Updating Jails and Plugins

Describes how to update jails and plugins in FreeCORE.

This guide covers iocage jails and the 15.0 plugin update workflow. For 15.1, see the separate Bastille and Applications procedures. The iocage plugin store no longer updates plugins from its catalog on 15.1.

Jails and plugins use a specific FreeBSD release plus its patch level. An update applies patches within the installed release; an upgrade moves a jail to another FreeBSD release.

Before either operation, back up important jail data and configuration. The jail must be able to reach the FreeBSD update and package servers.

Update a Jail Within Its Release

Go to Jails, expand the jail, and click Update. This applies the newest available patch level for the jail's installed FreeBSD release; it does not change the release itself.

Review job output for errors. Jail update logs are also written to /var/log/iocage.log.

Upgrade a Jail to Another Release

Confirm that the target release is supported by the FreeCORE host and by the software inside the jail. Stop the jail, open the FreeCORE Shell, and run:

iocage upgrade <jail-name> -r <target-release>

The first upgrade to a release can take longer because iocage must download it. Start the jail afterward and test every service before removing an older, unused release from the iocage/releases dataset.

Update a Plugin

Go to Plugins, select an installed plugin, and click Update. Select Update jail as well when the plugin jail should also receive its FreeBSD updates.

Plugin updates can change both the packaged application and its jail configuration. Read the plugin's post-install notes and verify the application after the job completes.

Update Packages Installed Manually

For software installed manually inside a custom jail, start the jail, open Shell, and run:

pkg update
pkg upgrade

This updates packages from the repository configured inside that jail. It does not replace the plugin update action for a managed plugin.