RE: https://mastodon.social/@nixCraft/115566280074527897

"Just" 270 MB for...an idle server?
Debian is still a great distribution but let's measure the ram consumption of a freshly installed *BSD or Illumos based server. The numbers are totally different.

#RunBSD #illumos #FreeBSD #OpenBSD #NetBSD #DragonflyBSD

Latest 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 - 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟭𝟭/𝟭𝟳 (Valuable News - 2025/11/17) available.

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#verblog #vernews #news #bsd #freebsd #openbsd #netbsd #linux #unix #zfs #opnsense #ghostbsd #solaris #vermadenday

Last week I had a chat with a colleague who is highly specialized in Microsoft solutions. Young but not too young, smart, not very up to date simply because he has little time for anything else. His specialization depends entirely on where he works, not on personal interest. Lately he seemed a bit disillusioned with some choices made by "other operating systems", and he was starting to consider moving his personal projects toward Microsoft as well, since he already had the experience. Still, he said it with boredom. With the attitude of someone who is tired of wasting time.

He had heard of the BSDs but had never tried installing them. He was convinced that there were no decent hypervisors outside the Linux world and that KVM belonged to Linux alone. I had the terrible idea of showing him the BSDs, how great bhyve is, and how nvmm on NetBSD uses qemu underneath, making it almost a replacement for KVM in many setups. He lit up with the look of someone waking up from a long sleep. I also had the terrible idea of showing him illumos and its distributions. He had no clue it existed and thought old, great Solaris had been dead for years thanks to Oracle.

He called me a little while ago. He was furious. He spent the whole weekend doing tests and now he has no idea what to use among FreeBSD with bhyve, NetBSD with nvmm, and illumos with bhyve or kvm. He is slowly starting to explore jails and illumos zones. He was annoyed (in a positive way) because now he does not know what to pick since everything feels so different from what he was used to, and he found advantages in each option.

I am obviously happy about it, but I also wonder: instead of reinventing the wheel every time, would it not sometimes be better to simply broaden our horizons?

#IT #SysAdmin #OperatingSystems #FreeBSD #Linux #NetBSD #OpenBSD #DragonflyBSD #illumos #SmartOS #OmniOS #OpenIndiana #Tribblix

Latest 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 - 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟭𝟭/𝟭𝟳 (Valuable News - 2025/11/17) available.

https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/valuable-news-2025-11-17/

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#verblog #vernews #news #bsd #freebsd #openbsd #netbsd #linux #unix #zfs #opnsense #ghostbsd #solaris #vermadenday

RE: https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/@vermaden/115564165835643603

I look forward to the @vermaden weekly newsletter as much as I anticipate a perfect tiramisu after a superb lunch. It is truly the cherry on top.
That special something that helps me kick off the week in style.

#RunBSD #FreeBSD #OpenBSD #NetBSD #DragonflyBSD #Linux #IT #SysAdmin

Latest 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 - 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟭𝟭/𝟭𝟳 (Valuable News - 2025/11/17) available.

https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/valuable-news-2025-11-17/

Past releases: https://vermaden.wordpress.com/news/

#verblog #vernews #news #bsd #freebsd #openbsd #netbsd #linux #unix #zfs #opnsense #ghostbsd #solaris #vermadenday

RE: https://mastodon.social/@ngate/115564084046357155

> Next up: how to turn your toaster into a gaming PC

I'm pretty sure @netbsd already already cracked this years ago.

#NetBSD #HackerNews

Are you working on something involving a BSD system that you would like to share with others?

The Call for Papers period is open for AsiaBSDCon until November 30th, 2025 and for BSDCan until January 17, 2026.

Check out the websites linked in the article, and get that submission in!

What is BSD? Come to a conference to find out! https://nxdomain.no/~peter/what_is_bsd_come_to_a_conference_to_find_out.html or https://bsdly.blogspot.com/2025/11/what-is-bsd-come-to-conference-to-find.html #asiabsdcon #bsdcan #bsd #dragonflyBSD #freebsd #openbsd #netbsd #conference

The Call for Papers period for both #AsiaBSDCon and #BSDCan are open, until end of November for AsiaBSDCon, until Jan 17 for BSDCan.

If you can, submit!

Or read "What is BSD? Come to a conference to find out!" https://nxdomain.no/~peter/what_is_bsd_come_to_a_conference_to_find_out.html if you want some background information #bsd #freebsd #openbsd #netbsd #dragonflyBSD

BSDCan 2026 is now accepting submissions for the June 2026 conference, see https://www.bsdcan.org/2026/papers.html and links therein for instructions.
Submissions deadline is January 17, 2026, the conference runs tutorials June 17-18, talks June 19-20.
#bsdcan #conference #freebsd #netbsd #openbsd #bsd #development #networking #freesoftware #libresoftware

I got a "hankerin'" (as we say here) to try daily-driving #FreeBSD again, but I kind of want to wait until the desktop installer is ready.

