OpenBSD 7.6 Sysupgrade Guide

This is a quick upgrade guide for OpenBSD 7.6 using sysupgrade(8).

NOTE: This guide is no substitute for reading the OpenBSD FAQ. In particular, you should read the Upgrade Guide.

First, check to see if you need to upgrade your OS. To find our your operating system version, type: uname -r. If it says 7.5 or earlier, you need to upgrade. If it says 7.6, or 7.6-beta you are on the most recent OS version.

Before you begin, make sure to back up any files. Use dump and restore or rsync.

Performing the Upgrade

$ doas sysupgrade

Running sysupgrade(8) above will automatically download the base sets and reboot the system for installation. The upgrade will begin automatically. You can view it in the serial console ? for VMM, or use VNC for if your provider offers it.

# sysupgrade
Fetching from https://ftp.usa.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/7.6/amd64/
SHA256.sig   100% |*************************************|  2324       00:00    
Signature Verified
INSTALL.amd64 100% |************************************| 44889       00:00    
base76.tgz    16% |*********                            | 71424 KB    01:33 ETA

Once installation begins, you will need serial console access to view progress. If you're using OpenBSD VMM for hypervisor, you can login to the host and use vmctl console:

host$ vmctl console username
syncing disks... done
vmmci0: powerdown
rebooting...                                                                                           
Using drive 0, partition 3.                                                                            
Loading......                                                                                          
probing: pc0 com0 mem[638K 2046M a20=on]                                                               
disk: hd0+ hd1+                                                                                        
>> OpenBSD/amd64 BOOT 3.65                                                                             
upgrade detected: switching to /bsd.upgrade

Once complete, it will automatically reboot:

Installing xserv76.tgz  100% |**************************| 20070 KB    00:01    
Location of sets? (cd0 disk http nfs or 'done') [done] done
Making all device nodes... done.
...
CONGRATULATIONS! Your OpenBSD upgrade has been successfully completed!

syncing disks... done
vmmci0: powerdown
rebooting...

After installation completes, you should be able to login using ssh:

Last login: Mon Nov 11 13:56:25 2024 from 97.90.138.111
OpenBSD 7.6 (GENERIC) #332: Mon Sep 30 08:45:17 MDT 2024

Welcome to OpenBSD: The proactively secure Unix-like operating system.
...

To check if installation succeeded:

$ uname -a
OpenBSD username.host.example.org 7.6 GENERIC#332 amd64

You will want to syspatch the system:

$ doas syspatch

Then, you'll want to run sysmerge(8) to merge any configuration files:

$ doas sysmerge

Then, make sure to upgrade your packages:

$ doas pkg_add -u

Read and fix any error messages that you may see.