Solved freebsd-update and __FreeBSD_version

[Mjölnir]

Occasionally I wondered why __FreeBSD_version in /usr/include/osreldate.h is not updated by freebsd-update(8). The documentation in the "Porter's Handbook" let me think it would have to be updated, because the version number relates to fixed security issues.

 

[kpa]

Occasionally I wondered why __FreeBSD_version in /usr/include/osreldate.h is not updated by freebsd-update. The documentation in the "Porter's Handbook" let me think it would have to be updated, because the version number relates to fixed security issues.

It doesn't relate to fixed issues, security or otherwise. It's more of a secondary/internal version number that can be tested by ported software whether or not they can use certain features or not.

https://www.freebsd.org/doc/en/books/porters-handbook/book.html#freebsd-versions-table

As you can see from the list, the changes to the version number are done only on stable and head (11-CURRENT at the moment) branches. The only exceptions are "taggings" of the release branches but they don't related changed or new features.

 

[Mjölnir]

I thought "FreeBSD-SA-xy:za..." relates to a Security Advisory that is fixed by the update. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[junovitch@]

kpa has got it for the __FreeBSD_version string. For routine security and errata fixes, the patch level gets bumped in the file /usr/src/sys/conf/newvers.sh.