Getting Started With PC-BSD

Ken Moore PC-BSD/iXsystems

Indiana LinuxFestJuly 27, 2013

What is FreeBSD?

The Good● Unix-like OS descended

from AT&T UNIX

● Legendary stability and security

● The ports system

● Unified development model

● Excellent documentation

● BSD License

The Bad● Generally difficult to

install/configure

● Lacking some of the more PC-oriented device drivers

BSD License

GPLv3 License

GPLv3 License

GPLv3 License

GPLv3 License

GPLv3 License

GPLv3 License

GPLv3 License

GPLv3 License

GPLv3 License

GPLv3 License

GPLv3 License

What is PC-BSD?

FreeBSD Simplified!● Pre-configured desktop/server

installation

● Desktop-Environment agnostic

● Automatic ZFS setup

● Up-to-date package repositories

PC-BSD Additions● Graphical Installer

● Warden (jail management)

● PBI package format w/ EasyPBI

● System backup/restore functionality

● Many graphical system administration and device management utilities

Important!PC-BSD is only available for 64-bit systems, and has standardized on the ZFS filesystem

ZFS

What is it?● Enterprise-grade filesystem and

logical volume manager

● Developed by Sun Microsystems and released in 2005

● FreeBSD versions were available starting in 2007

Features● Instant snapshots (local backup)

– Send/Receive snapshots● Allows boot environments

● Software RAID (z1, z2, z3)

● Self-healing with data corruption detection

PC-BSD Installation

Post-Installation Initial Setup

Welcome To PC-BSD!

PC-BSD Control Panel

System Configuration - Basic

● Safe method of system configuration

● Any/All Desktop Environments without re-installing the OS

● Add additional drivers or development toolkits

System Configuration - Advanced

● Full control over each individual package on your system

● Complete FreeBSD ports tree available as pre-built packages

● Updated package sets released twice a month

● Conflict resolution/management for any changes

Other Utilities

System Usage● AppCafe

Manage End-User applications

● Life-Preserver

Automatic Data Backups● Mount Tray

Connecting External Devices

System Configuration● Network Manager

Wired/Wireless connections● Sound Configuration

Set desired audio device

The PBI Package System

The Purpose● Provide a safe, system package

independent, method of installing/updating applications

Additional Goals● Ensure that applications do not

require an internet connection for installation

● Minimize library duplication to preserve disk space

The Implementation● Written in pure shell (/bin/sh)

● Intelligently shared libraries between PBI's

● A single PBI contains all libraries, files, and data needed for an application to run.

● Completely independent of the local system packages and other PBI applications

EasyPBI

● Graphical front-end to the PBI build system

– Generate build instructions (a PBI “module”)

– Run the actual build process● Tight (but optional) integration

with the FreeBSD ports collection

● No technical experience required

● Average time to create a module for a FreeBSD port: 5 minutes start to finish

The Warden

● Jail management system

● Integrates many ZFS features (snapshots, etc..)

● 3 Types of jails: traditional FreeBSD, ports jail, Linux jail

● Export/Import jails between systems

● Command-line application, with an optional graphical interface

Which Version?

*-RELEASE Track● Currently FreeBSD 9.1

● Better for production systems

● Stays with the offical FreeBSD releases

● Updated packages sets on or about the 1st and 15th of each month

*-STABLE Track● Currently FreeBSD 9.2-Beta1

● More development oriented

● Will have newer drivers and FreeBSD improvements sooner

● Updated package sets on or about the 5th and 20th of each month

● Update to the latest -STABLE version on the 1st of each month

Remember! PC-BSD is for 64-bit systems ONLY!DVD, USB, and live USB images are available for download at:

www.pcbsd.org

Questions?

Slides Available for download from:http://www.slideshare.net/beanpole135/2013-ilf-gettingstartedwithpcbsd