Installing Software

Describes how to install software using Jails in FreeCORE.

A new jail contains the base system from its selected FreeBSD release. Install and manage additional software from the jail shell, not from the FreeCORE host shell.

Go to Jails, expand the jail, and click Start. After its state changes to up, click Shell.

Install Binary Packages

Binary packages are the simplest way to add software. Use pkg search to find a package, pkg install to install it, and pkg upgrade to update installed packages:

pkg update
pkg search <name>
pkg install <package-name>
pkg upgrade

Use pkg info to list installed packages or pkg info <package-name> to inspect one package. Third-party programs normally install under /usr/local; their configuration files are usually under /usr/local/etc.

Build from the Ports Collection

Use a port only when you need build-time options or software that is not available as a package. Building ports consumes more CPU, memory, storage, and time than installing packages.

The Ports Collection is maintained with Git. Follow the FreeBSD Handbook: Using the Ports Collection and select a ports branch compatible with the package repository used inside the jail. Mixing packages from one branch with ports from another can create dependency conflicts.

A typical first checkout is:

pkg install git
git clone --depth 1 --branch <quarterly-branch> \
  https://git.FreeBSD.org/ports.git /usr/ports

Update an existing checkout with:

git -C /usr/ports pull

Then enter the desired port directory and build it:

cd /usr/ports/<category>/<port>
make config
make install clean

Read /usr/ports/UPDATING before upgrading software built from ports.

Start an Installed Service

Packages that provide a service normally install an rc script under /usr/local/etc/rc.d. Replace <service> below with the rc script name:

sysrc <service>_enable=YES
service <service> start
service <service> status

Use service <service> onestart to test a service without enabling it at jail startup. Consult the package documentation for any required configuration under /usr/local/etc before starting it.