FreeBSD Handbook sec. 26.2 (freebsd-update) missing info

[Matthew Seaman]

On 03/09/2011 23:16, Mike Brown wrote:
> Also, the phrase "For all current releases, downloading the latest version is 
> not required" maybe should be moved up before the download instructions so 
> that it comes before the implication that the download is necessary.

freebsd-update is part of all currently supported releases (ie. 7.x, 8.x
and the upcoming 9.0).  As it's only useful[*] for a supported release,
I think that section could probably do with some editing.

> And I'm not really clear on whether I need it. I have 8.0-STABLE, last updated 
> a while ago (not long after the 2009-12-03 security update to the utility). Is 
> this a "current release" that means I don't need to update the utility?

Ah.  Anything -STABLE is not supported through freebsd-update.  STABLE,
despite the name, is a development branch.  If you want to use
freebsd-update than you need to be running a -RELEASE version.  Even so,
you're going to need to upgrade to something quite a lot more recent
than 8.0-RELEASE to get support.  See the list of supported versions here:

   http://www.freebsd.org/releng/

RELENG_8_0 is no longer officially supported, and you would be well
advised to upgrade to a more recent version.  RELENG_8_2 a.k.a
8.2-RELEASE is what I'd recommend.

	Cheers,

	Matthew

[*] Unless you're going to build your own update server and backport any
important changes to whatever old version you want to support.

-- 
Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil.                   7 Priory Courtyard
                                                  Flat 3
PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey     Ramsgate
JID: matthew at infracaninophile.co.uk               Kent, CT11 9PW

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