Post by @netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org
Some #NetBSD questions that keep coming up.
We don't use modules for HW drivers in the default install. All baked into the kernel. If you're curious about desktop hardware, for x86 there are lists https://wiki.netbsd.org/laptops/ https://wiki.netbsd.org/gpus/ (and the pci/usb manual pages)
x86 virtual machines. https://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-virt.html#chap-virt-guest
For disk encryption there's different options, such as creating a small root with the installer, then adding encrypted partitions later (see man cgdconfig). Also: cgdroot.
🇦🇺@rubenerd@bsd.network
@ricardo@bsd.cafeRunning commercial games? It is possible, but you'll probably have better luck with DRM-free indie games. https://washbear.neocities.org/valhalla
No audio output? It is possible your default device or output DAC needs to be changed, see the instructions on https://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-audio.html
WireGuard® VPNs? See the EXAMPLES section of https://man.netbsd.org/wg.4
ZFS? Yes, we are using it in production. No, it isn't the same branch as Linux or FreeBSD.
@netbsd I know very little about this area.
Does having all drivers in the kernel cause bloat, and limit device support? Is this likely to be changed?
@happyborg depends what you consider bloat.
$ du -h /netbsd
28M /netbsd
that's amd64. our biggest kernel.
there's certainly advantages to not loading networking drivers as modules (easier to fetch files over a network to recover a broken system)
but there are others who prefer the modular approach. or prefer not to use GENERIC, maybe because they have less than 64mb RAM.
i don't see how it would limit device support.
@netbsd @happyborg is there a mechanism to dynamically load modules?
@netbsd
Kernel wireguard is marked experimental. Wouldn't an end user be better off with wireguard-go for now?
@netbsd You can also get drm free games from GOG, I'm particularly enjoying Mechanicus currently
imagine if the official linux foundation account helped you with your wifi
@netbsd that's why people donate to the NetBSD Foundation while BigTechs to the Linux Foundation.
Sure, I'm exaggerating here. But not that much 😉
@netbsd I have a question: I have an old netbook with a 32-bit bootloader and 64-bit system (x86_64), because it is basically a shitty tablet in laptop form. Debian used to support this ("mixed-mode EFI", I think) but no longer does. I don't suppose NetBSD does?
@netbsd oh come on, @NetworkManager was seen not only fixing people's wifi, but also debugged pppoe trouble and administered remedy for substance withdrawal symptoms on at least one occasion
@netbsd @NetworkManager and i'm sure the linux foundation president would help you with your wifi if you asked
and if you also run macos x
@netbsd yes, but @bytex64 needs help with their partitions: https://awesome.garden/@bytex64/117457655772458017
@bytex64@awesome.garden
Oh uh… hmm. Turns out my partitioning shenanigans weren’t recognized and the installer tried to install to its own disk, with disastrous results.
@netbsd they’re too busy redefining FOSS licencing as “AI companies are allowed to do everything with no reprise, and if you disagree, you lose the right to use the stuff yourself”
@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org
Could probably take the "with your WiFi" out to be honest, and "account"
"imagine if the official linux foundation helped you"
Anyway - thanks to all the amazing work! I hope the influx of new users isn't becoming burdensome with repeated requests and "XYZ doesn't work!!" messages... We the community will try to pitch in where we can!
We appreciate you!
@efi i don't really know much about NetworkManager so i can't really answer this question. wikipedia says it's a daemon that configures network interfaces. on netbsd dhcpcd does this.
@netbsd Thanks for providing a gentle intro before I jump in and try #NetBSD.
I'm starting to think I will have to wait until my kit is old enough 
but note that there are benefits to an OS that favours those with older kit, or who can only afford s/h.
It's good for inclusion and recycling which is good in itself, will educate some and annoy the fuck out of tech fascists. 👍
Good chance it will run on my #HomeLab although expect I'd have to ditch #Proxmox which I like. #Incus?
@netbsd Thanks for providing a gentle intro before I jump in and try #NetBSD.
I'm starting to think I will have to wait until my kit is old enough but note that there are benefits to an OS that favours those with older kit, or who can only afford s/h.
It's good for inclusion and recycling which is good in itself, will educate some and annoy the fuck out of tech fascists. 👍
Good chance it will run on my #HomeLab although expect I'd have to ditch #Proxmox which I like. #Incus?
I've been looking at NetBSD's documentation over the last few days (for some reason...). I've been trying to figure out if it's suitable for large storage needs, and the FAQ/guide and man pages haven't really given me much hope for that.
First, only FFS and LFS (and ext2)? Man pages talk about tuning a filesystem for a "large" 1 TB filesystem, but that's not exactly large these days. I have several XFS filesystems because they're too big for ext4 (>16 TB), and a couple that are >100 TB. XFS also has much better performance on large filesystems. Can NetBSD realistically handle this?
Secondly, there are a couple places in the docs that imply NetBSD supports GPT, but the install guide only ever talks about MBR plus BSD disklabel. Can you avoid MBR entirely, right from install?
I realize you're probably swamped with messages at the moment, almost like people are disgusted with their current OS for some reason...
>Can you avoid MBR entirely, right from install?
The installer asks whether you want to use GPT or MBR.
>First, only FFS and LFS (and ext2)?
Also ZFS. I don't know what the maximum size for a FFS file system is off hand.
<cough>
* http://jdebp.info/FGA/BSDs-for-Linux-users/
Two of the hyperlinked pages are directly on point for you.
I've also done a contribution to the #NetBSDGuide that went in less than a week ago, thanks to an actual #NetBSD person, dealing with GUID partitioning, and I'm working on another one, which I hope that xe will check over and also put in, updating it to dealing with modern bootstrap.
You can follow along on my system tools account.
@netbsd If you wanna cram a fully-encrypted NetBSD install into a single MBR partition using the magic of disklabels (or figure out how to do something equally ill-advised and need more examples of how disklabels and cgd work), I made yet another tutorial on my web zone that cites and builds on the existing wiki and a GPT tutorial: https://indigoparadox.zone/tutorials/netbsd11c.html