I just wanted to say I switched a few of my servers to FreeBSD. Mostly at first because I wanted to learn it and give something new a try. I wanted to say I am still a bit in shock and doing more testing. The initial "with my eyes" results are shocking. Please understand this review isn't some heavy test with performance tools or jargon. It just "me" working with the system.
- It's noticeably faster than linux (Debian and CentOS). I don't mean some performance benchmark. I mean OTB faster.
- Memory management at the OS level seems better. Uses less over all memory. Much like Debian does.
- The firewall is native to the OS. Its included at the Kernel level. It's super efficient and is controlled by 1 file. I was able to integrate it with BFM. CSF is not supported or used. All the tools are non GUI and easy to use.
- File system: ZFS is native. This could be important to some. UFS works well too.
- Directadmin works well. Now installs well. No usability issues so far.
- The OS itself is very logically laid out unlike linux. At first I didn't really see this (I actually had forgotten) in short if it belongs to FreeBSD its in the root '/' hierarchy /bin /etc. If its 3rd party it all is made to conform to Unix standard /usr/local/bin /usr/local/etc. No wondering where things are...
- Rolling OS upgrades. I can move from version X to version Y without reinstall. Much like Debian and not like CentOS.
- No systemd.
- One thing to learn one place to get OS related items.
- Stable slow development. Faster than Debian but slower than other Linux.
- Both Binary packages and Source code building is native.
- Great documentation and community with FreeBSD
- If you are used to linux it's a lot like linux but not totally so you have to learn some new things. It's easy.
- No CloudLinux, KernelCare. If you need CL you need Linux.
- No Docker.
- No Systemd (for those who like it)
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