Best practice to update jails

[Eirik Øverby]

On 20. aug. 2009, at 20.50, Jose Amengual wrote:

> Hi guys.
>
> I have a dev server for our developers that holds around 40 jails,  
> each jail has php, mysql, python etc.
>
> The server is now 7.0 and was wondering what is the best practice to  
> maintain security patches and kernel updates and I came out with the  
> following idea :
>
> 1.- freebsd-update fetch install ( host system)
> 2.- rebuild kernel ( I have a custom kernel )
> 3.- ezjail-update -b ( update basejail for all jails )
> 4.- run in cron portaudit on the jails for thirty party security  
> updates
> 5.- run portupgrade in case of a security update or for apps upgrade  
> on the jails.

sysutils/jailctl uses a pre-built /usr/obj to upgrade jails using  
installworld etc. Newer versions (not yet in ports) support using  
'template jails'. The latter is what we use.

Basically the update procedure goes like this: freebsd-update the  
template jail, freebsd-update the host, reboot. I have found freebsd- 
update to be an incredibly time-saver compared to buildworld/ 
installworld, and the IDS function included - despite not being a  
really efficient IDS tripwire-style - is extremely useful for us in  
determining which of our multiple-dozen jails need updates of binaries  
or configuration.

/Eirik


> I red in some forums that if you run freebsd-update you will need to  
> do a portuprade -fa to reinstall all the thirty party apps because  
> freebsd-update could upgrade or remove  some libraries linked to  
> that programs, is this true ?, will be better to run a cvsup and  
> instead ?
>
> That are some points of my idea but reading on internet I finished  
> more confuse about how will be the best way to do this.
>
> any ideas will more appreciate.
>
> Thanks.
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