**Updated (2021-12-14):** When I installed NetBSD for the first time, I remember I’d to collect bits and pieces of information from different places, some of which were rather old and outdated. So, I’ve decided to write this stuff down and publish it here. Hope that it helps anyone looking to install and configure NetBSD as a laptop/desktop daily driver, if it helps one single soul, I’d be happy! ~~I'll try to keep this updated on a regular basis.~~ I got this 2014 laptop* without a hard drive, but with 8GB of RAM. How large should the hard drive be? Looking on the web and asking a few questions, I concluded that NetBSD wouldn’t require that much for a full install. So I bought a 30GB SSD for $20 and placed it in this laptop. Then, I installed [NetBSD-9.2_STABLE](https://nycdn.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD-daily/netbsd-9/latest/images/) from an usb, as described in, [the guide](https://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/). Choose keyboard -> Install to hard disk -> Full installation -> Use the entire disk, then set the sizes of the partitions, ``` / 26GB swap 2GB ``` When the base install was finished, I let `dhcp` configure my network connection automatically, set the console keyboard, created a root password, set the root shell to `/bin/ksh` and configure the system to use the correct [pkgin mirror](http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/amd64/9.2/). On this install, I’ve chosen not to set-up `pkgsrc`. Keep it simple to start with and, to be honest, I think a larger hard drive would be handy to build packages from source using `pkgsrc`, as the build directory needs some space to grow during the building process. **Note:** I'm currently building quite a few packages with `pkgsrc` and so far, so good. No issues with the disk size, just remember to always clean the build (`make clean`, `make clean-depends` and `make distclean`) before you start the next one ;) I always choose to add a system user after installing, so that’s what I’ve done this time as well. After installing and rebooting the system, login as root and… `# pkgin install doas dbus spectrwm slock firefox vim scrot xpdf-4 gtar xz montserrat git-base desktop-file-utils feh mozilla-rootcerts-openssl featherpad qt5ct redshift` For my needs, I also install `hunspell-sv_SE`, but your needs may be slightly different ;) I use `spectrwm`, but obviously, you can replace it with whatever wm you prefer. Note that, `spectrwm` needs a screenlock to function, therefore I'm pulling `slock`. Next copy some start up files to `/etc/rc.d` ``` # cp /usr/pkg/share/examples/rc.d/dbus /etc/rc.d/ ``` Add these to `/etc/rc.conf` with the following: ``` rpcbind=YES dbus=YES ``` If, like me, you have an Intel processor and would like to have the intel-microcode updated, remember Meltdown and Spectre?! Install the intel-microcode package, `# pkgin install intel-microcode-netbsd` copy the start-up script to `/etc/rc.d` `# cp /usr/pkg/share/examples/rc.d/intel-microcode /etc/rc.d/` add `microcode=YES` to your `rc.conf` and reboot. Once again, login as root and add an user ``` # useradd -g wheel -G users -s /bin/ksh -c "your real name" -m user_name # passwd user_name ``` Make sure your user_name has been added to wheel (check `/etc/group`). If not, add it now. Create the `/usr/pkg/etc/doas.conf` file according to your needs. Here's mine as an example, ``` #doas.conf permit :wheel permit nopass user_name cmd reboot permit nopass user_name cmd shutdown ``` Reboot, login as the new user and configure your stuff, things like `.xinitrc`, `.shrc`, `.Xresources`, ... Next time you login, you can issue `startx` to launch the graphical environment on your install. For wireless configuration using `dhcpcd` and `wpa_supplicant` see [this archived post](https://archive.unitedbsd.com/t/netbsd-desktop-pt-2-set-up-wireless-networking-on-netbsd-with-wpa-supplicant-and-dhcpcd/281) by @"JuvenalUrbino"#4. Also, by the same author there are quite a few very interesting and valuable tutorials, among others on [how to set-up a firewall](https://archive.unitedbsd.com/t/netbsd-desktop-pt-3-simple-stateful-firewall-with-npf/286) and [configuring external media automount](https://archive.unitedbsd.com/t/netbsd-desktop-pt-5-automounting-with-berkeley-am-utils/294). Visit the [archive](https://archive.unitedbsd.com/) for further information. Enjoy NetBSD! [img]https://i.imgur.com/NJTEdRp.png[/img] *HP EliteBook 820 G1 ``` $ sysctl hw.machine_arch hw.model hw.ncpu hw.usermem64 hw.machine_arch = x86_64 hw.model = Intel 686-class hw.ncpu = 4 hw.usermem64 = 8448819200 $ pcictl pci0 list 000:00:0: Intel Core 4G (mobile) Host Bridge, DRAM (host bridge, revision 0x0b) 000:02:0: Intel HD Graphics (GT2) (VGA display, revision 0x0b) 000:03:0: Intel Core 4G (mobile) Mini HD audio (mixed mode multimedia, revision 0x0b) 000:20:0: Intel Core 4G (mobile) USB xHCI (USB serial bus, xHCI, revision 0x04) 000:22:0: Intel Core 4G (mobile) MEI (miscellaneous communications, revision 0x04) 000:25:0: Intel I218-LM Ethernet Connection (ethernet network, revision 0x04) 000:27:0: Intel Core 4G (mobile) HD Audio (mixed mode multimedia, revision 0x04) 000:28:0: Intel Core 4G (mobile) PCIe (PCI bridge, revision 0xe4) 000:28:3: Intel Core 4G (mobile) PCIe (PCI bridge, revision 0xe4) 000:28:5: Intel Core 4G (mobile) PCIe (PCI bridge, revision 0xe4) 000:29:0: Intel Core 4G (mobile) USB EHCI (USB serial bus, EHCI, revision 0x04) 000:31:0: Intel Core 4G (mobile) LPC (ISA bridge, revision 0x04) 000:31:2: Intel Core 4G (mobile) SATA Controller (AHCI) (SATA mass storage, AHCI 1.0, revision 0x04) 000:31:3: Intel Core 4G (mobile) SMBus (SMBus serial bus, revision 0x04) 002:00:0: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 WiFi (miscellaneous network, revision 0x34) 003:00:0: Realtek Semiconductor RTS5227 PCI-E Card Reader (undefined, subclass 0x00, revision 0x01) ```

