QuickGuide to FreeBSD

This guide covers some common pitfalls and good-to-know™ things about FreeBSD

• Booting an old kernel
• Configuring & compiling kernels
• FreeBSD on IBM ThinkPad A21 (and T20, T21)
• Other FreeBSD related pages
• Updating and building worlds
• Updating source and ports

Booting an old kernel

Ok - you fscked up and your brandnew kernel won't boot.

1. Press any OTHER key than enter to halt the boot process.
2. Type unload to unload the broken kernel.
3. Type load /kernel.old to load your old (and hopefully working kernel). It is also possible to load the GENERIC kernel with load /kernel.GENERIC
4. Type boot to boot the old kernel.
5. Fix the broken kernel.

Configuring & compiling kernels

Kernel config dir: /usr/src/sys/i386/conf

1. Start by copying GENERIC to <YOURHOSTNAME>
2. Edit <YOURHOSTNAME> to suit your needs.
3. Do a config <YOURHOSTNAME>
4. cd ../../compile/<YOURHOSTNAME>
5. make depend && make && make install
6. .. and reboot

FreeBSD on IBM ThinkPad A21 (and T20, T21)

Read Installing FreeBSD on an IBM ThinkPad A21p

Other FreeBSD related pages

• FreeBSD Handbook
• O'Reilly Network: FreeBSD Basics

Updating and building worlds

1. Do a cvsup of src-all
2. Read /usr/src/UPDATING
3. Configure your kernel
4. cd /usr/src
5. make buildworld
6. make buildkernel KERNCONF=<YOURHOSTNAME>
7. make installkernel KERNCONF=<YOURHOSTNAME>
8. make installworld
9. mergemaster
10. Say your prayers and reboot

Updating source and ports

Read Tigerdyr's HOW-TO's - CVSUPD