How to Find FreeBSD-compatible Hardware?

S

sackadoo

Hi all,
After struggling to get GhostBSD/FreeBSD to work with my laptop, I've decided to, instead, research parts with 100% compatibility in mind and build a desktop system from scratch.

I was reading through the Hardware Notes for 14.3 and frankly, I'm baffled. How can I tell if (for instance) a motherboard is going to work well with FreeBSD? Or do they all work well with FreeBSD? Or is it a matter of looking up each built-in device (Bluetooth, Wifi, etc.) to make sure those things are all supported?

My memory isn't the best, but I could have sworn there was a document called (something like) The FreeBSD Hardware Compatibility Guide and now I can't seem to find it. Have the Hardware Notes taken their place?
 
Problem is that the technical specs, especially on laptops, do not contain useful information for this.

In most laptops the wifi chip is on a M.2 exchangeable card. But it might be bound in the BIOS, e.g. on Lenovo.

Wifi sucks in FreeBSD anyway, so if at all possible you should go cabled ethernet. Generally mainboards will work fine. If you want to use CPU-integrated graphics watch that the drivers available support that newness of the hardware.
 
You best bet is to read the mailing lists and get a feel for which hardware people tend to be using (and which yield the most issues).

For laptops, I don't think I have ever owned a ~1 year old ThinkPad that has had issues. Possibly the largest issue was the p-state wedging bug (that could be worked around). For workstations, pretty much anything works these days, and anything that doesn't can be ripped out and replaced.

Basically, don't buy gamer crap and you should be fine (it will also look less tacky as a bonus :)).

Another option is to look at the Solaris laptop compatibility lists. You can almost be guaranteed that if Solaris supports a laptop, then FreeBSD certainly can! Not because they are similar operating systems, but because Solaris these days sadly represents the lowest common denominator of hardware support.
 
You can't go wrong with Lenovo Thinkpads. A maxed out T480 should do you well for the next several years. If you have the cash, an X1 Extreme from the same year is good too. Good luck configuring firmware on that thing though..

kpedersen said:
Basically, don't buy gamer crap and you should be fine (it will also look less tacky as a bonus :)).
Click to expand...

The Lenovo Legion laptops are pretty slick looking for gaming laptops IMO.
 
kpedersen said:
Basically, don't buy gamer crap and you should be fine
Click to expand...
For a FreeBSD mobile desktop I agree and think you should look at Intel GPU models unless you need a fancy GPU.
They (nvidia) suck so much battery power I think it should be noted. Plus it adds an extra fan in many models.
Then you get to Optimus or how-ever they handle two GPU's. Discreet or whatever the wording. Painful experiences.

Nothing wrong with a gaming rig if you need the juice. Expect extra noise.
 
sackadoo said:
How can I tell if (for instance) a motherboard is going to work well with FreeBSD? Or do they all work well with FreeBSD? Or is it a matter of looking up each built-in device (Bluetooth, Wifi, etc.) to make sure those things are all supported?
Click to expand...
Well yes and no.
sackadoo said:
research parts with 100% compatibility
Click to expand...
I don't think a FreeBSD laptop will ever reach 100%.
We have a smaller developer base and struggle with some with things like Bluetooth and Wireless.
So if you are willing to conceed a few options it works wonderful.
Wireless is not so much an issue with Atheros and Intel Modules working well along with many more.
Not 100% speed but working.
You might have to adapt your mindset for FreeBSD desktop.
We are third in line at pickings.
Most laptops developed for Windows. Some for Ubuntu and Linux but few for FreeBSD.
For FreeBSD Intel DRM is glitchy and Suspend States can work badly. Where do ACPI settings even come from?
Some laptops have add on modules like IBM ACPI that detect exotic things like special keyboard items like volume buttons.
It really depends on your expectations.
 
sackadoo said:
How can I tell if (for instance) a motherboard is going to work well with FreeBSD? Or do they all work well with FreeBSD?
Click to expand...

