GhostBSD 25.02-R14.3p2 Is Now Available

We are excited to announce the release of GhostBSD 25.02-R14.3p2! This release continues our commitment to rock-solid stability by building on FreeBSD 14.3-RELEASE, bringing you the latest improvements from FreeBSD, including enhanced hardware support, security updates, kernel improvements, and enhanced wireless networking support. For complete details on FreeBSD 14.3 enhancements, see the FreeBSD 14.3-RELEASE notes.

Introducing Gershwin Community Preview

This release marks a significant milestone with the introduction of Gershwin, a new community desktop environment that brings forward an OS X-like user experience through GNUstep. This early preview includes:

GNUstep-based desktop environment with familiar OS X-style interface
Seamless integration with GhostBSD tools through wrappers for installer, Software Station, Backup Station, and Update Station
Support for running non-GNUstep applications alongside GNUstep apps
Several included GNUstep applications to get you started

Future versions will refine this integration and include more applications. For more information, visit the Gershwin Desktop Github.

Key Enhancements and New Features

System Improvements:

Updated GhostBSD source to align with FreeBSD releng/14.3
Implemented automatic /tmp clearing by default
Removed ZFS tuning with configuration vfs.zfs.arc.max
Automatic sound switching with support for audio devices with more than 2 channels

Hardware Support:

Added auto detection support for AMD Radeon HD 8790M and Radeon HD 8240 Kabini
Added better auto-detection support for NVIDIA RTX 4000/5000 series
Added WiFi firmware compatibility for FreeBSD 14.3

Application and User Experience:

Improved boot environment management with better deletion of old BEs
Enhanced Software Station to show package conflict removal
Added missing fusefs support

Internationalization:

Added Simplified Chinese translations for NetworkMGR, Software Station, Station Tweak, and Backup Station
Updated and fixed various translation files, including Russian and Portuguese (Brazil)

Bug Fixes

This release addresses numerous reported issues, including:

Resolved power off functionality issues
Fixed Evolution Email Client message body display
Restored missing packages (signal-desktop, vscode, 0ad) to the repository
Fixed Plank Applications Docklet compatibility with MATE
Resolved Software Station display issues
Fixed XPM image type support

Security Updates

We've prioritized security with several important updates:

Addressed security package update delays

Complete Changelog

For a detailed view of all changes, issues, and pull requests, check the complete changelog: https://github.com/orgs/ghostbsd/projects/4/views/19?pane=info&statusUpdateId=142684

Download and Upgrade

All images, checksums, hybrid ISO (DVD, USB), and torrents are available at: https://www.ghostbsd.org/download

Important: Before upgrading, vfs.zfs.arc_max="512M" should be removed or commented out from /boot/loader.conf. After making this change, a reboot must be performed.

It is recommended to use TTY to upgrade once again.

On the login or desktop, press Ctrl+Alt+F2 to switch to a TTY.
Create a new BE with sudo bectl create before-25.02-R14.3p2
Log in and run sudo pkg upgrade -f to force the update, overriding the version check.
Reboot when complete.

You can try upgrading with Update Station first, though this might cause issues in the UI. For users upgrading from 25.02-R14.3p0, you should manually start Update Station or run sudo pkg upgrade update-station and reboot. The TTY method is the most reliable way to land on 25.02-R14.3p2 without hiccups.

Acknowledgments

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all contributors, translators, testers, and community members who made this release possible. Special thanks to our donors, patrons, and sponsors whose support keeps GhostBSD alive and growing.

Join the discussion on our forums or Telegram user group to share your feedback and experiences with the new release!