25 years ago (and a couple months), I got my hands on my first few m88k systems.

Back then, there had been no #OpenBSD release for this platform ever completed due to compiler (gcc 2.8 back then) bugs, we were using a.out binaries without shared libraries, and I had zero knowledge of gcc internals.

Today, OpenBSD/luna88k, which runs ELF binaries and shared libraries, has been switched to PIE userland by default, using gcc 4.2.1: https://freshbsd.org/openbsd/src/commit/NstsoXqDBQGMNHRP

What a journey it has been!

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

@justine
Could I ask whether #OpenBSD has a G.U.I or is it entirely command line?
It's just, every picture you post seems to lack any graphical input.
#askingforafriend
🤓

#https://cdn.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD
https://www.mirrorservice.org/pub/OpenBSD

kern.version=OpenBSD 7.8-current (GENERIC.MP) #102: Mon Nov 17 04:24:27 MST 2025
    deraadt@amd64.openbsd.org:/usr/src/sys/arch/amd64/compile/GENERIC.MP

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

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/

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

#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

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

Heads up for #OpenBSD 7.8 users (especially on desktop), along with some bug fixes, the recent 006_libunwind syspatch/errata brings back a local performance optimization that was accidentally lost in the LLVM 19 toolchain merge.

Initial IP-based caching implementation with O(logn) lookup.

Caching implemented via red-black trees, this can be improved and further work is on-going to bring it closer to GNU's performance that uses a LRU-MRU 8-entries based caching algorithm.

Prompted by robert@ who run into a runtime of an executed macro of 5 minutes in libreoffice.
With this the execution is reduced to 58 seconds.

https://www.openbsd.org/errata78.html#p006_libunwind

If you need a USB WiFi adapter for BSDs https://www.edimax.com/edimax/merchandise/merchandise_detail/data/edimax/global/wireless_adapters_n150/ew-7811un/

You can use it until you get the firmware for another WiFi adapter, or just keep using it

#bsd #runbsd #openBSD #freebsd

OpenBSD 7.8 // LIBUNWIND // ERRATA 006

Date: November 17, 2025
Name: 006_libunwind.patch
Description: Missing modifications to libunwind after the LLVM 19.1.7 update can cause performance regressions and missing endbr instructions.
Link: https://cdn.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/patches/7.8/common/006_libunwind.patch.sig

#OpenBSD #Security #Update

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

One of the slightly annoying thing about i386 #OpenBSD is the lack of packages. Like it's difficult to even build certain cli tools, because now of course everything has to be in Rust. I need to teach myself some new skills I think.

Just some initial memory comparisons between my two tiny VPS servers - one running httpd/relayd on OpenBSD, the other running Caddy on Alpine Linux:

OpenBSD: 99M / 464M
Alpine: 50M / 464M

Both instances are hosting 3-4 simple, static websites. Interesting stuff (to me at least!)

#openbsd #alpine #web #caddy

If you are looking for #PF resources for #openbsd and #freebsd alike, the up to date slides for the #tutorial are at https://nxdomain.no/~peter/pf_fullday.pdf with updates for each session.

In addition, we (the good people at @nostarch and yours truly) are working to get the 4th edition of The Book PF ready and available as soon as possible (see https://nxdomain.no/~peter/yes_the_book_of_pf_4th_ed_is_coming.html or tracked https://bsdly.blogspot.com/2025/07/yes-book-of-pf-4th-edition-is-coming.html)

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

@SamuraiSakura @inlovewithpda

Honestly, #OpenBSD is a way better starter-#BSD than people realize.

#FreeBSD has a friendlier installer (TUI vs. prompts), but OpenBSD currently gives you a more usable system, post-install: (X11/"xenocara") is in the base install, unlike #FreeBSD.

