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From: Daniel Corbe <corbe@corbe.net>
To: Robert Fitzpatrick <robert@webtent.org>
Subject: Re: Upgrading a FreeBSD 7.1 server
References: <54B7E910.60206@webtent.org> <2320530.UhQR8an0Kq@curlew.lan>
 <54B7EEEC.3070807@webtent.org>
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:07:34 -0500
In-Reply-To: <54B7EEEC.3070807@webtent.org> (Robert Fitzpatrick's message of
 "Thu, 15 Jan 2015 11:46:36 -0500")
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Cc: Mike Clarke <jmc-freebsd2@milibyte.co.uk>, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
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Robert Fitzpatrick <robert@webtent.org> writes:

> Mike Clarke wrote:
>> On Thursday 15 Jan 2015 11:21:36 Robert Fitzpatrick wrote:
>>
>>> Is it possible to upgrade a FreeBSD 7.1 server, perhaps a step up
>>> process to 8.4 first? We have a virtual server that we prefer not to
>>> reinstall all packages.
>>
>> Packages are not compatible between major revision levels of the OS so you'll
>> need to reinstall all your packages anyway whatever upgrade route you take.
>>
>
> Yes, of course, I should rephrase that, we'd like to not have to
> re-setup all software. I'd like to take the standard upgrade path and
> upgrade all packages after each step up and just deal with things that
> have changed with packages since the version we are running now. Since
> it is a VPS, we'll be able snapshot and go back to start over if
> something were to go terribly wrong. So, is it possible to use
> freebsd-update to go to 8.4?

Honestly I don't understand why backing up relevant configuration files and
reinstalling the operating system isn't a viable choice.  I understand
that there are deep dark corners of every network that nobody touches
but a fresh install sounds no more difficult than pulling a crusty
and ancient system up to a supported release.

-Daniel