Install GhostBSD on external disk, installer doesn show disk

PerfMonk

I'm very new to BSD and would like to install on an external ssd disk.
I already have Voidlinux a zfs based system on the laptop disk (nmve0) and it already use zroot as pool name. For the full disk install, the installer only show the internal disk but not the the external disk (da1).
If I switch to custom install, I see the da1 disk and I can auto partition with zfs. But I cannot change the pool name to something different than "zroot"...
How do I get out of that ??? (switch to the freebds install ???)

Thank for any help

WB7ODY

here are some commands to uses with disks. just quick answer for now
/dev/da0 , /dev/ad0
gpart status
gpart status /dev/d0

gpart show -lp
gpart show -rp

gpart status
geom disk list
camcontrol devlist

Glad you are here willing to test drive ghostbsd. Keep learning, asking questions. We will try to provide answers. best of luck.

dmesg | less
dmesg | grep d0

Ghostbsd-Arm64 blogspot com booting 500gb ssd drive

search also on ZFS
Honey I broke my ZFS usb ssd

create usb SSD 500gb for ZFS

I use a shell script file to create the name of the pool name, zpi , or zeoot, or zpool1, or arm64pool. So I would think you have to copy and then edit that shell script and select a non generic tank name that makes sense to you.

In my creation of a ZFS SSD, I had to learn, what I did not know before. from reading my blog, you may find an answer that brings understanding.

PerfMonk

WB7ODY Thanks for the command list. I will look at it.
But my problem was with the install application that doesn't show all disks to install on and doesn't offer zfs encryption.

I have found another solution. Since I wanted zfs with encryption and use Hyprland.
I installed a freeBSD 14.3 RELEASE for amd64. The installation is more complex since the graphic layer must be installed and configured manually. But both GhostBSD and FreeBSD are based on the same OS, I hope I didn't commit a big sin :=)

The ghostBSD installer is very friendly but lacks the functionalities I needed for my installation.

I will keep an eye on GhostBSD for sure.

vimanuelt

PerfMonk
Avoiding external USB devices (typically listed as da) as installation targets is intentional and by design. GhostBSD is intended to be installed on internal storage devices such as ada (SATA) or nd (NVMe). These internal devices offer significantly better performance, reliability, and compatibility, particularly during boot and system updates. USB-connected drives can be affected by slow I/O speeds, unstable connections, or BIOS/UEFI boot limitations, which may lead to installation failures or post-install boot issues. For these reasons, internal drives are the preferred and supported targets for installation.

GhostBSD enhances the FreeBSD experience by streamlining usability and guiding users toward more informed and reliable system decisions.

pbamr

Here's the solution if you want to change the "ZPOOL" name during a custom installation.

In "/usr/local/share/pc-sysinstall/backend/functions.sh" change BASENAME="zroot".

Change "zroot" to a name of your choice.

That's it.