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Installing FreeBSD

Installing FreeBSD

Owned by Lior Jigalo
Last updated: Nov 22, 2023
4 min read

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

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:

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):

FreeBSD Console selection

  • Choose install:

FreeBSD install screen

  • Choose keymap:

FreeBSD keymap selection

  • Choose host name for your device:

FreeBSD Host name selection

  • Choose system components, press enter for default:

FreeBSD system component select

  • Select Auto (UFS) Guided UFS Disk Setup:

FreeBSD partitioning

  • Select installation disk:

FreeBSD disk select

  • Select Entire disk:

FreeBSD partitioning

  • Confirm destructive action:

FreeBSD destructive action confirmation

  • Select partition scheme:

FreeBSD partition scheme

  • Review disk setup and select Finish:

FreeBSD disk setup

  • Confirm destructive action:

FreeBSD destructive action confirmation

  • Wait for the installation to finish:

FreeBSD installation progress
FreeBSD installation progress

  • Select password:

FreeBSD password selection

  • Select network interface to configure:

FreeBSD interface configuration

  • Follow the istructions to configure the interface.

 

  • Configure resolver, enter for default:

FreeBSD resolver configuration

  • Select local time and time zone, select no:

FreeBSD time and date
FreeBSD time and date
FreeBSD time and date
FreeBSD time and date

  • 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" 

Note: /boot/loader.conf recreates itself each boot or update, so this will override the changes. 

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: 

    • machdep.hyperthreading_allowed="0"

  • To verify the change run:

    • sysctl machdep.hyperthreading_allowed

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