Hey everyone! I'm diving into some of the less common operating systems, and right now I'm particularly interested in FreeBSD. I want to experiment with features like jails and ZFS. My main question is whether knowledge of these non-UNIX systems is actually valuable in the job market. From what I've gathered, it seems that companies usually focus on more mainstream technologies when hiring DevOps Engineers. Am I mistaken? Is there a specific sector where FreeBSD is still relevant and irreplaceable?
5 Answers
FreeBSD is technically part of the Unix family, unlike Linux. However, it is definitely niche. In my experience, jobs specifically requiring FreeBSD skills are hard to come by. Still, understanding different OS environments can give you a broader perspective on their pros and cons, which is beneficial in many tech roles.
Make sure to check your local job boards. Typically, the best positions in legacy technologies ask for years of experience. If you want to make a career move, having some established OS skills is key.
If you're looking to gain FreeBSD experience, maybe try using OPNSense as a router. It's one of the last free firewalls based on FreeBSD, so it's a great way to get hands-on without much fuss. Also, TrueNAS was heavily based on FreeBSD until they shifted to Debian for their latest version.
I believe having a Unix background can be quite handy. I appreciate candidates who understand different Unix systems, even if they're more niche like FreeBSD.
Absolutely, FreeBSD's jails are comparable to Linux containers. Plus, they've started to offer container support through Podman. There's still some relevance to FreeBSD, although it's more specialized.

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