Basic FreeBSD Setup & Install Notes [StartupCTO]

Last Updated: 22 Sep 2025

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Author: 47.128.40.24

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= Basic FreeBSD Setup & Install Notes =

This doc covers basic setup of a FreeBSD server. It gets all the core OS functionality on the box, but doesn't cover application software, etc.

=== BIOS Setup ===
* Update BIOS to latest version
* Perform a 'reset to defaults' on BIOS
* Disable onboard sound
* Disable onboard RAID (unless using it)
* Disable power management

=== Basic OS Install ===
Install FreeBSD, using the ISO disk images from [[http://www.freebsd.org]]. During the install, you should use these settings/defaults:
* Partition Defaults:
  * Swap: 512MB or 2X RAM [NOTE: For EV servers, should be 4X drive capacity]
  * /: 2048MB
  * /var: ~2048MB
  * /usr: Rest of disk
* Install 'User Only' distribution
* Install ports collection
* Do any necessary basic config (e.g. networking) during install process.
* Do not setup any users (yet), despite what the install process recommends

=== Basic Software Install ===
Basic software installation:
* install ''/usr/ports/net/cvsup-without-gui''
* [OPTIONAL] Upgrade to freebsd-stable. See the [[freebsd-stable-upgrade|FreeBSD-stable upgrade notes]] for more
* Get the latest ports by copying the ''ports-supfile'' from another server (or use the sample file)
* Do a ''cvsup ports-supfile'' to download the latest stuff

Now, install from ports:
* ''/usr/ports/shells/bash''
* ''/usr/ports/net/mtr'' (this will take forever because it installs perl, etc. as dependencies)
* ''/usr/ports/www/lynx''
* ''/usr/ports/net/ntp'' (then copy ''/etc/ntp.conf'' from another server and put '' ntpd_enable="YES" '' in ''/etc/rc.conf'' )
* ''/usr/ports/ports-mgmt/port-maintenance-tools'' (this is the port management meta package)
* ''/usr/ports/ports-mgmt/portaudit''
* ''/usr/ports/ports-mgmt/portupgrade''
* ''/usr/ports/editors/vim''
* ''/usr/ports/security/sudo''
* ''/usr/ports/ftp/wget''
* ''/usr/ports/ftp/curl''
* ''/usr/ports/sysutils/screen''
* ''/usr/ports/net/rsync''

=== Final Config ===
* Modify passwd file (using ''vipw''), and add at least a toor acct. This means copying the entry for root, and changing the shell to ''/usr/local/bin/bash''
* Add other accounts if needed using ''adduser''
* Get rid of the stupid message of the day in ''/etc/motd''
* Setup automatic ports downloads, using ''/usr/local/bin/ports_sup.sh'' or similar. Run this via cron.

Finally, configure rest of server as desired/needed.

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