Freebsd-zfs Minimal Install to a Partition

R

Rewdan

I am a beginner with Freebsd after trying Ghostbsd.
I have done a minimal GPT/EFI install on a partition of an SSD. The steps I followed were:

Boot into dd memstick image.
Choose Install
Go through defining keyboard etc
Then choose Shell - and enter the following commands in sequence:

1.Add Partition
gpart add -t freebsd-zfs -s 97G ada0

2. Create Pool
zpool create -f -o altroot=/mnt -O mountpoint=none zroot /dev/ada0p4

3. Create Datasets: ROOT container
zfs create -o mountpoint=none zroot/ROOT
zfs create -o mountpoint=/ zroot/ROOT/default

4. Mount
zfs mount -a

5. Set bootfs Property
zpool set bootfs=zroot/ROOT/default zroot

6. Exit Shell
exit

The install was successful for booting into login into Freebsd.

My questions, given this is a minimal setup - are there steps I need to add to the install process, and/or do post-installation?

My intention, once I have completed a setup, is to experiment with installing the Gnome desktop.



Thank you.
 
I know there's an older tutorial on these forums by patovm04 about installing to a ZFS partition in a shared boot. Let me see if I can find it...hold on a sec....

Here it is, though it's been a few years, so I don't know what's changed, if anything
P

Thread '[UEFI/GPT] [Dual-Boot] How to install FreeBSD (with ZFS) alongside another OS (sharing the same disk)'

Important notes:
1) This tutorial assumes you have the OS you want to dual-boot with already installed on your drive, and that you already have freed up some disk space. Essentially, you will be installing FreeBSD with root-on-ZFS on the remaining free space of the disk, instead of using the entire drive as it's done by default by FreeBSD's installer.
2) This method only works for GPT disk layouts using UEFI mode. Legacy BIOS and MBR disks are not supported. As always, make sure to disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot.
3) Here, we use ada0 (disk 1) for everything, and we assume your...
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scottro said:
I know there's an older tutorial on these forums by patovm04 about installing to a ZFS partition in a shared boot. Let me see if I can find it...hold on a sec....
Here it is, though it's been a few years, so I don't know what's changed, if anything
P

Thread '[UEFI/GPT] [Dual-Boot] How to install FreeBSD (with ZFS) alongside another OS (sharing the same disk)'

Important notes:
1) This tutorial assumes you have the OS you want to dual-boot with already installed on your drive, and that you already have freed up some disk space. Essentially, you will be installing FreeBSD with root-on-ZFS on the remaining free space of the disk, instead of using the entire drive as it's done by default by FreeBSD's installer.
2) This method only works for GPT disk layouts using UEFI mode. Legacy BIOS and MBR disks are not supported. As always, make sure to disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot.
3) Here, we use ada0 (disk 1) for everything, and we assume your...
  • Thanks
  • Like
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. Yes, I do need to enable compression - also to update and upgrade system, and setup trim.
So, some more to do before I experiment with installing Gnome.

Some other points to clarify about the way I approached this:
  • It is a dual boot setup - Pop os already installed with Refind.
  • I already had an EFI partition set up - this is necessary to have/setup.
  • The space for the additional partition for freebds-zfs is up to the user.

Part of the reason I posted about my install is I didn't find a current simple approach to install Freebsd-zfs for:
  • dual-boot - and
  • self-defining the size of the freebsd-zfs partition for the install!
 
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