Getting Ready To Try Out FreeBSD...Any Advice/Tips?

masonm · 11-06-2005, 10:08 AM

As a long time Linux user, I've always been curious about the *BSDs, but have never tried them for rumored hardware support being lacking even more than in Linux.

Well, I have some free partitions on my HDD and I've decided to give FreeBSD 6.0 a whirl (AMD64). I'm downloading the two ISOs now. I've read through the installation guide and some other materials on the their site.

One thing I wondered about. The partition I plan to use is a logical partition. I think I read someplace that FreeBSD must be installed in a primary. Is this correct? It won't install to a logical partition? Or did I misread this?

I have an AMD Athlon64, and a SATA HDD. What issues can I expect?

I welcome any tips or advice.

masonm · 11-06-2005, 12:01 PM

Well, I got my answer on the logical partition. It won't even show them, let alone install to one.

texaudit · 11-06-2005, 02:50 PM

I am a bit of a Linux/FreeBSD newb myself, and I have suffered for about a month or so now with trying to get Linux installed on my Hewlett PAckard Pavilion due to its SATA drives and some other hardware compatibility issues (which I think are the real problems, as I think I got the SATA issue solved at one point). I've gotten some really stripped Linux LiveCDs working, but not in a satisfactory manner (won't recognize SATA).

I decided to try FreeBSD yesterday, and got in running in no more than 3 or4 hours of effort. At least from my perspective, FreeBSD hardware support seems better than Linux. I think the real problem is that most/many Linux distros are bloated with alot of applications that I don't need, some of which are conflicting with the components (probably cheap) HP used.

Anyway, don't write off FreeBSD, yet.

btmiller · 11-06-2005, 04:17 PM

All of the BSDs have good hardware compatibility lists. I suggest consulting them before installing to avoid nasty surprises. And yes, because of the special way that the BSDs do partitioning (with slices and disklabel), you must install on a primary partition. The good news is that a BSD only uses one partition, since it creates its own partitions inside the one you set aside for it/.

Texaudit, I've never had any issues with FC3 and SATA (it's the only distro I've tried, though). Perhaps you were trying to install older distros that came out before SATA support was fully realized?

texaudit · 11-06-2005, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by btmiller
All of the BSDs have good hardware compatibility lists. I suggest consulting them before installing to avoid nasty surprises. And yes, because of the special way that the BSDs do partitioning (with slices and disklabel), you must install on a primary partition. The good news is that a BSD only uses one partition, since it creates its own partitions inside the one you set aside for it/.

Texaudit, I've never had any issues with FC3 and SATA (it's the only distro I've tried, though). Perhaps you were trying to install older distros that came out before SATA support was fully realized?

The distros I have tried are:

Ubuntu
Slackware 10.2
Mandriva 10.1
Knoppix (several versions)
FC3 and FC4
Damn Small Linux (works as a LiveCD, but won't recognize SATA)
Feather Linux (same as DSL)
PCLinuxOS
GoblinX LiveCD (worked once, not since)

and probably others.

Like I mentioned in my first post, I think I worked out the SATA problem with Slackware, but other isses (and I haven't even been able to figure out what the issue really is) have prevented successful installs.

reddazz · 11-06-2005, 05:33 PM

The best advice I can offer you is Read The Friendly Handbook. As a FreeBSD newbie, I learnt a lot by readin the handbook.

masonm · 11-06-2005, 06:57 PM

Yeah I read through the handbook this afternoon. Unfortunately I won't be installing FreeBSD, at least for a while as I don't want to wipe out my system just to set up a new partitioning scheme that will free up a primary.

Maybe later I'll add another drive and give it a try then.

masonm · 11-06-2005, 06:58 PM

Oh, as for SATA problems with Slack, just choose the correct kernel. I have a SATA drive and Slack installed no problem.

alred · 11-06-2005, 09:21 PM

it had been quite sometime since i last creating "extended" partitions , i think everybody should use only primary partitions , normally 4 of it on each hd while the rest "extended" if thats possible , there are some good and "easy" partition gui applications normally from windows or dos which may(or may not[sata??]) help you out with merging , strinking , growing and creating("empty" partitions) ... they usually recongnise fats and ext2(at least and maybe swap) ... give it a go ... you shoulnt got any trouble with that trouble(geeeeze !! ... just have a look at your sig

) ...

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this is part of the doc from 0.01(i think so) ::

Quote:

If you are using other than EGA/VGA, you'll
have to make the appropriate changes to 'linux/kernel/console.c', which
may not be easy. If you are able to use the at_wini.c under minix,
linux will probably also like your drive. If you feel comfortable with
scan-codes, you might want to hack 'linux/kernel/keyboard.s' making it
more practical for your [US|German|...] keyboard

and this is what i like ... from 0.10 ::

Quote:

[ You can run entirely from floppy but as you can see it really isn't
much fun so, if you like what you see, onwards ever onwards, otherwise
please think again... Linux really is gorgeous to use once you get it
set up. Still not convinced? Oh well, bye then ]

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as i might sound suggesting "go have fun with your precious partitions" , i definately need to quote the man again in-order to save my own ass ...

Quote:

This is a "fast hack", meant as a minimal guide to what you must do.
I'll expand this as soon as people tell me what they have problems with
etc etc. If somebody who has successfully installed the system wants to
write something better, I'd be delighted. This guide stinks to high
heaven.

so blame him dont blame me ...

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... whatever it is ... enjoy !!

.