Uh oh, this screenshot make me wana go home early and tinkering with my old Dell Vostro Laptop. Thanks man

Thank you very much for taking the time to write this out.

@"panorain"#p329 you're welcome ?

Guide updated according to my latest changes ?

Thanks @"pin"#2 for this guide. I will not go through NetBSD yet because my Intel graphics card and my Broadcom wifi card are not yet well recognized.

@"ouaille_aime_scier"#p563 Understand that, though its a bit strange... Intel graphics tend to be well supported, unless you have a very new machine. As for broadcom, it could be hit or miss. Although the latest stable release has support for quite a few of those, see https://www.netbsd.org/releases/formal-8/NetBSD-8.1.html

@"pin"#2 I have an i915 graphics card which is recognized, but there are some windowing issues behind it (window of applications that hang at the top of the screen). The wifi card is a BCM4313 that is not yet on NetBSD (nor on FreeBSD which I actually use).

@"ouaille_aime_scier"#p565 😭

A small useful mod (if you work with NetBSD at night when your family is sleeping) is to turn off console beeps. You can do this in X by adding `xset b off`to your .xinitrc . More information here: https://wiki.netbsd.org/tutorials/how_to_turn_off_console_beep/

NetBSD - A little guide for newcomers

nortonham thanks 🙂

chrisfromgreece

Tried netbsd on my pc with nvidia it has very good performance i like that compared to openbsd performance(even with supported amd gpu) but i have some problems on my ryzen/vega laptop touchpad doesn't seem to work tried getting some help but they couldn't help me with this problem. On OpenBSD touchpad works out of the box.
Is ryzen vega gpu supported i mean can i watch youtube videos etc etc ?
Drm says its not configured. I have installed amdgpu xorg and triee to do x configure but it cant create config file because it says the number of screens are not the same as those detected.
If there is anyone that can help i would gladly have a second look on netbsd.

rvp

chrisfromgreece Drm says its not configured.

amdgpu DRM is not enabled in the GENERIC kernel. Compile a new kernel with that enabled. (You may also have to disable all the radeon drivers. And maybe also copy the binary firmware blobs over from Linux.)

nia

rvp It's not included in GENERIC because it doesn't work yet. Actual working radeon support goes up to GCN 1 or so.

rvp

nia It's not included in GENERIC because it doesn't work yet.

