freebsd-update says -p3, but i've got -p2

[David Newman]

On 7/19/08 9:50 AM, Matthew Seaman wrote:
> Manolis Kiagias wrote:
> 
>> This is not a problem with freebsd-update. The kernel has not changed
>>  between -p2 and -p3, so freebsd-update will not get you an updated
>> one. If you recompile the kernel afterwards, it will show -p3 because
>> of the change in /usr/src/sys/conf/newvers.sh (this changes everytime
>>  freebsd-update gets new updates, regardless of whether the kernel is
>>  updated or not). So, simply by recompiling the kernel you will get
>> the -p3 indication, though nothing much else in this case.
> 
> I had a thought the other day that it should be possible to to provide
> the system patch level as data within a very small KLD module.  That way 
> freebsd-update could change the value without having to supply a whole
> new kernel and without having to reboot.

Something showing what's currently running would be a useful addition 
IMO. Yes, the user can grep /usr/src/sys/conf/newvers.sh to get the 
kernel patch level, but:

1. the user doesn't know if that patch level is currently installed and 
running; and

2. the user may not know version numbers for other pieces of code 
altered by freebsd-update. For example, someone else already pointed out 
that 'named -v' returns '9.4.2', the same version as before running 
freebsd-update.

Port maintenance tools such as portmaster and portupgrade indicate which 
version they're upgrading to; a similar facility in freebsd-update would 
be nice-to-have too.

thanks

dn