DesktopBSD doc

doc:3d_desktop

2007-01-23T21:19:37+02:00

AIGLX and XGL may be on the way soon for FreeBSD, but until then there is no reason we can have a 3D Desktop, here's how.... Screenshot: Pre-req's: GL or DRI working. For Carousel effect you should have at least 3 desktops 4 to 6 recomended. In the ports tree under X11 you'll find 3ddesktop, using your favorite method install it: cd /usr/ports/X11/3ddesktop && make install clean or pkg_add -r 3ddesktop or DesktopBSD Package Manager => Install Software => X11 => 3ddesktop

Using the Audigy in FreeBSD/DesktopBSD

2008-03-02T02:58:08+02:00

Of course your SoundBlaster Live, Audigy 1/2 will be functional in DesktopBSD because of the meta-driver snd_driver. But if you have some new card, like the Audigy 4, you will not hear any sound. So there is the possiblity to use the emu10kx driver in ports. It's rather easy just update the portstree like in this article, The Ports System and do a,

Browser plug-in

2008-03-02T13:07:31+02:00

This how-to describes necessary steps to install browser plug-ins in DesktopBSD 1.0. The following plug-ins are available: * RealPlayer: multimedia/linux-realplayer * Acrobat Reader 7: print/acroread7 * Flash 7: www/linux-flashplugin7 Instructions * Start the package manager from the “System” menu in the KDE menu. * Update the package list. If you haven't already downloaded one, a dialog with instructions will appear. * If this was the first time you installed a package list,…

How to change the shell

2008-03-02T01:40:00+02:00

not The default shell in DesktopBSD is the the BASH shell, but some people prefer other shells such as csh, tcsh, or sh. This is a fairly easy change, but it does require some command line work. One of the great things about GUIs is the ability to cut and paste the commands directly into the console application if you're already running DesktopBSD.

Building a custom kernel

2010-06-17T15:26:46+02:00

At first a warning, this isn't a manual for beginners, of course it isn't so difficult or time consuming like in Linux. In fact you do not have to build your own kernel most of the time in FreeBSD. Most of the changes are done while booting FreeBSD, this for example is one of the many advantages of FreeBSD. As always you have to become root, if you do not know why or how, please make yourself familiar with the ports system first.

DesktopBSD Tools in FreeBSD

2010-05-21T17:49:59+02:00

root Installation The DesktopBSD tools are available for installation via the sysutils/desktopbsd-tools port in FreeBSD. You can also obtain a development snapshot from our Subversion repository. More information on this is available from our development Wiki. Please note that these snapshots are usually not as well-tested as the versions in the FreeBSD ports and contain more bugs.

doc:dhcp

2007-09-21T00:32:22+02:00

if you have problem coming on the net, and have dhcp enabled router/modem here is how you configure it First Run command > xterm then ifconfig note the name of the first device, like re0 for reatek then run dhclient with device name after dhclient re0

doc:documentation

2006-04-13T00:18:02+02:00

If you are willing to help please subscribe to A detailed explanation will follow soon here. Team members: Jimi Ayodele, Michael David, Daniel Seuffert We've currently set up a TODO list.

FAQ's

2010-05-21T17:51:05+02:00

Please read What is DesktopBSD first. Frequently Asked Questions -- FAQs Q) Why should I use BSD instead of Linux, Windows ... at all? A) Because you can! For more of an explanation, Windows isn't Unix-like in the least. If you want, and or need, a UNIX operating system then one of the BSDs is a good choice.

Reading FreeBSD partitions from Windows

2008-03-22T01:13:17+02:00

Reading FreeBSD partitions from Windows Just install the FFS Driver in Windows and you're able to access your data even on FreeBSD partitions. It's rather easy to use. But you have read-access only!

