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 [email protected].
    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 CDROM 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 to 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 CDROM distribution. Every CD on the FreeBSD 4-CD set (and 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 is identical to that of the ports; they work with each other to form the entire package/port system.

4.4.2 Deleting a Package

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

    # pkg_delete xchat-1.7.1

4.4.3 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.

4.4.4 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.