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How do I install FreeBSD on my computer?

Created on 2025-03-17 14:18:57
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To install FreeBSD on your computer, follow these steps:

Step 1: Prepare Installation Media

First, you need to download the FreeBSD installation image from the official website (https://www.freebsd.org/where.html). Choose the appropriate version according to your computer's architecture (such as amd64 for 64 - bit systems). Then burn the downloaded ISO file to a USB flash drive or burn it to a CD/DVD.

For example, if you are using a Linux system to create a bootable USB drive, you can use the dd command. Assume the FreeBSD ISO file is named FreeBSD-xx-amd64.iso and your USB drive is /dev/sdX (you need to confirm the correct device name, as using the wrong one may cause data loss on other storage devices). Run the command sudo dd if=FreeBSD-xx-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress && sudo sync to create a bootable USB drive.

Step 2: Boot from the Installation Media

Insert the bootable USB flash drive or CD/DVD into your computer. Restart the computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing keys like Del, F2, F10 during startup). Set the boot order to boot from the USB flash drive or CD/DVD first. Save the settings and exit the BIOS/UEFI. The computer will then boot from the installation media.

Step 3: Start the Installation Process

Once the system boots from the installation media, you will see the FreeBSD installation menu. Select the appropriate option to start the installation process, usually "Install" or a similar option.

Step 4: Configure Basic Settings

  • Language Selection: Choose your preferred language for the installation process.
  • Keyboard Layout: Select the keyboard layout that matches your physical keyboard.
  • Host Name: Enter a name for your computer. This name will be used to identify your computer on the network.
  • Network Configuration: You can choose to configure the network manually or automatically. If you choose manual configuration, you need to enter the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS server information.

Step 5: Partition the Disk

You need to partition the hard disk where FreeBSD will be installed. You can use the automatic partitioning option provided by the installer or manually create partitions according to your needs. For example, you may need to create a root partition (/), a swap partition, and a home partition (/home).

Step 6: Select Packages

Choose the software packages you want to install during the installation process. FreeBSD provides a variety of pre - selected package groups, or you can select individual packages.

Step 7: Install the System

After completing the above configurations, start the installation process. The installer will copy the necessary files to the hard disk and perform the necessary configurations. This process may take some time, depending on the speed of your computer and the installation media.

Step 8: Configure the System

After the installation is complete, you need to configure some basic system settings, such as setting up a user account, configuring the time zone, and setting the root password.

Step 9: Reboot the System

Once the configuration is complete, reboot the system. Remove the installation media and let the computer boot into the newly installed FreeBSD system.

If you want to deploy a FreeBSD - based virtual machine in a cloud environment, Tencent Cloud provides virtual machine services that support custom operating system installation. You can create a virtual machine instance and then follow the above steps to install FreeBSD on it.