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FreeBSD Open-Source OS Comes to the PC-BSD Desktop
By Sean Michael Kerner
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KDE 4.10 Is the Default Desktop
PC-BSD's installation media includes the open-source KDE 4.10 desktop as the default choice. KDE 4.10 had its first public release in February 2013 and is the stable branch KDE development.
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Encryption Is Built-In
As part of the PC-BSD 10 installation process, users have the option of encrypting their files.
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User Can Choose to Deploy PC-BSD as a Server
While the core focus of PC-BSD is as a desktop operating system built on top of FreeBSD, the installation media gives users the choice of installing TrueOS, which is the server flavor of PC-BSD.
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MATE, LXDE and XFCE Open-Source Desktops Are Also Supported
KDE is the default choice of desktop for PC-BSD, but it's not the only supported choice. Users can choose the lightweight LXDE and XFCE desktops as well. PC-BSD does not directly support the GNOME desktop, but rather provides support for the MATE desktop, which is a GNOME fork.
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Life Preserver Provides Replication and Backup
The PC-BSD 10 release includes the Life Preserver tool, which enables data replication and remote backup.
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Active Directory Integration Is Built-In
Directory services including Microsoft's Active Directory and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) configuration are part of PC-BSD, enabling access to systems across a network.
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PC-BSD Control Panel Provides a GUI for System Management
Server administrators are used to the command line for configuration, but desktop users typically crave a control panel, which is something that PC-BSD delivers.
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PC-BSD Has a Warden to Put Applications in Jail
A key strength of FreeBSD is its ability to section off applications in virtual containers known as jails. With PC-BSD, the Warden interface enables users to easily configure and manage those application jails.
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Konqueror Is the Default Browser
For PC-BSD users who choose KDE as their desktop, the Konqueror browser is the default. Konqueror is a WebKit-based browser (as is Apple's Safari). Users can choose to download and install other browsers as well.
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AppCafe Is a Place to Find New PC-BSD Applications
For users looking for new applications, be it another browser or otherwise, the AppCafe application in PC-BSD is the place to find them.
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PC-BSD Update Center Keeps Systems Current
PC-BSD 10 includes a beta release of the new Update Center application, a unified location for updating system components as well as software applications.
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Sweeper Cleans Up Cookies
As part of the KDE desktop, PC-BSD 10 includes Sweeper, which is intended to be an easy way to clean out leftover cookies and temporary files on a system.
