BSD compatibility problems reddit / BSD ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pepe__LePew · 2023-09-23 20:50 Hi, ​ I'm testing out different BSD's to see how easy it will be to switch from Linux EndeavourOS and if worth the pain. So far I have only seen pain without any benefit, except low memory usage. I've managed to get ghostbsd and freebsd to install and work with hardware fully for wifi/touchpad/sound etc. However, other BSD's which are supposed to be more compatible won't even install. 1. OpenBSD refuses to boot on UEFI system. 2. NetBSD keeps restarting on boot of ISO from usb stick (this is supposed to 'just work' but it doesn't!?) 3. Midnight BSD also refuses to boot in live ISO. (this is based on freebsd so I'm confused?) 4. Hardened BSD also refuses to boot in live ISO. (this is based on freebsd so I'm confused?) ​ Can anyone please advise me why BSD's that are supposed to be more compatible aren't working where FreeBSD is (although not midnight/hardened) on a Compaq CQ58 laptop. ​ Thanks ​ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BeachBoysKosovo · 2023-09-24 11:05 It is impossible to help you with the little info you provided. So if you just wanted to rant: Mission accomplished. OpenBSD: What did you do and what was the output? NetBSD: I'm quite certain you should not use the .iso-file when using an USB stick. Again: What did you do and what was the output? Midnight/Hardened BSD: Seems plausible it is the same issue as above. You're writing/copying ISO to USB sticks. I suggest you stay with Linux until you learn to read the official documentation from OpenBSD/NetBSD. And post better bug reports, if you actually want help. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- simonvannarath · 2023-09-24 14:07 >other BSD's which are supposed to be more compatible More compatible than what? Firstly, FreeBSD is probably going to support the most hardware as its the most popular out of that list. For example, Midnight BSD was forked off an older version of FreeBSD (a beta of 6.1) and isn't expected to have the same hardware compatibility as current FreeBSD. Consider the fact that each of the other BSDs user counts are only a fraction of FreeBSD's, hence fewer developers = less hardware support. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Snoo-98535 · 2023-09-24 14:31 In my experience OpenBSD supports the most hardware FreeBSD is ages behind on GPU drivers, NetBSD is even further behind... OP should really be using 1 distro/BSD at a time and daily drive it all the time to see if they like it not whatever this crap is of 4 installs... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- johnklos · 2023-09-24 15:11 Please clarify your issues. For instance, "keeps restarting on boot of ISO": does this mean that after running through the installation, it boots off the installer again when you reboot? Did you try to either set the boot order or, you know, just unplug the USB stick? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- _odn · 2023-09-24 15:53 Well, you're not really giving us much useful information here to go off of, but regarding OpenBSD issue, OpenBSD boots just fine from UEFI mode, though you might have to disable secure boot. You can also disable UEFI mode. Also, you really have to get out of the "distro hopping" mindset that many Linux users have, there aren't preconfigured flavors here, you have to learn to configure things yourself from a base system, and that includes troubleshooting when things don't work. The BSDs won't hold your hand like Endeavour or other similar Linux distros. Pretty much all the documentation you need is available but you have to dig through it. And you have to narrow down what the problem is so others can better help you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BeachBoysKosovo · 2023-09-24 16:40 Agree. As long you're not running on an NVIDIA GPU I believe OpenBSD to be the easiest of the BSDs to get going with. After the simple install you boot into a running X session. It is an old school fvwm, but still easier to build from there than from a FreeBSD foundation. FreeBSD is has a (slightly) more confusing install and you boot into console. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nawcom · 2023-09-25 04:10 You don't dd iso files to a usb stick unless the iso was made using [ISOLINUX's hybrid booting feature](https://wiki.syslinux.org/wiki/index.php?title=Isohybrid). The iso file suffix associates with raw optical disc images. For non- Linux OSes that do not use syslinux on its install media, you have to use disk images designed for standard partition table formats for drives. This is the same reason why dding a Windows 10 iso to a usb stick doesn't work. For the BSDs they typically use the .img file suffix. Examples: [Latest NetBSD version](https://cdn.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/NetBSD- 9.3/images/NetBSD-9.3-amd64-install.img.gz) [Latest MidnightBSD](https://archer.midnightbsd.org/ftp/releases/amd64/ISO- IMAGES/3.1.0/MidnightBSD-3.1.0--amd64-memstick.img) [Latest OpenBSD](https://cdn.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/7.3/amd64/install73.img) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- marty1885 · 2023-09-25 11:25 Can confirm. I run OpenBSD on my desktop using UEFI. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- laffer1 · 2023-10-05 02:46 MidnightBSD is roughly equivalent to FreeBSD 12-stable as of August in 3.1 release. One would need to use the memstick image for a flash drive, not the ISO. https://midnightbsd.org/ftp/MidnightBSD/releases/amd64/ISO- IMAGES/3.1.0/MidnightBSD-3.1.0--amd64-memstick.img