GhostBSD 25.01-R14.2p1 Now Available

Submitted by ericbsd on

We are excited to roll out GhostBSD 25.01-R14.2p1, our first release under a new versioning scheme and a commitment to rock-solid stability. After discussing with our contributors, we’ve moved from FreeBSD STABLE to FreeBSD RELEASE, building this version on 14.2-RELEASE-p1, the first patched update of FreeBSD 14.2. This shift, paired with a transparent naming format, promises a smoother, more predictable GhostBSD experience.

Our new versioning—25.01-R14.2p1—breaks down as: "25" for 2025, "01" as our patch version, "R" for RELEASE, "14.2" for the FreeBSD base, and "p1" for FreeBSD’s first patch level. This aligns us with FreeBSD’s release cycle, freeing us to focus on enhancing your desktop while keeping updates timely and stable.

Based on FreeBSD 14.2-RELEASE-p1, GhostBSD 25.01-R14.2p1 brings the MATE desktop to 1.28.2, debuts 2025 wallpapers, and delivers better hardware support and polish throughout. Here’s what’s in store!

 

What’s New in 25.01-R14.2p1

  • MATE Desktop at 1.28.2: Upgraded to 1.28.2, with mate-panel (1.28.4), mate-notification-daemon (1.28.3), atril (1.28.1), and more, for a refined desktop feel.
  • 2025 Visual Refresh: New wallpapers update the MATE desktop and Slick Greeter login screen.
  • Hardware Boost: Added QEMU USB Tablet and XHCI mouse support for live sessions and installs, plus AMD Radeon R7 240 (Device ID 0x6613) compatibility.
  • Broader Accessibility: Brazilian Portuguese translations land in Update Station and NetworkMgr.
  • Workstation Firewall: Default firewall now set to "Workstation" for desktop-friendly security.

 

Improvements and Features

  • Tuned live session memory for a snappier start.
  • Pulled in releng/14.2 updates from FreeBSD.
  • Simplified driver and software management with refactored package lists.
  • Replaced automount in ghostbsd-utils with UDISKS2 in gvfs for better media handling.
  • Fixed USB stick unmounting for XFCE users.

 

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed Update Station startup errors and polished its progress display.
  • Restored Software Station category rendering past "emulators."
  • Fixed tmpfs in fstab.extra and trimmed XFCE settings duplicates.
  • Patched an installer (gbi) username entry deletion bug and skipped da* devices in disk queries.

 

Security Updates

  • Updated www/firefox to 135.0.1 to address a recent vulnerability.
  • Bumped net/rsync to 3.4.0 and devel/git to 2.48.1 for a secure foundation.

 

Changelog Summary

Over 30 issues and enhancements are packed into this release. Check out the full changelog in our GhostBSD Project status update for all the details.

 

How to Get It

Download the ISO from the GhostBSD website to try it live or install it fresh. Existing users can upgrade using the instructions below. We may also drop updated ISOs for critical fixes or security patches as needed.

 

Upgrade

For users upgrading from 24.10.1 pkg may see 25.01-R14.2p1 as a downgrade due to the new versioning scheme. For the smoothest experience, we recommend updating via a TTY:

  1. On the login or desktop, press Ctrl+Alt+F2 to switch to a TTY.
  2. Create a new BE with sudo bectl create before-25.01-R14.2p1
  3. Log in and run sudo pkg upgrade -f to force the update, overriding the version check.
  4. Reboot when complete.

Alternatively, you can try updating Update Station first, though this might not be as seamless:

  1. Run sudo pkg upgrade update-station to ensure you have the latest version.
  2. Reboot, then use Update Station to attempt the upgrade—note that some odd desktop environment behavior might cause issues.

The TTY method is the most reliable way to land on 25.01-R14.2p1 without hiccups.

 

Thank You

GhostBSD 25.01-R14.2p1 reflects our commitment to a stable, user-first BSD desktop, shaped by your feedback and the support of our contributors. Aligning with FreeBSD RELEASE helps us keep the focus on a solid experience. Let us know what you think on the forums or Telegram!

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