FreeBSD 14.2 Released, What’s new!

The FreeBSD Release Engineering Team has announced the release of FreeBSD 14.2, marking the third release in the stable 14 branch.

Released on December 3, 2024, this new version introduces several key enhancements and updates aimed at improving user experience and system performance.

The release is dedicated to the memory of Mike Karels, a long-time contributor to the BSD community.

Key Features and Enhancements

FreeBSD 14.2 introduces several notable updates that enhance its functionality and compatibility:

• OCI Container Images: For the first time, FreeBSD offers OCI container images, making it easier for users to deploy applications in a containerized environment. This addition aligns FreeBSD with modern software deployment practices.
• Installer Improvements: The installer now supports downloading and installing necessary firmware packages post-installation of the base system. This streamlines the setup process, particularly for users requiring specific hardware support.
• Upgraded Components: The release includes an upgrade to OpenZFS version 2.2.6, providing improved file system performance and reliability. Additionally, OpenSSL has been updated to version 3.0.15, ensuring enhanced security features and compliance with modern cryptographic standards.

Availability Across Platforms

FreeBSD 14.2 is available for a wide range of architectures, including amd64, i386, aarch64, armv7, powerpc, powerpc64, and riscv64.

Users can install it from bootable ISO images or over the network. The release also supports installation from USB memory sticks for most architectures.

For cloud users, FreeBSD 14.2 is accessible on major platforms such as Amazon EC2, Google Compute Engine, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Pre-installed virtual machine images are available in various formats like QCOW2, VHD, and VMDK, catering to different virtualization needs.

Support and Community Contributions

FreeBSD 14.2 will be supported until September 30, 2025, providing users with stability and security updates during this period.

The broader FreeBSD 14 series will receive support until November 30, 2028.

The release was made possible through contributions from numerous organizations that provided equipment, network access, or human resources.

Key contributors include The FreeBSD Foundation, Amazon, Tarsnap, Sentex Data Communications, New York Internet, 365 Data Centers, and Juniper Networks.

The FreeBSD community continues to play a vital role in its development and success.

This release not only enhances the operating system’s capabilities but also strengthens its position as a robust platform for both personal and enterprise use.

For more details on FreeBSD 14.2’s features or to download the latest release, users can visit the official FreeBSD website.

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