@evgandr, how fast did you say you got FreeBSD to resume from S3, again?

I wouldn't mind trying #NetBSD again, but the instructions for #FDE (#FullDiskEncryption) looked quite daunting.

Advanced Programming in the UNIX Environment

Week 3: Union Mounts and Whiteout Files

One of the file types we've encountered are those of type S_IFWHT, so called "whiteout" files. But what the hell is that?? Let's illustrate! We describe the concept of union mounts and see what happens when a file in the upper layer is removed while the same file still exists in the lower layer: a whiteout file is created to cover up the lower file.

https://youtu.be/MkFExG9jhEE

#apue #unix #programming #netbsd

Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment

Did you know that #NetBSD comes with a number of historical Unix research papers and supplementary documentation? Here, we find papers by Marshall Kirk McKusick on the Fast File System, by Robert Morris and Ken Thompson on Password Security, a shell tutorial by Stephen R. Bourne, a guide to using vi(1) by Bill Joy, and the well known BSD IPC Tutorials! Take a tour through /usr/share/doc...

https://youtu.be/XqhOUqi4fc0

#apue #unix #programming

Pssst! BoxyConnect comes soon to @BoxyBSD!

BoxyConnect allows you to create a private network / private link between multiple boxes at BoxyBSD. And the best? You can even create this over different locations/countries to provide you more flexibility.

You can simply assign any RFC1918 addresses on your new additional network interface on both sites and communicate in your own private network - even miles away.

This feature is currently in beta and will hopefully be available to everyone (just like all other services of course for free). Enjoy #RUNBSD!

This new feature is powered by @gyptazy!

#BoxyBSD #FreeBSD #NetBSD #OpenBSD #DragonflyBSD #MidnightBSD #SmolBSD #Hosting #SelfHosting #Provider #BSD #FreeVPS #VPS #opensource #community #education #openeducation

Alt...

Image of BoxyConnect for BoxyBSD which shows multiple locations where people can start instances, which soon can be linked within a private own network.

Since, one Java application (OpenHAB) is used on my #NetBSD server I met with huge swap usage — always near 512 Mb of swap was used. This wasn't good, since I'm using SSD — I was afraid that my old SSD will wear out and die, but for now I don't have money to buy a new SSD disk

Tweaked Java initial and max heap sizes (-Xms, -Xmx) and some settings for GC, to call it more often in trade of OpenHAB responsiveness — obviously it didn't help. Then I tweaked NetBSD memory management to force system to use swap only if RAM is almost full — by this cool guide: https://imil.net/NetBSD/mirror/vm_tune.html

And it doesn't help too. Suddenly for me, but looks like these settings were applied to the kernel after reboot, not after call to sysctl.

So, for now I have a system with 800-900 Mb RAM in use and ZERO swap in use

#BSD #memoryManagement

I am pretty undecided about this vote btw -

#OpenBSD has been first on a few modern platforms like the M1 macs and the RPi5, and when it comes to desktop use, it is possibly the easiest to work with, BUT
#NetBSD has the undisputable portability advantage, and has a noble and praiseworthy tradition of running on gaming consoles WHILE
#FreeBSD has the widest userbase and boy would these make a sweet sweet bastille or bhive enabled homelab, or a ZFS enabled streaming server...

Anyway, tell me what you think;

https://exquisite.social/@rqm/115555916678179950

@philpem I got the source in around 1999 after it was ported to #FreeBSD and I got it working on #NetBSD. I don't think it came via RISCiX, I think the chronologies wouldn't work

Which of the usual suspects will have the first dmesg sent in from the new Steam cube computer machine thingie, #OpenBSD, #NetBSD, or #FreeBSD?

the list

#unix_surrealism #comic #poster #openbsd #freebsd #netbsd #dragonflybsd #9front #plan9 #glenda #cirno #girl #daemon #puffy #rabbit #mata #openblade

Alt...

MATACORP'S MOST WANTED HACKERS Fish Daemon Cirno OpenBlade Rabbit Frederick "the Hammer" Glenda II Sphence Purple "Penguin" Pentium-M Man Girl

RE: https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/@gumnos/115551343732704834

This is a great post.
It's not "against" something - it just explains why Tim prefers to use the BSDs.

