Next steps... (long)

[nuk]

Hello all,

I've recently retired my home Linux boxes in favor of some new challenges... one of which is building a small home LAN server on an older Panasonic CF-71 P2-300 laptop w/ 128MB RAM and a 6GB HD.

Installation went pretty smoothly, w/ some minor recalibration needed to overcome several years of tinkering w/ Linux. I installed using the 4.7 mini-iso, doing a plain 'User' install. Then, since I have a slow 56k dialup line at home, I managed to arrange to use a broadband connection long enough to cvsup to RELENG_4_7, and the ports and docs as well. Downloaded a few niceties like a couple different shells, vim-lite, screen, sudo ,etc. at the same time and installed them using ports.

I've built custom kernels in Linux, but it's been a while. And it appears the system upgrade process in FreeBSD is completely unlike what I'm used to. The laptop in question has a busted screen, which is why it's being relegated to headless server duty. For various reasons, it's *not* situated physically close to another computer w/ a monitor that I could hi-jack the cable from temporarily to do some of the single-user mode stuff.

I *think* I understand enough about what I need to do next from looking at the Handbook and other on-line documents, but I would like some confirmation from a more knowledgeable user before I commit any further. What I believe I need to do next is:

1. Update sources via CVS **I've got separate supfiles set up to do src independent of ports independent of docs. Since this is going to be a 'production' system, using the CVS tag RELENG_4_7, it shouldn't change very often, correct? What is a good recommended interval for updating the sources via cvs in this case? Weekly, monthly, semi-annually, not until next release/upgrade? What about the ports and docs? This system isn't going to see a lot of 'interactive' user activity. Mainly a server for stuff like dns, dhcp, ntp, email, news, maybe a little bit of http/mysql stuff and bit of light programming via the shell, but that's it. Once I get the programs/services installed and setup the way I want, it's unlikely I'll be changing them very much. Do I need to bother updating the ports more than maybe once a week, or more likely, once a month?

2. Rebuild the system. I've been reviewing the material in the Handbook and at http://www.mostgraveconcern.com/freebsd/ on make world. When I get the laptop set back up, I will be digging thru /usr/src/UPDATING as recommended. I'm pretty sure I can work my way thru that part. I guess the only points needing clarification are: I assume its probably a good idea (at least for now) to do the make world step independently of futzing w/ the kernel config, correct? And as far as doing the system upgrade w/o physically hooking the laptop up to a separate monitor, etc. I need to shut down as many services/processes as is feasible, just prior to doing the make installworld step, right? Kind of related to the above question about how often to cvsup sources, but I assume that when ever I do that, I need to jump thru the same hoops here, as far as shutting everything down, and rebooting? Since my 'normal' access to this box is via network/ssh, how do I make *sure* that I will be able to get back into the machine remotely when it comes back up?

3. Configure and rebuild a custom kernel for the local machine. It runs fine w/ the GENERIC kernel for now, but it might be nice to trim things down a bit (and just mainly for the experience).

4. Again, going back to the first part: After I get to this point, I should have a freshly built system that is more or less optimized for the hardware it's running on, and the only thing I really need to update periodically is the ports tree, and watch for security updates. Speaking of which, does a make world rebuild the stuff built from ports as well, or do they each have to be done separately. Similarly, if there are security updates, do I have to cvsup the whole thing, source and ports again, and redo the whole make world/reboot dog-n-pony show, or is there a way of just updating the afflicted portion (I would assume so, but I figure it's better to find out early on)

Well, that's about it for this round. Like I said, I've been looking thru a fair bit of online material, but some of it doesn't quite click as I don't have a baseline reference to relate it to, since I mainly stuck w/ binary packages in Linux, and only infrequently rebuilt the kernel.

Any help, comments, or suggestions are gratefully appreciated.

Thanks,

nuk


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