OpenBSD: base and package management

Note, each of the commands comes with a man page, which I encourage you to read. This post is merely to get you started. Also note, that there is afterboot(8).

Base System

Upgrade OpenBSD to the next version (will reboot)

# sysupgrade

Update base system configuration files after an OpenBSD upgrade

# sysmerge

Install security updates for the base system

# syspatch

Update firmware

This does not need to be run manually. It’s only relevant when you install hardware which needs a firmware and which was not present during the installation or the last upgrade.

# fw_update

Add On Package System

Search for a package

# pkg_info -Q xfce

Install a package

# pkg_add xfce

Uninstall a package

# pkg_delete xfce
# pkg_delete -c xfce # also remove configuration

Deinstall leftover dependencies

# pkg_delete -a
# pkg_delete -ac # also remove configuration

Update packages

# pkg_add -u

Check/repair package database

This command is only relevant if you see errors during pkg_add. This can happen if your system crashes while updating, which may get the package database into a weird state. If you don’t know the answers to pkg_checks questions, deinstalling and reinstalling the package in question usually solves the problem.

# pkg_check

Deinstall all packages on the system

# pkg_delete -X