Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 05:36:08 -0400 From: Jerry <jerry@seibercom.net> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Updating from 11.3-stable to 12.1-stable? Message-ID: <20200428053608.00002491@seibercom.net> In-Reply-To: <20200427234150.9bb022df.freebsd@edvax.de> References: <20200427200111.GA39823@rancor.immure.com> <9945f3b9-0452-721b-e931-816bc7a044ae@FreeBSD.org> <20200427234150.9bb022df.freebsd@edvax.de>
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On Mon, 27 Apr 2020 23:41:50 +0200, Polytropon commented: >On Mon, 27 Apr 2020 22:31:46 +0100, Matthew Seaman wrote: >> Although, if you're going to >> choose one of the routes that involves swapping HDDs in and out, then >> installing a brand new system and recreating your local >> customizations from scratch is quite a good approach. There's >> quantities of cruft that tends to build up over the years that this >> method will naturally get rid of. > >I think that is a very important aspect. In case you have a >"grown system", it might be possible that you will be building >or re-installing stuff that you _now_ don't need anymore. >For example, if your server runs application A, the version >used on 11.3 required libraries B and C. The current version >of A doesn't need B anymore, but you still will have it installed >because it was installed before. To avoid such a case, and if >you can and _want_ to do it, you can install a clean system >from scratch, add your OS modifications, then install your >"top level ports" (the things you're intending to use), and >all required dependencies will be resolved automatically as >they are needed. > >As it has been mentioned before, for ZFS systems, using a BE >is very convenient. Installing on a second disk is also an >option (so you'll always have a fallback "old state" system >that you can activate in case of problems). But of course there >is nothing wrong in using source-based upgrades or binary ones, >and rebuild everything that was installed before. All those >ideas have advantages and disadvantages, are possible or not >possible, and you have to decide for your specific setting and >intended use of the system. > >The single ultimate answer: It depends. :-) I like the idea of replacing the HD with a new disk and then trying to install the new FreeBSD version. I have a situation where I have a new PC that will not run FreeBSD 12.x. <https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=237666>; I am forced to use 11.x presently. I simply purchased a new identical HD and used that to try and install the newer 12.x version of STABLE when there is an update to see if that will work. If it fails, and it always does, I can install the original HD and be happily on my way. In any case, I would make a backup of any crucial 'config' files, so reinstalling your system on a new HD is relatively simple. I rarely agree with Poly, but in this case, I do concur with his reasoning that it will ease the cleanup of your system and removes potential pitfalls and security hazards. Good luck! -- Jerry
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