Re: Updating NetBSD binary packages

[Peter Bex <Peter.Bex%xs4all.nl@localhost>]

On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 05:06:09PM +0100, Dirk H. Schulz wrote:
> This is a newbie question, I know, but I did not find much on that.
> 
> I have installed NetBSD 5 from ISO/CD and added 
> "PKG_PATH="ftp://ftp.NetBSD.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/i386/5.0_2009Q1/All";
>  
> to root's .profile. Then I have installed additional packages using pkg_add 
> - that means, I have installed binary packages instead of compiling from 
> pkgsrc, as I understand it.

That's correct

> Now I want to update these and the base packages. All documentation on 
> updating NetBSD relates to compiling sources, but since I can install 
> binary packages there must be a way to update binary packages.
> Googling once more I found pkg_chk. The man page states that it checks 
> against pkgsrc - that does not sound like tool I am looking for.

I don't know about pkg_chk but back when I used binary packages a simple
pkg_add -u <packagename> did the trick.

> Are these thoughts generally un-NetBSD-ish? Or is there some way to 
> smoothly update larger amounts of NetBSD servers?

pkgin is a useful "yum"-like tool that allows you to install packages
and keep them up to date in a somewhat more convenient way.

Cheers,
Peter
-- 
http://sjamaan.ath.cx
--
"The process of preparing programs for a digital computer
 is especially attractive, not only because it can be economically
 and scientifically rewarding, but also because it can be an aesthetic
 experience much like composing poetry or music."
                                                        -- Donald Knuth