Upgrading FreeBSD

freebsd-update

freebsd-update is not meant to be run in parallel with the same workdir (-d).

Minor Version Upgrades

Prebuilt binary packages will also be provided for all major branches and Tier 1 platforms and will be made available via pkg(8). Package builds will use the oldest supported minor release within each major branch to ensure ABI and KBI backwards compatibility within each major branch, and support all minor versions of each major branch, including -RELEASE and -STABLE.

It’s safe to use pkg from a EoL-ed minor version, as long as the major branch has not reached its EOL date yet.

bootcode update

If you have the good old MBR, try this to update the bootcode.

gpart bootcode -b /boot/pmbr -p /boot/gptzfsboot -i 1 ada0

References

• https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/handbook/cutting-edge/#updating-bootcode
• https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=gptzfsboot&sektion=8&format=html