DaemonForums  

Go Back   DaemonForums > OpenBSD > OpenBSD General

OpenBSD General Other questions regarding OpenBSD which do not fit in any of the categories below.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   (View Single Post)  
Old 14th July 2013
Majorix Majorix is offline
Port Guard
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 13
Default OpenBSD Newbie!

I have been struggling with FreeBSD for a few months and I have finally given up on the idea after facing so many stupid bugs.

I have installed OpenBSD on my older netbook today, and I am currently watching a video on YouTube which explains installing XFCE on OpenBSD 5.2 (and I had to assume that it would work on 5.3 too).

I have some questions in my mind.

1. In the video I watched, the poster downloaded ALL the packages using FTP. Is this the usual method, and would it still download all those packages if I run the FTP command at a later time?

2. How do I switch to -CURRENT, if it even exists?

3. Can you point me to a good how-to on upgrading the base system?

Thanks beforehand!
Reply With Quote
  #2   (View Single Post)  
Old 15th July 2013
rocket357's Avatar
rocket357 rocket357 is offline
Real Name: Jonathon
Wannabe OpenBSD porter
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: 127.0.0.1
Posts: 429
Default

1. Not sure I understand the question.
1A. If the "poster" downloaded the packages, would subsequent updates download all of the packages?
No, no restriction on that.
1B. If the "poster" downloaded the packages, would it download the packages if I performed those steps manually?
Yes.
2. Download bsd.rd for current and boot from it (i.e. pub/OpenBSD/snapshots/$arch/bsd.rd)
3. Download bsd.rd for the version you wish to upgrade to, then boot from it. It will run you through the installer (with minor exception...it asks if you want to update or perform a fresh install). Once you go through that, reboot and login as root, then sysmerge to get /etc/* up to date, then update your packages (I use pkg_add -uF update,updatedepends...others may have more appropriate advice on that).

If you run -CURRENT, be sure to read the CURRENT changelog/Errata.
__________________
Linux/Network-Security Engineer by Profession. OpenBSD user by choice.
Reply With Quote
  #3   (View Single Post)  
Old 15th July 2013
Majorix Majorix is offline
Port Guard
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 13
Default

I am sorry if I haven't been clear, English is not my native language.

I meant "poster" as in the guy who posted the video. I haven't posted the link to the video in case I am not allowed to. He ran these commands:
Code:
# cd /usr/src
# mkdir packages
# cd packages
# ftp ftp://ftp.eu.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/5.2/packages/amd64/*
I was talking about the ftp command.

About bsd.rd... What do you mean "boot from it"? I am not familiar with that, please elaborate.
Reply With Quote
  #4   (View Single Post)  
Old 15th July 2013
jggimi's Avatar
jggimi jggimi is offline
More noise than signal
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 7,975
Default

Hello, and welcome!

That FTP command will copy ALL amd64 packages to your local system. This is unnecessary. You will only install a small fraction of these packages on your system. Instead, set the $PKG_PATH environment variable, and use pkg_add(1). It will transfer and install the package you request and its dependent packages automatically. Please see FAQ 15.

As for bsd.rd, this is the RAMDISK kernel. It is used for install, upgrade, maintenance of the root directory, and disaster recovery. When you install OpenBSD for the first time, you are using a RAMDISK kernel. On amd64, the boot loader produces a "boot>" prompt and waits for five seconds. If you begin typing, you can select an alternate kernel to boot from. (See the boot(8) man page.) So, to upgrade to -current, all you need to do is download the bsd.rd from the most recent -current snapshot, and select that kernel to load at the boot> prompt, then upgrade over the network.