Why use OpenBSD?

https://www.tumfatig.net/2025/why-are-you-still-using-openbsd/

#HackerNews #OpenBSD #Security #OpenSource #TechCommunity #BSDAdvocacy #Cybersecurity

@claudiom Good Morning! I too had my system borked after an upgrade yesterday. Mine has an encrypted nvme drive. It hangs after entering a correct passphrase.

I’m able to boot and drop to shell on an install img on usb, mount the encrypted drive to see that all my data is still there. Just unsure what to do next to fix? Any thoughts? What did you do to get yours going?

#openbsd

Renewed my @OpenBSDAms VM. Relatively modest price increase considering inflation. Service has been totally rock solid, no reservations whatsoever about going for a second year.

I use that VM to server my #HorrorFiction website (https://ferenbrooke.com) and its mirror on the #geminiprotocol (gemini://ferenbrooke.com). I like that it's hosted in Europe and #openbsd is my favourite OS, so knowing that a portion of my payment goes towards the project is a big plus for me.

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.

RunBSD: mailserver setup using OpenBSD, Postfix, Dovecot e.o.

And getting it to a 100% Internet.nl score @internet_nl

https://systeemkabouter.nl/enabling-proper-mail-for-runbsdeu-openbsd-postfix-dovecot-opendkim.html

#runbsd #openbsd #internetnl

Alt...

screenshot showing 100% Internet.nl score for the runbsd.ey mailserver test

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

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

I remember that a few months ago, there was a bit of a brouhaha around #dovecot removing a few features in the next release of the free open source version of the server (as is their right, I'm stating a fact and not complaining about it).

As my #selfhosted dovecot instance apparently had been up for long enough to have the TLS cert expire (oops), that had me thinking - is there a fairly simple #IMAP server available, kind of in the vein of #OpenBSD's #opensmtpd or httpd that supports imaps and reading emails from Maildir, but with otherwise fairly low count of bells and whistles?

after today sysupgrade -s on #openbsd I am unable to unlock my encrypted disk. When I write the password laptop stuck and nothing happened. Do you have any idea how to solve it?

#openbsd #current #sysupgrade

Alt...

openbsd screen after pass prompt

When I am upgrading openbsd to 7.8, during downloading the sets my laptop lock to screensaver, when sets downloaded it says

fw_update: package database already locked awaiting release

and waiting and wating is there any options how to unlock it manually to continue?

#OpenBSD

The runbsd.eu mailserver (OpenBSD + Postfix + Dovecot + OpenDKIM) is just about done. When it is done done, the blogpost will be there too.

#runbsd #openbsd #selfhosting

The website now has somewhat of a project status/progress indicator

https://runbsd.eu/

#runbsd #openbsd

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... 🙏

Had weird stuttering every 30secs or so on my freshly updated #OpenBSD 7.8 installation. Fresh install resolved this, odd. On a side note, stable iwx drivers are very welcome, hotspot compatibility would be really cool.

After replying to an e-mail in the bugs@openbsd.org mailing list regarding the borked bootup, Theo de Raadt replied and confirmed that a snapshot went out without the commit for the ABI break, and it was replaced by a newer snapshot that did have it. He recommended updating using a miniroot snapshot.

Downloaded the latest miniroot78 snapshot from an #OpenBSD mirror, brewed some water for my mate as the miniroot78 snapshot image written to a USB drive, and then booted from it on the laptop. Update went through wonderfully and I'm back to a booting OpenBSD system. 🧉 ​​​ #RunBSD

Alt...

Picture of my Evoo EVC141-12BK laptop with my mate beverage to the left of it. On the screen of the laptop is the miniroot installer finishing up the install over http, and congratulating me on a successful install.

Yay, libplacebo was updated in #OpenBSD 7.8 current and mpv works with video again! ​​​

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

Transition to support for 52 partitions https://www.undeadly.org/cgi?action=article;sid=20251114105005 #openbsd #storage #52partitions #disks #bigdisks #partitioning #development #freesoftware #current #libresoftware

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