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From: Robert Huff <roberthuff@rcn.com>
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Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 09:41:03 -0500
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Subject: Re: Safe to just rebuild kernel after cvsuping src?
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Charles Ulrich writes:

>  > 	As a general rule, this is _never_ safe.  Unless you're
>  > prepared to locate and understand all the changes - just bite the
>  > bullet and make world.
>  > 	(This is not to say you can't do it and have it work - been
>  > there, done that - but you're definitely increasing the odds of a
>  > problem.)
>  
>  I've been doing the opposite on some of my machines which run
>  stable releases of FreeBSD. Is it relatively safe to build and
>  install a slightly newer world without rebuilding the kernel?

	Were I to want to do this, I would (after updating the sources):

	1) read /usr/src/UPDATING.  If there is an entry that requires
it (e,g, 20041102) or even implies it; then rebuild world.
	2) following the directions in the Handbook rebuild the kernel
only.  Capture the output, and look for any complaints about missing
symbols, etc.
	3) Save the old kernel/kernel directory into a dated space.
The install kernel target will save a copy ... but that gets
overwritten if you have to build/again.
	4) (optional) sacrifice black chicken to deity of choice (if
any).
	5) install new kernel and reboot.  If sucessful, run
mergemaster and reboot.
	6) Test all first and second tier system functions and user
applications.  For this purpose, <method of updating source code> is
a first-tier application.


				Robert Huff