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Ryzen chip bug on FreeBSD

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Several FreeBSD programmers have raised an issue concerning AMD’s Ryzen CPU chips. Read the full article and see the original mailing list posting below.

It’s starting to look like there’s an inherent bug with AMD’s Zen-based chips that is causing issues on Unix-based operating systems, with both Linux and FreeBSD confirmed. The bug doesn’t just affect Ryzen desktop chips, but also AMD’s enterprise EPYC chips. It seems safe to assume that Threadripper will bundle it in, as well.

It’s not entirely clear what is causing the issue, but it’s related to the CPU being maxed out in operations, thus causing data to get shifted around in memory, ultimately resulting in unstable software. If the bug is exercised a certain way, it can even cause machines to reset.

Original post: https://hothardware.com/news/freebsd-programmers-report-ryzen-smt-bug-that-hangs-or-resets-machines

Mailing list post: https://svnweb.freebsd.org/base?view=revision&revision=321899

Over the weekend, we talked about an issue surrounding AMD’s Ryzen-based processors on Unix-based OSes. Today, we learn a lot more about what’s going on, as well as which products are actually affected. But first, let’s get the upside out of the way: this bug is rare, and requires very specific conditions. The vast majority of users are not going to experience an issue, but it’s at least an issue to be aware of.

Update from Hot Hardware: https://hothardware.com/news/amd-confirms-rare-ryzen-smt-bug-and-fix

BSDNow.TV Episode 205: FreeBSD Turning it up to 11.1

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In this BSD Now episode, hosts Allan and Benedict discuss the FreeBSD 11.1 RELEASE, tips on building a BSD home router, a guide on OpenBSD VPN, and more. Press play below to tune in:

FreeBSD 11.1-RELEASE is out, we look at building at BSD home router, how to be your own OpenBSD VPN provider, and find that glob matching can be simple and fast.

BSD Now weekly content roundup: http://www.bsdnow.tv/episodes/2017_08_02-freebsd_turning_it_up_to_11.1

Jupiter Broadcasting show notes: http://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/117116/freebsd-turning-it-up-to-11-1-bsd-now-205/

What is the name of a new drive in my FreeBSD box?

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User mezzantrop provides us with a simple script on how to find the name of your drives on FreeBSD. Check out the link below for more information on the GEOM script.

This is one of the trickiest question for a new (and sometimes for an experienced) FreeBSD user, and even Handbook advises to see the “dmesg” output to check the drives:

“Inspect `/var/run/dmesg.boot` to ensure the new disk was found. In this example, the newly added SATA drive will appear as `ada1`.”

Actually, there are many methods and utilities to check drives, and one of the most powerful tool is “camcontrol”. But what if you are dealing with GEOM stack or checking a partition?

Original post:

What is the name of a new drive in my FreeBSD box?

Michael W Lucas: Contributing to FreeBSD

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Michael W Lucas, author of several FreeBSD books such as FreeBSD Mastery: ZFS, is calling for members of the FreeBSD community to contribute by doing various testing. See his blog for more information on how you can help keep the FreeBSD project alive.

I’ve talked to a whole bunch of folks who say things like “I’m a junior programmer. I’m looking for a way to help. I have no specific expertise, but I’m willing to learn.” Today, I present such junior programmers with an opportunity. An opportunity for you to learn skills that will be incredibly valuable to your career, and will simultaneously expand your career opportunities.

I’m at the FreeBSD BSDCam devsummit, gathering dirt information for the new Absolute FreeBSD. One of the topics is testing.

For decades, FreeBSD has relied on its users for testing. They expect users to install pre-release versions of the OS and exercise them to identify regressions. That’s necessary, but it’s nowhere near enough.

The FreeBSD Testing Project is building an automated test suite for the entire operating system. They have a whole mess of work to do. There’s only four people on the team, so each additional person that contributes can have a serious impact. They have tutorials on how to write tests, and sample tests.

….

Original post: https://blather.michaelwlucas.com/archives/2988

BSDNow.TV Episode 204: WWF – Wayland, Weston, and FreeBSD

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In this BSD Now episode, hosts Benedict and Allan discuss the myth of the scrub of death, Wayland & Weston on FreEBSD, IntelQuickAssist, and OpenSMTP on OpenBSD. Click play below to tune in:

BSD Now weekly content roundup: http://www.bsdnow.tv/episodes/2017_07_26-wwf_wayland_weston_and_freeBSD

Jupiter Broadcasting show notes: http://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/116966/wayland-weston-freebsd-bsd-now-204/

[How-To] Beginners Guide on How To Set Up A FreeBSD Desktop From Scratch

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User Trihexagonal from the FreeBSD forums provides us with an in-depth beginner tutorial on setting up FreeBSD. Follow the link below and read what comments and questions other users have regarding setting up FreeBSD.

I’m going to guide you though the process of getting a fully functional FreeBSD desktop up and running, complete with system files and security settings, step-by-step as if you’ve never used UNIX or the command line. Now lets get started:

Insert your boot media and at the Welcome screen choose the Install option and hit Enter. (You’ll be using the Enter key to confirm all your choices.)

If you’re in the US use the Default keyboard mapping when presented with that screen. If not, choose the keymap that you’ll be using.

When presented with the Set Hostname screen enter your machine name.

At the Distribution Select screen choose: …

Full tutorial: https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/61659/#post-355235

[How-To] Self-hosted mail server on FreeBSD for maximum data privacy

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Sophimail shows us how to set up your own FreeBSD mail server using various open source tools. Follow the link below for the full set of instructions.

Introduction

In this tutorial, we are going to configure a FreeBSD email server with virtual domains and users, using Postfix, Dovecot, MySQL and SpamAssassin, ClamAV (w/o Amavis), DKIM, DMARC, CalDAV, CardDAV, Dashboard and RoundCube on FreeBSD 11.0.

Package List (recommended) 

……

File: /etc/rc.conf

Full tutorial: http://www.sophimail.com/configure-freebsd-email-server-using-postfix-dovecot-mysql-spamassassin/

How to built a self-hosted mail server on FreeBSD for maximum data privacy from privacy

[How-To] FreeNAS: use your SSD efficiently

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User  shows us some tips and tracks on how to use your SSD efficiently with the ZIL (ZFS Intent Log) feature of FreeNAS. Follow the link below for the full set of instructions.

ZIL and Cache

Not open for discussion; I think it is a complete waste of resources to use a 120, or 250GB SSD for logs, let alone cache, as FreeNAS will (and should!) use RAM for that. So, I searched and found a way to create two partitions on a single SSD, and expose these as ZIL (ZFS Intended Log) and cache to the pool.
Mind you – there are performance tests around, questioning the efficiency of ZIL and cache. I am not going to test this, I will just add ZIL and cache – I have an SSD especially for this purpose, but I am just mentioning the fact that the use case might differ for you.

The pool?

Erhm, in the mean time, I have created a pool, existing of two virtual devices, existing of 6 harddisks each. According to several sources on the interweb, this will deliver resiliance, as well as performance.

Full tutorial: http://vanbortel.blogspot.com/2017/07/storage-server-freenas-use-your-ssd.html