FreeBSD is provided with a text-based, easy to use installation
program. FreeBSD 9.0-RELEASE and later use the installation program
known as bsdinstall, with releases prior
to 9.0-RELEASE using sysinstall for
installation. This chapter describes the use of sysinstall
to install FreeBSD. The use of bsdinstall
is covered in Chapter 2, Installing FreeBSD 9.X and
Later.
After reading this chapter, you will know:
How to create the FreeBSD installation disks.
How FreeBSD refers to, and subdivides, your hard disks.
How to start sysinstall.
The questions sysinstall will ask you, what they mean, and how to answer them.
Before reading this chapter, you should:
Read the supported hardware list that shipped with the version of FreeBSD you are installing, and verify that your hardware is supported.
In general, these installation instructions are written for i386™ (“PC compatible”) architecture computers. Where applicable, instructions specific to other platforms will be listed. Although this guide is kept as up to date as possible, you may find minor differences between the installer and what is shown here. It is suggested that you use this chapter as a general guide rather than a literal installation manual.
This, and other documents, can be downloaded from ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/doc/
For questions about FreeBSD, read the
documentation before
contacting <questions@FreeBSD.org>.
For questions about this documentation, e-mail <doc@FreeBSD.org>.