---
name: "brand.4th"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/brand.4th"
---

# brand.4th(8)

FreeBSD ASCII art boot module

## NAME

**brand.4th** – FreeBSD ASCII art boot module

## DESCRIPTION

The file that goes by the name of **brand.4th** is a set of commands designed to draw the ASCII art BSD brand above the boot loader menu. The commands of **brand.4th** by themselves are not enough for most uses. Please refer to the examples below for the most common situations, and to [loader(8)](/loader/8.md) for additional commands.

Before using any of the commands provided in **brand.4th**, it must be included through the command:

```
include brand.4th
```

This line is present in the default */boot/menu.rc* file, so it is not needed (and should not be re-issued) in a normal setup.

The commands provided by it are:

- **draw-brand**

  Draws the BSD brand.

  The brand that is drawn is configured by setting the **loader\_brand** variable in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md) to one of “fbsd” (the default) or “none”.

  The position of the logo can be configured by setting the **loader\_brand\_x** and **loader\_brand\_y** variables in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md). The default values are 2 (x) and 1 (y).

The environment variables that effect its behavior are:

- *loader\_brand*

  Selects the desired brand in the beastie boot menu. Possible values are: “fbsd” (default) or “none”.

- *loader\_brand\_x*

  Sets the desired column position of the brand. Default is 2.

- *loader\_brand\_y*

  Sets the desired row position of the brand. Default is 1.

## FILES

- */boot/loader*

  The [loader(8)](/loader/8.md).

- */boot/brand.4th*

  **brand.4th** itself.

- */boot/loader.rc*

  [loader(8)](/loader/8.md) bootstrapping script.

## EXAMPLES

Set FreeBSD brand in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md):

```
loader_brand="fbsd"
```

## SEE ALSO

[loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md), [loader(8)](/loader/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **brand.4th** set of commands first appeared in FreeBSD 9.0.

## AUTHORS

The **brand.4th** set of commands was written by Devin Teske ⟨*dteske@FreeBSD.org*⟩.