NetBSD
Upstream architecture
Distribution
Needs some effort
Bottom line
Smooth under QEMU; on real hardware it depends on whether you already have a working U-Boot.
- Based on
- Independent (BSD, NetBSD kernel + pkgsrc)
- Upstream
- Official port (tier 2); NetBSD 11.0 provides riscv64 install sets and prebuilt pkgsrc packages, supporting RV64/SV39.
- Versions
- 11.0 (current release)
- Doc languages
- en
- Checked
- 2026-11-01
Boards
- QEMU virt (virtual machine) Official The official docs cover QEMU boot specifically
- StarFive VisionFive 2 Official The port page lists StarFive VisionFive 2 / Milk-V Mars CM
Download
Docs and videos
Pitfalls
- Most boards need a board-specific U-Boot first; a generic image alone won't boot
- RV64/SV39 only; rv32 is a separate port
- Tier 2: weaker release and support effort than x86/arm
- Board docs are scattered; much of it lives on mailing lists
RuyiSDK test reports2
Hands-on records from RuyiSDK, board by board. Open a report for the full install steps and verdict.
| Boards | Status | Versions | Last tested | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STAR64 | ◐ Basic | — | 2025-07-13 | Open report |
| StarFive VisionFive 2 | ◐ Basic | 10.99.12 | 2024-10-07 | Open report |
Status meanings: good — fully usable (desktop boots); basic — basic system (serial console works); part — partial functionality; cft — image exists, needs verification; cfh — documented as supported but fails to boot; cfi — claimed supported, no image; wip — announced only.
Sources7
- cdn.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/NetBSD-11.0/riscv-riscv64/installation/
- cdn.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/riscv64/11.0/
- wiki.netbsd.org/ports/riscv/
- wiki.netbsd.org/ports/qemu_riscv/
- matrix.ruyisdk.org/reports/STAR64/NetBSD/README/
- matrix.ruyisdk.org/reports/VisionFive2/NetBSD/README/
- matrix.ruyisdk.org/
The full source list and how each claim is judged: Sources