Install FreeBSD 15.0

This article illustrates a fresh install of FreeBSD 15.0.

Take a full backup or create a snapshot before upgrading.

The whole upgrade process will take about 20-30 minutes.

Get the Software and Create a Bootable USB Stick

change the directory and wget the software:
cd Downloads
wget https://download.freebsd.org/releases/amd64/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/15.0/FreeBSD-15.0-RC3-amd64-memstick.img
2025-11-22 08:51:24 (74.4 MB/s) - ‘FreeBSD-15.0-RC3-amd64-memstick.img’ saved [1560138240/1560138240]

Get the device name for USB drive:
fdisk -l
Disk /dev/sdc: 1.93 GiB, 2076704768 bytes, 4056064 sectors Disk model: Flash Disk Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes Disklabel type: gpt
sudo umount /dev/sdc
umount: /dev/sdc: not mounted
sudo dd if=FreeBSD-15.0-RC3-amd64-memstick.img of=/dev/sdc bs=4M status=progress conv=fdatasync
371+1 records in 371+1 records out 1560138240 bytes (1.6 GB, 1.5 GiB) copied, 455.031 s, 3.4 MB/s

Install FreeBSD 15

The questions have been answered as follows:

Welcome toFreeBSD: 1. Boot Installer
Welcome:Install
Keymap:selecte and test
Set Hostname: HP15
Installation Type: Distribution Sets
Network Configuration:Auto
Partitioning: Auto (ZFS)
ZFS configuration:Accept defaults
Virtual Device Typ: stripe
Mirror Selection:select nearest server
Time Zone:Europe
System Config - start at bootntpd_sync_on_start
Firmware:select all
Add User Accounts:Yes
Final ConfigurationFinish
CompleteRemove stick - reboot

Wayland on FreeBSD 15

login with root
add user to group video:pw groupmod video -m username
Install required software:pkg install wayland seatd
sysrc seatd_enable="YES"
service seatd start

Install KDE on FreeBSD 15

pkg install kde
pkg install xinit
pkg install drm-kmod
pkg install sddm
sysrc dbus_enable="YES"
sysctl net.local.stream.recvspace=65536
sysctl net.local.stream.sendspace=65536
sysrc sddm_enable="YES"
sysrc sddm_lang="de_CH"
pciconf -lv | grep -B5 display
sysrc kld_list+=radeonkms
shutdown -r now

Enable Wireless on FreeBSD 15

pkg install wifi-firmware-rtw88-kmod

Tip

You can bypass to KDE login screen by entering Ctrl-Alt-F1.

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