Introduction

Here are the steps to run FreeBSD on Linux + qemu.

In each explanation below, the command to be actually executed is described in the following format.

$sudo apt install package name

Actually, when you execute the above command, the progress of package installation is displayed, but these are omitted on this page.

Execution environment, etc.

Uses Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS.

A new window will appear when you start the virtual machine, so run it in the Desktop environment. FreeBSD running on qemu is 12.2 RELEASE.

Package installation

Make the following settings on Ubuntu.

Install the package qemu-system-x86.
Add users using qemu to the kvm group to add access to/dev/kvm.

$ sudo apt install qemu-system-x86
$ sudo gpasswd -a $(whoami) kvm

FreeBSD installation

To install FreeBSD, do the following on Ubuntu:

Create a fake disk in $ HOME/VM/fbsd122
The size of the disguise disc is 16GB
1024GB of memory allocated to the virtual machine
Get FreeBSD installation media
Boot the virtual machine using the FreeBSD installation media
Install FreeBSD

$ mkdir -p ~/VM/fbsd122
$ cd ~/VM/fbsd122
$ qemu-img create -f qcow2 fbsd122.qcow2 16g
$ wget https://download.freebsd.org/ftp/releases/amd64/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/12.2/FreeBSD-12.2-RELEASE-amd64-disc1.iso

Start FreeBSD with FreeBSD-12.2-RELEASE-amd64-disc1.iso.

$ qemu-system-x86_64 -enable-kvm -m 1024 -boot order=d -cdrom FreeBSD-12.2-RELEASE-amd64-disc1.iso fbsd122.qcow2

-boot order = d to specify booting from the CD-ROM, and -cdrom to specify the ISO image to use.
A separate window like the one below will appear on the Desktop, and the FreeBSD installer will start.
If you make a mistake during the installation, select "Machine"-> "Power Down" from the QEMU Window menu to turn off the virtual machine, so "qemu-system-x86_64" again. Execute the command.

Operate FreeBSD on the above QEMU Window.

Click inside the QEMU Window to operate on the installer.
Press Ctlr + Alt + G to exit the QEMU Window.

Please refer to the following documents for the installation procedure of FreeBSD.

English: HANDBOOK Installing FreeBSD
Japanese: "Install FreeBSD"-> "Installation Procedure" in Share FreeBSD based information

Please note the following two points as installation precautions.

Setting root password
Registration of general users

Setting root password

During the installation, the following screen will be displayed and you will be prompted to enter the "root" password.

Please do not forget this password as you will need it for post-installation operations.

Registration of general users

The following screen will be displayed during installation, prompting you to register as a general user.

Register a general user here and log in as this user when using FreeBSD normally.
Enter "wheel" for "Login group is USERNAME. Invite yamada into other groups? []:" (Second sheet below).

Operation at the end of installation

When the installation is complete, the dialog "Complete" will be displayed. Press the TAB key to select "Live CD" and press the Enter key. When "login:" is displayed, type "root" and press the Enter key.

You do not need to enter the password here. Type "power off" and press Enter. When poweroff is complete, the QEMU Window disappears.

Boot from HDD

If you remove the "-boot" and "-cdrom" during installation and run it, FreeBSD will boot from the HDD.

$ qemu-system-x86_64 -enable-kvm -m 1024 fbsd122.qcow2

For login:, type root and press Enter. For "Password:", enter the "root" password that you set when you installed FreeBSD and press Enter.

The password entered at this time will not be displayed on the screen. If the login is successful, the root prompt "root @ hostname: ~ #" is displayed.

FreeBSD shutdown

Log in as root, type "shutdown -p now" and press Enter to shut down FreeBSD. When the shutdown is complete, the QEMU Window disappears.

Run FreeBSD on Linux + qemu