Which version of FreeBSD? (For a newbie)

GloVe · 10-14-2003, 06:47 AM

im planning to install FreeBSD on a Laptop.
which version would be the best to a newbie such as... me?
i've experianced with RH, SuSE, and Slackware Linux 'till now.
10q.

repe · 10-14-2003, 07:21 AM

4.8 or 5.1

cnjohnson · 10-14-2003, 01:17 PM

I recommend 4.8. It is very stable and different enough from linux to keep you on your toes. Just about everything that runs on linux will be found in the freeBSD ports collection, or will run with linux emulation enabled, which is usually the case.

If this is the first time to set up a BSD box, I can heartily recommend going to the bsd mall (link from freeBSD.org) and buying a "package": CD-ROM set, and handbook. The load isn't a walk-over, but it is really straightforward.

Cheers--
Charles

shadowhunter · 10-15-2003, 12:47 PM

go for 5.1=> you got acpi.

PS if you have a dell, you need another DSDT table or you get lots of warnings.

Manadien · 10-17-2003, 08:08 PM

Older laptop = FreeBSD 4.8

Newer laptop = FreeBSD 5.1

And was pointed out 5.1 has ACPI built in by default

GloVe · 10-18-2003, 08:18 AM

mmm thanks
and what version of XFree86 would you recommend?
3.x or 4.x ?
this laptop is IBM ThinkPad 600E with Pentium II and 288 MB RAM.
i dont know what is it's graphics card, but i guess it's not a new-technology card or somethin'.

Manadien · 10-19-2003, 09:19 AM

4.x works fine. Choose the neomagic driver.

WiZaC · 10-20-2003, 06:31 AM

I mean it seems to be good to start with 4.x instead of the 5.x and think it is better to start with 4.x because that you need to learn it from the ground, and if you are being a little bit more leet, then you can start with 5.x. It is up to you.

WiZaC

bkeating · 10-22-2003, 10:52 PM

4.8 is current stable.

I recommend 5.1 if this will be a workstation with no serious production services (mail server / firewall, etc.).

www.freebsd.org has quite a bit of info on this and has EXCELLENT documentation.

wisey · 10-23-2003, 07:56 AM

I use 5.1 for my Mail Server and Web Server, my main mail server has been
relatively unbusy but has coped with it remarkably well

FreeBSD 5.1-RELEASE (eternity.rel) #0: Thu Jun 5 02:55:42 GMT 2003
[/home/dave] uptime
2:02PM up 122 days, 17:58, 1 user, load averages: 0.11, 0.03, 0.01