Keeping FreeBSD up to date with Cvsup

Cvsup is a simple and easy to use tool that can be used to update the FreeBSD source and ports collection.

Installing Cvsup

Installing Cvsup can be done simply by using the port with the following commands

# cd /usr/ports/net/cvsup-without-gui/
# make install

Updating the ports collection

# cvsup -L2 -g -h cvsup.freebsd.org /usr/share/examples/cvsup/ports-supfile

The -g flag tells cvsup to run without a gui, the -h refers to the host of the cvs server. The host can be set within ports-supfile

Updating the FreeBSD source

# cvsup -L2 -g -h cvsup.freebsd.org /usr/share/examples/cvsup/stable-supfile

The standard-supfile can also be used. To obtain a certain version of FreeBSD the supfile should be editted and the tag=RELENG_5 to the desired version of FreeBSD. For example if the latest version of 5.4 is needed it can be set by

tag=RELENG_5_4

Finding the fastest CVS server

The Fastest CVS server can be found by install the port at

# cd /usr/ports/sysutils/fastest_cvsup/
# make install

To find the fastest server in the US you would type

# fastest_cvsup -c us

Scheduling cvsup to run weekly

Cvsup can be schedule to run weekly using crontab

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