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3 - Getting started with OpenBSD


Table of Contents


3.1 - Buying an OpenBSD CD set

Purchasing an OpenBSD CD set is generally the best way to get started. Visit the ordering page to purchase your copy: OpenBSD ordering page.

There are many good reasons to own an OpenBSD CD set:

If you're installing a release version of OpenBSD, you should use a official CD set.

3.2 - Buying OpenBSD T-Shirts

Yes, OpenBSD has T-shirts for your wearing enjoyment. You can view these at the OpenBSD T-shirts page. Enjoy :)

3.3 - Does OpenBSD provide an ISO image for download?

For select platforms, yes!

Most platforms that are able to boot from CD-ROM have ISO images available for download which can be used to create bootable OpenBSD install CD-ROMs. Both "full install" (all files needed for a full OpenBSD install, named install54.iso) and "boot only" (for installing from a network file source, named cd54.iso) ISOs are provided for these platforms.

Note, these ISO files are not the same as the official CD set. These images are for single platforms, and do not include any of the pre-compiled packages, stickers, or artwork that the official CD set does.

However, ISO file installation is NOT the optimum installation method for many people. It is still usually faster and simpler to download the boot media and then install just the portions needed. However, for those who wish to do a number of installations, or can not figure out how to drop ten files on a CD-ROM or set up a local HTTP/FTP server, ISOs are available.

The OpenBSD project does not make the ISO images used to master the official CDs available for download. The reason is simply that we would like you to buy the CD sets to help fund ongoing OpenBSD development. The official OpenBSD CD-ROM layout is copyright Theo de Raadt. Theo does not permit people to redistribute images of the official OpenBSD CDs. As an incentive for people to buy the CD set, some extras are included in the package as well (artwork, stickers etc).

Note that only the CD layout is copyrighted, OpenBSD itself is free. Nothing precludes someone else from downloading OpenBSD and making their own CD.

For those that need a bootable CD for their system, bootdisk ISO images (named cd54.iso) are available for a number of platforms which will then permit the rest of the system to be installed via HTTP/FTP. These ISO images are only a few megabytes in size, and contain just the installation tools, not the actual file sets.

3.4 - Downloading via HTTP, FTP, RSYNC or AFS

There are numerous international mirror sites offering HTTP and FTP access to OpenBSD releases and snapshots. RSYNC and AFS access are also available. You should always use the site nearest to you. Before you begin fetching a release or snapshot, you may wish to use ping(8) and traceroute(8) to determine which mirror site is nearest to you and whether that mirror is performing adequately. Of course, your OpenBSD release CD is always closer than any mirror. Access information is here:

OpenBSD Download page.

3.5 - Verifying your download

In the same directory as the installation sets, each mirror includes a file named SHA256 which contains checksums of the various installation files. You can confirm that none of the downloaded files were mangled in transit using the sha256(1) command:
  $ sha256 -c SHA256
The OpenBSD project does not digitally sign releases. The above command only detects accidental damage, not malicious tampering. If the men in black suits are out to get you, they're going to get you.

3.6 - Selecting Hardware

Selecting appropriate hardware to run your OpenBSD system on is important, as it can mean the difference between success and failure of a project.

If you are shopping for a new PC, whether you are buying it piece by piece or completely pre-built, you want to make sure first that you are buying reliable parts. In the PC world, this is not easy. Bad or otherwise unreliable or mismatched parts can make OpenBSD run poorly and crash often. The best advice we can give is to be careful, and buy brands and parts that have been reviewed by an authority you trust. Sometimes, a higher-price machine is a better quality machine. Other times, it is simply more expensive.

There are certain things that will help bring out the maximum performance of your system:

3.7 - What is an appropriate "first system" to learn OpenBSD on?

While OpenBSD will run on a smaller, older and less powerful computer than just about any other modern OS, if you are just getting started with OpenBSD, using too little machine can be frustrating. The following guidelines are ONLY guidelines; OpenBSD will run very well on much more modest equipment than is listed here, but it may be more frustrating than needed for a first-time user. Obviously, "more the better" to a point. Some popular applications seemingly use as much processor and memory as you can throw at the system.


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