In this article I will explain how to download and run the FuguITA OpenBSD live-cd, which is not an official OpenBSD project (it is not endorsed by the OpenBSD project), but is available since a long time and is carefully updated at every release and errata published.

FuguITA official homepage

I do like this project and I am running their European mirror, it was really long to download it from Europe before.

Please note that if you have issues with FuguITA, you must report it to the FuguITA team and not report it to the OpenBSD project.

0.1. Preparing §

Download the img or iso file on a mirror.

Mirror list from official project page

The file is gzipped, run gunzip on the img file FuguIta-6.8-amd64-202010251.img.gz (name may change over time because they get updated to include new erratas).

Then, copy the file to your usb memory stick. This can be dangerous if you don't write the file to the correct disk!

To avoid mistakes, I plug in the memory stick when I need it, then I check the last lines of the output of dmesg command which looks like:

sd1 at scsibus2 targ 1 lun 0: <Corsair, Voyager 3.0, 1.00> removable serial.1b1c1a03800000000060
sd1: 15280MB, 512 bytes/sector, 31293440 sectors

This tells me my memory stick is the sd1 device.

Now I can copy the image to the memory stick:

# dd if=FuguIta-6.8-amd64-202010251.img of=/dev/rsd1c bs=10M

Note that I use /dev/rsd1c for the sd1 device. I've added a r to use the raw mode (in opposition of buffered mode) so it gets faster, and the c stands for the whole disk (there is a historical explanation).

0.2. Starting the system §

Boot on your usb memory stick. You will be prompted for a kernel, you can wait or type enter, the default is to use the multiprocessor kernel and there are no reason to use something else.

If will see a prompt "scanning partitions: sd0i sd1a sd1d sd1i" and be asked which is the FuguIta operating device, proposing a default that should be the correct one.

FROM HERE, YOUR KEYBOARD IS IN QWERTY.

Just type enter.

The second question will be the memory disk allowed size (using TMPFS), just press enter for "automatic".

Then, a boot mode will be showed: the best is the mode 0 for a livecd experience.

Official documentation in regards to FuguITA specifics options

Keyboard type will be asked, just type the layout you want. Then answer to questions:

• root password
• hostname (you can just press enter)
• IP to use (v4, v6, both [default])

When prompted for your network interfaces, WIFI may not work because the livecd doesn't have any firmware.

Finally, you will be prompted for C for console or X for xenodm. THERE ARE NO USER except root, so if you start X you can only use root as a user, which I STRONGLY discourage.

You can login console as root, use the two commands "useradd -m username" and "passwd username" to give a password to that user, and then start xenodm.

The livecd can restore data from a local hard drive, this is explained in the start guide of the FuguITA project.

0.3. Conclusion §

Having FuguITA around is very handy. You can use it to check your hardware compatibility with OpenBSD without installing it. Packages can be installed so it's perfect to check how OpenBSD performs for you and if you really want to install it on your computer.

You can also use it as an usb live system to transport OpenBSD anywhere (the system must be compatible) by using the persistent mode, encryption being a feature! This may be very useful for people traveling on lot and who don't necesserarly want to travel with an OpenBSD laptop.

As I said in the introduction, the team is doing a very good job at producing FuguITA releases shortly after the OpenBSD release, and they continuously update every release with new erratas.