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Why I run FreeBSD for my home servers (2024)

(aumont.fr)
190 points psxuaw | 2 comments | 31 Mar 25 12:59 UTC | HN request time: 0.481s | source
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giantrobot ◴[01 Apr 25 00:21 UTC] No.43541507[source]▶
I have tried several times to run FreeBSD on my home servers and every single time it fails to boot let alone run. Each happily runs Linux (with ZFS) all day long with no issues.

I know the project is smaller in scope and has less funding than Linux (distros and subprojects included) but it's kind of ridiculous. It's incredibly frustrating to set aside the time to set up a machine only to have the kernel panic half way through booting the install media.

From there it's an annoying and exhausting yak shaving exercise just trying to get the machine to start. Eventually I just give up and put the latest Ubuntu LTS which boots and installs with no problems. I import my ZFS pool and everything just hum along.

I cut my Unix teeth on FreeBSD 3 and 4. I want to use modern FreeBSD but it never seems to run on hardware I actually own. That's why I don't run FreeBSD on my home servers.

replies(2): >>43541560 #>>43553513 #
1. nisa ◴[01 Apr 25 00:29 UTC] No.43541560[source]▶
I've also found hardware support lacking. In my case SATA controller threw errors on FreeBSD and worked fine in Linux. It's something that's impossible for FreeBSD through because Linux has much more drivers, testers and eyes for exotic hardware. However there exist hardware compatibility lists and most common hardware is supported very well.
replies(1): >>43544400 #
2. indemnity ◴[01 Apr 25 08:56 UTC] No.43544400[source]▶
I really wanted to run FreeBSD for my home NUC firewall/router as I like the pf syntax, but had to give up in the end because it couldn’t drive the USB Ethernet adapter at 1 full Gbps speeds, whereas Linux had no problem with the same devices, so NixOS it is.

With the switch of TrueNAS to Linux, I have no more BSD at home, unfortunately.