Chapter 11. Configuration and Tuning

Chapter 11. Configuration and Tuning
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Written by Chern Lee.

Based on a tutorial written by Mike Smith.

Also based on tuning(7) written by Matt Dillon.

Table of Contents

11.1. Synopsis
11.2. Starting Services
11.3. Configuring cron(8)
11.4. Managing Services in FreeBSD
11.5. Setting Up Network Interface Cards
11.6. Virtual Hosts
11.7. Configuring System Logging
11.8. Configuration Files
11.9. Tuning with sysctl(8)
11.10. Tuning Disks
11.11. Tuning Kernel Limits
11.12. Adding Swap Space
11.13. Power and Resource Management

11.1. Synopsis

One of the important aspects of FreeBSD is proper system configuration. This chapter explains much of the FreeBSD configuration process, including some of the parameters which can be set to tune a FreeBSD system.

After reading this chapter, you will know:

The basics of rc.conf configuration and /usr/local/etc/rc.d startup scripts.
How to configure and test a network card.
How to configure virtual hosts on network devices.
How to use the various configuration files in /etc.
How to tune FreeBSD using sysctl(8) variables.
How to tune disk performance and modify kernel limitations.

Before reading this chapter, you should:

Understand UNIX® and FreeBSD basics (Chapter 3, FreeBSD Basics).
Be familiar with the basics of kernel configuration and compilation (Chapter 8, Configuring the FreeBSD Kernel).