Installation and optimization of FreeBSD system

For many computer users, FreeBSD is still a relatively unfamiliar system. This article will take FreeBSD 4.7 release as an example, step-by-step you install a complete FreeBSD operating system.

Pre-Installation Preparation

FreeBSD is more adaptable to the hardware of the system (it may be slightly worse than Linux, especially for new display cards, but support for the server's common hardware, including SCSI devices, is quite perfect). Most processors on the IA platform, down to 386, up to Pentium-4 and their compatible CPUs, are capable of running FreeBSD.

In order to effectively install, run FreeBSD, I personally recommend that the installation of FreeBSD system should have at least 2GB of the remaining hard disk space, as well as at least 64MB of memory. This configuration of the computer is very easy to find today. Given that FreeBSD is generally configured to be used as a server, the configuration requirements above are clearly easy to achieve.

Dual booting is not appropriate for servers (servers tend to require continuous, long time work, while switching the operating system will undoubtedly require a stop service.) In addition, dual-boot system stability is poor, one operating system crash is likely to damage another operating system.

FreeBSD support and other operating systems coexist, and in the boot through the menu to choose to use the operating system, but I personally very opposed to the use of FreeBSD in this way.

So let me install a FreeBSD server from beginning to end, and explain the installation of FreeBSD. In order to install FreeBSD, I have prepared such a computer:

Cpu:pentium II-233, Memory 64MB, hard disk (IDE) 6GB, PS/2 keyboard, mouse, 20x optical drive, no floppy drive, RealTek8139 network card (tp-link).

The above configuration is very easy to do today. Of course, as far as the server is concerned, this configuration is really miserable, but FreeBSD run on it, and assume the database, dynamic Web pages and other services are completely without problems.

The first is to prepare the FreeBSD installation disk. FreeBSD there are many ways to install, the easiest way is to use the CD-ROM installation, however, in the absence of the floppy disk drive, the CD-ROM can also be installed through the BOOTP service remote boot method.

Given that this is a rare situation (the author has successfully installed FreeBSD on a computer that does not have a floppy drive or CD drive, the method is to hook up the hard disk on another computer, rather than the usual BOOTP), not described here.

In order to install FreeBSD, I prepared an empty CD-R. Installing FreeBSD requires a minimum of 2 1.44MB of blank floppy disks (the rest are available using FTP), and installing FreeBSD only requires the first CD. Unless your computer is slow or unable to connect to the Internet, you will normally only need to download the image of the first CD.

Since the FTP on the Network Center provides a mirror image of the FreeBSD 4.6 all four discs, as well as the first two discs of 4.6.2, I directly downloaded and carved the first CD of the latter.

Turn on your computer and enter the BIOS Setup. In which you choose to have the computer boot from the CD (this is a critical step, although FreeBSD can also start the installation process from a DOS environment, there may be problems), disable all devices that are not available, including serial ports, and ports, and floppy drive controllers (this is done primarily to improve performance, Because the perimeter device may send an interrupt request to the host, a device that is not in use sends a request with no other effect than wasting CPU time.

The system on the FreeBSD installation disc uses the generic kernel, which can accommodate the vast majority of systems. Of course, as his name is "GENERIC (General)", it also brings lower performance, for example, the kernel does not have the ability to play dual CPU, and so on.

But since the installation process only happens once, we don't have to care too much about it. installation CD boot (for floppy boot, is prompted to load all two floppy disks into memory), the first occurrence is the configuration kernel.

Configuring the kernel is not usually required because the FreeBSD can automatically identify the hardware. However, if you have a special hardware configuration (for example, two network cards, using a special IRQ, older, etc.), you may need to manually configure the kernel.

For the vast majority of cases, as long as the removal of those devices can not be used to complete the installation of FreeBSD, if you are not familiar with your hardware, this process can even skip.

I personally prefer to delete unused devices, so choose visual mode, will not need to remove all the equipment. Finally, press Q to save the configuration and enter the FreeBSD installer Sysinstall.