FreeBSD is a Unix-like operating system known for its rock-solid stability, advanced features like ZFS and Jails, and exceptional documentation. This section covers everything from basic administration to advanced topics.
Getting Started
FreeBSD Installation Guide
beginnerStep-by-step guide to installing FreeBSD on physical or virtual hardware.
FreeBSD vs Linux: Key Differences
beginnerEssential differences between FreeBSD and Linux for sysadmins transitioning to BSD.
FreeBSD Post-Installation Setup
beginnerEssential steps after installing FreeBSD: updates, user setup, and basic configuration.
Essential FreeBSD Commands
beginnerQuick reference for essential FreeBSD commands and their usage.
Package Management
pkg Package Manager Basics
beginnerUsing the pkg package manager to install, update, and manage software.
FreeBSD Ports Collection
intermediateUsing the Ports Collection to build software from source with custom options.
Building Software from Source
advancedCompiling and installing software from source on FreeBSD.
ZFS
ZFS Overview: The Last Word in Filesystems
beginnerIntroduction to ZFS filesystem: features, concepts, and why it matters.
ZFS Pool Management
intermediateCreating, managing, and maintaining ZFS storage pools.
ZFS Snapshots and Clones
intermediateWorking with ZFS snapshots for backups, rollbacks, and cloning.
ZFS Datasets and Properties
intermediateCreating and managing ZFS datasets with properties for quotas, compression, and more.
ZFS Send/Receive for Backups
advancedUsing ZFS send and receive for efficient backups and replication.
ZFS Performance Tuning
advancedOptimizing ZFS performance for different workloads and hardware.
Jails
FreeBSD Jails: Lightweight Virtualization
intermediateIntroduction to FreeBSD jails - containerization before Docker existed.
Managing Jails with iocage
intermediateUsing iocage for modern FreeBSD jail management with ZFS integration.
Creating FreeBSD Jails
intermediateStep-by-step guide to creating jails using built-in tools.
Jail Management and Administration
intermediateManaging running jails, updates, and maintenance tasks.
Jail Networking Configuration
advancedConfiguring network access for FreeBSD jails including VNET.
Managing Jails with Bastille
intermediateUsing Bastille for simplified jail management and templates.
Networking
FreeBSD Network Configuration
beginnerConfiguring network interfaces, routing, and DNS on FreeBSD.
PF Firewall Configuration
intermediateConfiguring the PF packet filter firewall on FreeBSD.
IPFW Firewall Configuration
intermediateUsing IPFW firewall for packet filtering on FreeBSD.
VLAN Configuration on FreeBSD
intermediateConfiguring VLANs for network segmentation on FreeBSD.
System Administration
FreeBSD Boot Process
intermediateUnderstanding the FreeBSD boot process and boot loader configuration.
Understanding rc.conf
beginnerConfiguring FreeBSD system startup with rc.conf.
Updating FreeBSD
beginnerKeeping FreeBSD current with security patches and upgrades.
FreeBSD Security Hardening
advancedHardening FreeBSD systems against attacks and unauthorized access.
Why FreeBSD?
- +ZFS Native - Best-in-class filesystem built-in
- +Jails - Lightweight containerization since 2000
- +PF Firewall - Powerful, clean firewall syntax
- +Stability - Complete system tested together
- +Documentation - Exceptional handbook and man pages
- +BSD License - Permissive, business-friendly