BSD installation

BSD systems share Unix lineage with Linux but ship distinct packaging toolchains and a strong convention: base system in / and /usr, third-party software in /usr/local.

Overview: Installation architecture. Linux contrast: Linux installation.

Family snapshot

System Ports tree Binary packages

FreeBSD

ports (/usr/ports)

pkg (pkg install)

NetBSD

pkgsrc (portable across OSes)

pkgin / pkg_add

OpenBSD

ports integrated with base

pkg_add from CDN mirrors

All emphasize building from source with flags vs downloading opaque blobs—though binary packages are normal for servers and laptops.

/usr/local layout

Third-party installs typically land in:

  • /usr/local/bin, /usr/local/lib, /usr/local/share

  • /usr/local/etc for configuration

This mirrors FHS spirit but does not imply Debian-style alternatives or systemd everywhere—init and service stories differ.

rc.d and services

BSD traditionally uses rc.d scripts in /usr/local/etc/rc.d (or /etc/rc.d for base). Enable in rc.conf (*_enable="YES" on FreeBSD). Linux-centric install docs that only mention systemctl need a BSD adapter for daemons you ship.

pkg vs ports

  • pkg — fast, signed packages from project mirrors; good for production servers.

  • ports — customize MAKE_ARGS, OPTIONS, jails, and poudriere bulk builds.

Uninstall is pkg delete or deinstall from ports—file lists are tracked; ad-hoc copy into /usr/local without registration is as discouraged as on Linux.

Differences from Linux assumptions

  • libc and kernel — binaries built on glibc Ubuntu do not run on FreeBSD; ship FreeBSD builds in CI (see Polyglot CI matrix).

  • Linuxulator — optional Linux binary compatibility on FreeBSD; not a substitute for native packages for performance-sensitive GUI apps.

  • No apt/dnf — documentation must name pkg/pkgin commands.

  • ZFS root — common on FreeBSD; snapshot before major package upgrades is operational best practice.

jails and automation

FreeBSD jails and NetBSD npf ecosystems treat install as image + pkg bootstrap inside the jail. Same UIL roles apply; paths remain /usr/local inside the jail.

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