From Switzerland to New York, and across the global open-source community, BoxyBSD is democratizing access to BSD-based servers with a clear mission: to empower learning, experimentation, and contribution—at no cost.
In a tech ecosystem dominated by hyperscale cloud providers and subscription models, a modest yet powerful initiative is quietly reshaping how people access and learn about BSD systems. It’s called BoxyBSD—a non-profit project providing free virtual machines (VMs) running FreeBSD, OpenBSD, or NetBSD to students, developers, educators, and anyone eager to explore the BSD world without financial barriers.
Launched in 2024 by Florian Paul Azim Hoberg, also known as @gyptazy, the project was born from a simple yet profound idea: give back to the open-source world that gave him so much. Today, BoxyBSD stands as a digital sanctuary for learners, tinkerers, and builders, enabling them to run real BSD environments without having to pay for a VPS or rent server time.
BSD for All: What BoxyBSD Offers
BoxyBSD’s free VMs may not be enterprise-grade, but they’re more than enough for learning and development:
- 1 vCPU
- 1 GB RAM
- 10 GB storage
- Full shell access
- IPv6-only connectivity
More importantly, the project is flexible—users can request resource increases when justified. The core principle is clear: make BSD-based systems accessible and useful for real-world learning and contribution.
This initiative attracts students, ethical hackers, software developers, and educators—especially those who want to get hands-on with BSD systems without financial or administrative hurdles.
“Where can someone learn BSD hands-on for free?” asked @gyptazy. BoxyBSD is his answer to that very question.
Community-Driven, Values-Focused
BoxyBSD isn’t just about infrastructure; it’s about philosophy. From day one, the project has aimed to empower people through open access and community values. Inspired by his return to BSD through the community project BSD Café, @gyptazy built BoxyBSD to be a bridge between potential users and the often-overlooked BSD ecosystem.
The project emphasizes:
- Education and empowerment
- Respect for shared resources
- Privacy and GDPR compliance
- A strong preference for IPv6 adoption
There are no ads, no data tracking, and no business model—only a mission to help people grow.
Expansion to New York: A Transatlantic Milestone
This summer, BoxyBSD took a major leap forward by launching a new node in New York, USA, with generous infrastructure sponsorship from Moritz Mantel of Nerdscave Hosting. The U.S. location boosts BoxyBSD’s performance for users in the Americas and further decentralizes its hosting architecture.
“More space, more power, same mission,” the team proudly states.
This new site opens up lower-latency access to VMs for North American users and ensures better geographic distribution of resources, all while maintaining the project’s open, non-profit ethos.
For Learning, Testing, and Contribution
BoxyBSD’s free machines are suited for a wide variety of use cases:
- Learning BSD system administration
- Testing personal or community open-source tools
- Deploying lightweight public services
- Exploring IPv6-only network configurations
- Contributing to the BSD community
Each machine is configured to provide full root access, encouraging experimentation and self-guided learning.
The goal is not to replace commercial cloud providers but to fill a critical gap—providing infrastructure for education, not monetization.
A One-Man Project With Global Impact
BoxyBSD is developed and maintained by a single person—@gyptazy—who manages everything from the infrastructure to user support. But he’s not alone. A growing community of contributors helps with translations, outreach, and technical improvements.
Transparency is central to the project. All updates, roadmaps, and rules are shared publicly on boxybsd.com and gyptazy’s personal site. The infrastructure is designed with security and accountability in mind, and abuse is actively mitigated.
“I am what I am today thanks to the open-source community,” says its founder. “BoxyBSD is my way of giving back.”
How to Join or Support the Project
Joining BoxyBSD is simple. Interested users can apply through the website and request a VM by providing a reason and agreeing to the project’s guidelines. The only real requirements are respect, curiosity, and a commitment to learning.
Those who wish to support the project can help in many ways:
- Donate hardware or bandwidth
- Translate documentation
- Promote the project to others
- Contribute patches or tools
- Volunteer time and knowledge
Everything counts. Every bit helps.
Conclusion: A Community Cloud With a Purpose
BoxyBSD shows that another kind of cloud is possible—one built on shared values, open access, and the spirit of learning. In an era where education and infrastructure are increasingly commoditized, this grassroots initiative stands out as a beacon of what community-driven technology can achieve.
For anyone seeking a secure, low-cost, no-strings-attached way to explore BSD systems, BoxyBSD is more than a service—it’s an invitation. An invitation to learn, to build, and to contribute.
Visit https://boxybsd.com to get started and request your free BSD VM today.