Forum Etiquette

2006-04-13T00:18:02+02:00

A Guideline of How to post, Why & Where Forum Information * Forum Website * Forum FAQs/HOWTOs PERSONAL DISPUTES Please do not use these forums for personal disputes, heated debates, flame wars etc. You are expected to treat each other with respect in the forums and take any personal disputes to a private mode of discussion off the forums. If you should find that your discussion is becoming too heated or someone is becoming far too passionate about their argument, please take the discussi…

Getting DesktopBSD

2007-09-01T07:34:20+02:00

You can obtain DesktopBSD using a BitTorrent client such as uTorrent. You can also obtain it using Metalink, or via plain old FTP. Select your version of choice on the Download Page, your preferred install media (CD/DVD) and click on Download. You can also optionally select Only Display Link to allow you to copy and paste a link into your BitTorrent client or Download Manager.

Configuring GRUB to boot DesktopBSD

2006-05-11T21:30:14+02:00

Linux users often already have GRUB installed and want to keep it instead of using the DesktopBSD boot menu instead. This document describes how you add an entry for DesktopBSD to your GRUB menu. Insert the following into your menu.lst file: title DesktopBSD root (hd0,2) chainloader +1

Beautifying GNOME applications

2007-08-24T13:26:20+02:00

You have installed Firefox, Evolution, Gaim, XChat, The GIMP, VLC, Inkscape or some other application and are wondering why it looks ugly? The reason is that these programs were developed with a different toolkit than KDE programs called “GTK2” and therefore can't use KDE's style. Since no GTK2 themes are included in the DesktopBSD CD version, these applications use the default theme, which is not very beautiful.

DesktopBSD Handbook

2008-03-02T08:43:46+02:00

This documentation is in beta stage. Please feel free to edit! Welcome to the DesktopBSD Handbook. ---------- * Introduction and documentation conventions * About DesktopBSD * Getting DesktopBSD * Burning DesktopBSD to disc * Preparing for DesktopBSD * Checking your hardware compatibility * Migrating your data

DesktopBSD Handbook

2007-08-14T00:04:46+02:00

This documentation is in beta stage. Please feel free to edit! But what about a documentation license!? Oh you kids and your obsession with licenses, okay, the BEERWARE Licence will do.

Where to find Extra Help

2007-09-01T08:16:40+02:00

You can find help in this order * The DesktopBSD Wiki * Hints, Tips & Howtos * The DesktopBSD Forum * The FreeBSD Newbies resources * The FreeBSD Handbook * The other FreeBSD Support Channels * Google (or your search engine of choice) * The DesktopBSD Bug and Feature Tracker * The PC-BSD KnowledgeBase may have some useful information

Introduction

2007-12-05T13:10:49+02:00

Welcome to the DesktopBSD Handbook. This is the documentation that evolves with the DesktopBSD Operating System itself, and is designed to assist a beginner user through the basic setup and configuration of DesktopBSD. The scope of this documentation is to provide a base level of assistance with the core steps of installing and configuring DesktopBSD. It is intended to compliment existing resources such as the rest of the DesktopBSD wiki, The FreeBSD Handbook, the DesktopBSD Forums and so on.

Motherboards

2007-02-17T21:45:47+02:00

Motherboards Manufacturer Model Audio Net SATA ACPI Note Abit AT8 Not Working OK OK ? SATA in PATA Mode, audio needs HDA driver, not tested ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Notebooks Manufacturer Model VGA Audio Net SATA ACPI Note Cinet L8400 DVD OK OK OK n/a ? …

Hints, Tips & Howtos

2009-08-15T08:29:57+02:00

System and Configuration * Using the DesktopBSD tools in FreeBSD * Troubleshooting the DesktopBSD package manager * Configuring GRUB to boot DesktopBSD * Multiboot - Advanced Hardware and GRUB Configurations * How to change the shell Security * sha256

How to contribute

2010-06-17T15:23:48+02:00

Everybody who wants to contribute to DesktopBSD is welcome! You can contribute in many ways: Development People with C++ skills who are familiar with Qt programming or willing to learn Qt are always welcome. Knowledge of KDE APIs would be great, but isn't required.

