Installing software on FreeBSD

how to satisfy dependencies from the hard disk if possible

[martin]

I installed FreeBSD recently and am wondering if there's an easy way to make it so when I do pkg_add -r package it fetches the package and all its dependencies from the hard disk if possible and not over the network.

I have set PKG_PATH to the directories where the packages are placed but I can't add a ftp mirror there because the entries are semi colon delimited.

[bakedjake]

This should help you:
[onlamp.com...]

I'll admit - I'm a bit confused by your question. If you're installing from the hard drive, why do you need an FTP mirror?

Also - have you built the ports skeleton? If so, you can just stick things in /usr/ports/distfiles, and install normally with make install distclean.

[martin]

Sorry for sounding confusing. I meant binary packages and not source, and I have some of these on my hard disk (copied from the CD actually) but not all of them.

I have the ports too and I found that some ports were only available in source...

If I want to install a new package it's 40-50MB/s (for large packages only :-) from the hard disk versus 50-60kb/s via network, not even counting that it consumes network bandwith and hogs other network dependant processes.

[MattyMoose]

Sorry for sounding confusing. I meant binary packages and not source, and I have some of these on my hard disk (copied from the CD actually) but not all of them.

I have the ports too and I found that some ports were only available in source...

If I want to install a new package it's 40-50MB/s (for large packages only :-) from the hard disk versus 50-60kb/s via network, not even counting that it consumes network bandwith and hogs other network dependant processes.

If you're trying to install your apps from packages, and you have the CD, you should use /stand/sysinstall. This will install the packages for you and cover any dependencies, while only using packages, no source, and use the packages from the CD.

I should also mention that you really should use the ports system. Sure, it's slower than going from disk, but all of the packages you have are most likely all outdated. (Even if you're using a 4.9-REL CD).

For example, recent versions GAIM had several vulnerabilities in them, and the package that's distributed with 4.9 has the vulnerable version. A freshly CVSUP'd ports system has the latest version.

Also, there's the question of optimization. Once your /etc/make.conf is set up properly, your installed ports are optimized for your architecture, and cc/gcc optimization flags, whereas the packages are built for i386. And most likely not optimized for your system.

If, on the other hand you're using packages from another system's "make package", "make package-recursive" or "pkg_create -jb", which were built using source, you might be ok, but I don't think this is the case...

At any rate, give /stand/sysinstall a try with the CD. (You can also point it to a directory, FTP Server, NFS Mount, etc, and not just the CD)

[MattyMoose]

I should also mention that you could check out these links for the things I mentioned:

Using CVSUP, and PortUpgrade:
[freebsddiary.org ]

Optimizing your system with make.conf (and more):

[silverwraith.com ]

-MM

[martin]

Thanks for the tips, I'm actually using 5.2 as it's a desktop box, moving from Debian.

I didn't actually think about compiling everything... maybe just mplayer and mozilla and some ports that are available only in source. I don't think it will make such a big difference compared to the time I have to put into doing it, it's a pretty fast box anyway PIII 733MHz with 512MB RAM.