4.4 Using the Packages System

4.4.1 Installing a Package

You can use the pkg_add(1) utility to install a FreeBSD software package from a local file or from a server on the network.

    # ftp -a ftp2.FreeBSD.org
    Connected to ftp2.FreeBSD.org.
    220 ftp2.FreeBSD.org FTP server (Version 6.00LS) ready.
    331 Guest login ok, send your email address as password.
    230-
    230-     This machine is in Vienna, VA, USA, hosted by Verio.
    230-         Questions? E-mail freebsd@vienna.verio.net.
    230-
    230-
    230 Guest login ok, access restrictions apply.
    Remote system type is UNIX.
    Using binary mode to transfer files.
    ftp> cd /pub/FreeBSD/ports/packages/sysutils/
    250 CWD command successful.
    ftp> get lsof-4.56.4.tgz
    local: lsof-4.56.4.tgz remote: lsof-4.56.4.tgz
    200 PORT command successful.
    150 Opening BINARY mode data connection for 'lsof-4.56.4.tgz' (92375 bytes).
    100% |**************************************************| 92375       00:00 ETA
    226 Transfer complete.
    92375 bytes received in 5.60 seconds (16.11 KB/s)
    ftp> exit
    # pkg_add lsof-4.56.4.tgz

If you do not have a source of local packages (such as a FreeBSD CD-ROM set) then it will probably be easier to use the -r option to pkg_add(1). This will cause the utility to automatically determine the correct object format and release and then fetch and install the package from an FTP site.

    # pkg_add -r lsof

The example above would download the correct package and add it without any further user intervention. pkg_add(1) uses fetch(3) to download the files, which honours various environment variables, including FTP_PASSIVE_MODE, FTP_PROXY, and FTP_PASSWORD. You may need to set one or more of these if you are behind a firewall, or need to use an FTP/HTTP proxy. See fetch(3) for the complete list. You can also note that in the example above lsof is used instead of lsof-4.56.4. When the remote fetching feature is used, the version number of the package must be removed. pkg_add(1) will automatically fetch the latest version of the application.

Package files are distributed in .tgz format. You can find them at ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/packages/, or on the FreeBSD CD-ROM distribution. Every CD on the FreeBSD 4-CD set (and the PowerPak, etc.) contains packages in the /packages directory. The layout of the packages is similar to that of the /usr/ports tree. Each category has its own directory, and every package can be found within the All directory.

The directory structure of the package system matches the ports layout; they work with each other to form the entire package/port system.

4.4.2 Managing Packages

pkg_info(1) is a utility that lists and describes the various packages installed.

    # pkg_info
    cvsup-16.1          A general network file distribution system optimized for CV
    docbook-1.2         Meta-port for the different versions of the DocBook DTD
    ...

pkg_version(1) is a utility that summarizes the versions of all installed packages. It compares the package version to the current version found in the ports tree.

    # pkg_version
    cvsup                       =
    docbook                     =
    ...

The symbols in the second column indicate the relative age of the installed version and the version available in the local ports tree.

4.4.3 Deleting a Package

To remove a previously installed software package, use the pkg_delete(1) utility.

    # pkg_delete xchat-1.7.1

4.4.4 Miscellaneous

All package information is stored within the /var/db/pkg directory. The installed file list and descriptions of each package can be found within files in this directory.