Installation

2008-01-28T05:44:14+02:00

Configuring your PC to boot from CD/DVD Before you can boot and install DesktopBSD, you will need to set up your PC to boot from a CD/DVD. This can be done in your computer's BIOS, and it differs from PC to PC. Typically, however, you enter your BIOS just after turning the computer on by pressing either Delete, F1 or F10 on your keyboard. Once in the BIOS, you'll need to navigate through and change the boot order to have your CD/DVD drive to boot before the first hard drive. Refer to your s…

Installing Software

2007-01-08T03:20:54+02:00

Installing a new package is very straight-forward. You can either use DesktopBSD's package manager or the command line, whatever you are more comfortable with. Package Manager * Open the package manager. * Update the package list if you have not done so for some time. * If necessary, select a different installation method in the settings dialog. For example, binary redistribution of patented software such as MP3 encoding is not allowed, so you have to switch to Binary packages if possibl…

Internet Browser Setup with Wine emulator for Flash 9

2008-03-02T08:36:24+02:00

Getting an internet browser set up in FreeBSD with the ability to view Flash content reliably continues to be a challenge. One way to achieve this is to use the Wine emulator to simulate a Windows file system, and then install the Microsoft Windows version of your favorite browser and Adobe Flash Player. In the near future, using open-source programs like Gnash with FreeBSD7 may provide a better solution.

Java Plugin Update for DesktopBSD 1.7 i386 (32-bit)

2009-09-07T00:42:56+02:00

Users of DesktopBSD 1.7 32-bit (i386) need to install a small update to enable the Java browser plugin in Mozilla Firefox. This page describes the update process. * Download the update file from the DesktopBSD web server. Choose Save File and confirm by clicking OK. * Double-click the update file in Konqueror, KDE's file manager: * The update requires system administrator permissions. Enter your system (root) password when the following dialog appears: * After the update has comp…

Live CDs for BSD operating systems

2008-02-18T00:01:14+02:00

FreeBSD TrueBSD - FreeBSD Live FreeSBIE - the live cd Frenzy - portable system administrator toolkit FreeBSD LiveCD Project RoFreeSBIE - FreeBSD LiveCD/DVD Hexlivecd FreeBSD - Aimed at network administrators OpenBSD Quetzal - OpenBSD3.9 + Windowmaker LiveCD

Becoming a DesktopBSD mirror

2008-11-23T22:55:49+02:00

Help distributing the DesktopBSD project by setting up a mirror! A good network of mirrors helps improving download times and reducing congestion. rsync from the following URL: rsync://ftp.desktopbsd.net/ftp If you want to, you can also mirror additional data from the following URLs:

Advanced Hardware and GRUB Configurations

2007-08-22T12:28:27+02:00

At one time or another we run into the issue of bootloaders overwriting MBR's and leaving our operating systems unbootable. This is especially true when starting out in the Open Source World, and can lead to a large amount of frustration. To avoid these anxious moments we need to understand a little about what happens when we install an operating system.

Networking with DesktopBSD

2007-08-20T11:26:39+02:00

Plain Old Wired DSL Configuration Wireless Networking

nVidia Driver

2008-03-02T02:52:57+02:00

Preamble: The nVidia driver for FreeBSD/DesktopBSD provides hardware-accelerated OpenGL for nVidia graphic chips. This how-to describes how to install and configure this driver. only available for 32-bit computers (i386) and not 64-bit computers (AMD64)

Ports and Packages

2008-01-18T14:14:39+02:00

The DesktopBSD Package Manager Software in DesktopBSD is called a package, and can be downloaded from a central repository as a ready-to-install “package”, or the package can be built on your computer by compiling the program source code using the “Ports” system.

