The CDE option and your nostalgia for Motif looks & feel hit home. I would love to run CDE now sometimes, for nostalgia, and it's funny since it used to be that really POSH window manager from the commercial systems - I already had sawfish and e17 as my favirotes and those massive servers had this weird CDE thing. And so over time it just grew on me... Also thanks for the review of course, and nice outro song!
Just installed FreeBSD 13, I can't believe the difference since using version 5 many years ago, it's like night and day. Amazing! I went with the MATE desktop on a Dell Inspiron D630. Everything just works, even threw in Wine for Winamp. I remember back in day having to pretty much configure almost everything, wifi etc, now a thing of the past, superb. Loved the tutorial :)
Nice! It's funny, but whilst all around it changes, IceWM sticks to it's roots and doesn't disappoint! Sometimes there isn't anything wrong with 'older' design :-)
Nice to have that installer. By the way, a new Openindiana came out a few days ago and It made me think about what Oracle did to Solaris by making it closed source. Not only that, they might even discontinue it in the future. I wish we could still use Solaris as the other branch of the Unix OS family. I don't know how it compares to FreeBSD but heard from its users that it is a very pure, pristine and excellent Unix system.
I have to agree.... it's a shame for sure. I remember seeing the time slider thing in Solaris/OpenSolrais and thinking it was the best thing since sliced bread. If that facility gets implemented in GhostBSD, then you know, it won't be far off the OpenSolaris experience, but one with a FreeBSD flavour....
Hmm?? Openindiana? Thats one of a few Solaris offshoots! I remember downloading and using Openindiana and illumnus OS as well as Proper Solaris 10 and 11. What is going on now with Solaris? They no longer making it free for personal use?
I feel the BSD sector is about to explode. All the linux distro hoppers eventually end up there. As well the numerous linux reviewers in YT seem to be gaining an interest - you know they all watch each others channels for ideas. FreeBSD is the Arch of the Unix like operating systems imo. Even Ghost is a direct replacement of turn-key linux, you can have it up and running in under an hour. BSD is so damn fast and snappy and unbloated and gives you back control of core components. I'm loving it.
Thanks for the review. :-) FYI, I think you overlooked the instructions on the screen before starting the login manager. You did not really need to kill xdm, just switch to vt0 using Ctrl+Alt+F1. Desktop-installer continues to run there after starting the login manager. Not sure what happened with the IceWM config, but it works out of the box with the latest desktop-installer. Just retested most of the DE/WM selections and they're all running cleanly now.
I think you are right... it wouldn't be the first time I overlooked some instructions, I often get that from my other half who says I should read the instruction on new electronics, but I don't... thanks outpadding, I'll do better next time :-)
I've just used it yesterday and it was a real pain in the ass. It took me 2 times to configure my video card, which is a weird intel one. I chose xfce4 and installed a lot of stuff I didn't want like Totem and some gnome packages. At the end I got everything going, but I still prefer the old manual method.
Thanks Chris , I used this for building a workstation previously I would do this manually , dumb question though do you watch netflix on your machines ? If so how have you done this ?
Not a dumb question at all.... Netflix won't work on FreeBSD on the desktop - and that's Google's fault - they won't release the Widevine plugin that allows the DRM to be played. Netflix uses FreeBSD extensively, and it's not their fault (the contribute lots of money and code to FreeBSD) - but if they want to keep showing Hollywood movies, then they have to use DRM, and that is Googles..... I watch netflix on my PS4, which ironically uses FreeBSD :-)
@@RoboNuggie Thanks for your reply , so I guess I am in the same boat as you , well without the ps4. I have noticed freebsd 13 uses more memory than other linux distributions. Then again an os that doesn't use it's resources is an inefficient one. Might need to fire up bhyve and linux distro for these tasks
xinitrc is for a direct boot into your desktop,wm,etc from console or from bootup. xsession is required for booting into a desktop or wm FROM a graphical login manager.. lol c'mon Robo! I had to learn all that with my various installs of Linux and FreeBSD in both real and virtual hardware. Sadly, dtlogin does not run sanely in FreeBSD OR LINUX with the newer versions of CDE 2.3.x. So something to workout but XDM is a winner in a pinch!!
