number is derived from the pcm number - pcm0 is unit 0 & pcm4 is unit 4 etc
If the default shown is not the one you require, then
# sysctl hw.snd.default_unit=4
To make your default choice permanent
# nano /etc/sysctl.conf
Add eof 1 line : hw.snd.default_unit=4
Save & Exit
[ Note : the default unit for your system might well be different to 4 ]
Keep packages up to date with 2 commands
# pkg update
# pkg upgrade
(You’ll want to run these 2 regularly)
# reboot
You can now login to Xfce as user & configure it as you require:
Panels, keyboard, fonts, window manager, cursor, screensaver, themes, power manager, icons, wallpaper etc
And you’ve got FreeBSD + Xfce up and running - it’s now back to real work my friends
But (there’s always a but) please consider helping the FreeBSD community :-
Donation / port maintenance / tester etc etc
Many Thanks
Some of you might burn cd and/or dvd with Xfburn etc
If it fails to find your device.....
(Note - if your user is not sudoer, run all as root)
$ sudo nano /etc/devfs.rules
(this file might be empty)
(if [system 10] aleady exists just add the 3 lines under it)
Add 4 lines : [system=10]
add path 'cd*' mode 666
add path 'pass*' mode 666
add path 'xpt0' mode 666
Save & Exit
$ sudo sysrc devfs_system_ruleset="system"
$ sudo service devfs restart
EDIT 1 ********** Upgrade *************
Run the following commands to upgrade FreeBSD 13.1 to FreeBSD 13.2 :
(Note - if your user is not sudoer, run all as root)
$ sudo pkg update
$ sudo reboot (if it updates significent packages)
$ sudo freebsd-update -r 13.2-RELEASE upgrade
(Likely download well in excess of 1000 patches)
it'll ask a couple of times if looks reasonable - type y and enter
enter q at : a couple of times to return to prompt
$ sudo freebsd-update install
$ sudo reboot
$ sudo freebsd-update install (it'll check the certificates etc)
$ sudo reboot
After logging back into Xfce :
$ freebsd-version
$ uname -r
(these last two commands show the exact same result)
$ sudo pkg update
$ sudo pkg upgrade (the system is upgraded, this will upgrade any packages)
Any errors/omissions - let me know