Is there a guide to Upgrading a FreeBSD server remotely

[Jonathan T. Sage]

Peter Ulrich Kruppa wrote:

> On Wed, 3 Dec 2003, Alex de Kruijff wrote:
> 
> 
>>On Tue, Dec 02, 2003 at 03:01:36AM +0100, Denis Fortin wrote:
>>
>>>Greetings,
>>>
>>>I've Google'd a bit, but I cannot find a "survival guide to upgrading
>>>a FreeBSD system remotely".
>>>
>>>The Handbook's procedure is excellent (cvsup to the RELENG branch and
>>>then make'ing world), but it requires going into single user mode and
>>>using the console, two things which may not be possible in the context
>>>of a server sitting unattended in a hosting center 10000 kilometers away.
>>>
>>>Has anyone written a quick guide on issues that can arise in this kind
>>>of situation?  (For instance, one the the issues is that one might end
>>>up with a bad kernel: have people devised a way for the boot code to
>>>interact with "reboot -k xxx" to revert to the default kernel after an
>>>unsucessful boot, or after a specific time?)
>>>
>>
>>Although its not recommended to do this, it can be done. It basicaly
>>comes down to following the manual (without rebooting into single
>>usermode) and be very very carefull. Read everything you need to read,
>>run every command you need to run and have someone sitting there in case
>>it goes wrong.
>>
>>Note: I've never done this on a busy system.
> 
> That is the really important thing: there shouldn't be any other
> traffic on the system.
> Do everything step by step and keep a logfile to check if
> everything worked o.k. . Do something like
> # make buildworld > logfile &
> In case your connection breaks, buildworld will go on and you can
> check everything when it is up again. With
> # tail -f logfile
> you can check the advance anytime you whish.
> 
> Uli.

alternativly, check out the screen utility.  it keeps tty's alive on 
disconnects (among other things)

/usr/ports/misc/screen

~j


-- 
"Yesterday upon the stair I saw a man
who wasn't there, he wasn't there
again today, oh how i wish he'd go away"

Rev. Jonathan T. Sage
Lighting / Set Designer
Professional Web Design
[HTTP://thr.msu.edu]
[wisesage98 at yahoo.com]
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