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Understanding Boot Type Configuration

Your FREAKHOSTING VPS supports two boot modes: BIOS (Legacy Mode) and UEFI. The boot type determines how your server’s firmware initializes hardware and loads the operating system. Choosing the correct boot type is essential for compatibility with your operating system and disk configuration.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Time

3 Minutes

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BIOS vs UEFI Explained

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is the traditional boot method that has been used for decades. Key characteristics:
  • Uses Master Boot Record (MBR) for disk partitioning
  • Supports disk sizes up to 2 TB
  • Maximum of 4 primary partitions
  • Compatible with older operating systems and hardware
  • Simpler boot process with fewer features
Best for: Legacy operating systems, older Linux distributions, and situations where maximum compatibility is required.

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Changing the Boot Type

1

Navigate to Your Server

Click on Servers in the top navigation bar, then click Manage next to the server you want to configure.
2

Open the Options Tab

Click on the Options tab in the server management navigation.
3

Select the Settings Sub-Tab

Click on the Settings sub-tab to see the boot type configuration.
4

Choose Your Boot Type

Under the Boot Type section, you will see two buttons: BIOS and UEFI. Click the one you want to use. The currently active boot type will be highlighted.

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Auto Configuration Setting

Below the Boot Type section, you will also find the Auto Configuration toggle:
  • Enabled (Default) — When using one of FREAKHOSTING’s prebuilt operating system images, Auto Configuration ensures that essential network settings and configurations are applied automatically during the build process. We recommend keeping this enabled for standard installations.
  • Disabled — If you have installed a custom operating system via ISO, you may need to disable Auto Configuration and manually configure network settings, DNS, and other parameters within the server.
For most modern Linux distributions and Windows installations, UEFI is recommended. It provides better performance, supports larger disks, and is the standard for current operating systems. Use BIOS only if you specifically need compatibility with an older OS or have a specific requirement for MBR partitioning.
Switching boot type is technically possible, but it requires your disk’s partition scheme to match. If your disk is MBR-partitioned (common with BIOS), switching to UEFI without converting to GPT will prevent booting. In practice, it is safest to change the boot type before a rebuild.
Auto Configuration is a system that automatically applies network settings (IP address, gateway, DNS) and other essential configurations when your server is built from a FREAKHOSTING template image. It eliminates the need to manually configure networking after a fresh install.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: March 2026 | VPS Support: Boot configuration simplified.