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Switching to FreeBSD on Laptop

by Vijay Kiran

FreeBSD

After almost 1 year, now I’ve again started my migration to FreeBSD from Linux. I was using FreeBSD when it was in its 5.0 release stage. I fell in love with it since then. When I got my own laptop, I thought I’ll use FreeBSD as my primary OS. But the problem with FreeBSD is that you need internet connection for every package you want to install. But Linux is being distributed many magazines so that, you can directly purchase and install. Not the case with FreeBSD.
 
Last month, I’ve got PC-BSD, desktop oriented FreeBSD distribution, free with a magazine. But I couldn’t install it. The installation couldn’t start. I visited their forum to see many questions unanswered. It was not looking that active. So, I’ve stopped worrying about installation, and preferred my old path – downloading FreeBSD my self. I downloaded the FreeBSD 6.0 Release Disc 1 ISO, burned onto my CD-RW and then installed the FreeBSD. The installation went very smooth, no glitches nothing. May be because I knew how to install.
 
 The installation program for FreeBSD has always been non-userfriendly. Its hard to understand for a newbie. But I’m okay with it. The next thing I was worried about the bootloader, in my previous experiences, on some configurations, FreeBSD failed to recognze other OS, making the system un-bootable. But this time, it went without any problem. It took almost 30mins to get the system running, The GUI – Xserver is not configured/installed yet. I’m going to do that tonight. I can’t wait to have FreeBSD running on my Laptop!
 
 The basic reason behind migration is that I’m beginning to hate the "branded" look of Linux Desktop. It seems to me like the original look and feel of the OS is getting lost behind the branded desktop versions of linux. And Linux is doing the same thing as windows does – trying to hide the complexity of the system. FreeBSD is much better in that sense. And they the folks who are maintainers, they keep the software on the edge. I get all the latest versions of the software ported as soon sa they release. That’s what I like being on the edge. And the new logo is cool!
 

  • http://www.emusings.info Seoolfreeloader

    Hey Vijay, most intrigued by you getting FreeBSD to work out of the box. And with a GUI too. Every time I try all I get is the (realtively) crummy looking prompt. How do you manage to get the GUI running. Have tried and tried and even bought some books, but no luck :| Tend to just use BSD to run servers at work; bot not for a desktop. Ideas?

  • Vijay Kiran

    By default, X is not installed on FreeBSD. And which version were you using?
    You need select it from Distributions screen in the sysinstall. Or once you’ve installed and reached the prompt, you can always install gnome through ports. But it will take good amount of time for compiling. I suggest getting the package and then installing it. Once you installed X.org or XFree86 you can configure  xorg –configure. Did you try the handbook on FreeBSD.org?

  • http://livejournal.com/users/shantanoo Shantanoo

    Maybe you can have a look at CD2. It contains X, KDE, GNOME etc.