List of products based on FreeBSD explained

There are many products based on FreeBSD. Information about these products and the version of FreeBSD they are based on is often difficult to come by, since this fact is not widely publicised.

Libre software and hardware using free software

• BSDRP – BSD Router Project: Open Source Router Distribution
• CheriBSD – ARM-embedded-focused FreeBSD adaptation ; Capability Enabled, Unix-like Operating System which takes advantage of Capability Hardware on Arm's Morello and CHERI-RISC-V platforms.
• ClonOS – FreeBSD based distro for virtual hosting platform and appliance.
• Darwin – The UNIX-based, open-source foundation of Mac OS X,^[1] takes its root in FreeBSD, and Mach kernel (Carnegie Mellon)
• DesktopBSD – [defunct] KDE-based desktop-oriented distribution
• DragonFlyBSD – FreeBSD independent fork
• FreeSBIE – Live CD
• GhostBSD – GTK-based distribution, that defaults Xfce and MATE as GUI
• HardenedBSD – HardenedBSD is a security-enhanced fork of FreeBSD.
• helloSystem – helloSystem is a desktop system for creators with a focus on simplicity, elegance, and usability, especially for ex macOS users disappointed by Apple strategy
• ravynOS - an OS aimed to provide the finesse of macOS with the freedom of FreeBSD.
  • • iXsystems TrueNAS storage appliances were based on FreeBSD 10.3^[2]
  • TrueNAS CORE and Enterprise (formerly known as FreeNAS^[3]), is based on FreeBSD ; however TrueNAS Scale, alternative of both TrueNAS Core/Entreprise, is based on Debian Gnu/Linux.
  • TrueOS – discontinued FreeBSD distribution aimed at the server market, previously a desktop distribution, abandoned to focus on TrueNAS Core.^[4]
• MidnightBSD — A GNUstep-based independent fork of FreeBSD for desktops, however installer is not graphical
• MyBee – Open source and free distribution for managing containers (FreeBSD jail) and cloud VMs (Bhyve) through a simplified API.^[5]
• m0n0wall – Embedded firewall software package^[3]
• NAS4Free – Open source storage platform^[3]
• NomadBSD – a persistent live system for USB flash drives, based on FreeBSD.^[3]
• OPNsense – Open source and free firewall, fork of pfSense and successor to m0n0wall^[6]
• pfSense – Open source and free network firewall distribution^[3]

