<![CDATA[Modernised use of freebsd-update for minor and major upgrades to FreeBSD]]>A major upgrade example: 14.4-RELEASE to 15.1-RELEASE

All commands should be run as root.

  1. pkg update
  2. pkg upgrade -Uy -r FreeBSD pkg
  3. freebsd-update fetch
  4. freebsd-update install
  5. freebsd-update upgrade -r 15.1-RELEASE
  6. freebsd-version -kru ; uname -mvKU
  7. freebsd-update install
  8. do not reboot the operating system – ignore the on-screen advice from freebsd-update
  9. freebsd-version -kru ; uname -KU
  10. /bin/sh
  11. export abi=FreeBSD:15:$(uname -p)
  12. export osversion=1501000
  13. pkg-static -o ABI=$abi -o OSVERSION=$osversion -o IGNORE_OSVERSION=yes update
  14. pkg-static -o ABI=$abi -o OSVERSION=$osversion -o IGNORE_OSVERSION=yes upgrade -Fqy
  15. ignore all on-screen recommendations to force a bootstrap of pkg
  16. pkg-static -o ABI=$abi -o OSVERSION=$osversion -o IGNORE_OSVERSION=yes upgrade -Fqy
  17. pkg-static -o ABI=$abi -o OSVERSION=$osversion -o IGNORE_OSVERSION=yes upgrade -U -r FreeBSD-kmods
  18. pkg-static -o ABI=$abi -o OSVERSION=$osversion -o IGNORE_OSVERSION=yes upgrade -U -g 'virtualbox-ose-additions*'
  19. exit
  20. upgrade the boot loader
  21. shutdown -r +10min "restarting with the upgraded kernel and boot loader"
  22. after this restart, if software such as Discover invites you to upgrade software, ignore the invitation
  23. freebsd-version -kru
  24. freebsd-update install
  25. be patient
  26. freebsd-version -kru
  27. pkg bootstrap -fy
  28. pkg upgrade -fFqy -r FreeBSD-ports -r FreeBSD-ports-kmods
  29. pkg upgrade -fFqy -r FreeBSD-ports -r FreeBSD-ports-kmods
  30. pkg upgrade -fU -r FreeBSD-ports -r FreeBSD-ports-kmods
  31. if the previous run of freebsd-update install asked you to rerun the command, do so
  32. shutdown -r +10min "restarting with the upgraded userland"
]]>https://billboard.bsd.cafe/topic/262/modernised-use-of-freebsd-update-for-minor-and-major-upgrades-to-freebsdRSS for NodeSat, 20 Jun 2026 12:52:02 GMTSat, 20 Jun 2026 08:57:10 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Modernised use of freebsd-update for minor and major upgrades to FreeBSD on Sat, 20 Jun 2026 12:25:19 GMT]]>

upgrade the boot loader

sysutils/loaders-update

Update bootcodes and loaders

This utility is a tool designed to keep the FreeBSD bootcodes and loaders up-to-date. It's useful because the FreeBSD upgrade process doesn't update them. It verifies if they are up to date and updates them if desired.

]]>https://billboard.bsd.cafe/post/731https://billboard.bsd.cafe/post/731Sat, 20 Jun 2026 12:25:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Modernised use of freebsd-update for minor and major upgrades to FreeBSD on Sat, 20 Jun 2026 11:15:44 GMT]]>The guide above should help to avoid kernel panics and other issues with kernel modules.

Relevant documentation includes:

TomAoki notes the importance of upgrading the boot loader before – not after – the first boot of 15.1-RELEASE.

Thanks to Emrion in The FreeBSD Forums for inspiring the sh(1)-specific export lines.

Cross-post: Modernised use of freebsd-update … : r/freebsd

]]>https://billboard.bsd.cafe/post/728https://billboard.bsd.cafe/post/728Sat, 20 Jun 2026 11:15:44 GMT