What is FreeBSD, what is it for and what are its main features?

The operating system that we will talk about in this post is one of the open source software that offers the most advantages to users. This is due, in principle, to the saving of time that is generated in the process of the operations and the little space it uses from memory and disk.

It is ideal for servers, since it has a wide capacity to process different operations at the same time. In addition, it has a manual that allows access to all the commands to make the most of this OS.

If you want to become an expert in this system based on UNIXdo not miss this article, since We will teach you to handle the most important controls. We will also tell you the most important concepts you need to know to handle FreeBDS.

What is FreeBDS and what is this operating system for?

FreeBDS is an operating system that was born in 1993 at the University of California and is characterized by being open source and free. Thus offers the option of being able to handle a significant number of requirements simultaneously performed through user requests.

Architecture is based on x86. In the versions of Intel SX and DX processors and also from AMD and Cyrix. This software is ideal for those companies that need to maximize profits, as is the case with Netflix, PS4 and Nintendo Switch. This is because it has more than 24 thousand applications that have desktop support. In addition, it has integrated environments and an Internet server.

To be able to access a distribution of this operating system, you must enter its official site to download the update you are looking for in the form of a file or ISO images. It’s compatible with Linux and with any other UNIX-like OS. It has the advantage that you can find official documentation that will help you solve any problem you encounter.

What are the main features of the FreeBDS operating system? Why is it so special?

For more information about what this OS is about, We will show you below the most outstanding characteristics that it presents:

open source

FreeBDS bases its philosophy on an open, free and free source from the Berkeley Software Distribution. It is a version of UNIX developed at the University of California. In this way, anyone can contribute to improving this robust operating system.

Based entirely on 4.4BDS

This operating system is based on version 4.4BDS of the year 1994 that generated that the system is stable and that it can have a virtual memory through file management. In addition, it has unique features with which there is the possibility of having one user or multi-users and dividing them into different hierarchies.

bounce-buffering

This feature refers to FreeBDS allows systems with more than 16 megabytes that operate in a Efficient in DMA peripherals within the ISA architecture. This removes the memory access restriction on the first 16 megs.

set cache buffer

Thanks to this feature, the programs have sufficient memory according to the management carried out by the software. Also, generates higher performance in disk access. So the work of adjusting the caches is left aside.

Various compatibility modules

FreeBDS is compatible with the execution of programs that have other operating systems, such as Linux, NetBDS, BDSI and SCO. In this way, users can access without the need to compile programs that were already made by this operating system.

dynamically loaded kernel

This is one of the main features in FreeBDS target. It saves a lot of running time to access new directories without having to generate a new operating system kernel. In this way, complete subsystems can be created that will function as Kernel modules without having to distribute the codes or carry out procedures that are often complex in configuration and installation.

Shared Libraries

This generates a saving in the storage disk and also in the memory, since the programs reduce their size considerably. This is because FreeBDS uses shared libraries with ELF benefits.

FreeBDS basics What is the most important thing I need to know to learn how to use it?

We will show you below what are the basic concepts that you should know to know what is the most important thing about FreeBDS:

Synopsis

In order to learn the basics of the FreeBDS operating system or any other UNIX-like operating system, you will first need to know the goals of this project, the basics of why this OS is open source, and how to set up virtual consoles. In addition, it will help you to know read the manual pages found on the official website.

Virtual consoles and terminals

When you want to log in you will see:

• FreeBDS / amd64 (pc3.example.org) (ttyv0)
• log in:

the first line will tell you which system is running with the version of FreeBDS. You will also find the host name and system console. Then you will have a second line that will tell you to log in according to the user you have. You must not forget that this OS is multi-user, so the software needs to know this information. Therefore, to start in FreeBDS you must enter the username and password. Then you’re going to have to press Get in.

So that you can add users you will need, when you are installing the system, use these lines:

• username
• full name
• uid
• Login group
• Invite user into other groups?
• Login class
• shell
• home directory
• Home directory permissions
• Use password-based authentication?
• Use an empty password?
• Use a random password?
• enter password
• Enter password again
• Lock out the account after creation?

Once it has been entered, usually the user works with virtual consoles through the command line. Each console has a login indicator and is used to enter and work with different controls at the same time in each one, being able to change them with a combination of keys “Alt + F1” a “Alt + F8”. You must keep in mind that when you perform this combination, you will exit the screen. But the console will continue to be active executing the different commands.

When you want to make change in the image format, you can choose 1024×768, 1280×1024 or any other size that fits the screen and graphics card. In order to modify this change, you will need to use the module “VESA”.

Users and basic account management

As we told you before, FreeBDS has the possibility of accessing with multiple users. For this it is necessary that you know what user administration is like. The first thing you should know is that there are 3 account levels: system, superuser and user.

The account of system it is used for a security principle, since in this way the execution of commands that can affect the project is limited. It is used to run mail, servers and DNS. With respect to the root or superuser account, we can say that it is used to obtain unlimited privileges within the system. It is intended to be used only in those commands that require this user hierarchy, since it can generate significant complications within FreeBDS.

Finally, user accounts remain. With these you can perform daily tasks where all the activities that are done under this name are recorded.