Proprietary software and hardware using proprietary software

• Beckhoff TwinCAT/BSD for Industrial PCs^[7]
• Blue Coat Systems network appliances^[8]
• Borderware appliances (firewall, VPN, Anti-SPAM, Web filter etc.) are based on a FreeBSD kernel^[9]
• Check Point IPSO security appliances^[10]
• Citrix Systems Netscaler application delivery software is based on FreeBSD^[11]
• Coyote Point GX-series web acceleration and load balancer appliances^[12]
• Dell Compellent enterprise storage systems (all 64-bit versions)^[13]
• Hobnob WirelessWAN^[14]
• IronPort AsyncOS is based on a FreeBSD kernel^[15]
• Isilon Systems' OneFS, the operating system used on Isilon IQ-series clustered storage systems^[16]
• Juniper Networks Junos^[17]
  • Junos prior to 5.0 was based on FreeBSD 2.2.6
  • Junos between 5.0 and 7.2 (inclusive) is based on FreeBSD 4.2
  • Junos 7.3 and higher is based on FreeBSD 4.10
  • Junos 8.5 is based on FreeBSD 6.1
  • Junos 15.1 is based on FreeBSD 10^[18]
  • Junos 18.1 is based on FreeBSD 11^[19]
• KACE Networks's KBOX 1000 & 2000 Series Appliances and the Virtual KBOX Appliance
• Lynx Software Technologies LynxOS, uses FreeBSD's networking stack^{[20] [21]}
• McAfee SecurOS, used in e.g. Firewall Enterprise (aka Sidewinder)^[22]
• NetApp filers based on Data ONTAP^[23]
• Netflix Open Connect appliances^{[24] [25]}
• Panasas parallel network storage systems^[26]
• Panasonic uses FreeBSD in their Viera TV receivers^{[27] [28]}
• QNAP's QES operating system^[29]
• Sandvine's network policy control products^[30]
• Silicon Graphics International uses FreeBSD in their ArcFiniti^[31] MAID disk arrays, formerly manufactured by COPAN.^[32]
• Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation 3,^[33] PlayStation 4^[34] and PlayStation Vita^[35] consumer gaming consoles.
• Sophos Email Appliance^[36]
• Spectra Logic nTier Verde backup appliances
• Symmetricom Timing Solutions^[37]
• The Weather Channel's IntelliStar local forecast computer^[38]
• Xinuos OpenServer 10^[39]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Useful Mac OS X Terms: What is Darwin? . Apple . February 20, 2012 . Apple . June 13, 2012.
2. Web site: TrueNAS All-Flash and Hybrid Storage, ZFS Storage Appliance . 2016-07-27.
3. Web site: Welcome to FreeBSD!. 2016-01-12.
4. Web site: TrueOS Discontinuation. 2020-05-30.
5. Web site: The most simplified API for creating and destroying K8S and cloud VMs . myb.convectix.com . 2022-05-22.
6. Web site: M0n0wall - End of the m0n0wall project.
7. Web site: TwinCAT/BSD for Industrial PCs . Check Point . February 28, 2022 . February 28, 2022.
8. Web site: FreeBSD Boosts Routing Architecture, With Blue Coat's Help . Alexander Wolfe . August 24, 2009 . April 15, 2012 .
9. Web site: IT Audit: Security Beyond The Checklist . John Linehan . 2003 . SANS Institute . April 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130325063118/http://it-audit.sans.org/community/papers/audit-borderware-65-firewall-auditors-perspective_63 . March 25, 2013 . dead .
10. Web site: Release Notes and Getting Started, IPSO 6.2 . Check Point . November 8, 2010 . April 15, 2012.
11. Web site: Dependency on FreeBSD Version for Installing Specific Releases of NetScaler Application Delivery Software . February 14, 2008 . Citrix . April 15, 2012 . July 18, 2012 . https://archive.today/20120718143937/http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX115764 . dead .
12. Web site: Coyote Point Builds on FreeBSD to Accelerate . Jason Boche. January 13, 2009 . boche.net . February 27, 2015.
13. Web site: Path Set for Dell Storage Forum 2012 London. January 11, 2012 . April 15, 2012.
14. Web site: Hobnob - Combine WiFi and 4G. Get a faster network.. hobnob.com.
15. Web site: Cisco IronPort AsyncOS . April 15, 2012.
16. Web site: Isilon & FreeBSD . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/OlMocIwM5QU . 2021-12-15 . live. Zach Loafman . . December 16, 2008 . 15 April 2012.
17. Web site: Giving Back to the FreeBSD Community . Michael Bushong . March 14, 2012 . 15 April 2012 . 19 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120419183254/http://forums.juniper.net/t5/Architecting-the-Network/Giving-Back-to-the-FreeBSD-Community/ba-p/133653 . dead .
18. Web site: Junos OS Release 15.1R2 for the EX Series, M Series, MX Series, PTX Series, and T Series . 2015-11-19 . 2016-01-12.
19. Web site: Junos OS Release 18.1R1 for the ACX Series, EX Series, MX Series, NFX Series, PTX Series, QFX Series, SRX Series and Junos Fusion . 2018-04-06 . 2018-04-10.
20. Web site: LynxOS 4.0 attains "holy grail" of Linux ABI compatibility.
21. Web site: Archived copy . 2019-06-12 . 2017-07-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170722073244/http://www.lynx.com/pdf/LynxOSDatasheetFinal.pdf . dead .
22. Web site: McAffee Firewall Enterprise (Sidewinder) Administration Guide . McAffe . March 2009 . 15 April 2012 .
23. Web site: Google / FreeBSD Summer of Code application period now open . Robert Watson . 2008-03-24 . August 11, 2010 . FreeBSD is the foundation for many commercial products, including [...] NetApp's OnTap/GX, [...].
24. Web site: Open Connect Appliance Deployment Guide . 2012-05-29 . 2013-12-22 . Netflix .
25. Netflix's New Peering Appliance Uses FreeBSD . 2012-06-06 . 2013-12-22 . freebsd-stable . Long . Scott .
26. Web site: How the FreeBSD Project Works . Robert Watson . November 11, 2006 . FreeBSD Project . . August 11, 2010.
27. Web site: Some Panasonic TVS running FreeBSD . 21 April 2010 .
28. Web site: Panasonic license . January 24, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110705071654/http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/tv/download/2010/down_navt.html . July 5, 2011.
29. Web site: QNAP Launches Enterprise ZFS NAS ES1640dc, Featuring Intel Xeon E5 Dual Active Controllers for Near-zero Downtime Reliable Services . 2016-07-06 .
30. Web site: FreeBSD at Sandvine . Ed . Maste . 2011-05-13 . BSDCan 2011 .
31. Web site: CAM Target Layer . Ken . Merry . Spectra Logic Corporation . BSDCan 2012 . 2012-05-11 .
32. Web site: SVN Commit Revision 229997 . Ken Merry . January 12, 2012 . 15 April 2012.
33. Web site: PlayStation 3 License. 16 November 2013.
34. Web site: PlayStation 4 License. 16 November 2013.
35. Web site: PlayStation Vita License. 16 November 2013.
36. Web site: Sophos Email Appliance: overview . January 27, 2006 . August 18, 2016.
37. Web site: ARM RAS code can fail to restart an atomic sequence. Ian Lepore . October 11, 2011 . April 15, 2012 .
38. Web site: Using FreeBSD to Render Realtime Localized Audio and Video.
39. Web site: Xinuos OpenServer™ 10.