Ah! That's why it's commented out. Thanks.

Refreshed.

bsduck

pin Add these to /etc/rc.conf with the following:

rpcbind=YES
dbus=YES
famd=YES

What are rpcbind and famd needed for? I've never had to enable them on other systems.

bsduck Needed and needed...

pin When I installed NetBSD for the first time, I remember I'd to collect bits and pieces of information from different places, some of which were rather old and outdated. So, I've decided to write this stuff down and publish it here.

Honestly, this was among the bits and pieces. That said to have famd running you need rcpbind, from /usr/pkg/share/examples/rc.d/famd REQUIRE: DAEMON rcpbind.

If you don't need fam or to have access to NFS, than probably you won't need rcpbind either.
Other things from the bits and pieces that I have already removed were hal and avahi, which might be needed in some user cases as well.

I've now removed fam from my system and disabled rcpbind. If, I run into any issues what so ever, I'll report them back here.

JuvenalUrbino

bsduck What are rpcbind and famd needed for? I've never had to enable them on other systems.

If memory serves me right, GNOME2 (for gnome-vfs) and KDE4 would pull FAM on NetBSD. Nowadays I doubt the daemon elicits any crucial function for anything in the package tree and is probably just a leftover.

nia

pin For DNS-SD you can use mdnsd in base instead of avahi, it's quite a lot simpler. I can't really remember what avahi does that mdnsd doesn't... avahi has a GUI, but mdnsd has no configuration options and is mostly automatic.

nia Thanks for the hint. The only use case I previously had for avahi was discovery of network printers when using cupsd. But, since I've basically stopped printing stuff and just save documents as pdf locally, I no longer have a need for avahi or, cups.

Maybe something to revisit if needed, thanks once again.

nia

pin I think I've done this using mdnsd.

JuvenalUrbino I think mateand xfcestill require hal, though.
lxqt is "clean" but, I no longer use full-fledged DEs.
gnome2 is dead and kde4 should probably be dead as well but, I won't bother with this sort of discussions anymore. Been there, done it 😉

nia Would you remember details? No rush, as I said I'm currently not using any printers but, it would be a nice addition to this thread.

No need to dig after it if you don't remember, though.

CiotBSD

pin thank for all!

A little tip: on your first image, you pipe grep and awk. Don' use grep if awk; like:
pkg_info | awk '/package_name/ { print $1 }'

:p 😃

CiotBSD Lol, I'll try to upload a new screenshot if/when I remember.

CiotBSD

Hi, on my fresh today install, during installation of intel microcode, it's displayed MESSAGE information:

To use intel-microcode-netbsd-20210608 to update your system's microcode,
be sure that sysctl hw.firmware.path includes your pkgsrc prefix.

# sysctl hw.firmware.path
hw.firmware.path = /libdata/firmware:/usr/libdata/firmware:/usr/pkg/libdata/firmware:/usr/pkg/libdata

# cat /etc/pkg_install.conf
PKG_DBDIR=/usr/pkg/pkgdb

How can I be sure?

CiotBSD You should see it during boot, have a look at https://www.unitedbsd.com/d/436-update-cpu-microcode-on-netbsd

rvp

CiotBSD How can I be sure?

/usr/pkg/libdata/firmware is already present in hw.firmware.path. Then check for microcode files: ls -l /usr/pkg/libdata/firmware

But, just follow the link @pin gave you. The instructions there ought to be sufficient.

CiotBSD

OK, I see on dmesg:

# dmesg | grep cpu
(...)
cpu 0: ucode 0xa3->0xa4
cpu 1: ucode 0xa3->0xa4

It seems good! 😃

One question: Why it's necessary to copy file example rc to /etc/rc.d instead of during the installation process?
if this was done during the installation process, the user would only have to set the activation. is'nt-it!?

CiotBSD One question: Why it's necessary to copy file example rc to /etc/rc.d instead of during the installation process?

Preferences, I guess. Usually, things are by default not forced upon users and honestly, I prefer it that way.

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