This has a search function and offers good insight:

NYC*BUG dmesgd

New York City BSD User Group dmesgd
dmesgd.nycbug.org

So plug your favorite motherboard brand into search and see what shows up.
It will not give you a report of 100% working but does give you a starting point.
 
HI,

First you would benefit from using a Laptop that does run some Form of LINUX , If the vendor has not managed to provide support for LINUX on the unit
It is less likely to run FreeBSD.

Secondly there is NOMAD BSD https://www.nomadbsd.org/ which Boots and runs a FreeBSD from a USBstick . This means that its possible to testboot a Laptop
in a store / showroom for BSD without destroying the software installed on the Laptop's bootdisk.

the LOWCOST consumer/gamer laptops are full of stuff with only Windows Drivers available for the specific "toy"

A good place to start is to browse around at https://bsd-hardware.info/
and select one Laptop from the database there with acceptable support , that you can acquire.

Recently I acquired a 3 years old refurbished Fujitsu Celsius H7510 i7-10850H Nvidia Quadro T1000 machine on which everything but the touchpad works , sofar.......

A somewhat dated Workstation Class Laptop still has good performance , and you can avoid the Windows only hardware.
 
sackadoo said:
Hi all,
After struggling to get GhostBSD/FreeBSD to work with my laptop, I've decided to, instead, research parts with 100% compatibility in mind and build a desktop system from scratch.

I was reading through the Hardware Notes for 14.3 and frankly, I'm baffled. How can I tell if (for instance) a motherboard is going to work well with FreeBSD? Or do they all work well with FreeBSD? Or is it a matter of looking up each built-in device (Bluetooth, Wifi, etc.) to make sure those things are all supported?

My memory isn't the best, but I could have sworn there was a document called (something like) The FreeBSD Hardware Compatibility Guide and now I can't seem to find it. Have the Hardware Notes taken their place?
Click to expand...
Hey

Curious to ask what laptop you are using and what are the issues?

I agree that it is wise to check hardware compatibility, saves a lot of headaches and frustrations, doesn't mean it can't be done but one needs to ask themselves what they are willing to dig into and what they want to use the install for.

If you don't need the latest and greatest, a second hand desktop can be very reasonably priced.
 
drsnx60 said:
Secondly there is NOMAD BSD https://www.nomadbsd.org/ which Boots and runs a FreeBSD from a USBstick . This means that its possible to testboot a Laptop
in a store / showroom for BSD without destroying the software installed on the Laptop's bootdisk.
Click to expand...
You can do the same with the FreeBSD install image on a usb stick. Granted, it will only give you a console based live shell, but if you are used to read # dmesg, # usbconfig and # pciconf -lv output you will cover most things quickly.
One thing to look out for today is that some never laptops have touchpad, bluetooth or wireless connected to something else than pci or usb (something else is often i2c or sdio). And currently FreeBSD doesn't have good tools to check that.

Also, the "plop in a usb stick and test run your favorite os" is only relevant if you can actually lay your hands on the machine in question before buying it. At least where I live, most tech things I want I must buy from an online store, so no testing before buying. I can still return it within 14 days if I buy online, but it's not the same.
 
If you put together a desktop with selected hardware from a generation or two back you should be good. Since FreeBSD is way more efficient, you don't need hardware hot off the press, you also get bargains that way. Use wired ethernet and check compatibility with the on-board NIC or network card. Check iGPU or video card compatibility. You run into the most trouble with new stuff requiring proprietary drivers.

You won't run into trouble with off-the-shelf motherboards in terms of the BIOS as long as you don't try to use a motherboard from a big computer producer like Dell or Lenovo (they tend to use proprietary stuff). Probably Supermicro would be the best, more expensive but well supported. Supermicro mainly caters to enterprise stuff, however they do have a solid line of workstation motherboards.

It's a good idea to go with a desktop. Laptops are notorious for being more troublesome with FreeBSD, lots and lots of proprietary stuff with laptops.
 
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