I'd forgotten :-( Sounds silly, but I have for many years used startx, so I only really ever mess with the .xinitrc file.... it's funny what fades over time....
@A K I have a similar instruction for this and I have copied your instructions exactly and will try with the FreeBSD 12.2 and 13 for 64bit and 32bit. Admittedly, you have listed a few more steps I missed so that may explain why my dtlogin did not work or why if it DID run, the mouse stops working..
@A K I did compare your install instructions with mine and seems you did not list to install xorg fonts, xorg fonts 100dpi. Could that have had to do with CDE not starting in your system? I normally do not need to edit xorg unless it is really not working automagically, and that is rare. If all your hardware is actually working right and compatible, you should not have to even edit modern xorg. But.. then again.. lol! So far I have not been able to play with my machines since I am doing alot of remodeling but I will be testing 5 new touch screen computers in a few days. Those will be my ultimate test of FreeBSD/MX Linux and CDE.
Great video, but I'm a little lost so I guess I watch this again and check out the manual. I will install FreeBSD this week but can someone tell me if a Virtual Box installation work as well as installing on metal?
I've got the same problem with login in another's desktop environment... probably if you try as root you don't have to create the .xinitrc or .xsession, otherwise I'll try it to create this files as you did because I'm still logging in as root 😞
@A K Good! I shall be trying that myself soon! As for Windowmaker, it will be a matter of time before it is fixed. I do know Windowmaker can act up if you do not run it as a root user FIRST, at first start after install, and THEN, run as the user. At least in LINUX this has always been the case.
When you start the machine up and login, are there any error messages on the screen? What are you trying to install on? Laptop or desktop? What graphics card/Chipset are you using? Have you installed xorg? And, have you tried the live-dvd session of GhostBSD which will test your hardware to see if there could be any problems there.... I know that's a lot of questions, but I don't know the circumstances :-)
@@Namal23 One way would be to use desktop-installer :-) But if you want to do it manually - a summary: pkg install xorg pkg install xfce4 sysrc dbus_enable="YES" edit .xinitrc add 'exec xfce-session' then startx You can add sddm if you want a login manager
I knew that would come up, I was going to include it in the video....ahhh The reason, is that beadm had a few things that bectl doesn't even have even though they can interchange between them.... The author of beadm gives a summary of the differences here: vermaden.wordpress.com/2018/08/24/new-zfs-boot-environments-tool/
The CDE option and your nostalgia for Motif looks & feel hit home. I would love to run CDE now sometimes, for nostalgia, and it's funny since it used to be that really POSH window manager from the commercial systems - I already had sawfish and e17 as my favirotes and those massive servers had this weird CDE thing. And so over time it just grew on me...
Also thanks for the review of course, and nice outro song!
Just installed FreeBSD 13, I can't believe the difference since using version 5 many years ago, it's like night and day. Amazing! I went with the MATE desktop on a Dell Inspiron D630. Everything just works, even threw in Wine for Winamp. I remember back in day having to pretty much configure almost everything, wifi etc, now a thing of the past, superb. Loved the tutorial :)
Late reply but the Audacious music player will run natively and can use Winamp skins.
Installed the IceWM on my main Linux machine thanks to your videos and now I am in love with it. It's so charming and lightweigth.
Nice! It's funny, but whilst all around it changes, IceWM sticks to it's roots and doesn't disappoint! Sometimes there isn't anything wrong with 'older' design :-)
Nice to have that installer. By the way, a new Openindiana came out a few days ago and It made me think about what Oracle did to Solaris by making it closed source. Not only that, they might even discontinue it in the future. I wish we could still use Solaris as the other branch of the Unix OS family. I don't know how it compares to FreeBSD but heard from its users that it is a very pure, pristine and excellent Unix system.
I have to agree.... it's a shame for sure.
I remember seeing the time slider thing in Solaris/OpenSolrais and thinking it was the best thing since sliced bread.
If that facility gets implemented in GhostBSD, then you know, it won't be far off the OpenSolaris experience, but one with a FreeBSD flavour....
Hmm?? Openindiana? Thats one of a few Solaris offshoots! I remember downloading and using Openindiana and illumnus OS as well as Proper Solaris 10 and 11. What is going on now with Solaris? They no longer making it free for personal use?