Package Manager Console

2006-07-10T00:05:27+02:00

You might have noticed that using to copy selected text from the package manager's terminal doesn't work. The reason is that the behaviour of in terminals is “standardized”: it terminates the program currently running in the terminal. But there is another way of copying text from the package manager: Simply select the text you want to copy using the mouse, then switch to the target application and click the middle mouse button right where you want to insert it (where you would place the c…

Performance for DVD and other video files

2009-08-16T12:15:52+02:00

At first, have a look at this wiki article Building a custom kernel about customzing the kernel, there is an option for kernel preemption. It is quiet useful in terms of performance while looking DVDs. Further you have to set in FreeBSD 5 at start an option to activate DMA for disc drives. Without this option, it's rather impossible looking DVDs without stuttering. It is deactivated in FreeBSD 5 by default because at this time, there were many drives which were not compatible with this mode. D…

The Ports System

2008-03-02T02:50:35+02:00

Ports are the crown jewels of FreeBSD. If you are looking at the ports you will see many makefiles. Those makefiles are the construction manuals for many applications and other addons, like fonts etc. Those makefiles make things easy because they do all the work that you need to do to install an application and they'll rarely give you trouble. In fact they can even resolve dependencies, fetch the current sourcecode, patch applications, etc. Many beginners will hesitate because of the saying “Y…

Preparing for DesktopBSD

2007-09-23T04:03:05+02:00

Hardware Support Refer to the Generic FreeBSD Notes. Also check out the hardware compatibility lists for 32bit systems and amd64 systems for complete lists of hardware that will work straight away. If you're not sure what hardware you've got, you can run the DesktopBSD Live System Environment straight off the CD/DVD and both test your hardware compatibility and obtain a hardware report. More information on this is touched on later on in this handbook.

Printing with CUPS

2009-01-06T23:23:34+02:00

Setting up a local printer CUPS In this wiki, I will describe how to install an Epson CX-5400 Multi-function Inkjet printer on 1.6 Final using the Common Unix Printing System CUPS. An introduction to the CUPS system can be found atWikipedia and the CUPS home page

Printing

2008-01-21T15:20:35+02:00

How to scan images

2006-07-19T13:32:39+02:00

It's fairly simple, if you know how to do it. At first you have to install Xsane, this is a frontend to the widely known Sane project. If you are willing to buy new scanner hardware, have a look at the Sane database, if not, you will certainly regret it ;-)

Security

2007-08-14T11:32:14+02:00

Setting up a Firewall You should never connect to the internet without a firewall. But which firewall method is appropriate for you? If you are connected to a standard Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) router, such as a Linksys WRT54, we recommend you enable and configure the firewall on that. A border firewall that does Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) and Network Address Translation (NAT) should provide a satisfactory level of protection from inbound attacks for most people. Please refer to…

doc:sha256

2009-09-06T18:27:22+02:00

sha256 (sha is secure hash algorithm and 256 means 256 bits) How to easily check sha256 on snapshots and downloads for file integrity. It is easiest if you download file to your desktop and once file and CHECKSUM.txt are downloaded: * Click main menu on the taskbar then click on Run Command

doc:snd-driver

2007-12-12T11:59:00+02:00

If you would like to clean up the unused driver loaded on system start-up, you can do as follows: $more /dev/sndstat This will give something like: FreeBSD Audio Driver (newpcm) Installed devices: pcm0: at io 0xd400, 0xd800 irq 18 bufsz 16384 kld snd_ich (1p/1r/4v channels duplex default)

Using Suns Java as native port

2007-05-11T01:52:06+02:00

Sometimes you will need Java, maybe in your browser or for certain applications like OpenOffice, Freemind, Azureus and so on. You can of course use Java JRE but because FreeBSD is source-based I would recommend Java JDK. The latter one is necessary to compile certain Java applications.

Tray Mounter Fundamentals

2008-02-03T06:22:30+02:00

The DesktopBSD Mounter is designed to simplify the mounting, and unmounting of hard-drive partitions, CDs and DVDs, USB devices, and Floppy disks. Drives can also be set up for mounting and unmounting by configuring the ”/etc/fstab” file and using short commands at the terminal. See the section ” Automatically mounting drives with fstab” below.

