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# Chapter 8 Configuring the FreeBSD Kernel

Updated and restructured by Jim Mock. Originally contributed by Jake Hamby.

# 8.1 Synopsis

The kernel is the core of the FreeBSD operating system. It is responsible for managing memory, enforcing security controls, networking, disk access, and much more. While more and more of FreeBSD becomes dynamically configurable it is still occasionally necessary to reconfigure and recompile your kernel.

After reading this chapter, you will know:

- Why you might need to build a custom kernel.

- How to write a kernel configuration file, or alter an existing configuration file.

- How to use the kernel configuration file to create and build a new kernel.

- How to install the new kernel.

- How to troubleshoot if things go wrong.

All of the commands listed within this chapter by way of example should be executed as `root` in order to succeed.

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