Can't find the installer for some reason
Cheers Chris, much obliged :-)
Any time!
I feel the BSD sector is about to explode. All the linux distro hoppers eventually end up there. As well the numerous linux reviewers in YT seem to be gaining an interest - you know they all watch each others channels for ideas. FreeBSD is the Arch of the Unix like operating systems imo. Even Ghost is a direct replacement of turn-key linux, you can have it up and running in under an hour. BSD is so damn fast and snappy and unbloated and gives you back control of core components. I'm loving it.
my goal is moving from Arch to BSD. some people go to Gentoo, but I don't have the health for that 😂
Thanks Robbie ! That is handy to use especially when you want a desktop quickly.
This looks handy!
I have used a desktop-installer script on my old-new laptop Thinkpad t470s. Made my dreams come true :-)
Excellent... !
@@RoboNuggie yeah but touchpad dont tap only click
Thanks for fulfilling my request :)
Any time!
went back to FreeBSD on my Asus B350-F great video and desktop-installer is cool
Thanks for the review. :-)
FYI, I think you overlooked the instructions on the screen before starting the login manager. You did not really need to kill xdm, just switch to vt0 using Ctrl+Alt+F1. Desktop-installer continues to run there after starting the login manager.
Not sure what happened with the IceWM config, but it works out of the box with the latest desktop-installer. Just retested most of the DE/WM selections and they're all running cleanly now.
I think you are right... it wouldn't be the first time I overlooked some instructions, I often get that from my other half who says I should read the instruction on new electronics, but I don't... thanks outpadding, I'll do better next time :-)
I've just used it yesterday and it was a real pain in the ass. It took me 2 times to configure my video card, which is a weird intel one. I chose xfce4 and installed a lot of stuff I didn't want like Totem and some gnome packages. At the end I got everything going, but I still prefer the old manual method.
A late reply, but I agree... nothing beats the traditional way...
Thanks Chris , I used this for building a workstation previously I would do this manually , dumb question though do you watch netflix on your machines ? If so how have you done this ?
Not a dumb question at all....
Netflix won't work on FreeBSD on the desktop - and that's Google's fault - they won't release the Widevine plugin that allows the DRM to be played.
Netflix uses FreeBSD extensively, and it's not their fault (the contribute lots of money and code to FreeBSD) - but if they want to keep showing Hollywood movies, then they have to use DRM, and that is Googles.....
I watch netflix on my PS4, which ironically uses FreeBSD :-)
@@RoboNuggie Thanks for your reply , so I guess I am in the same boat as you , well without the ps4. I have noticed freebsd 13 uses more memory than other linux distributions. Then again an os that doesn't use it's resources is an inefficient one. Might need to fire up bhyve and linux distro for these tasks
@@TomS-ho6td one should expect ZFS to consume a good bit of RAM in exchange for providing the most robust storage solution ever devised 😉
Great, thanks C.
My pleasure!
finally something that works.
:-)
xinitrc is for a direct boot into your desktop,wm,etc from console or from bootup. xsession is required for booting into a desktop or wm FROM a graphical login manager.. lol c'mon Robo! I had to learn all that with my various installs of Linux and FreeBSD in both real and virtual hardware. Sadly, dtlogin does not run sanely in FreeBSD OR LINUX with the newer versions of CDE 2.3.x. So something to workout but XDM is a winner in a pinch!!
I'd forgotten :-( Sounds silly, but I have for many years used startx, so I only really ever mess with the .xinitrc file.... it's funny what fades over time....
@A K I have a similar instruction for this and I have copied your instructions exactly and will try with the FreeBSD 12.2 and 13 for 64bit and 32bit. Admittedly, you have listed a few more steps I missed so that may explain why my dtlogin did not work or why if it DID run, the mouse stops working..
@@RoboNuggie I know the feeling my friend.. I know the feeling..what was I talking about again? :-P
@A K I did compare your install instructions with mine and seems you did not list to install xorg fonts, xorg fonts 100dpi. Could that have had to do with CDE not starting in your system? I normally do not need to edit xorg unless it is really not working automagically, and that is rare. If all your hardware is actually working right and compatible, you should not have to even edit modern xorg. But.. then again.. lol! So far I have not been able to play with my machines since I am doing alot of remodeling but I will be testing 5 new touch screen computers in a few days. Those will be my ultimate test of FreeBSD/MX Linux and CDE.