Overview

2010-05-21T17:50:36+02:00

Below solutions to common problems with DesktopBSD's package management tool. (This has been fixed in DesktopBSD tools 1.0.1) The Problem On first startup I set the Package Manager to find a server automatically. Now I can not change it. The loop is between the “package list required” window and the terminal. Terminal reads as followed.

USB4BSD

2009-08-16T12:59:02+02:00

USB4BSD The purpose of this driver is to exchange the original USB driver in kernel with a new giant lock free one. Some devices will run only in a proper way if the are without giant lock. Giant lock is some sort of mechanism to disable the possiblity that two or more threads are using the same data at the same time, e.g. on multiprocessor systems, if it's not guaranteed, that they are in sync afterwards. Nvidia display driver is a further example for this mechanism. For example, I couldn't r…

Useful information

2009-08-16T12:44:21+02:00

Some links about Opensource, about UNIX history, FreeBSD and so on. Essential links for every user of a real heir to original UNIX. Don't mimic, do the real stuff ;-) ---------- The BSD operating systems are not clones, but open source derivatives of AT&T's Research UNIX operating system, which is also the ancestor of the modern UNIX System V. [...].

The Default Interface

2008-01-11T03:03:58+02:00

KDE - The K Desktop Environment There are currently three main desktop environments for Linux / BSD systems: * XFCE * Gnome * KDE KDE is probably the most developed and easily configurable and flexible of the three, and is the most similar to the Windows environment that most people are used to.

How to play DVDs, videos

2006-07-14T17:56:13+02:00

Rather easy, using VLC which comes with DesktopBSD is of course a fine idea, but what to do if something doesn't play? Maybe VLC is a good start, but according to my experience it is sometimes rather unstable. I am using Mplayer or KMPlayer, the latter is a KDE frontend to Mplayer.

Webcam with DesktopBSD

2006-07-20T09:15:25+02:00

It should be possible to use the majority of webcams, but as always don't buy some hardware without looking for possible drivers! You will regret it, if you don't check it. spca5xx Look at this webpage mxhaard to confirm whether a driver for your webcam is available or not.

About DesktopBSD

2008-02-24T02:01:28+02:00

What is DesktopBSD DesktopBSD is a preconfigured operating system that provides the user with a powerful and secure system that is easy to install, configure and utilise from the moment you insert your installation cd. Powered by the latest stable release of FreeBSD, coupled with the popular KDE desktop manager, and an impressive array of specially developed graphical user tools, DesktopBSD aims at being a stable and powerful operating system for desktop users.

doc:whatis_desktopbsd2

2006-09-25T10:14:08+02:00

test page [rrr]

Wireless connections

2008-03-04T17:08:42+02:00

Wireless networking is sometimes a troublesome area. The quality depends on different parameters like encryption, chipset, driver, operating system, space between sender and receiver etc. So in the end it's to some degree more difficult than actually fun.

Wireless Support

2008-03-29T20:41:59+02:00

DesktopBSD 1.6 (FreeBSD 6.2 stable) supports the following wireless cards out of the box. Support for some other cards is available using third-party drivers or ndiscvt, but the following cards should suit you best if want an easy installation without hassle.

doc:wpa_encryption

2008-03-02T02:15:27+02:00

Using WPA encryption with wireless adapters ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant ctrl_interface_group=wheel ap_scan=1 network={ ssid="your_ssid" proto=WPA scan_ssid=0 key_mgmt=WPA-PSK psk="your_rather_secret_key" } This is an example for WPA configuration. You have to create this file, wpa_supplicant.conf, in /etc and copy and paste the above example to it. Change ssid= to your ssid and enter for psk= your secret key. It is possible to enter the key as ASCII within quotation marks or as …