How to apply updates on OpenBSD, NetBSD, and FreeBSD?

Question

I'm using OpenBSD for quite a while now. All I do, however is go from one release to the next, always just doing an update. I configured the system so it works as my router and firewall, and it works quite good like that. But, I never update packages. All I do, I just move on to the next release.

Coming from the Linux world, I'm used to apply updates a few times a week, but how do I do that on *BSD? - Or is this not part of the *BSD philosophy?

Answer 1

OpenBSD is binary-centric. You can update the binaries (if any updates/changes are available) by executing pkg_add:

pkg_add -Uu

The OpenBSD team recommends using the packages over building from ports - The OpenBSD packages and ports system

FreeBSD can be updated via packages or ports.

Answer 2

In general, when using OpenBSD you only update your packages when you update your system. So, as a final step, after upgrading to the latest release, you should execute:

# pkg_add -ui

Which will (u)pgrade your installed packages asking you any questions (i)nteractive when needed.

In general, packages for a given release are not updated until the next release (OpenBSD lacks the developer resources for providing updates to packages on versions other than 'current'). If you want to upgrade your packages more regularly, you either need to use ports, or upgrade to a new snapshot, and then run pkg_add -ui again.

For further reading, check: http://www.openbsd.org/faq/faq15.html

Answer 3

portupgrade -arR