#RunBSD #FreeBSD #NetBSD #OpenBSD #DragonflyBSD #IT

Thinking to move this (low-end) laptop away from Linux…

Options:

• #FreeBSD (UFS)
• #NetBSD
• #OpenBSD

I can use #NomadBSD to check compatibility hardware with FreeBSD but I am not aware of any "live a la Linux" ISO version for the other two…

Another thing that is confusing me is: I know that FreeBSD use a partition table similar to Linux, while OpenBSD and NetBSD by default create a lot of partitions; NetBSD also uses letters a MS-DOS for partitions and I am not used anymore to handle partitions this way.

Any recommendation or suggestion is welcomed!

Thanks... 🙏

https://blog.netbsd.org/tnf/entry/gsoc2025_bubblewrap_sandboxing
#Bubblewrap #BSD #Security

This Isn't a Battle

After reading a post describing the FreeBSD community as 'toxic', I share a different perspective. This isn't a battle. It's a reflection on coexistence, the original Open Source spirit, and the quiet richness of taking a different path.

https://my-notes.dragas.net/2025/11/14/this-isnt-a-battle/

#MyNotes #IT #SysAdmin #FreeBSD #NetBSD #OpenBSD #Linux #OpenSource

This Isn't a Battle

After reading a post describing the FreeBSD community as 'toxic', I share a different perspective. This isn't a battle. It's a reflection on coexistence, the original Open Source spirit, and the quiet richness of taking a different path.

https://my-notes.dragas.net/2025/11/14/this-isnt-a-battle/

#MyNotes #IT #SysAdmin #FreeBSD #NetBSD #OpenBSD #Linux #OpenSource

The new @BoxyBSD platform gained some new features for a better #BSD experience!

* The new portal now also finally supports VNC access to your BSD based VPS instances!

* You can finally select ISO files which offers you even to install any BSD or #OpenSolaris version from scratch or to install your VPS instance based on your personal needs without relying on a ready2use image. More images can be added upon request quickly. Simply get in touch with @gyptazy

* You can now get up to 2 free VPS instances to test and evaluate HA setups, multi-region setups etc.

* Extended DN42 peering (where you can also use your DN42 IPv4 addresses)

This is created by @gyptazy and if you're interested into more information, just come to the FOSDEM 2026 for a chat!

#FreeBSD #OpenBSD #NetBSD #SmolBSD #MidnightBSD #DragonflyBSD #RUNBSD #FreeVPS #Hosting #IPv6 #DN42 #community #opensource #fosdem

Alt...

The new BoxyBSD platform now offers VNC access and ISO selection which brings in several new possibilities for users.

Bonjour! #RUNBSD in Paris, FR!

We just opened our second location in France. Paris comes now in addition to Roubaix in France which has been added by @gyptazy. More BSD, more locations, more fun with #FreeBSD,
#OpenBSD, #NetBSD,#SmolBSD and many other ones - happy learning and testing!

#opensource #FreeVPS #VPS #VPSHosting #Box #BoxyBSD

it's Monday, heading towards the dark winter in the Northern hemisphere, but you can look forward to BSD conferences in the new year. See

"What is BSD? Come to a conference to find out!"

It's where the Internet comes from! -- https://nxdomain.no/~peter/what_is_bsd_come_to_a_conference_to_find_out.html https://bsdly.blogspot.com/2025/11/what-is-bsd-come-to-conference-to-find.html https://medium.com/@peter.hansteen/what-is-bsd-come-to-a-conference-to-find-out-06acd7d77fd8 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/peterhansteen_without-the-bsd-code-no-internet-the-bsd-activity-7393293662849241088-DZFB?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAC92mkBDA9Ty45TNv5CVIYahwS4tM8PfuU
#BSD #Unix #FreeBSD #OpenBSBD #NetBSD #DragonFlyBSD #Freesoftware #Libresoftware #BSDlicense #permissivelicensing

New #NetBSD https://releng.netbsd.org/bulktracker/ release for those who celebrate :)

https://github.com/bsiegert/BulkTracker/releases/tag/v2025.11

Hey #NetBSD 🚩community! There's been discussion over the years about whether the NetBSD project should have its own unique mascot (separate from the general BSD Beastie).

I outlined a proposal for one back in 2021, including some concepts:
https://mail-index.netbsd.org/netbsd-advocacy/2021/01/21/msg000828.html

What's the general feeling today? #RunBSD #OpenSource #FreeBSD #OpenBSD #DragonflyBSD

Latest 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 - 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟭𝟭/𝟭𝟬 (Valuable News - 2025/11/10) available.

https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/valuable-news-2025-11-10/

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