Part I. Getting Started

This part of the FreeBSD Handbook is for users and administrators who are new to FreeBSD. These chapters:

  • Introduce you to FreeBSD.

  • Guide you through the installation process.

  • Teach you UNIX® basics and fundamentals.

  • Show you how to install the wealth of third party applications available for FreeBSD.

  • Introduce you to X, the UNIX® windowing system, and detail how to configure a desktop environment that makes you more productive.

We have tried to keep the number of forward references in the text to a minimum so that you can read this section of the Handbook from front to back with the minimum page flipping required.

Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Synopsis
1.2. Welcome to FreeBSD!
1.3. About the FreeBSD Project
2. Installing FreeBSD 9.X and Later
2.1. Synopsis
2.2. Minimum Hardware Requirements
2.3. Pre-Installation Tasks
2.4. Starting the Installation
2.5. Using bsdinstall
2.6. Allocating Disk Space
2.7. Committing to the Installation
2.8. Post-Installation
2.9. Troubleshooting
2.10. Using the Live CD
3. Installing FreeBSD 8.X
3.1. Synopsis
3.2. Hardware Requirements
3.3. Pre-installation Tasks
3.4. Starting the Installation
3.5. Introducing sysinstall(8)
3.6. Allocating Disk Space
3.7. Choosing What to Install
3.8. Choosing the Installation Media
3.9. Committing to the Installation
3.10. Post-installation
3.11. Troubleshooting
3.12. Advanced Installation Guide
3.13. Preparing Custom Installation Media
4. UNIX Basics
4.1. Synopsis
4.2. Virtual Consoles and Terminals
4.3. Users and Basic Account Management
4.4. Permissions
4.5. Directory Structure
4.6. Disk Organization
4.7. Mounting and Unmounting File Systems
4.8. Processes and Daemons
4.9. Shells
4.10. Text Editors
4.11. Devices and Device Nodes
4.12. Manual Pages
5. Installing Applications: Packages and Ports
5.1. Synopsis
5.2. Overview of Software Installation
5.3. Finding Software
5.4. Using pkg for Binary Package Management
5.5. Using the Ports Collection
5.6. Building Packages with Poudriere
5.7. Post-Installation Considerations
5.8. Dealing with Broken Ports
6. The X Window System
6.1. Synopsis
6.2. Terminology
6.3. Installing Xorg
6.4. Quick Start
6.5. Xorg Configuration
6.6. Using Fonts in Xorg
6.7. The X Display Manager
6.8. Desktop Environments
6.9. Installing Compiz Fusion
6.10. Troubleshooting

All FreeBSD documents are available for download at http://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/doc/

Questions that are not answered by the documentation may be sent to <[email protected]>.
Send questions about this document to <[email protected]>.