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FreeBSD

FreeBSD is an advanced operating system for x86 compatible (including Pentiumยฎ and Athlonโ„ข)...

FreeBSD

FreeBSD Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether FreeBSD is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • FreeBSD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29

Features & Specs

  1. Stability

    FreeBSD is known for its robustness and reliability, making it a preferred choice for servers and critical applications that require high uptime.

  2. Advanced Networking

    It offers advanced networking features and performance, suitable for heavy network-related usage such as routers, firewalls, and servers.

  3. ZFS File System

    FreeBSD includes support for the ZFS file system, which provides high data integrity, advanced snapshot capabilities, and efficient data management.

  4. Ports Collection

    The FreeBSD Ports Collection offers a vast selection of pre-packaged software that eases the installation of applications and their dependencies.

  5. Security Features

    FreeBSD is known for its strong security features, such as jails for process separation and Capsicum, a capability-based security framework.

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Videos

FreeBSD 12 Review - Used as my daily OS

A Look and brief introduction to FreeBSD 12.1

I tried FreeBSD! - here's what I think of it

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about FreeBSD and what they use it for.
  • Why do we need DNSSEC?
    Optional, alternative standards don't have visibility and don't get used. Without a way to measure, nothing happens. There was once a few, UX-hostile DNSSEC & DANE browser extensions but these never worked well and were discontinued. Purveyors of functional DNSSEC: https://freebsd.org. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • I've never used FreeBSD and have some questions
    Aside from being UNIX based, what similarities does it share with Linux? Both have monolithic kernels. Source based build systems are offered (ports, which are like the portage system on Gentoo) as well as binary build systems (pkg, which is like apt, yum, pacman, etc.) Both offer a lot of free software, though more licenses are compatible with FreeBSD like CDDL, which is not compatible Linux. Both let you... Source: over 2 years ago
  • FreeBSD turns 30 today!
    There's no mention of a birthday on their site, and its footer says 1995-2023. That must be just the site, because Wikipedia tells me FreeBSD's initial release was indeed, but not quite, 30 years ago, November 1st 1993. Still no birthday. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Computer
    I'm not the right person to ask this -- I just run it on whatever I happen to have. But I think sleep and wifi (for example) have issues with different hardware, so you'd have to do your homework. The FreeBSD handbook on freebsd.org is always very helpful to me. You can try it out with a live cd / thumbdrive to see how much supported hardware you've got. My Lenovo X1 from a couple years ago works for what I... Source: about 3 years ago
  • Can SGIโ€™s Enthusiast Community Bring IRIX Back to Life?
    People are still actively working on Illumos. The last change was yesterday morning. * https://illumos.org People are still actively working on MirBSD. There's a CVS commit account that can be followed on the FediVerse. * http://www.mirbsd.org It's DragonFly BSD, not Dragon BSD, and the irony of that is that you missed FreeBSD, which is of course still going. * https://dragonflybsd.org * https://freebsd.org As... - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • X220 and beer. A lovely combo, especially with FreeBSD.
    A open source free and stable Unix-like operating system. Read more at http://freebsd.org. Source: about 3 years ago
  • How to know if my NIC will be recognized ?
    Mmm so the list on freebsd.org doesn't quite reflect reality. Not so helpful. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Can't get FreeBSD to resolve hostnames. Fresh VM Install for Version 13.2 on VirtualBox | Host Window 11
    Which is basically my router IP and also the DNS server as shown by my Windows 11 Host. I then restarted and VOLA! Everything works now. I can ping www.google.com and other hosts such as freebsd.org. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Can't get FreeBSD to resolve hostnames. Fresh VM Install for Version 13.2 on VirtualBox | Host Window 11
    I did a FreeBSD VM install on a Windows 11 Host with bridge networking. During the install pinging hostnames such as google.com or freebsd.org was working absolutely fine however when the installation was completed and I booted up the VM without the ISO, my fresh BSD install cannot resolve any hostnames whatsoever. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Yurt Calculator
    Image Creative Commons (CC) BY-SA-NC 2005-2017, developed, designed and written by Renรฉ K. Mรผller Graphics & illustrations made with Inkscape, Tgif, Gimp, PovRay, GD.pm Web-Site powered by FreeBSD & Debian/Linux - 100% Open Source. Source: about 3 years ago
  • fresh freebsd install cant resolve hostnames
    I put "freebsd.org" in my resolv.conf because I thought it was a "shortcut" for "ping freebsd.org" .-. Source: about 3 years ago
  • fresh freebsd install cant resolve hostnames
    Why do you put "freebsd.org" as your domain in resolv.conf If this machine is not part of the freebsd.org domain this is not correct. Source: about 3 years ago
  • I was able to upgrade to 13.2-RELEASE
    I'm not seeing it yet on freebsd.org as something that can be downloaded to upgraded to. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Is pkg.freebsd.org down?
    If I do an nslookup on my desktop pc, there's clearly an issue with the freebsd.org domain:. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Is there somewhere I can check if a pkg package is updated without having to ssh into the server?
    Is there a web page or something where I can check the currect version of pkg packages for a release? Something similar to the ports search but for pkg packages. I am googling away but I can't find anything. I have a vague memory of a freebsd.org page where one could specify release number and then search for package names... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Constructive Criticism: I *want* to use FreeBSD
    From sentence #3 on the primary freebsd.org site:. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Constructive Criticism: I *want* to use FreeBSD
    I say again: The second sentence on freebsd.org claims advanced networking, yet users of Broadcom (and sometimes even Netgear USB dongles) are out of luck when it comes to "advanced networking." How does "advanced networking" not support common networking hardware? Source: over 4 years ago
  • Considering the switch to the dark side...
    If you want to join the dark side, come over to FreeBSD. I mean, look at our mascot. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Notes on ZFS metadata special vdevs ... rsync.net Q3 tech notes
    Our tech notes for Q3 have a decent synopsis of building and attaching a ZFS "special" vdev and the results of our Q&A with Allan Jude @ freebsd.org regarding that new vdev class and how it's used:. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Request for comments on a ZFS performance testing project
    I normally use SmartOS and would likely stick with that in production for now, but I'm more than happy to take this opportunity to test with FreeBSD and Linux ZFS implementations as well for the sake of completeness. It seems like Ubuntu is going to be the easiest Linux distribution to test ZFS with, but I'm open to alternative suggestions. I would like to be able to perform all tests on each distribution. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • NetBSD9.1 nginx http2 uhm?!?
    Please shut down netbsd, remove the website redirect the domains to openbsd.org or freebsd.org or even shit.com is better to save others some time. Source: about 5 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of FreeBSD

