Updating FreeBSD

[Polytropon]

On Sat, 15 Oct 2016 10:58:46 +0000, Gerard Seibert wrote:
> I have an older version of FreeBSD 11 installed:
> 
> FreeBSD 11.0-CURRENT #0 r296485: Tue Mar  8 07:04:36 UTC 2016
> 
> Am I correct in assuming that "freebsd-update" will not update the
> system to the latest stable version? I am assuming that the easiest and
> possible safest method would be to back up my data and config files and
> then download and install the latest version. Is that correct?

The easiest way (in my opinion) is to checkout the source of
11.0-RELEASE via SVN and build + install from that source.
See the /usr/src/Makefile comment header for the correct
procedure.

It's also possible to obtain the "src" distribution via
freebsd-update for 11.0-RELEASE and build from that. This
might even be more comfortable than using SVN.

A complete re-installation is _not_ needed.

However, what you said about backup remains correct and
relevant. :-)

The freebsd-update program cannot be used to follow -CURRENT.
It's for tracking RELEASE-pX (security patches applied to a
release), and for switching releases (with the required caution).

For tracking -CURRENT or -HEAD, use SVN and build from source.

Check if any ports you have installed are affected (but from
11.0-CURRENT to 11.0-RELEASE, there shouldn't be a problem).
In _worst_ case, rebuild or reinstall ports.


-- 
Polytropon
Magdeburg, Germany
Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0
Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...