OpenBSD 7.8

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

New Hardware and Platform Support

  • Raspberry Pi 5 is now supported; Wi‑Fi works via bwfm(4). Bluetooth has no stack, so is effectively unsupported.
  • OpenBSD/arm64 runs on Apple Silicon M1/M2; future M3/M4 support is unclear and seen as dependent on Asahi Linux’s groundwork.
  • PA‑RISC and other older architectures remain supported, impressing people given the small project size.

Performance, Footprint, and Use Cases

  • Multiple comments praise OpenBSD’s small memory footprint and compact base with many network services (sshd, smtpd, httpd) enabled by default.
  • Some claim it’s installable and even somewhat runnable in extremely low RAM, but others note that “it runs” doesn’t mean “it runs effectively” on 32 MB today.
  • Users report solid performance on modest multi‑core firewall hardware, with OpenBSD handling 1 Gbit/s routing plus VLANs and pf rules.

Networking Stack and Firewall Improvements

  • TCP and other networking paths have been progressively moved out of the global kernel lock.
  • Shared benchmarks show large throughput gains over recent releases (e.g., ~300 → 700+ Mbit/s on the same Celeron box; 2.5 GbE easily saturated on newer Atoms).
  • People are keen to re-test firewalls, especially on multi‑core appliances and Mellanox NICs.

Laptop, Suspend, and Desktop Experience

  • Suspend/hibernate improvements are noticed, especially on ThinkPads and some Dell Latitudes where OpenBSD “just works” and resumes reliably.
  • Wi‑Fi configuration and native WireGuard integration via simple text files are highlighted as “meticulously” designed.
  • Some use OpenBSD as a minimalist window‑manager‑only desktop and describe it as “comfortable”; others find it too limiting for modern proprietary apps and GPU/driver needs.

Filesystems and Reliability

  • Softupdates removal is controversial: one side argues it was too complex and problematic; others miss its behavior, especially on systems with unreliable power.
  • FFS2 (fully synchronous) is called robust but can require manual fsck after power loss; users share workarounds like fsck -y in /etc/rc or sync mounts.
  • Requests for CoW/journaling or a native modern FS (e.g., HAMMER2 or ZFS) persist; third‑party HAMMER2 and muxfs work are noted but not mainstream.

Installer, Upgrades, and Disk Layout

  • Upgrades via sysupgrade are widely praised as “boring” and smooth.
  • The text installer sharply divides opinion: some call it the gold standard; others find disk labeling and auto‑partitioning confusing, especially for dual‑boot or very small disks (/usr too small for future upgrades).
  • Concrete advice is shared for reclaiming space on cramped systems by moving relink or repurposing unused partitions and adjusting fstab.

Security Features and Confidential Computing

  • AMD SEV/SNP support draws interest, but knowledgeable commenters stress it still trusts the SoC and has a history of side‑channel issues, limiting its protection model.
  • This leads to discussion of realistic threat models and the difficulty of defending against compromised hardware.

Comparisons with Linux and Other BSDs

  • Strong enthusiasm for BSD “simplicity”: fewer default processes, less filesystem and init complexity, unified packaging.
  • Counterpoints note that Linux’s apparent “bloat” often reflects visible kernel threads and more features, and that modern hardware and desktop workflows are still easier on Linux.
  • Alpine, Void, and Arch are suggested as Linux distros with a more BSD‑like feel; some argue Void and Alpine are closer to OpenBSD than Arch.
  • Fragmentation across BSDs (ZFS on FreeBSD, other features elsewhere) is seen as limiting cross‑pollination; people wish they could mix filesystems and virtualization tech more freely.

Routers, Wi‑Fi, and SBC Hardware

  • Many run OpenBSD on small boxes (APU2, old SOHO appliances, EdgeRouter Lite) as routers/firewalls and are happy with reliability.
  • A recurring pattern is: OpenBSD on a fanless x86 box as router + a separate dedicated Wi‑Fi AP; finding well‑supported, integrated Wi‑Fi hardware for OpenBSD routers is perceived as tricky.
  • New Raspberry Pi 5 support and cheap SBC suggestions spark interest from people wanting to try OpenBSD again.

Project Culture, Artwork, and Philosophy

  • The release artwork gets positive attention; some lament the absence of new release songs since 7.3.
  • Long‑term observers are glad the project is still active and principled, and note that many widely used tools (OpenSSH, PF, tmux) originated there.