Test setup

The installation was validated at SolidRun using the following setup:

• Freebsd 13.2-RELEASE
  
  

• Terminal software:

  • Putty

  • Alternatively, Tio can also be used.
    known TIO limitation: in BIOS, the currently selected option is displayed in the same color as the background, which makes it not visible, yet it is still fully functional.

• USB flash disk: Kingston Data Traveler

Installation process

Download FreeBSD Image

• Go to: FreeBDS AMD64 installer download

Creating bootable USB drive

Please follow instructions at Creating bootable USB drive

Connecting serial console

Please follow instructions at Using serial console with Bedrock V3000

BIOS settings

• Insert the USB media to the device

• Turn on Bedrock

• Repetitively press the DEL / ESC key to enter the BIOS setup

• In BIOS go to -> Save & Exit -> <your bootable USB device> -> yes

• Device will reset and a PFsense boot screen will appear

Boot

When you see the main boot menu:

Open

FreeBSD main window

• Press "esc" or the arrow buttons to go to the boot option shell 

• Set the console redirection (copy to the terminal): 

• set hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2" boot

• Kernel messages will start to spill out, wait until you see the following prompt:

• Select console type, press enter for default(VT100):

Open

FreeBSD Console selection

• Choose install:

• Choose keymap:

• Choose host name for your device:

• Choose system components, press enter for default:

• Select Auto (UFS) Guided UFS Disk Setup:

• Select installation disk:

• Select Entire disk:

• Confirm destructive action:

• Select partition scheme:

• Review disk setup and select Finish:

• Confirm destructive action:

• Wait for the installation to finish:

• Select password:

• Select network interface to configure:

• Follow the istructions to configure the interface.

• Configure resolver, enter for default:

• Select local time and time zone, select no:

• Configure your system:

• Configure system hardening:

• Add users if needed:
  Follow the istructions to add a new user

• Apply the configurations and exit the isntaller:

• Open shell to further configure the system:

• Select yes because we will need to make the following modifications to enable console: 

  • Create the /boot/loader.conf.local file, which will contain our changes and add: 

  • hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2" 

Thats it, you can reboot the system and use it.

Tips

Hididng kernel output

• Add to /boot/loader.conf.local: 

  • boot_mute="YES"

Disabling Hyperthreading

• Add to /boot/loader.conf.local: 

• To verify the change run: