i know this is linode.com but if at all possible it would be nice to have FreeBSD as an option for a virtual server

Not going to happen -- sorry We're sticking with Linux (and UML) for now!

Thanks though!
-Chris

http://wiki.freebsd.org/FreeBSD/Xen

FreeBSD runs on Xen. Pretty well, actually.

In fact, if one had access to the boot partition containing the Xen kernel and boot loader, one could easily self-bootstrap a Linode into FreeBSD.

Any chance you might be willing to help me change some boot parameters on a Xen Linode so that I can make a FreeBSD image? I'd be glad to share the image with other Linode users once it's ready.

Bump this thread back up. I'm considering getting a Linode and FreeBSD would probably my preferred distro.

I see Xen supports FreeBSD and with the pv-grub working now, seems at least a few of the pieces are in place to make it work.

BSD under Xen doesn't do SMP, last I checked, so it kinda sucks.

-Chris

hmmm.... I was wondering about that. That makes sense; I was considering rootbsd (since they do freebsd xen) but they mention in their FAQ that "Because of the hardware virtualization used in Xen, users may see lower performance compared to a FreeBSD Jail. The diskspace on a Xen VPS cannot be easily upgraded, since partitions cannot be extended in the virtual disk."

So that kinda sucks for them, not to mention Linode simply offers better plans for the same amount of money!