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Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux (2020)

unixsheikh.com

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Re: Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux (2020)

#21
post #18

There are virtualization options in FreeBSD, but I can't use FreeBSD in absence of mature OCI compatible container support, without going though hoops on bhyve. In present day, it matters a lot with a good amount of time being spent on docker/ kubernetes.

This is the same for me. ZFS native boot environments and such is a killer feature that I am envious of.

Also proton gaming seems to be best supported on Linux from what I can tell.

Re: Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux (2020)

#22
post #20

I have tried learning FreeBSD occasionally, mostly for nostalgia because I learned Unix on BSD 4.3 (or 4.4?) on MicroVaxes many years ago. But I get stuck on some very basic things: - My wifi card doesn't work. The installer recognizes it, but the driver doesn't work. - The console terminal defaults to 80x25, I don't know how to resize it. - I can't figure out how to start X Windows. - If I run it in a VM (e.g. Virtu…

read the handbook... it's the second chapter in this webpage.

Re: Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux (2020)

#23

I really like this article about FreeBSD. One really nice feature that is not cover though is to set the immutable flags on some binaries with the command chflags. It's possible to boot your very secure system into securemode level 1 or higher. In this mode, it's impossible to delete those files. rm -rf /* has very limited damage. chmod -R 0000 /* won't touch chmod and all kind of ooops become much less destructive.…

The whole securelevel mechanism is nice. You can only increase its value at runtime, never decrease it without rebooting. At higher levels, you can’t modify firewall rules. If you configure the server to boot into a high securelevel, you can make the machine effectively read-only until you boot it with console access.

Re: Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux (2020)

#24

How are things these days with graphics (well, NVIDIA and maybe intel, I don't care about amd) drivers, CUDA, ML? How's support in general for latest hardware like CPUs, mobos/wifi?

Basic usage with Nvidia drivers works ok. Nvidia disables CUDA and NVENC/NVDEC on FreeBSD. CPUs/motherboards work great, at least in x86 (arm64 probably works well, too, but I'm less familiar). Wifi is very behind the curve. If you have a supported card (including some 802.11AC cards), 802.11N probably works -- but last I heard, AC does not.

Re: Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux (2020)

#25
post #10
post #4

> Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux On the server/router maybe. For IT pros maybe. The desktop is a whole different matter.

On the desktop, Linux is going to be challenging anyway. Many people love that challenge and make it work, and that's cool. But my point is that if you can make it work on desktop Linux you will make it work on FreeBSD as well, given some decent skill.

> But my point is that if you can make it work on desktop Linux you will make it work on FreeBSD as well, given some decent skill.

As someone who has run Linux and FreeBSD desktops for years -- no, Linux on the desktop is actually quite a bit better and easier to use than FreeBSD.

Re: Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux (2020)

#26

I really like this article about FreeBSD. One really nice feature that is not cover though is to set the immutable flags on some binaries with the command chflags. It's possible to boot your very secure system into securemode level 1 or higher. In this mode, it's impossible to delete those files. rm -rf /* has very limited damage. chmod -R 0000 /* won't touch chmod and all kind of ooops become much less destructive.…

Just wanted to say that in linux you have extended attributes on files, check the man page on chattr. I believe the -i option makes files immutable.

I picked this little trick up watching a red team discuss how they set themselves persistence on the target system by making /etc/shadow immutable this way.. Fun bit is, root can't even remove the file until the flag is removed, and you can't see the immutable flag on the file unless you know what you are looking for via lsattr.

Re: Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux (2020)

#27
For people (semi-rightfully) complaining about the feasibility of FreeBSD as a desktop OS (or a workstation purposed OS), the fact that it isn't easy to install through the graphical interface is both a blessing in disguise and a legitimate point for slow install + config times. To that end I say to the less keyboard/terminal focused (which should be a paradox when it comes to developers but whatever) : try some of the general-purposed graphical "flavors" of FreeBSD: MidnightBSD, GhostBSD, NomadBSD. MacOS users who want to seek the same experience but on a less closed unix(Still FreeBSD): helloSystem(from an ex-Apple if I recall correctly) & ravynOS (previously 'airyx').

Of course there is also netbsd + openbsd, but imo those are really far behind FBSD when it comes to being mainstream and usable as daily drivers. One of the main reasons I personally can't daily drive FBSD on my laptop is the lack of proper drivers (I know about 'running' the linux ones). Still a more than decent choice for any desktop unless running very obscure hardware or needing specific requirements (think cuda,cudnn,rt and similar proprietary software/libs)

Re: Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux (2020)

#28
The article hits the nail on the head about Linux' "mismatches". When distros need to be different gratuitously, you can no longer get a book on Linux that meaningfully applies across multiple distros. Heck, even an Ubuntu book would be irrelevant after a few changes (16 -> 18, 18 -> 20).

The same people who respond in the community to questions about changes often respond to defend the changes, but rarely respond with answers to the technical questions about them. It's frustrating.

Re: Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux (2020)

#29

How well does FreeBSD support a “modern” web backend? Does Java run here? Mono (C#)? Node.js? PostgreSQL? Any noSQL databases?

Haven't tried Mono, Node, or anything NoSQL, but Java, Ruby, and Postgres all run pretty well. It is runtime-compatibile with Linux executables and you can even install a linux distro in a jail https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/setting-up-a-debian-linux...

here people mess with FreeBSD afaik:

Building the .NET Core SDK on FreeBSD

https://github.com/dotnet/source-build/issues/1139

Re: Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux (2020)

#30
post #10
post #4

> Technical reasons to choose FreeBSD over GNU/Linux On the server/router maybe. For IT pros maybe. The desktop is a whole different matter.

On the desktop, Linux is going to be challenging anyway. Many people love that challenge and make it work, and that's cool. But my point is that if you can make it work on desktop Linux you will make it work on FreeBSD as well, given some decent skill.

Desktop Linux is pretty comfortable and intuitive, actually. There's no challenge involved.
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