-----------------------------------------
       FreeBSD 3.0  ---  RELEASE Version               ,        ,
   -----------------------------------------          /(        )`
                                                      \ \___   / |
This is FreeBSD 3.0-RELEASE, the first official       /- _  `-/  '
release on the 3.0-current branch. This release      (/\/ \ \   /\
contains a lot of new technology as well as our      / /   | `    \
first non-x86 architecture port (to the ALPHA)       O O   ) /    |
and promises to be an exciting start to what will    `-^--'`<     '
hopefully be many follow-on releases.               (_.)  _  )   /
                                                     `.___/`    /
                                                       `-----' /
Feedback or offers to help with anything  <----.     __ / __   \
you see in this release are most welcome  <----|====O)))==) \) /====
and should be sent to one of the approp-  <----'    `--' `.__,' \
riate mailing lists - please see the                   |        |
ABOUT.TXT file for more information.                    \       /       /\
                                                   ______( (_  / \______/
                                                 ,'  ,-----'   |
                                                 `--{__________)

TARGET AUDIENCE:
----------------
This release is aimed primarily at early-adopters and the various
other folks who want to get on board with 3.0 and are willing to deal
with the various down-sides of a "dot-zero" release.  We have naturally
done our best to ensure that 3.0 performs as advertised but, as the
first release on a branch which has seen some very radical changes
from 2.2.x (SMP, ELF, new boot blocks, many kernel changes, etc), it's
also very new technology and will require at least one more release
along the 3.0 branch before it's ready for "production" purposes.
This is one of the reasons why the 2.2.x branch will be continuing
into November, with the scheduled release of 2.2.8, and possibly a bit
beyond.

If you're both technically proficient and know exactly what you're
getting into here (e.g. you've been following -current) then 3.0 is
probably for you.  If you're more interested in doing business with
FreeBSD than in playing with the cutting edge of technology, however,
then 2.2.x is almost certainly your best bet.


ROAD MAP:
            Most files here are also in the Documentation
                    Menu of the boot floppy

  README.TXT    This file

  ABOUT.TXT     All about FreeBSD, including contact information

  RELNOTES.TXT  Release Notes - what's new & different in this
                release

  LAYOUT.TXT    Information about the layout of the release
                directory. If you are installing from floppies,
                it is especially important that you
                *read this section!*

  ERRATA.TXT    Any late-breaking errata information for this
                release.  On FTP sites, this file may be frequently
                updated so it's a good idea to check it first
                (the master copy is always on ftp.freebsd.org)
                before reporting problems

  HARDWARE.TXT  Information about the configuration of the
                GENERIC kernel and supported hardware

  INSTALL.TXT   How to make a new installation of FreeBSD
                on your PC using the data you see here

  UPGRADE.TXT   How to upgrade an existing FreeBSD
                installation

  TROUBLE.TXT   Troubleshooting information


o For new installation instructions, see the INSTALL.TXT
  and HARDWARE.TXT files.

o If you are upgrading from a previous FreeBSD version,
  please take a look at UPGRADE.TXT.

o It is also important to check the ERRATA.TXT file for any
  late-breaking issues with this release. This file contains
  the latest information on upgrade, security or other problems
  which an administrator should be aware of.

o Information regarding problems which arise after the CD
  is printed can be found at:
  ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/3.0-RELEASE/ERRATA.TXT

For the most up-to-date software along the RELENG_2_2 branch
(also known as -Stable) which is now proceeding onwards toward
the release of FreeBSD 2.2.8, please install from:

        ftp://releng22.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/

Or for the latest 3.0-Current (HEAD branch) snapshot releases,
please install from:

        ftp://current.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD

If you plan to run either -Stable or -Current you MUST be
subscribed to the appropriate mailing list, either
freebsd-stable or freebsd-current. For information on
subscribing to either list (or both), send an e-mail to
majordomo@freebsd.org with the following in the body, not
the subject of the letter as appropriate:

subscribe freebsd-stable
subscribe freebsd-current
end

We hope you enjoy using FreeBSD as much as we enjoyed
creating it!