Re: How to build kmods packages?

Hi.

Details here:
- https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2025/06/22/freebsd-kernel-modules-pkg8-repositories/

In short (taken from the link):
This problem does not exists with x.0 FreeBSD releases - they have all their packages built against proper FreeBSD x.0 version. The problem arises when x.1 release is made, or x.2 … or any OTHER then x.0 to be precise … but why?

The main problem is that pkg(8) packages are built against the currently supported oldest FreeBSD version in the tree. For example when 14.3-RELEASE is announced – the packages for 14.x tree are still built on 14.2-RELEASE for next 3 months since 14.3-RELEASE availability.

This usually does not break any ‘userspace’ applications but kernel modules related packages often are broken and cause kernel panics even on module load – and there are about 70 of them. While FreeBSD team fights really hard to keep ABI and kernel interfaces stable across ‘point’ releases – its sometimes not possible due to the nature of Linux DRM graphics drivers being imported and improved to support more modern GPUs on FreeBSD.

The problem mostly arises in the desktop/laptop area of FreeBSD UNIX usage – as with broken ABI the drm-kmod related kernel modules just panic and reboot each such system instantly … and this problem persists for whole 3 months within which the older release is still in support. After these 3 painful months – and after older ‘point’ release is out of support – the pkg(8) packages are finally started to built against PROPER latest FreeBSD version – and problem disappears … up to next ‘point’ release and painful 3 months.

The damage of this policy can be limited with ZFS Boot Environments using tools like beadm(8) or bectl(8) but its just workaround solution.

... but I do not have a 'howto' build them.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
vermaden



Temat: How to build kmods packages?
Data: 2025-08-11 11:42
Nadawca: "Lukas Engelhardt" <lukas.engelhardt@gmx.de>
Adresat: freebsd-pkgbase@freebsd.org; 

> 
> Hey pkgbase people,
> 
> I am building pkgbase packets for my hosts locally using "make buildworld && make buildkernel && make packages".
> 
> I am not too sure on what these kmods listed in the wiki are used for (i am using only servers, no desktop setup. I don't recall using them) maybe someone could try explaining that to me.
> 
> But back to my main question: how to build kmods packages like the repositories documented in the wiki is providing.
> 
> I am happy to hear back from you
> 
> Have a nice day
> 
> Lukas
>