This is a notebook for adapting BSDInstall to be the missing front-end for pc-sysinstall.

The right two columns in the following table should be empty when the adaptation of bsdinstall as a pc-sysinstall front-end is complete. Ideally, all columns will be empty.

pc-sysinstall features missing in BSDInstall BSDinstall features missing in pc-sysinstall Desired features missing in both
geli/gmirror/gstripe setup (UFS) Non-x86 support
Full-manual partitioning (shell-based)
Jail Setup/Disk Image installation
Console keymap setup of existing system (should stay in front-end?)
Wireless setup (WPA, WEP, etc.)
IPv6 setup

In general, most of the bsdinstall tools just write settings to config files, and can be easily adapted to set up a pc-sysinstall config file instead. There are a few obstacles, however:

  • The way bsdinstall partedit works involves direct, though postponed, manipulation of the partition GEOMs. It is very difficult to adapt this to writing a config file.
  • pc-sysinstall backend does not allow deletion of MBR slices holding a bsdlabel
  • conditional support for configuring the existing system at installation time in pc-sysinstall

  • pcbsdinstallmerge.txt
  • Last modified: 2026/10/12 10:55
  • (external edit)