The main components that these types of accounts have are:

• Username.
• Password.
• User ID number, called UID.
• group id to which the user belongs. This is especially used to control access to system resources. It is called as G.I.D..
• Extension that has the group to which the user belongs and that provides additional flexibility so that the system can be adapted to different preferences.
• password expiration. Although the passwords do not expire by time, but users can be programmed to change their passwords in a mandatory way after a period.
• account expiration. Like passwords, accounts do not expire either, but in some circumstances it is necessary to set a deadline for them to cease to exist.
• User ID does not reflect the real name of the person using the system, so it is necessary to incorporate the complete identification of the user. Which can have spaces and characters.
• The home path must be set to a system directory. This is done so that every person who handles FreeBDS can save personal information and files in this home directory. It is generally used “/home/username” either “/usr/home/username”.
• user shell. This is an environment that is predetermined by the software. It is used to interact with it and in which the preferences are dumped to perform the task in a faster and more efficient way.
• With respect to Accounts administration there is a wide variety of commands used to accomplish this task. For example, with the command “add user” the program is updated automatically when a new user enters and allows you to create a home directory for this new person.

permissions

The permissions that FreeBDS uses are associated with each directory and file. They serve to remove actions from users so that they do not affect files used by the software or other people’s data.

An example of this is:

• Worth 00: No read, no write, no execute. in the directory will be “—”.
• 1 value: No read, no write, execute. The directory listing is “–x”.
• If the value is used 55 means the permission is: Read, not write, execute. “rx” will be the directory listing.

directory structure

The directory structure shows the hierarchy this has within FreeBDS. This means that the most important directory is the rootnamed with “/”, contains the base directory when the operating system is booted. Inside this directory is a mount point that contains additional files for OS functionality.

Within the most common directories, in addition to the “/” that represents the root, we can name the following:

• /bin/: Used for multi-user or single-user environments.
• /boot/: Related to OS boot.
• /etc/: Used in script and system configuration.
• /etc/mail/: These are directories in which the files used for mail transport configuration are located.
• /usr/lib/: Dedicated to the file library.
• /var/log/: FreeBDS log files.

disk organization

One of the main features that FreeBDS has is that it does not separate files according to extension, but it does it through the search of files by the name of the same, using uppercase and lowercase for this. A clear example is README.TXT Y readme.txtwhich the OS considers separate.

As we already know, files are saved in system directories which may have one or more of these. In addition, directories can also save other types of directories and thus the data can be organized.

This brings the benefit that the files can have different types of mounts, allowing those that are taxable to be separated according to the user who needs it. Also, by having a directory with many small files, the OS allows for better optimization.

Mounting and unmounting of file systems

To understand this idea it is necessary to imagine a tree in which its roots are “/.”, “/dev” Y “/usr”. While the branches are the directories to which this root belongs, which in turn can also have other branches. For example, “/usr/local”. This is useful when you can host these “trees” on different physical storage disks or when using virtual disks.

Processes and Daemons

When a program is executed it is called “process”so that each command spawns a new process. Each of these are identified with a unique number, which is called PID or process ID. These have an owner and a group that use the permissions to set which device can open a given process.

In this way it can be concluded that almost all processes have a previous process by which they were created. The “init” always is the first process on startup of the operating system and has as process ID the 1.

There are some programs that do not disconnect when the computer finishes with the task and can continue running, without the need for user input. An example of these is mail servers. To these types of software they are known as demons. Which are neither good nor bad and according to FreeBDS terminology they are used to perform useful tasks invisibly.

Therefore, this makes sense since the mascot of this system is a friendly demon with sports shoes and a pitchfork.

shells

Its translation comes from the English Shell. It is used in this operating system to receive commands from the input channel to execute it and in this way provide operations that are integrated to be able to have help for people’s daily tasks.

Namely, generates a command line that will interact with the OS to provide preferences to users thus generating that they can feel more comfortable working with a different type of shell. For example, a user might prefer “tcsh”while another would choose “bash”.

text editors

Text editors are useful, since most of the configuration of this operating system is done by modifying text files. So it is necessary to have some skill in a text editor to be able to handle FreeBDS.

To be able to start the editor “ee”, it is necessary to write the name of the file that you want to modify and then you can choose all the functions that are found in the upper part of this editor. Once the data in the file has been edited, it will need to be saved for it to take effect.

Devices and device nodes

The devices used have a number and a specific name within FreeBDS, which can be printers, keyboards and any other hardware. Every time the operating system boots, it informs the user that it has detected new devices.

man pages

You can use the command “man” see the manual pages where all explanations of the operation and arguments are available in FreeBDS. These pages are divided into sections according to the topic that you want to deal with and can range from commands used by the user, file format and even system maintenance, among other sections.

For example, if you want to learn to obtain information about “ls” which lists the contents of the directory will need to be used “% man ls”.

What are the differences between FreeBDS and Linux? Which is better?

FreeBDS has advanced features that They manage to make the computer’s memory more efficient and thus work without problems on heavy loads in the shortest amount of time possible. This arises as a response to the large number of users who, at the same time, request information. In addition, this OS has the possibility of running a large number of applications simultaneously. In this way, FreeBDS becomes an ideal operating system for servers, surpassing Linux.

Instead, if you want to use a operating system that is open source and robust to execute actions with less amount of requirement, you can use Linux on a personal computer. From this it follows that, according to the use you want to give it, it will be better to use one or another open source operating system. You should also keep in mind that, according to expert opinion, FreeBDS is more secure than Linuxdue to the way projects are developed and maintained.

In addition, FreeBDS, has official documentation with which you can find all the solutions to the set problems. The updates made to this OS are for the entire operating system and not just the Kernel, as is the case with Linux. In relation to Linux, the FreeBDS system does not have too many problems, since it has Java. You can also run Windows programs through Wine and .NET through Mono.