Distribution Sets

Each architecture directory contains a variety of documents and files containing instructions and programs applicable to that type of hardware. For example, in the 3.1/i386 directory you'll see several INSTALL documents and a tutorial on the i386 boot architecture.

You'll also see several compressed files with names like comp31.tgz, misc31.tgz, and so on. These files are distribution sets, or compressed chunks of OpenBSD. Each distribution set contains a subsection of OpenBSD. By choosing the distribution sets you install, you can choose how much functionality your OpenBSD system will have. For example, the documentation is kept in a separate distribution set. If you're short on space and have documentation elsewhere, you might choose to save a little space and not install them on this machine. If this is a secure machine, you probably don't want a compiler on it. And if this is your experimental "learning OpenBSD" machine, you probably want to install everything.

Each distribution set has a name and a version number. For example, one distribution set of OpenBSD in release 3.1 is base32.tgz. In the next release, these same tools will be called base33.tgz.

Here are the distribution sets for OpenBSD. You'll find these on all architectures, unless noted in the architecture's release notes. If this is your first OpenBSD install, take a moment to decide which distribution sets you need. If at all possible, install them all while you're learning the OS. You can always trim them down in future installs.

bsd

This small distribution set contains the kernel. The kernel is important. The installer will complain if you don't have it and issue all sorts of dire warnings. Worse, your new system will not boot without it.

baseXX.tgz

This contains OpenBSD's core programs, all the things that make OpenBSD UNIXish. All the programs in /bin, /sbin, /usr/bin, and /usr/sbin, the system libraries, and the miscellaneous programs you expect to find on a UNIX system are in this distribution set. Without this distribution set, your OpenBSD system will not work at all.

etcXX.tgz

You might guess that this distribution set contains the /etc/ directory, but it also contains assorted other files and directories that are required by the system, such as /var/log, as well as root's home directory. You must install this distribution set if you want your OpenBSD system to actually run.

manXX.tgz

If you need the manual pages for the programs in the base and the etc set, install this distribution set. The manual pages for other sets are installed with the distribution set.

compXX.tgz

This distribution contains C, C++, and Fortran compilers, tools, and the associated toolchain for each. It also includes the manual pages and documentation for the compilers. You will want this set if you plan to develop or compile software on this system. You need this set to use the ports collection. While this distribution set isn't large, you might choose to not install in on a secure machine such as a firewall. (Intruders are generally delighted to find a properly configured compiler on a firewall; such tools make a hacker's life much easier.)

gameXX.tgz

This distribution set contains a variety of simple games and documentation for them, based on games originally distributed in the BSD 4.4-Lite software collection. Some of these, such as fortune(1), are considered UNIX classics, and old farts won't be happy unless they're installed. Others, such as rogue(6), have more advanced versions available as a port or a package. You don't really need this, unless you want to see what us old farts called "computer games" back in the day.

miscXX.tgz

This contains dictionary files and typesettable documentation. If this system is intended as a desktop, you probably want these. If it's a server, you probably don't need them.

xbaseXX.tgz

This contains the core of XFree86, such as programs, headers, libraries, and so on. If you want to use X, you need this. Although you might not have a console or monitor on this system, remember that X will allow programs on this server to display on a workstation. These functions will not work without this distribution set.

xbaseXX.tgz

This contains the fonts for XFree86. If you plan to use X on a local display, install this.

xservXX.tgz

This contains all of the XFree86 video card drivers. If you plan to use X on a local display, install this.

xshareXX.tgz

XFree86's documentation and text files are included in this distribution set. If you're one of those few people who know everything there is to know about XFree86, you can get by without this.