OpenBSD Upgrade Guide: 4.4 to 4.5

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Note: Upgrades are only supported from one release to the release immediately following it. Do not skip releases.

It is highly recommended that you read through and fully understand this process before attempting it. If you are doing it on a critical or physically remote machine, it is recommended that you test this process on an identical, local system to verify its success before attempting on a critical or remote computer.

Upgrading is a convenient way to bring your OpenBSD system up to the most recent version. However, the results are not intended to precisely match the results of a wipe-and-reload installation. Old library files in particular are not removed in the upgrade process, as they may be required by older applications that may or may not be upgraded at this time. If you REALLY wish to get rid of all these old files, you are probably better off reinstalling from scratch.

Table of Contents:

• Before upgrading
  • New install/reboot sequence
  • Upgrade to Perl 5.10
  • ifconfig(8) options changes
  • X changes
  • mixerctl(1) name changes
  • pfsync version number change
  • New sysmerge tool
  • rc.conf
  • Modified kernel
• The upgrade process
• Final steps
  • New and changed Users and Groups
  • Upgrading /etc
  • Merging locally changed files via patch file
  • Merging locally changed files via sysmerge(8)
  • Checking the kernel
  • Upgrading packages

Before upgrading: things to think about and be aware of

• New file install/reboot sequence (non-install kernel process)
  Previous upgrade processes used a process of install kernel, reboot, install userland. For OpenBSD 4.5, we suggest a different process -- install everything, THEN reboot. This must be done very carefully, otherwise one could end up with a system where the reboot(1) command is inoperable. Understand and follow the directions below before doing your upgrade remotely

• Upgrade to Perl 5.10.0
  The new Perl 5.10.0 includes a number of modules that were packages in the past. You will need to remove these packages, we'll cover that with the other package updates below.

  Some ifconfig(8) options have changed.
  To scan for wireless networks, you should now use:

  ifconfig interface scan
  

  To list supported media types, you should now use:

  ifconfig interface media
  

• X changes
  RgbPath is no longer a valid keyword in the Files section of the xorg.conf file, and should be removed from existing configuration files.

  The i810(4) driver has been completely replaced by the intel(4) driver, so your xorg.conf(5) file should be updated accordingly.

  Several existing xserver modules and drivers have been depreciated. To make sure X -configure doesn't try to configure the obsolete modules, we'll have you remove the contents of /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/ before upgrading.

• mixerctl(1) name changes
  mixerctl(1) item name headphones has been shorted to hp and speaker was shortened to spkr. You may need to update your mixerctl.conf(5) with the new names.

• pfsync(4) version number incremented
  Due to protocol and implementation changes to the pfsync(4) interface, the pfsync(4) protocol number has been incremented. Firewalls with differing versions will be unable to synchronise state tables, and existing connections will be terminated on failover.

• sysmerge(8) utility:
  OpenBSD 4.5 includes the sysmerge(8) utility, which helps administrators update configuration files after upgrading their system. Sysmerge(8) compares the current files on your system with the files that would have been installed with a new install, and gives you the option of keeping the old file, installing the new file, or assisting you in the manual merging of the old and new files, using sdiff. For past upgrades, we've presented a list of files that are usually copied over "as-is", and a list of files which should be changed, and a patch file that applies those changes to what might be in those files on your system. For the 4.4 to 4.5 upgrade, instead of using the patch file, you may opt to use sysmerge to make the changes, or you may wish to use the patch file first, and then follow up with a sysmerge session to clean up any loose ends.

  Who should use sysmerge(8):
  People running highly modified systems or systems that didn't start out at the previous release (for example, a snapshot partway between releases), who are upgrading to a snapshot or who have not carefully upgraded their system in the past will find sysmerge vastly superior to using the patches, as it works with what is actually on your system, instead of what we expected was on your system. It will also give you much greater control over your upgrade process, and will involve you in it more closely.

  Who may wish to NOT use sysmerge(8):
  People who have a lot of machines to upgrade that were kept fairly simple and at the previous release/stable point will probably find the old patch file system much faster.

  Note that while sysmerge can handle ALL the changes of /etc, /dev, /root and /var, we highly recommend that you do some steps manually before hand, as it will save time and reduce the possibility of user error. In particular, it is highly recommended that you do not use sysmerge to update your user and group accounts, as it is very easy to chose the wrong option leading to erasing your entire user base and setting the root password to an empty value, preventing remote login to fix the problem.

• rc.conf:
  It is assumed that /etc/rc.conf is not a user-altered file. If you have made changes to your /etc/rc.conf file, merge those changes into /etc/rc.conf.local. If you have NO /etc/rc.conf.local, simply copy your existing /etc/rc.conf file to /etc/rc.conf.local and delete the last line of the script! Otherwise, pull your existing rc.conf into the top of your existing rc.conf.local file and remove the last line before doing the rest of this process.