FreeBSD stands as a robust and respected player in the realm of open-source operating systems, alongside prominent Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora, as well as its BSD counterparts like OpenBSD and DragonFly BSD. Garnering appreciation for both its Unix roots and functional similarities with Linux, FreeBSD is particularly noted for its advanced networking capabilities, comprehensive package management, and flexibility in kernel customization.

However, it is not without unique challenges. Users often highlight FreeBSD's higher learning curve, with a noticeable demand for a profound understanding of OS internals and low-level networking to utilize its full potential, particularly in specialized roles like routers and firewalls. This aspect could be seen as a double-edged sword, catering to power users but potentially discouraging newcomers or those seeking more user-friendly options offered by some Linux distributions.

FreeBSD's compatibility with Linux binaries via the "Linuxulator" is a significant advantage, allowing the execution of unmodified Linux binaries without emulation or virtualization, and broadening its application support. Its extensive library of ported software is another commendable feature, aligning closely with the offerings of prominent Linux distributions. The system supports both source-based (ports) and binary package management (pkg), although it notably lacks a counterpart to Flatpak-like systems seen in the Linux ecosystem.

From a community and support perspective, FreeBSD users benefit from a well-documented system and an active community forum, contributing to effective problem-solving. However, certain hardware compatibility issues are occasionally reported, particularly with specific wireless and networking components. The project's comprehensive handbook remains an invaluable resource for troubleshooting and ensuring compatibility before installation.

In the realm of development activities, FreeBSD is actively maintained and continues to evolve, sharing synergy with other BSD variants like HardenedBSD and GhostBSD, which tracks FreeBSD. The operating system is often lauded in technical discussions about ZFS implementations and other advanced filesystem features, demonstrating its utility and performance in rigorous, production-level environments.

Overall, public opinion on FreeBSD paints a picture of a powerful and versatile system favored by users seeking control and configurability, aligned with a robust UNIX lineage. However, it may pose integration challenges for those prioritizing out-of-the-box ease of use or working with cutting-edge hardware. As FreeBSD celebrates milestones like its 30th anniversary, it underscores its enduring relevance and capability in the competitive landscape of open-source operating systems.

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Is FreeBSD good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss FreeBSD here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.