Goodbye OpenBSD|flvbox.org

• OpenBSD is renowned for its strong security model, being one of the most secure operating systems available.
• Many security technologies originated from OpenBSD, such as:
  • OpenSSH, the default tool for secure remote access in most Unix-like systems.
  • PF (Packet Filter), a powerful and flexible firewall.
  • Proactive security features like W^X, ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization), and pledge/unveil, designed to limit application behavior and mitigate vulnerabilities.

• OpenBSD emphasizes clean, readable, and well-audited code.
• The codebase is smaller and easier to audit than other systems, reducing the attack surface and simplifying maintenance.

• OpenBSD includes a wide array of built-in, high-quality tools such as:

  • OpenSMTPD (secure mail server).
  • OpenNTPD (secure NTP service).
  • OpenBGPD (BGP routing daemon).

  These tools are secure, minimalistic, and integrated tightly into the system.

• The focus on correctness and auditing ensures that OpenBSD is highly stable and reliable.
• It’s favored in production environments where uptime and security are more important than cutting-edge features.

• OpenBSD’s philosophy of minimalism extends to both its base system and default configuration.
• Less software is installed by default, reducing complexity and potential vulnerabilities.
• This "less is more" approach makes OpenBSD an ideal choice for small, secure, and efficient systems.

• OpenBSD follows a strict release schedule, with a new version every six months.
• This predictable cadence allows users to plan their upgrades without worrying about unexpected or unstable changes.

• OpenBSD is entirely free and open source, with a commitment to providing source code for all included components.
• The project also places emphasis on free documentation, making it easier for users to understand the system.

• The OpenBSD project has strong community values around code quality, security, and open-source ideals.
• Contributions are highly scrutinized, ensuring high standards for any changes made to the system.

• While not as versatile as Linux, OpenBSD supports many hardware platforms, including:
  • x86 and x86-64.
  • ARM, PowerPC, and others.
• This makes it a good choice for both embedded systems and traditional server architectures.

• OpenBSD’s hardware support is more restricted compared to major operating systems like Linux or FreeBSD.
• It may struggle with modern or less common hardware, especially GPUs, Wi-Fi cards, and storage controllers.
• This is mainly due to a focus on security and the slower development process for drivers.

• OpenBSD is not optimized for high performance.
• While known for security and correctness, it lags behind Linux and FreeBSD in handling high-performance workloads.
• Multicore scaling, intensive I/O operations, and heavy network traffic are areas where OpenBSD falls short.

• OpenBSD often uses its own niche alternatives to widely used software:
  • Instead of sudo, it uses doas.
  • Instead of Apache or Nginx, it uses OpenHTTPD.
• These alternatives are secure and minimalistic, but they may lack features and widespread adoption, limiting usability.

• OpenBSD has limited support for virtualization.
• While it can run as a guest in hypervisors like KVM, Proxmox, or Xen, its native virtualization tools (such as `vmm`) are underdeveloped compared to other systems.
• This makes OpenBSD less suitable for advanced virtualization setups or enterprise environments.
• 1 virtual machine = 1 cpu. No smp or multithreaded cpu's.

• OpenBSD is not well-suited as a desktop operating system for general users.
• It lacks comprehensive support for desktop environments, modern GPU drivers, and multimedia functionalities.
• It's mostly preferred by advanced users who are comfortable with minimalistic setups.

• OpenBSD’s development cycle focuses on security and correctness, which results in a slower release cycle compared to Linux distributions.
• New features and hardware support are often delayed as security takes precedence over performance and innovation.

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