How to install ports using old distfiles

[ph0enix]

I have a FreeBSD 7.1 system with a lot of outdated packages on it. I need to replicate it in a test environment and I don't know what the best way of doing that is. I have installed 7.1 on a new machine and copied the contents of /usr/ports/distfiles from the existing system to it but I'm not sure how to compile all the old software along with the dependencies. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

J.

 

[SirDice]

FreeBSD 7.1 went End-of-Life in February 2011. It's not supported anymore.

The best way would be to install 7.4 and migrate.

 

[ph0enix]

FreeBSD 7.1 went End-of-Life in February 2011. It's not supported anymore.

The best way would be to install 7.4 and migrate.

I understand that 7.1 is not supported anymore but I can't really upgrade the system at this time so I'm wondering if there is a way to use the old distfiles to compile the software.

Thank you!

J.

 

[da1]

If you need a 1:1 copy, try dd.

If not, get a list of installed ports and ... well, start with 1 and work your way down.

 

[SirDice]

Iterate through /var/db/pkg/, use pkg_create(1) to create packages from existing (installed) ports/packages. Move those to your "new" server.

When that's done plan the upgrade to 7.4.

 

[wblock@]

There are better tools than dd(1) to duplicate a system. dump(8)/restore(8) are made for that. See Backup Options For FreeBSD.

 

[ph0enix]

Iterate through /var/db/pkg/, use pkg_create(1) to create packages from existing (installed) ports/packages. Move those to your "new" server.

When that's done plan the upgrade to 7.4.

pkg_create(1) worked great! Thank you! The plan is to upgrade to either 8.x or 9.x in the near future.

 

[SirDice]

The plan is to upgrade to either 8.x or 9.x in the near future.

That's even better!