I just installed it to my laptop,. I assume this has to be re-run to change the desktop's .xinitrc files to match a preferred desktop.
Great video, but I'm a little lost so I guess I watch this again and check out the manual. I will install FreeBSD this week but can someone tell me if a Virtual Box installation work as well as installing on metal?
Yes, it should.... could I suggest you install GhostBSD, to get a feel of a FreeBSD based OS on Virtualbox....
Watching on my GhostBSD computer.
Excellent! GhostBSD is a great choice for people new to the FreeBSD ecosystem.... good to have you aboard Michelle!
Need to give that a look, would have liked to see OpenBox as an option though.
is it not possible to choose it from LXDE/LXQt? (I don't know, I'm a Linux user 😂 )
thanks for the video
You're welcome wildmanjeff...
I use freebsd 13.2 release and t430 now i still don’t connect gui mode it’s many prbm for me iwill try. Use the desktop
Wow... not bad now!
It makes life a little easier....
very nice video
Thank you Mustafa... very much appreciated my friend....
Aren't you logging in twice there?
with beadm you didn't add -e for beadm do u need to do beadm create -e snapshotname ? for it to be bootable ?
I've got the same problem with login in another's desktop environment... probably if you try as root you don't have to create the .xinitrc or .xsession, otherwise I'll try it to create this files as you did because I'm still logging in as root 😞
Did you create a 'normal' user ?
CDE! CDE! WINDOWMAKER! Aaah! LOL!
@A K Good! I shall be trying that myself soon! As for Windowmaker, it will be a matter of time before it is fixed. I do know Windowmaker can act up if you do not run it as a root user FIRST, at first start after install, and THEN, run as the user. At least in LINUX this has always been the case.
Good video, despite the old login x-manager (but this is nothing; for example, slim from time to time after updates does not want to start)
I could have picked a more modern one, but thought I'd have a bit of retro :-)
Plasma is more resource intensive than GNOME 3, according to the installer? That sure goes against common lore.
gnome is way lighter these days, even with animations
I would say they're the same
It doesn´t work with my intel graphics....(UHD 630). It freezes. What a pity
:-(
Had the same problem with ghostBSD. It doesn't work.
Nice tool Sir RoboNuggie, 😈
(must resist smutty answer) 😜
Yeah, but how do you actually install xfce or gnome? I was following some tutorials, but it just does not work and I don't know what I am doing wrong
When you start the machine up and login, are there any error messages on the screen?
What are you trying to install on? Laptop or desktop?
What graphics card/Chipset are you using?
Have you installed xorg?
And, have you tried the live-dvd session of GhostBSD which will test your hardware to see if there could be any problems there....
I know that's a lot of questions, but I don't know the circumstances :-)
@@RoboNuggie -desktop
-Nvidia
- it actually worked with 12
- Xorg sure, I used the tutorial from freebsd.org
@@Namal23 One way would be to use desktop-installer :-)
But if you want to do it manually - a summary:
pkg install xorg
pkg install xfce4
sysrc dbus_enable="YES"
edit .xinitrc
add 'exec xfce-session'
then
startx
You can add sddm if you want a login manager
Why not just use bectl? Comes with the OS and does the same
I knew that would come up, I was going to include it in the video....ahhh
The reason, is that beadm had a few things that bectl doesn't even have even though they can interchange between them....
The author of beadm gives a summary of the differences here:
vermaden.wordpress.com/2018/08/24/new-zfs-boot-environments-tool/
@@RoboNuggie I see. I always thought bectl was an exact copy of beadm. But at least the main functionalities are the same
Do you have an odysee channel? :)
No, but I'll have a look now that you have mentioned it!
Desktop-installer, it's really exist? I didn't even know about it. But too problematic a solution, I'd rather stay with a traditional installation.
Yes, I do too... but if you need a quick install or if you are learning the ropes and it seems intimidating then this could be something to look at.
Confirmed working on FreeBSD 14. Currently running GNOME 42. Had to add the following to /etc/rc.conf to get it to boot to GDM:
gdm_enable="YES"