How long i can use FreeBSD 14.2 without upgrading but able to install packages ?

GlitchyDot

GlitchyDot

I just installed FreeBSD 14.2-RELEASE so i could use nVidia gpu passtrough and dont want to update the system to 14.3 so i wont loose bhyve+nvidia capability.
Question is - how long i can use my 14.2-RELEASE and be able to use pkg to install packages ? will packages go out of date and need to use ports tree in the future ?
Dont want to use FreeBSD 15-CURRENT as i have many issues with it and dont have a luxury to solve it nor have a time to deal with mailing list ( i still have no clue how it works and i just fill my email with emails from the mailing list )
 
I would say you have until 14.2 goes EOL, then toss in "when quarterlies get updated to use 14.3 as a base" . 14.2 EoL roughly Sept 2025, not sure if quarterly packages would affect that.
High level "what happens":
Packages (quarterlies) are built against lowest common denominator. Right now 14.3 is released, 14.2 is "legacy" so packages are built agains 14.2 (backwards compatibility). Around Sept 2025 packages will be built against 14.3.
This is basically a "relatively non issue" with drm-kmods the biggest issue. But that has been solved with a FreeBSD-kmods repo to pick up correct things.

So I would say "You have until Sept 2025".
But I ask:
Why do you think that 14.3 won't support bhyve+nvidia? As long as everything is updated and consistent you should be ok.
You talk about 14.2 to 15. I would think that 14.2 to 14.3 would have greater probability of working .

Are you using ZFS? If so, perfect test case for Boot Environments.
 
There are no patches for 14.3 ( 14.0 / 14.2 / 15.0 only ) and i dont know how to make it work on 14.3 if i upgrade it. This is why i mentioned 15.
github.com

GitHub - Beckhoff/freebsd-src: FreeBSD src tree (read-only mirror)

FreeBSD src tree (read-only mirror). Contribute to Beckhoff/freebsd-src development by creating an account on GitHub.
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Yes, i do use ZFS.
Well if its till September - i still have a time and maybe in that time there will be 14.3 option or ill be able to make it work on 14.3
As my WS is headless - i dont really need any kmod`s for gpu so im cool with it.
 
That looks to me like you are using a private repo, not FreeBSD repos proper? Is that a correct understanding?
If so then you tied to that repo to get the results you want.
Is that repo running in your VMs or is it running on the host?

I honestly have no useful information on this.
 
Yes, its private repo and yes - im tied to it as im not sure there is other way to make nvidia gpu passtrough to bhyve and have cuda etc. as everywhere i look there is this repo to make it happen.
Repo is running on my host and this is the reason for my topic question.
 
Ok. Has the repo owner tried to get patches incorporated upstream? If not, you are tied to the repo. If so and they were rejected, you are tied to the repo.
Basically, I think you are tied to the repo, not FreeBSD "proper".

Now go back to my question about using ZFS:
You said yes, so I would create new Boot Environment for 15.0 from the private repo and see what happens.
Worst case, new BE fails miserably, so you fall back to 14.2 BE until Sept 2025 and hope that things get fixed for 15 before then.
 
mer said:
Ok. Has the repo owner tried to get patches incorporated upstream? If not, you are tied to the repo. If so and they were rejected, you are tied to the repo.
Basically, I think you are tied to the repo, not FreeBSD "proper".

Now go back to my question about using ZFS:
You said yes, so I would create new Boot Environment for 15.0 from the private repo and see what happens.
Worst case, new BE fails miserably, so you fall back to 14.2 BE until Sept 2025 and hope that things get fixed for 15 before then.
Click to expand...
I tried 15 and had to go back to 14 as i had some strange behavior and issues and atm kinda not trying to get involved with mailing-list due to the lack of time and need my machine in good operational order without following emails.
Yes, you are correct - its not official FreeBSD repo, that repo is , well - they are German engineering company and looks like they are using FreeBSD and have some patches for gpu passtrough for bhyve and sharing it with the world.
So lets say September comes in and things stopping for 14.2 - can i still use ports and build packages i need or i would start getting build errors, wrong version etc ?
 
GlitchyDot said:
So lets say September comes in and things stopping for 14.2 - can i still use ports and build packages i need or i would start getting build errors, wrong version etc ?
Click to expand...
I don't know. I would think if you commit to building ports that is a start, any errors would be on you to resolve. Would you start getting errors? I have no idea.
 
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