Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2020 08:26:55 -0600 From: Gary Aitken <freebsd@dreamchaser.org> To: "Steve O'Hara-Smith" <steve@sohara.org> Cc: FreeBSD Mailing List <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: install, update, pkgs consistency Message-ID: <3a119771-f9c2-ed18-cd06-9726d6830ae5@dreamchaser.org> In-Reply-To: <20200827074734.dc84d37f3710a80e5f638bb3@sohara.org> References: <8b959f78-5e7e-d019-5d97-8a60bcfe477a@dreamchaser.org> <20200827074734.dc84d37f3710a80e5f638bb3@sohara.org>
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On 8/27/20 12:47 AM, Steve O'Hara-Smith wrote: > On Wed, 26 Aug 2020 22:31:30 -0600 > Gary Aitken <freebsd@dreamchaser.org> wrote: > >> I'm confused about the synchronization between a sys install, sys update, >> and packages (as opposed to ports). >> >> It was my understanding that packages are built to be consistent with the >> OS, so that once the OS version is installed, any "pkg install" is >> more-or-less guaranteed to be consistent and compatible with the OS and >> other packages being installed. true? > > Essentially yes - FreeBSD maintains ABI compatibility throughout > the life of a major release (barring bugs and mistakes such as the DRM one > between 12.0 and 12.1) so packages are built to the major release ABI. > > The ports tree from which the packages are built is continuously > updated but quarterly snapshots are taken and used to make quarterly > package updates. You can choose to follow the quarterly snapshots or live > on the bleeding edge - by default the quarterly snapshots are what you get, > controlled by /etc/pkg/FreeBSD.conf. > >> If I install a package shortly after installing the OS, then some months >> later delete the package and install it again, will the same version be >> installed (assuming I have not updated the system)? > > Probably not, you will get the version in the latest quarterly > snapshot. > >> When the OS is upgraded, e.g. for security patches using freebsd-update, >> does the package collection remain unchanged, or is it updated as well? > > It is updated independently of the OS at quarterly intervals for > the snapshots and continuously for the latest. > >> If I install packages, then some months later update the system >> (freebsd-update), could some of the previously installed packages >> no longer function properly? > > Only if you cross a major version boundary or there's a screwup in > maintaining ABI compatibility (those are very rare - I only recall one). > >> If I install packages, then some months later update the system, then >> install more packages, could some of the new packages not function (or not >> install) because of incompatibilities with previously installed packages? > > The install will also perform any necessary updates. > >> Why does /var/cache/pkg show multiple versions, some dated after the date >> of the installed system, if pkgs are supposed to be tied to the original >> sys install or update? > > Quarterly updates - 'nuff said ? Thank you! Are there semi-definite dates for quarterly updates, or some way to determine when one was last made? Is there a way to force a ports tree to be from the last or current quarterly update? Gary
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