In my quest to figure out why Apache 2.2 on a Linux box seemed to outperform my Apache 1.3 / FreeBSD 6.1 box, I started to really muck up my server. I had started commenting individual LoadModule directives, then decided to try and run Apache 2.2 beside 1.3. Well the ports system complained, so I ended up removing 1.3 with the pkg_del command. Ugh, then 2.2 never did install right – would never listen on 80, so I took this opportunity to reinstall.

6 re-installs later, I’ve come up with the magic formula for installing FreeBSD 6.1. Always select at least User! Not selecting anything gives you no kernel! And while you can get away with Minimal – it won’t ask if you would like to include the ports system – something I couldn’t figure out how to add to my minimal system, yet.

Now heres another thing thats got me scratching my head. After the install I logged in as root so I could install bash. I cd’ed into /usr/ports/shells/bash and did a make install. How the hell did FreeBSD figure out how to get to my proxy server?