Very Computer

Hi all,

I want to get a Unix-like OS onto my main PC.  To avoid making a rash decision,
I've been playing with various Linux and BSD distributions on an old P133 box.

After trying out a few Linux distros, and venturing into OpenBSD, I think I'm
happy with FreeBSD.

On the test box, I installed FreeBSD 4.3-RELEASE via FTP.  I just had to make
two boot discs, and the rest came over my high-speed Internet connection! :-)

After doing some more reading, it seems that perhaps I should use 'STABLE'.

The FreeBSD.org docs suggest using CTM/CVS to grab the 'STABLE' sources, and
it seems that you have to re-compile things to 'upgrade'.

I'm left wondering...

1. Is there a way to grab 'STABLE' binaries, and install them?

2. Could I have somehow installed 'STABLE' instead of '4.3-RELEASE' in the
   first place?

I'm not sure if 'STABLE' actually has any binaries... is it just source?

What do people here do?

I was kind of thinking/hoping that you could set up a simple script (and
possible automate it with cron) to grab and install 'STABLE' updates, a
bit like you can with Debian.  Is this not possible?

Cheers,
Richard.

: After doing some more reading, it seems that perhaps I should use 'STABLE'.

: The FreeBSD.org docs suggest using CTM/CVS to grab the 'STABLE' sources, and
: it seems that you have to re-compile things to 'upgrade'.

: I'm left wondering...

: 1. Is there a way to grab 'STABLE' binaries, and install them?

: 2. Could I have somehow installed 'STABLE' instead of '4.3-RELEASE' in the
:    first place?

: I'm not sure if 'STABLE' actually has any binaries... is it just source?

TTBOMK, STABLE is just source updated past the RELEASE state, but
which you can expect to work -- as distinct from CURRENT, which is
pure bleeding-edge.

: What do people here do?

: I was kind of thinking/hoping that you could set up a simple script (and
: possible automate it with cron) to grab and install 'STABLE' updates, a
: bit like you can with Debian.  Is this not possible?

Some people do this; I haven't got to that stage _yet_.

The key is cvsup, which is in the ports tree. It will go out and
grab the updates for you, stuff them in the source (and ports),
and leave you ready to make [build]world and so on.

--
There are two product lines in which customers are called "users".
The other one is illegal *.
                MWMeyer, viva voce personal communication

Yeah, I see STABLE as being the critical/recommended/non-development
kind of fixes/updates.  I will be staying away from CURRENT!  :-)

Quote:> : I was kind of thinking/hoping that you could set up a simple script (and
> : possible automate it with cron) to grab and install 'STABLE' updates, a
> : bit like you can with Debian.  Is this not possible?

> Some people do this; I haven't got to that stage _yet_.

Ah... so it could well be possible, eh?  Anyone?!

Quote:> The key is cvsup, which is in the ports tree. It will go out and
> grab the updates for you, stuff them in the source (and ports),

Hmm... Now, I didn't install the 'sources' when I installed FreeBSD.
Will this matter?  I'm also planning on installing several packages,
as opposed to ports - just so I don't have to compile stuff (it's
only a P133!).

You see, my main area of interest is XFree86 4.1.0 - I can see it
in the STABLE -> 'packages' section on the FreeBSD FTP site.

I'm wondering if this will need/want other stuff from STABLE, which
I won't have installed, as I'm running 4.3-RELEASE.

Quote:> and leave you ready to make [build]world and so on.

So such updates are always source?  Are there no binary updates?

That's cvsup... does anyone use/recommend CTM?

Cheers,
Richard.

It will just take longer the first time until all the sources get
loaded.

Quote:>I'm also planning on installing several packages,
>as opposed to ports - just so I don't have to compile stuff (it's
>only a P133!).

Use the ports.  My P166 isn't as slow as your P133 but I don't have
a problem.  On something really big just turn it on, let it loose,
and go to bed.

It's all automatic, needed dependancies are downloaded and installed
if needed as it goes.
--

I see.  So does it install the source for everything, or just the
bits it needs?

Quote:> > I'm also planning on installing several packages,
> > as opposed to ports - just so I don't have to compile stuff (it's
> > only a P133!).

> Use the ports.  My P166 isn't as slow as your P133 but I don't have
> a problem.  On something really big just turn it on, let it loose,
> and go to bed.

> It's all automatic, needed dependancies are downloaded and installed
> if needed as it goes.

Hmm... well... OK.  I'll give it a whirl.

I'm not scared of compiling (!) or anything, it's just that I guessed
it would take a very long time.  I remember a 486 of mine taking many
hours to compile a Linux 2.2 kernel!  ;-)

Thanks to everyone for your comments,
Richard.

You can tailor it.  Get the cvsup-binary from the ports.  Install
it.  Then there are scripts which you can tailor to get what you
need.  I usr   src-all, but if you don't want all the OS sources,
you can tailor it.  You can leave out games for example, or contrib
[where sendmail and others live], or whatever you want.

Just un-comment the part in the script, after setting a target as
one of the cvsup sites. There is a notation of
host.CHANGE_THIS.FreeBSD.org so it's pretty straight forward.
I usually have best results from THIS machine as cvsup3.freebsd.org
You pick the ones closest/fastest/most-available for you

Quote:>> > I'm also planning on installing several packages,
>> > as opposed to ports - just so I don't have to compile stuff (it's
>> > only a P133!).
>> Use the ports.  My P166 isn't as slow as your P133 but I don't have
>> a problem.  On something really big just turn it on, let it loose,
>> and go to bed.
>> It's all automatic, needed dependancies are downloaded and installed
>> if needed as it goes.
>Hmm... well... OK.  I'll give it a whirl.

Once you use it I doubt you'll go back.

Quote:>I'm not scared of compiling (!) or anything, it's just that I guessed
>it would take a very long time.  I remember a 486 of mine taking many
>hours to compile a Linux 2.2 kernel!  ;-)

Well the first full system compile, from ground up, can take a long
time on a slow machine.  But you can do that in stages.  
make buildworld and then go to bed on a slow machine.  A typical
kernel only compile on this machine is under an hour, a
not-so-blazing P166.   [That's more than I need for the prime use
of THIS machine- mail and news].

--