Hitchhiker's Guide to Openbsd

4.7 - What files are needed for installation?
The complete OpenBSD installation is broken up into a number of separate file sets. Not every application requires every 
file set, however new users are recommended to install ALL of them. Here is an overview of each: 
●
bsd - This is the Kernel. Required 
●
bsd.mp - Multi-processor (SMP) kernel (only some platforms) 
●
bsd.rd - 
RAM disk kernel
http://www.openbsd.org/faq/faq4.html (28 of 43)9/4/2011 10:01:58 AM

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4 - OpenBSD 4.9 Installation Guide
●
base49.tgz - Contains the base OpenBSD system Required 
●
etc49.tgz - Contains all the files in /etc Required 
●
comp49.tgz - Contains the compiler and its tools, headers and libraries. 
●
man49.tgz - Contains man pages 
●
game49.tgz - Contains the games for OpenBSD 
●
xbase49.tgz - Contains the base libraries and utilities for X11 
●
xetc49.tgz - Contains the /etc/X11 and /etc/fonts configuration files 
●
xfont49.tgz - Contains X11's font server and fonts 
●
xserv49.tgz - Contains X11's X servers 
●
xshare49.tgz - Contains manpages, locale settings, includes, etc. for X 
The etc49.tgz and xetc49.tgz sets are not installed as part of an upgrade, only as part of a complete install, so any 
customizations you make will not be lost. You will have to update your 
/etc
, 
/dev
and 
/var
directories manually. 
Why do I have to install X for my non-graphical application?
Even if you have no intention of running X, some third party 
packages
 require the libraries or other utilities in X to be 
installed on your system. These applications can sometimes be satisfied simply by installing just xbase49.tgz, the rest of 
X is not always needed. Many people resist installing X on their system without valid reason: 
●
By itself, installing X does not cause any program to execute on the system. 
●
By itself, installing X on a system does not change the risk of external security issues. 
●
If someone is already ON your system, they can most likely install whatever they wish, so the presence or absence 
of the X does not appreciably change the situation. 
●
The only parts of X that are running are the parts required by your application. 
●
The space required for X is relatively modest on modern hardware. 
People sometimes waste a lot of time and effort trying to pick through xbase49.tgz and pull out just the files they need to 
install their application. This is not only pointless, but an effort that would have to be repeated for each upgrade cycle, 
which probably means you will not upgrade your system properly, creating REAL security problems. 
IF you need X, just install it. It won't hurt you any more than the application you are needing it for will.