From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Aug 17 21:22:41 2009 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id BE062106568B for ; Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:22:41 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from cstankevitz@toyon.com) Received: from smtp1.toyon.com (206-190-77-154.static.twtelecom.net [206.190.77.154]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id A44FC8FC43 for ; Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:22:41 +0000 (UTC) Received: from [172.16.1.101] (hosts253.toyon.com [65.160.147.253]) (authenticated bits=0) by smtp1.toyon.com (8.13.1/8.12.11) with ESMTP id n7HLRVD2004308 for ; Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:27:31 -0700 Message-ID: <4A89CA18.7000506@toyon.com> Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:22:32 -0700 From: Chris Stankevitz User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.21 (Windows/20090302) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org References: <4A89BD3E.8020804@toyon.com> In-Reply-To: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subject: Re: Packages available for different FreeBSD versions X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:22:41 -0000 Andrew Gould wrote: > Once you're installed a RELEASE, you can update it to STABLE by Andrew, Thank you for your helpful reply. Please tell me if you think I have the correct understanding: When I install FreeBSD, I am installing a "core operating system version number" (your term). Then I may choose to install the "ports" as either "STABLE" or "CURRENT" neither of which is associated with any "core operating system version number". From this point on, all application updates will arrive via "ports" . A question: Imaging one person installs FreeBSD-6.4 RELEASE and updates to STABLE ports. Another installs FreeBSD-7.2 RELEASE and also updates to STABLE ports. Are there any applications that the FreeBSD-6.4 person cannot install (e.g. the latest apache or VirtualBox)? If so, by what mechanism is he prevented? What are the repercussions of never updating the "core operating system version number"? FYI my experience is with Gentoo which as no "core operating system version number". All system updates come from "portage" (like your ports). > ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/ > > They are arranged by computer architecture and release number. There > are also stable directories for certain releases. Thank you for providing this. It raises two questions: 1. If the STABLE ports tree is not associated with a "core operating system version number", why are there two directories for STABLE packages: ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/amd64/packages-6-stable/ ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/amd64/packages-7-stable/ 2. What is the difference between these two? ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/amd64/packages-7.2-release/ ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/amd64/packages-7-stable/ My guess: The first is the packages that were made available in the 7.2 RELEASE CDs. The second is a directory that is re-created every 5 minutes by updating the ports collection and compiling all the applications in it. Thank you for your help! Chris