How to write FreeBSD image to USB flash drive

Assuming you are using dd within FreeBSD or Linux:

Using Linux:

1) umount /dev/sdb

If your USB stick is under /dev/sdb

2) dd if=FreeBSD-10.3-RELEASE-amd64-memstick.img of=/dev/sdb bs=10240

Using (Free)BSD:

1) umount /dev/da0

If your USB stick is under /dev/da0

2) dd if=FreeBSD-10.3-RELEASE-amd64-memstick.img of=/dev/da0 bs=1m

Please note the of=/dev/sdb argument as you are supposed to write to the whole stick instead of its first partition.

The same is true of of=/dev/da0. But please note that da is typically the prefix for USB port devices on (Free)BSD. Which means that it might just as well be da1. So make sure to check beforehand. :)

Easiest way would be to compare the results of an ls /dev before and after plugging/unplugging your flash drive/USB stick.

3) Now reboot and choose the USB stick as the boot option.