For more on using -current, please read FAQ 5.
Reply With Quote
  #5   (View Single Post)  
Old 15th July 2013
jggimi's Avatar
jggimi jggimi is offline
More noise than signal
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 7,975
Default

I wrote:
Quote:
That FTP command will copy ALL amd64 packages to your local system.
Let me expand on that comment. For 5.3-release, there are 7634 packages for amd64, and they consume 22 GB of disk space. You would waste valuable bandwidth to copy many thousands of files you would never use.
Reply With Quote
  #6   (View Single Post)  
Old 15th July 2013
Majorix Majorix is offline
Port Guard
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 13
Default

Thank you for the explanation, much appreciated!
Reply With Quote
  #7   (View Single Post)  
Old 15th July 2013
LeFrettchen's Avatar
LeFrettchen LeFrettchen is offline
Marveled user
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: France
Posts: 405
Default

You can download everything if you want to create an OpenBSD server on internet.

But since you're starting with OpenBSD, you don't need many packages.
Just download what you need, that's it !
__________________
ThinkPad W500 P8700 6GB HD3650 - faultry
ThinkStation P700 2x2620v3 32GB 1050ti 3xSSD 1xHDD
Reply With Quote
  #8   (View Single Post)  
Old 15th July 2013
Majorix Majorix is offline
Port Guard
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 13
Default

I am still trying to grasp the reason why that guy suggested d/ling all those packages. Either unskilled or a troll... Sadly the first I guess. His video didn't help me much either, I used other sources to finish what I started.
Reply With Quote
  #9   (View Single Post)  
Old 15th July 2013
jggimi's Avatar
jggimi jggimi is offline
More noise than signal
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 7,975
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by LeFrettchen View Post
You can download everything... if you want to create an OpenBSD server ...
The term used by the OpenBSD Project is install mirror. There are mirrors offering FTP, HTTP, AFS, and RSYNC protocols.

From the bottom of http://www.openbsd.org/ftp.html:
Quote:
To be listed on this page we require mirrors to be fast, up-to-date, capable, and well-connected to networks in the region in which they serve. Our policy requires mirrors to carry at least the last two releases in binary form (currently 5.2 and 5.3), snapshots, as well as the other associated directories (including OpenSSH/, OpenNTPD/, OpenBGPD/, patches/ and tools/), and keep them current; snapshots should not be older than a week. Note that in the above, "release" means all files under the specific directory (e.g. 5.3/). This includes all architecture subdirectories and the complete packages subdirectory, with packages for all application architectures. As of 5.3, the minimum space required is approximately 400GB. Depending on the disk space available, mirrors may provide more contents, such as older releases, current source tree, etc.
Reply With Quote
Old 16th July 2013
jggimi's Avatar
jggimi jggimi is offline
More noise than signal
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 7,975
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Majorix View Post
I am still trying to grasp the reason why that guy suggested d/ling all those packages. Either unskilled or a troll... Sadly the first I guess. His video didn't help me much either, I used other sources to finish what I started.
Culturally, the OpenBSD Project members and many OpenBSD users recommend avoiding all third-party "howto" documents, which would of course include Youtube videos -- at least, those which are not recordings of OpenBSD developer presentations.

Most "howto" documents you find on the Internet are made by new or relatively new users who have accomplished something and want to share it, being justifiably proud of their accomplishments. If you keep this in mind when you read them (or, on youtube, watch them), you may glean elements of value. But always, always be mindful that what you have was likely written by a relative newcomer. Commonly, this means the information presented is often out-of-date, incomplete, inaccurate, misleading, incorrect, or wrong.

I include this website in the list of third-party knowledge bearers which may provide misleading, incorrect, incomplete, or inaccurate information. We're users. We provide advice based only on our own experience and knowledge, which may be limited, and we make our recommendations on the limited information presented by another user. Yes, there are a few developers who visit from time to time, and we have a World Famous Technology Author (two books listed!) who stops by. But the active members here are almost entirely just a small community of users, not developers, and we're just trying to help each other by sharing what we consider best practices. They may not be.

The official "howto" documents are the chapters of the OpenBSD FAQ. Spending time with the FAQ will usually be very informative, and often faster than posting a question here and waiting for a reply.

