Port, Packages, and Patching, Upgrading

[Alexander Kapshuk]

On Tue, Dec 20, 2011 at 11:40 AM, Allen <Unix.Hacker at comcast.net> wrote:

> On 12/20/2011 4:19 AM, Alexander Kapshuk wrote:
> > you may want to look up this section of the handbook:
> > Chapter 5 Installing Applications: Packages and Ports
> >
> > How to upgrade your applications is explained there;
>
> I actually am doing so right now. I started cleaning out the CPU cooling
> system on my old test machine, and after getting crap out of the Fan, I
> got it to boot, and started installing FreeBSD 8.2-RELEASE on it, then
> did a Net Install over FTP.
>
> While I let that run, I decided to start looking at the web site for
> FreeBSD, and reading up on Ports. I guess I'm on the right track, as you
> pretty much told me to do exactly what I was already doing right before
> checking my Email, so that's a great sign.
>
> > long story short, there are three utilities i know of that may be used
> > to keep your applications up-to-date irrespective of the installation
> > method; they are portupgrade, portmanager and portmaster;
> > i personally use portupgrade; with this tool you may specify whether you
> > want you applications updated in the binary or in the source form;
>
> I'm currently reading about Portmanager, because I like the simple
> "portmanager -u" option I see. I'm going to probably try that one out
> first to see how it goes. Right now the machine is running portsnap
> fetch && portsnap extract && portsnap update
>
> Once that's done I'm going to start installing some stuff on it to try
> out. Hopefully FVWM2 works out; For some reason, my other FreeBSD
> install says it's installed but I can't use it. I'm probably going to
> just reinstall it because I LOVE it. I've been using Window Maker and
> Enlightenment mostly.
>
> > hope this helps;
> >
> > sasha
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Allen
>

about FVWM2 not working on your other FreeBSD install...
i'm not sure how you set up your X11 system and your window manager, but
this section of the handbook, Chapter 6 The X Window System, has
instructions for setting up a desktop environment as well as a window
manager of your choice; it's a matter of specifying the path to the
executable for your window manager either in $HOME/.xsession or
in $HOME/.xinitrc depending on whether you use XDM or some other display
manager;

sasha