FreeBSD Installation


Pre-installation

- Make sure your hardware is supported by checking the supported hardware list that comes with FreeBSD.
    This document is in the root of the cdrom as HARDWARE.HTM or HARDWARE.TXT

- Identify legacy devices
    - Do you have any ISA or EISA devices?
    - Write down IRQ and IO of each.

- Understand harddisk layout.  FreeBSD uses partition ID is 165.  Must be a primary.
    Cdrom comes with FIPS and PResizer.
    Lots of information about harddisk layout in FreeBSD handbook.

- Write down network info, dhcpclient or
- Are you running X?
    - get video card info.  model/chipset and ram.
    - Monitor HorizSync and VertRefresh

- Prepare boot media (installing from cdrom)
    - Cdrom is bootable if your computer supports it.
    - Floppy boot to access the cdrom drive if nessasary
    Creating floppies for installing from cdrom.  kern.flp & mfsroot.flp
    - From DOS: <cdromdrive>:\tools\fdimage <cdromdrive>:\floppies\kern.flp a:
    - From UNIX:  dd if=/pathto/mfsroot.flp of=/dev/fd0


Installation

-Boot from media

-Kernel Configuration menu
    start kernel configuration in full screen visual mode (highlight and press enter)
    press "x" to expand all menus.
    remove/modify devices.  Make sure there are no conflicts.  (I removed all scsi and network adaptors.)
    NOTE:    do not disable sc0 - it controls the screen
                      do not disable atkdb0 - it controls the keyboard. (unless you use usb)
    [q] to quit, [y] to save.

- kernel probe starts, when done press scroll lock and page up to review probe.
    Make sure everythings happy. pess scroll lock again to return to the install.

- sysinstall
    The installation program is called sysinstall and can be called any time from /stand/sysinstall

    Highlight "options" [enter]
    review options.  Chances are you don't have to change anything here now, posiblely "install media" although we can do that easily later. [q]

    Highlight "standard" the recommended install [enter]
    message about fdisk [enter]
    create your FreeBSD partition [a] ([a] is for autocreate)
    Highlight the freebsd partition and [s] set bootable.[q]

    If multiple oses are on drive select "BootMgr" [enter]
    If single os on drive select "Standard" [enter]

    message about BSD partitions [enter]
    Create BSD partitions(slices) [a][q].  ([a] is for autocreate)

    Highlight a distribution - probably X-kern-developer [enter] (you can run X and recompile the kernel)
    I recommend installing the ports collection [y]
    Highlight exit [enter]

   chose install media if not done in options. highlight CD/DVD [enter]
    [y]

- Wait while it creates the file systems and installs the files.

- Congratulations [enter]

-Post Installation

    configure ethernet devices [y]
    select adaptor [enter]
    IPv6 [n]
    dhcp [n]
    hostname [tab]
    domainname [tab]
    gateway [tab]
    name server [tab]
    IP address [tab]
    netmask [tab][tab]
    ok [enter]

    Bring up the interface? [y]
    gateway? [n]
    inetd? [n]
    anonymous ftp [n]
    NFS server [n]
    NFS client [n]
   
    Choose a security profile.  selecting no will give you medium security. [n]
    Message [enter]

    console settings [y] - I set the screensaver for the console here.
    arrow to saver [enter]
    arrow to 6 [enter]
    arrow to exit [enter]

    set your time zone [y]
    UTC [n]
    arrow to 2 [enter]
    arrow to Canada [enter]
    arrow to 5 [enter]
    does EDT look reasonable? [y]

    Do you want to setup linux compatablility [y] - why not

    Non usb mouse [y]
    type [enter]
    choose your type [enter]
    port [enter]
    choose your port [enter]
    flags [enter]
    -3 [enter] (to emulate 3 button mouse)
    enable [enter]
    test y or n
    exit [enter]

    Do you wnat to configure X at this time? [n]  (we will do this after the initial install)

    Browse the package collection? [n]

    add a user? [y]
    highlight user [enter]
    login id [tab]x3
    password [tab]x2
    member groups [tab]x3 [enter]  (to su to root you must be a member of wheel)
    exit [enter]

    Message re: root passwd [enter]
    enter root passwd [enter]
    again [enter]

    last chance to view options [n]

    [tab] to exit install [enter]
    are you sure? [y]

    Be sure to remove boot media before it reboots.

Remember you can run the install program any time from
/stand/sysinstall


After first boot

- at login in screen press scroll lock and pgup looking for errors. press scroll lock again.

assuming no errors

- login in as root.

- edit /etc/motd   (this is what is displayed when you login)

- set the password for 'toor'
    passwd toor
        This is a backup root account (UID 0).  If you mess up roots account you can use this to repair it.

- To shut down the computer use the following command
    # shutdown -h now

- To restart the computer use the following command
    # shutdown -r now



Next Packages and ports
Index