• Modified kernel:
  Check whether you have made any modifications to your kernel. For example, you might have modified your network device to use a non-default setting using config(8). Note your changes, so you can repeat them for the new 4.5 kernel.

The upgrade process

Upgrading by install kernel

BEFORE upgrading, however, do the following if you have X installed:

rm -rf /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/*

One easy way to boot from the install kernel is to place the 4.5 version of bsd.rd in the root of your boot drive, then instruct the boot loader to boot using this new bsd.rd file. On amd64 and i386, you do this by entering "boot bsd.rd" at the initial boot> prompt.

Upgrading without install kernel

Sometimes, one needs to do an upgrade of a machine when one can't easily use the normal upgrade process. The most common case is when the machine is in a remote location and you don't have easy access to the system console. One can usually do this by carefully following this process:

• Place install files in a "good" location. Make sure you have sufficient space!

• Stop any appropriate applications: During this process, all the userland applications will be replaced but may not be runnable, and strange things may happen as a result. If this is a concern to you, shut down any applications that may be impacted. There may be other applications which you wish to keep from running immediately after the upgrade, stop and disable them as well.

• Check the kernel: Although most people can skip this step, if you had a modified kernel in 4.4, it is likely you will need to modify the stock kernel of 4.5. Especially when you are performing the upgrade process remotely, now is the time to make sure the new kernel will work upon rebooting the machine. If any changes must be made to the kernel, the safest thing to do is to make those changes on a local 4.5 system. This can be as simple as modifying a specific device using config(8), or it can involve a recompilation if the option you need is not included in the GENERIC kernel. Please consult FAQ 5 - Building the system from source before deciding to recompile your kernel.

• Install new kernel(s)

  export RELEASEPATH=/usr/rel   # where you put the files
  cd ${RELEASEPATH}
  rm /obsd ; ln /bsd /obsd && cp bsd /nbsd && mv /nbsd /bsd
  cp bsd.rd bsd.mp /
  

  (if you are using the multiprocessor kernel, use
       rm /obsd ; ln /bsd /obsd && cp bsd.mp /nbsd && mv /nbsd /bsd
  instead)

  Note the extra steps for copying over the primary kernel: those are done to ensure that there is always a valid copy of the kernel on the disk that the system can boot from should there be a really badly timed power outage or system crash.

• Remove old X modules: These will be replaced with new ones shortly:

  rm -rf /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/*
  

• Save yourself a copy of the old reboot(1) command: You are still running the old kernel, it is possible the new reboot command will not run on the old kernel.

  cp /sbin/reboot /sbin/oreboot
  

• Install new userland applications. Do NOT install etc45.tgz and xetc45.tgz now, because that will overwrite your current configuration files! Note that we are installing base45.tgz LAST, because it will include a new tar(1) utility, which may or may not run on the old kernel. We reboot immediately, as the system is probably barely runnable now.

  tar -C / -xzphf xserv45.tgz
  tar -C / -xzphf xfont45.tgz
  tar -C / -xzphf xshare45.tgz
  tar -C / -xzphf xbase45.tgz
  tar -C / -xzphf game45.tgz
  tar -C / -xzphf misc45.tgz
  tar -C / -xzphf comp45.tgz
  tar -C / -xzphf man45.tgz
  tar -C / -xzphf base45.tgz # Install last!
  /sbin/oreboot
  

  Not all file sets will need to be installed for all applications, however if you installed a file set originally, you should certainly upgrade it with the new file set now.

  Again, the files in /etc are handled separately below, so etc45.tgz and xetc45.tgz are NOT unpacked here.

• After reboot completes, upgrade /dev. The new MAKEDEV file was copied to /dev by the installation of base45.tgz, so you simply need to do the following:

  cd /dev
  ./MAKEDEV all
  

Final steps

1. New Users and Groups

useradd -u94 -g=uid -c"Bluetooth Daemon" -d/var/empty -s/sbin/nologin _btd

2. Upgrading /etc

You will want to extract the etc45.tgz files to a temporary location:

export RELEASEPATH=/usr/rel
tar -C /tmp -xzphf ${RELEASEPATH}/etc45.tgz

netstart
rc
rc.conf
services
afs/CellServDB
mail/README
mail/submit.cf
mtree/4.4BSD.dist
mtree/special
/var/named/etc/root.hint
/var/named/etc/named*

cd /tmp/etc
cp netstart rc rc.conf services /etc
cp afs/CellServDB /etc/afs
cp mtree/* /etc/mtree
cp mail/README mail/submit.cf /etc/mail
cp ../var/named/etc/root.hint ../var/named/etc/named-*.conf /var/named/etc
cp ../var/named/etc/named.conf /var/named/etc/  # IF no local changes!

