Installing FreeBSD on a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5

FreeBSD is a powerful Unix-like operating system known for its performance, stability, and security. Installing FreeBSD on a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 allows users to take advantage of these benefits on a small, energy-efficient device. This guide walks you through the entire process, from downloading FreeBSD to configuring it for optimal performance.

1. Introduction to FreeBSD and Raspberry Pi

FreeBSD is a free, open-source operating system with a strong focus on performance, security, and advanced networking features. Raspberry Pi is a low-cost, single-board computer designed for hobbyists, students, and professionals alike. Running FreeBSD on a Raspberry Pi is an excellent way to explore the power of Unix-based systems in an efficient and compact setup.

2. Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

Hardware Requirements:

• Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi 5
• MicroSD card (at least 16GB, preferably 32GB for more storage)
• SD card reader
• Power supply (USB-C for Pi 4/5)
• HDMI monitor
• USB keyboard and mouse
• Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi connection

Software Requirements:

• A computer running FreeBSD, Linux, Windows, or macOS
• A disk imaging tool (dd, Etcher, or Raspberry Pi Imager)

3. Downloading the FreeBSD Image

FreeBSD provides pre-built images for Raspberry Pi. You can download the latest version from the official FreeBSD website:

• Visit: https://www.freebsd.org/where/
• Look for Raspberry Pi (arm64) images
• Download the latest FreeBSD-RELEASE-arm64-aarch64-RPI.img.xz

4. Writing the Image to a MicroSD Card

Once the FreeBSD image is downloaded, it must be written to a microSD card.

Using dd (FreeBSD/Linux/macOS)

1. Insert the microSD card into your computer.

2. Identify the correct device using:

   lsblk (Linux) or diskutil list (macOS)
   

3. Write the image:

   xz -dc FreeBSD-RELEASE-arm64-aarch64-RPI.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
   

   (Replace /dev/sdX with your microSD card’s device name.)

Using Raspberry Pi Imager (Windows/macOS/Linux)

1. Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager from https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/
2. Open the software and select Use custom image
3. Select your downloaded FreeBSD image
4. Choose your microSD card as the target device
5. Click Write

5. Booting FreeBSD on the Raspberry Pi

1. Insert the microSD card into the Raspberry Pi.
2. Connect the monitor, keyboard, and power supply.
3. Power on the Raspberry Pi.
4. The system should boot into the FreeBSD command-line interface.

6. Initial Setup and Configuration

Setting a Root Password

After booting, log in as root (no password by default). Set a new password:

passwd

Creating a New User

It is recommended to create a non-root user:

adduser

Follow the prompts and add the user to the wheel group for administrative privileges:

pw usermod yourusername -G wheel

Enabling sudo

Install and configure sudo:

pkg install sudo
echo "yourusername ALL=(ALL) ALL" >> /usr/local/etc/sudoers

7. Setting Up Networking

Wired (Ethernet)

If using a wired connection, it should work automatically. Verify with:

ifconfig

Wi-Fi Setup

1. Edit the /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf file:

   ee /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
   

2. Add your network details:

   network={
       ssid="YourWiFiSSID"
       psk="YourWiFiPassword"
   }
   

3. Enable Wi-Fi at boot:

   sysrc ifconfig_wlan0="WPA DHCP"
   service netif restart
   

8. Updating FreeBSD

Run the following command to update system packages:

freebsd-update fetch install
pkg update && pkg upgrade

9. Installing and Managing Software Packages

Use pkg to install additional software:

pkg install nano htop tmux git

For a list of available software:

pkg search keyword

10. Enabling a Graphical User Interface (Optional)

To install the Xfce desktop environment:

pkg install xfce slim xorg

Enable the display manager:

sysrc slim_enable="YES"

Start the GUI with:

startx

11. Configuring System Services

Enable services at boot with sysrc:

sysrc sshd_enable="YES"
sysrc ntpd_enable="YES"

Start them manually:

service sshd start
service ntpd start

12. Setting Up External Storage

1. List available drives:

   gpart show
   

2. Mount a USB drive:

   mount /dev/da0s1 /mnt
   

3. Add to /etc/fstab for auto-mounting.

13. Performance Optimization

• Increase swap space (if needed):

  dd if=/dev/zero of=/swapfile bs=1M count=1024
  chmod 600 /swapfile
  mdconfig -a -t vnode -f /swapfile -u 0
  swapon /dev/md0
  

14. Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Raspberry Pi not booting?

  • Ensure the microSD card is properly written and inserted.
  • Try a different power supply.
  • Check the config.txt file in the boot partition.

• No internet?

  • Check ifconfig to see if an IP address is assigned.

  • Restart the networking service:

    service netif restart
    

15. FAQs

Q1: Can I run FreeBSD on Raspberry Pi 5?
Yes, but support is still evolving. Check the FreeBSD Wiki for updates.

Q2: How do I install a web server on FreeBSD?
You can install Apache with:

pkg install apache24
service apache24 enable
service apache24 start

Q3: Is FreeBSD better than Linux for Raspberry Pi?
It depends on your needs. FreeBSD offers better security and networking but has less hardware support than Linux.

With this guide, you now have a fully functional FreeBSD installation on your Raspberry Pi. Experiment, explore, and enjoy the power of BSD on your compact Raspberry Pi! 🚀