Desktops and Laptops on OpenBSD Handbook

Set Up OpenBSD as a Laptop or Workstation

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Synopsis #

A dependable OpenBSD workstation is built from the base system, the Xenocara X Window System, firmware, and a deliberately selected set of packages. This guide connects the detailed installation, graphics, networking, multimedia, maintenance, and backup chapters into one conservative workflow.

Hardware support varies by exact device and release. Complete Check Hardware Compatibility Before Installing before depending on a laptop’s wireless interface, graphics, suspend and resume, or external displays.

Configure Laptop Power Management

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Synopsis #

OpenBSD exposes battery state and sleep controls through apm(8) and coordinates power events through apmd(8) . Hardware and firmware determine which power states work. This guide establishes automatic performance adjustment, tests suspend and resume, and adds lid or low-battery actions only after the basic path is reliable.

Complete this work with a local console available. Suspend and hibernate failures can leave a system unreachable or require a forced power cycle. Save work and check that backups are up to date before testing.

Troubleshoot Web Browsers on OpenBSD

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Synopsis #

Firefox and Chromium are maintained as OpenBSD packages and include platform-specific launchers, sandbox policy, and package documentation. Browser failures should be isolated by layer rather than addressed with copied Linux flags or permanent sandbox removal. This guide covers package state, profiles, login-class limits, session services, graphics, and recording permissions.

Browser profiles contain credentials, cookies, history, and encryption material. Back up a profile before moving or modifying it, and do not attach a complete profile to a public bug report.

Use Plan 9 Tools on OpenBSD

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Synopsis #

The plan9port package brings Plan 9 applications to OpenBSD. It includes the Acme and Sam editors, the 9term terminal, and an X window manager named rio. These applications run on OpenBSD; installing them does not install the Plan 9 operating system.

Start by running the tools inside an existing graphical session. Replacing the window manager is optional. A three-button mouse, or a working middle-button emulation, makes the editors easier to use.

Build a Minimal Desktop with suckless Tools

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Synopsis #

This guide combines dwm for window management, dmenu for launching commands, st for a terminal, and surf for browsing. tabbed can contain several surf windows, and slock locks the display. The tools are independent: st, surf, and dmenu can also be used with OpenBSD’s base cwm(1) or another window manager.

Begin with a working X session . Keep a copy of the existing session file so the previous desktop remains easy to restore. Use packaged tools first; source customization is optional.

Install Z shell (zsh)

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Synopsis #

Z shell, normally called zsh, is an interactive shell and scripting language available through OpenBSD packages. This guide installs the package, verifies its registered login-shell path, changes one user’s login shell, and creates a minimal configuration without depending on a third-party configuration framework.

OpenBSD’s base system includes ksh(1) . Installing zsh is optional and does not replace the shell used by system scripts.

Install the Package #

Install zsh with pkg_add(1) :