3a. Merging locally changed files via a patch file

These files likely have local changes, but should be updated for 4.5. IF you have not altered these files, you can copy over the new version, otherwise the changes should be merged with your files:

/etc/changelist
/etc/ftpusers
/etc/ksh.kshrc
/etc/lynx.cfg
/etc/mail/aliases
/etc/mail/trusted-users
/etc/shells
/etc/ssh/ssh_config

cd /
patch -C -p0 < upgrade45.patch

The following files have had changes which should be looked at, but it is unlikely they should be directly copied or merged (i.e., if you are using pf.conf, look at the suggested change of strategy, and decide if it is appropriate for your use).

etc/dhcpd.conf
etc/ntpd.conf
etc/pf.conf

Finally, use newaliases(8) to update the aliases database, mtree(8) create any new directories:

newaliases
mtree -qdef /etc/mtree/4.4BSD.dist -p / -u

3b. Merging locally changed files via sysmerge(8)

The new sysmerge(8) utility will compare the files that are actually on your system with those that would be installed to a fresh install, and assist you in merging the changes into your system. Note that unlike the patch file, there are no assumptions made about what is actually on your system, so you can use sysmerge(8) to move between more arbitrary points in the development process, such as from an earlier -current to 4.5-release or from one -current to a later one.

Please read the sysmerge(8) manual page before using it on your system. You are also advised to read the diff(1), sdiff(1) and even review more(1) manual pages before continuing.

Assuming the etc45.tgz and xetc45.tgz files exists in your $RELEASEPATH, run it with:

# sudo sysmerge -as $RELEASEPATH/etc45.tgz -x $RELEASEPATH/xetc45.tgz

  Use 'd' to delete the temporary ./var/www/htdocs/index.html
  Use 'i' to install the temporary ./var/www/htdocs/index.html
  Use 'm' to merge the temporary and installed versions
  Use 'v' to view the diff results again

  Default is to leave the temporary file to deal with by hand

If you wish to retain your existing file, delete the temporary file, if you wish to replace your existing file with the new version, install the temporary file. If you wish to merge the two together, choosing 'm' will put you into sdiff(1), where you can manually merge the file. The default is to come back and deal with the file later, manually.

While it can work, we do not recommend you use sysmerge to integrate new users into the system, but rather use the useradd(8) line above. We believe it is much less error prone. (hint: do not install the temporary master.passwd file over your existing one!).

Sysmerge(8) saves all your replaced files into a temporary directory, similar to /var/tmp/sysmerge.24959/backups, so if you accidentally clobber something that was probably not such a good idea, you have a chance to recover it. Note that daily(8) cleans old files from this directory.

4. Checking the kernel

If you followed the instructions for the upgrade process without install kernel, you have already completed this step. However, if you used the install kernel, and if you had a modified kernel in 4.4, it is likely you will need to modify the stock kernel of 4.5. This can be as simple as modifying a specific device using config(8), or it can involve a recompilation if the option you need is not included in the GENERIC kernel. Please consult FAQ 5 - Building the system from source before considering to recompile your kernel.

5. Upgrading packages

The following packages are known to have significant upgrade issues that will impact a large number of users. The fact that a package is not on this list doesn't mean it will have a trivial upgrade. You must do some homework on the applications YOU use.

• subversion: New features (e.g. merge-tracking) require the repository to be upgraded manually by using the 'svnadmin upgrade' command. See the release notes.
• kqemu: Must be kept in sync with the kernel. pkg_delete prior to the upgrade, then pkg_add the new package once the upgrade has been completed.

The package tools support in-place updating using pkg_add -u. For instance, to update all your packages, make sure PKG_PATH is pointing to the 4.5 packages directory on your CD or nearest FTP mirror, and use something like

# pkg_add -ui -F update -F updatedepends

A number of Perl modules which used to be separate packages are now included with Perl 5.10.0 in the base system, so after updating the other packages, their packages must now be removed. In addition, xcompmgr(1) is now part of xbase45.tgz, and no longer a package, so it must also be removed.

pkg_delete p5-Archive-Tar p5-Compress-Raw-Zlib p5-Compress-Zlib \
p5-IO-Compress-Base p5-IO-Compress-Zlib p5-IO-Zlib p5-Module-Build \
p5-Module-CoreList p5-Module-Load p5-version p5-Digest-SHA \
p5-Locale-Maketext-Simple p5-Pod-Escapes p5-Pod-Simple \
p5-ExtUtils-ParseXS p5-ExtUtils-CBuilder p5-Module-Pluggable \
p5-Time-Piece p5-Module-Loaded xcompmgr

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