update via ISO image

[Polytropon]

On Tue, 24 Dec 2013 11:45:22 +0800, Erich Dollansky wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> On Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:50:51 +1030
> Shane Ambler <FreeBSD at ShaneWare.Biz> wrote:
> 
> > On 23/12/2013 23:13, Luca Ferrari wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > > I believe this is trivial, but I cannot find any hint in the
> > > documentation: is it possible to do a full upgrade from a -RELEASE
> > > to a -RELEASE using an ISO image? In particular I'm running a 9.1
> > > and I'm not able to run freebsd-update, can I update using the ISO
> > > of a 9.2-RELEASE?
> > 
> > I'll say yes. I do believe I have upgraded after booting from an
> > install CD some time ago. At least installed a newer version over an
> > existing version. I think the hassle was matching the mount points to
> > the right slices, but this may be easier these days.
> 
> I find a bit confusing with the current installer.

This is because the installer itself does not seem to
provide an upgrading function explicitely, as seen (or
_not_ seen) in the "primary menu".



> The method you suggest here is the method I also would recommend.

It seems to be the only option currently available,
even though it means that the task is not performed
by the installer, but instead via CLI.



> > You may find it easier to manually install the tarballs from the CD -
> > you can find them on the disk in usr/freebsd-dist and install them
> > with cd /mnt/usr/freebsd-dist
> > tar -xf -C / base.txz
> > tar -xf -C / kernel.tbz
> > tar -xf -C / lib32.txz
> > You may also want to install some of the others -
> > doc.txz games.txz ports.txz src.txz
> 
> There is still the route via the sources. It might sounds more
> complicated. Only the mergemaster step confuses me. Do not allow
> mergemaster to change your files but tell it to write them to a
> directory in /var.

The problem here is that a version upgrade 9.1 -> 9.2 might
involve adding, for example, users or groups the new version
requires, so paying attention to possible changes is a good
idea. Having files scheduled for alteration to a different
directory is a good idea, as well as having a backup of the
own (probably modified) configuration files. :-)



-- 
Polytropon
Magdeburg, Germany
Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0
Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...