Keeping FreeBSD up-to-date.

24.1   Synopsis
24.2   FreeBSD Update
24.3   Portsnap & Docsnap
24.4   Tracking a Development Branch
24.5   csup
24.6   Rebuilding
24.7   Tracking for Multiple Machines

An essential part of using FreeBSD is keeping it up-to-date for purposes of both security and utility.

FreeBSD is under constant development between releases. Some people prefer to use the officially released versions, while others prefer to keep in sync with the latest developments. However, even official releases are often updated with security and other critical fixes. Regardless of the version used, FreeBSD provides all necessary tools to keep your system updated, and also allows for easy upgrades between versions. This chapter will help you decide if you want to track the development system, or stick with one of the released versions. The basic tools for keeping your system up to date are also presented.

After reading this chapter, you will know:

• What utilities may be used to update the system and the Ports Collection.


• How to keep your system up to date with freebsd-update, csup, CVS, or CTM.


• How to compare the state of an installed system against a known pristine copy.


• How to keep your documentation up to date with csup and Docsnap.


• The difference between the two development branches: FreeBSD-STABLE and FreeBSD-CURRENT.


• How to rebuild and reinstall the entire base system with make buildworld etc.

Before reading this chapter, you should:

• Properly set up your network connection (Chapter 31).


• Know how to install additional third-party software (Chapter 4).