On the DVD
On the DVD
![](/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/issues/2021/244/this-month-s-dvd/dvd-244-lmi_freebsd.png/782234-1-eng-US/dvd-244-lmi_FreeBSD.png_medium.png)
FreeBSD 12.2 and GhostBSD
So you think you know open source? Just the fact that you are reading this page means that what you probably know is Linux. This month, the DVD provides a glimpse into another corner of open source – the world of BSD. Like Linux, BSD varieties are free operating systems that are Unix descendants. However, they are released under the permissive BSD licenses rather than the copyleft licenses that dominate Linux. You will also find many other differences, despite the similar underlying structures.
FreeBSD 12.2 (64-bit)
First released in 1992, FreeBSD is the most popular version of BSD, especially for servers. Those coming from Linux will find many details different, such as the device naming system, as well as many commands and applications. More importantly, FreeBSD has never passed through a popularity phase like the one that drove Linux to develop mature desktop environments – although some mature BSD environments are available today. Instead, FreeBSD more resembles Linux in its hobbyist days. For instance, FreeBSD's install is a text-based series of questions with no hardware auto-detection. Furthermore, no desktop environment is installed, although users can add one later.
FreeBSD's assumption is that users have the knowledge or interest to work with FreeBSD until their systems are configured to their liking. Installation is unlikely to produce a working desktop system in 15 minutes. Instead, users should be ready to refer repeatedly to the FreeBSD documentation (https://www.freebsd.org/docs.html) and to fetch desired applications from websites. The reward for this effort will be greater knowledge of Unix-like systems – as well as the satisfaction that comes with doing it yourself.
![](/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/issues/2021/244/this-month-s-dvd/dvd-244-lmi_ghost.png/782237-1-eng-US/dvd-244-lmi_Ghost.png_large.png)
GhostBSD (64-bit)
An off-shoot of TrueOS, GhostBSD is a prominent attempt to make FreeBSD more accessible to new users. GhostBSD's installer is graphical, like modern Linux installers, offering more choices for users and installing the MATE desktop with a minimum of effort. The default install also includes many familiar applications like LibreOffice, Firefox, and GTK technologies such as Rhythmbox and Shotwell.
More importantly, GhostBSD supports users with an installation forum (https://forums.ghostbsd.org/viewforum.php?f=59) and its still-in-development installation guide (https://wiki.ghostbsd.org/index.php/Installation_Guide). The project's web page also includes portions of the directory tree for those who wish to study it.
GhostBSD is suitable for those who want to explore FreeBSD, but want to spend less time on installation. Most of what you learn from exploring GhostBSD specifically should apply to FreeBSD in general.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
![Learn More](https://www.linux-magazine.com/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/media/linux-magazine-eng-us/images/misc/learn-more/834592-1-eng-US/Learn-More_medium.png)
News
-
NVIDIA Released Driver for Upcoming NVIDIA 560 GPU for Linux
Not only has NVIDIA released the driver for its upcoming CPU series, it's the first release that defaults to using open-source GPU kernel modules.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 24.07 Released
If you’re into rolling release Linux distributions, OpenMandriva ROME has a new snapshot with a new kernel.
-
Kernel 6.10 Available for General Usage
Linus Torvalds has released the 6.10 kernel and it includes significant performance increases for Intel Core hybrid systems and more.
-
TUXEDO Computers Releases InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen9 Laptop
Sporting either AMD or Intel CPUs, the TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 is an extremely compact, lightweight, sturdy powerhouse.
-
Google Extends Support for Linux Kernels Used for Android
Because the LTS Linux kernel releases are so important to Android, Google has decided to extend the support period beyond that offered by the kernel development team.
-
Linux Mint 22 Stable Delayed
If you're anxious about getting your hands on the stable release of Linux Mint 22, it looks as if you're going to have to wait a bit longer.
-
Nitrux 3.5.1 Available for Install
The latest version of the immutable, systemd-free distribution includes an updated kernel and NVIDIA driver.
-
Debian 12.6 Released with Plenty of Bug Fixes and Updates
The sixth update to Debian "Bookworm" is all about security mitigations and making adjustments for some "serious problems."
-
Canonical Offers 12-Year LTS for Open Source Docker Images
Canonical is expanding its LTS offering to reach beyond the DEB packages with a new distro-less Docker image.
-
Plasma Desktop 6.1 Released with Several Enhancements
If you're a fan of Plasma Desktop, you should be excited about this new point release.