Last edited by jggimi; 16th July 2013 at 12:22 AM. Reason: clarity
Reply With Quote
Old 16th July 2013
Majorix Majorix is offline
Port Guard
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 13
Default

Yes, however many there might be quality documents out there that helped me through the years since I first wandered into the world of *nix, there also exist poorly written plain garbage. I cannot cross out ALL the user-contributed documents, but one gets more and more experience everyday helping picking out the rubbish. And never forget this is the world wide web, where everyone speaks their mind!
Reply With Quote
Old 16th July 2013
ocicat ocicat is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,318
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Majorix View Post
I cannot cross out ALL the user-contributed documents, but one gets more and more experience everyday helping picking out the rubbish.
You may be overlooking cultural differences. The OpenBSD developers put significant importance on the quality of its manpages as being the definitive source of truth next to the source code itself. Hence, these pages are what users should search through first to find out the intentions, usage, & shortcomings of the various utilities & functions provided in a base installation. The OpenBSD community discourages how-to's for exactly the reasons jggimi outlined above. Because long time users understand the project's philosophy about documentation, most will shy away from creating documentation unless there is a specific reason for doing so.

This will also indicate who it is that is writing non-sanctioned OpenBSD documentation -- those who don't understand the project, its goals, nor the need to keep the documentation centralized. No one is guaranteeing its veracity, so it is anyone's guess as to whether it is correct, up to date, & inclusive enough to address the differences readers will have in their own configurations.

Maybe you are coming from the Linux tradition where the kernel is created by one group, & userland utilities and user applications come from elsewhere. Who owns the documentation is not entirely clear to that community, & the result shows. The "how-to" culture is a bandage which does not address the fundamental problem & need of that community. "How-to" documents promote sloppy thinking, short-cutting real understanding, & general problem-solving. "If I only look a little longer, someone will have fixed my problem without knowing my situation, & I don't have to bother figuring it out for myself".

Then something will eventually break where you will need to troubleshoot the whole mess. Good luck.

Save yourself some time & aggravation by studying what documentation the project provides first. The discipline will serve you well in the future, & you may very well find a better solution faster.
Reply With Quote
Old 16th July 2013
jggimi's Avatar
jggimi jggimi is offline
More noise than signal
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 7,975
Default

I wrote a "howto" in 2011. I didn't self-publish. Instead, I submitted it to the OpenBSD Journal, where a team of developer/editors worked to improve its clarity, and they helped me to make it more general and less specific.

The editorial review and approval process took several weeks. But it really helped.

----

It's been less than two years since publication, but that "howto" is already out of of date. Changes to the second-stage bootloader used in i386 and amd64 have made the process even easier, and a simplified procedure is now a part of FAQ 14.21.
Reply With Quote
Old 18th July 2013
frcc frcc is offline
Don't Worry Be Happy!
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: hot,dry,dusty,rainy,windy,straight winds, tornado,puts the fear of God in you-Texas
Posts: 335
Default

I am a new user, been using OpenBSD since 5.0.
My advice is stick to the "man pages" and specific OpenBSD forums.
It will save you much grief.
One of the important goals of the project is quality documentation.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Newbie - Building OpenBSD WAP, need assistance bobmarss OpenBSD General 5 16th October 2012 10:00 PM
Is my OpenBSD system abnormally slow? (Newbie / pretty old hardware) Smith OpenBSD General 5 10th April 2012 03:10 AM
PF Configuration for newbie slakic OpenBSD Security 1 20th August 2009 02:35 PM
Newbie-friendly "printing in OpenBSD" guide wanted Shagbag OpenBSD Packages and Ports 5 7th July 2008 09:26 PM
Newbie NAT problem TiN-MAN FreeBSD Installation and Upgrading 2 26th June 2008 06:42 AM


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content copyright © 2007-2010, the authors
Daemon image copyright ©1988, Marshall Kirk McKusick