Post by @chadmccullough@mastodon.bsd.cafe

@chadmccullough@mastodon.bsd.cafe

2026-09-23 20:40 UTC

Okay, tomorrow I will be back to work trying to get @netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org installed either on my desktop or laptop. I took a break for a week but I really need to get this done. After 30 years, I think I am done with Linux. I'm struggling to move on, but I know it's the right thing to do. For my small home server, I'm not sure what to install on it just yet. I know that I can get FreeBSD going rather quickly but there's the AI issue. Would NetBSD be a good option for the server, as well? #netbsd #bsd #noAI

Replies (5)

@dwarmstrong@fosstodon.org 2026-09-23 21:06

@chadmccullough@mastodon.bsd.cafe @netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org I'm exploring NetBSD as my next desktop OS this month and appreciate the charm of this "classic Unix" system. But things I never have to think about in Linux sometimes require an investment of hours to figure out in NetBSD. Which is OK... because I went into the project with that expectation. A little bit every day. I can afford to be laissez-faire because its running on a spare computer. Nice thing about NetBSD is almost anything could be that spare computer. 🙂

Open ##4826988
@linear@nya.social 2026-09-23 20:46

@chadmccullough@mastodon.bsd.cafe @netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org i mean, it kind of depends on what you're doing, i guess, but in my experience, switching a server over to NetBSD is easier than switching a desktop system. most of my NetBSD systems are server systems.

Open ##5238523
@admin@mastodon.slightlycyberpunk.com 2026-09-23 20:49

@chadmccullough@mastodon.bsd.cafe @netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org I just started yesterday trying to put together something on NetBSD to replace my Proxmox install and everything running on it. Currently working in VirtualBox to sort out the general workflow before trying on real hardware. So far I've got the hypervisor installed lol, but I'm optimistic I'll get there. Eventually. Probably after campaign season ends lol I figure the laptop comes after that; servers sounded easier :)

Open ##5238524
@raster@retro-gaiden.com 2026-09-23 23:52

@chadmccullough@mastodon.bsd.cafe @netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org I found that NetBSD could be very picky of the support media you use. The installer could behave as corrupted even if the downloaded image is sane. I could suggest you to pick a quality usb key, or try from an external usb that acts as installation support. Beside, NetBSD has also a Linux compatibility mode, but I had not poked its capabilities with the linux ports I have. Wine is there, but careful that the version is not updated yet to 11.

Open ##5238525
@sashin@veganism.social 2026-09-24 05:29

@chadmccullough@mastodon.bsd.cafe @netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org Why netbsd on the desktop over freebsd?

Open ##5238527