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Table of Contents
..:: Notes on OpenBSD ::..
below are my notes on OpenBSD and various configs
About
i like OpenBSD, and use it where i can, its simple (good and bad), secure out the box, well documented and easy to learn.
there are some things it doesn't do as well. and some apps are not compatible. buts that's ok.
i like that many functions/features/apps are baked in, and yet remains light and simple.
the file structure and service management are common sense too.
Mostly deployed as a 'security thing' OpenBSD has developed a reputation as being 'the most secure' of the BSD's or OS's.. its just a good OS full-stop!, and makes a excellent server, and a really good desktop.. esp on laptops, as the OpenBSD Dev's really do eat their own dog-food.
the main challenge were new users get unstuck is hardware support/compatibility, especially with new devices, and closed source code/blobs.. eg; Broadcom Wifi and NVideo graphics as an example, which does not doubt reduce the audience on desktop/laptop.
Although OpenBSD usually works well on laptops, it does not support many WiFi chips, or may be limited to slower speeds.
Bluetooth is not_supported!, No fancy filesystems and No Docker.
I like to use OpenBSD on my cloud servers because its fast and light, and everything i need (with a few exceptions) is in the base install.
I like to use OpenBSD on older laptops as aux-systems, because they are well supported
At home i have OpenBSD running on a laptop, and at work running a web-server
Installation
Text based install only
Setup
post install:
create user, add to wheel, operator, staff with #usermod -G wheel operator staff my-user-name
add to staff login group with #usermod -L staff my-user-name
config /etc/doas.conf
with “permit persist keepenv :wheel”
secure ssh server /etc/ssh/sshd_config
by forcing ed22159 host keys, key-auth and disable root-password
patch os #syspatch, and packages #pkg_add -u
firewall config appropriate for host in /etc/pf.conf
normally blocking all , allowing sshd and web with connection thresholds and overflows
if web server, config httpd, acme-client, and php
Services
check in rc.conf and /etc/examples for guidance and ideas
rcctl enable|disable|start|stop|reload \
Firewall PF
pf.conf and pf.os
pfctl
pftop
SSHD
Spamd
SpamD can is a 'spam deferral daemon' which runs in white/grey/black modes.
running black/block mode accepts all mail connections, and just tarpits them.
neat trick to capture pesky mailers and those not following rfc standards.
rc.conf.local
spamd_black=YES
spamd_flags=
and setup /etc/mail/spamd.conf
setup the default pf rulesets (in man page)
and point a MX record to your host
OpenSMTPD
/etc/mail/smtpd.conf
Rando install
must be install on laptop
boot iso and mount for files
#doas
get fw-iwn0 file
#fw_udpate -p /mnt
hostname.iwn0 config
up
dhclient iwn0
join wifiname wpakey wifipass
dhcp
ifconfig iwn0 up
ifconfig iwn0 scan
dhclient iwn0 or /netstart
test pings
#fw_update
#reboot
test zzz sleep
timefix 'date 20220222…..'
add user to wheel during install
#usermod -G/-L staff video operator username
apm -A or with more flags -A -z8 +300
machdep lida ction =1
sysctl.conf hw.smt=1 .. to enable all cores/hyperthreading
doas.conf persist nopass
#syspatch
#pkg_add -u