pkg_add is a utility for installing software package distributions. It works like Linux apt-get command. It can download package from freebsd ftp site with the remote fetching feature. This will determine the appropriate objformat and release and then fetch and install the package. You can use following syntax:
pkg_add -v -r {package-name}
For example, you can install vim package:
# pkg_add -v -r vim
By default it downloads, the package from ftp.freebsd.org if this site is too busy then you need to use other ftp site location. You can define the environment variable PACKAGEROOT specifies an alternate location for pkg_add to fetch from. The fetch URL is built using this environment variable and the automatic directory logic that pkg_add uses when the -r option is used. For example:
# export PACKAGEROOT=ftp://ftp3.FreeBSD.org # pkg_add -v -r vim
You can select FreeBSD ftp mirror sites list. At the writing of this HONG KONG is nearest mirror for me so I will use ftp://ftp.hk.freebsd.org/
# export PACKAGEROOT=ftp://ftp.hk.freebsd.org # pkg_add -v -r zip
Besides environment variable PACKAGESITE specifies an alternate location for
pkg_add to fetch from. By default, ftp server uses directory path /pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-VERSION-release/Latest/. This variable subverts the automatic directory logic that pkg_add uses when the -r option is used. Thus it should be a complete URL to the remote package file(s).
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve found that portupgrade suite of tools is a nice alternative to pkg_add, etc… A good starting point is HERE
Well that method is bit old, it better to use portsnap or cvsup-without-gui. Both are easy for newbie, IMPO
For the record:
Portsnap and cvsup are entirely different operations than pkg_add and portupgrade, and they cannot be compared at all. It’s like comparing apples to oranges.
The first 2 programs updates the ports tree, and the other 2 installs packages (portupgrade -P can also start compiling a port if it fails to find a package)
If I am not wrong, export command will work for bourne and bash, but FreeBSD defaults to csh. csh doesn’t support export, one has to use set command in that case. This part has been missed out in the tip.
It should be, for instance
Sorry, that was a careless mistake, the actual syntax is
Remember the trailing /, I did forget to add it :D
When installing from the Ports Collection with – make install clean – , there is some way to set your preferred mirror locations? PACKAGEROOT and PACKAGESITE variables serve only for the pkg command?
Great tip. Thanks Mehul
Salamo Alikom
is there way to setup default mirror for ports ?
Excuse me,
it is possible to set it pernamently?
To work it also after restart of server?
I think, that setting of variables is functional only for session…
There must be some file, where you can write it…
I will investigate it…
Excuse me, I forgot, It can be easily set in file .profile at users directory…
IMHO, this could be done by editing /etc/csh.cshrc, if you are usinsg a c shell. csh.cshrc as i understand runs every time c shell is started.