Chapter 2 Installing FreeBSD 9.X and Later

Table of Contents
2.1 Synopsis
2.2 Hardware Requirements
2.3 Pre-Installation Tasks
2.4 Starting the Installation
2.5 Introducing bsdinstall
2.6 Installing from the Network
2.7 Allocating Disk Space
2.8 Committing to the Installation
2.9 Post-Installation
2.10 Troubleshooting
2.11 Using the Live CD
Restructured, reorganized, and parts rewritten by Jim Mock. The sysinstall walkthrough, screenshots, and general copy by Randy Pratt. Updated for bsdinstall by Gavin Atkinson and Warren Block.

2.1 Synopsis

FreeBSD comes with a text-based, easy to use installation program. FreeBSD 9.0-RELEASE and later use an installation program called bsdinstall, while releases prior to FreeBSD 9.0-RELEASE using sysinstall for installation. This chapter describes the use of bsdinstall. The use of sysinstall is covered in Chapter 3.

After reading this chapter, you will know:

Before reading this chapter, you should:

Note: In general, these installation instructions are written for i386™ (“PC compatible”) architecture computers. Where applicable, instructions specific to other platforms will be listed. There may be minor differences between the installer and what is shown here, so use this chapter as a general guide rather than as exact literal instructions.