Updating from 11.3-stable to 12.1-stable?

[Ruben]

Hi,

If you are not compiling your own kernel I normally go about it 
something like this:

freebsd-update -r 12.1-RELEASE upgrade
freebsd-update install

shutdown -r now

freebsd-update install

You will be prompted to reinstall installed software now.

If you do not use the ports collection:

pkg update

(this probably throws some errors about a major version update being 
detected)

pkg-static install -f pkg ; pkg upgrade -fy

If you do use the ports collection:

portmaster -m DISABLE_VULNERABILITIES=yes -Raf --no-confirm

(I always found it convenient to do a full update / upgrade of the 
portstree _prior_ to switching to 12.1)

After reinstalling the installed software, you can issue:

freebsd-update install

shutdown -r now

You should be on 12.1 now.

Needless to say; you are advised to make backups / prepare contingency 
plans :)

Regards,

Ruben

On 4/27/20 10:01 PM, Bob Willcox wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> What is the best way to update a system from 11.3-stable to 12.1-stable? This system
> is a backup file server that I could reinstall if necessary, but I'd really like to
> avoid having to do that.
> 
> Any tips/ideas on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Bob
>