Getting the OpenBSD distribution

Purchase/download a CD-ROM

The best way to get an OpenBSD release (-release) and support us is to buy a 3-CD set. More information is available on our ordering page.

If you choose not to buy an OpenBSD CD-ROM, you can also install OpenBSD with a CDROM you burn yourself. To achieve this, you have to download one of the following ISO files from our mirrors:

• cd44.iso to burn a minimal 4.4 CDROM (roughly 5MB in size, boot only)
• install44.iso to burn a full 4.4 CDROM (roughly 200MB in size, boot + sets)

If you choose cd44.iso, you will need to get the base and X sets via another media or network. Otherwhise, if you choose install44.iso, you will not need anything but the application packages.

Note that the paragraph above is also valid for the people interested by running -current. You can fetch install44.iso from the latest snapshot and install or upgrade your system very quickly.

Download via FTP/HTTP/AFS/RSYNC

OpenBSD can be also easily installed via FTP. Typically you need a single small piece of boot media (e.g., a boot floppy) and then the rest of the files can be installed from a number of locations, including directly off the Internet. Follow this simple set of instructions to ensure that you find all of the documentation you will need while performing an install via FTP. With the CD-ROMs, the necessary documentation is easier to find.

1 - Choose a mirror

Read either of the following two files for a list of ftp mirrors which provide OpenBSD, then choose one near you:

• http://www.OpenBSD.org/ftp.html
• ftp://ftp.OpenBSD.org/pub/OpenBSD/4.4/ftplist

2 - Connect to the mirror

Connect to that ftp mirror site and go into the directory pub/OpenBSD/4.4/ which contains these files and directories. This is a list of what you should see:

        ANNOUNCEMENT    amd64/          macppc/         sparc/
        Changelogs/     armish/         mvme68k/        sparc64/
        HARDWARE        ftplist/        mvme88k/        src.tar.gz
        PACKAGES        hp300/          packages/       sys.tar.gz
        PORTS           hppa/           ports.tar.gz    tools/
        README          i386/           root.mail       vax/
        SIZES           landisk/        sgi/            xenocara.tar.gz
        alpha/          mac68k/         socppc/         zaurus/

It is quite likely that you will want AT LEAST the following files which apply to all the architectures OpenBSD supports.

        README          - generic README
        HARDWARE        - list of hardware we support
        PORTS           - description of our "ports" tree
        PACKAGES        - description of pre-compiled packages
        root.mail       - a copy of root's mail at initial login.
                          (This is really worthwhile reading).

Read the README file. It is short, and a quick read will make sure you understand what else you need to fetch.

3 - Choose the installation method

Next, go into the directory that applies to your architecture, for example, i386. You should see something similar to the following:

        INSTALL.i386    cd44.iso        floppyB44.fs    pxeboot*
        INSTALL.linux   cdboot*         floppyC44.fs    xbase44.tgz
        MD5             cdbr*           game44.tgz      xetc44.tgz
        base44.tgz      cdemu44.iso     index.txt       xfont44.tgz
        bsd*            comp44.tgz      install44.iso   xserv44.tgz
        bsd.mp*         etc44.tgz       man44.tgz       xshare44.tgz
        bsd.rd*         floppy44.fs     misc44.tgz

Many ways to perform a new installation are available on our mirrors and you will have to choose one of the following methods:

• CDROM -- use the install44.iso files and burn a CDR
• Floppy -- write the floppy*44.fs files to a floppy
• Network protocols (PXE, MOP, etc.) -- see INSTALL.* for details
• etc.

Consult the Installation Guide to get an exhaustive list of the different ways to install OpenBSD, and learn how to make a bootable OpenBSD install media.