From now on there’s a new category named ports_mgmt in the FreeBSD ports tree wich includes all ports and packages management tools available for FreeBSD.

Here’s the /usr/ports/UPDATING snip on the subject.

20070205:
  AFFECTS: everybody

  AUTHOR: xxxxx (_I've removed the author's email for spam protection_)

  New ports category was created - /usr/ports/ports-mgmt

  Most significant port moved to this new category is portupgrade. So don't be alarmed, it was not deleted. You can find it now in /usr/ports/ports-mgmt/portupgrade

If you find problems using the portupgrade tool you can do this

$ pkg_delete portupgrade\*

$ cd /usr/ports/ports-mgmt/portupgrade && make install clean

$ /usr/ports/INDEX*.db

$ portsdb -u

Recently I wrote about Upgrading to FreeBSD 6.2. There you can find the cvsup technique.

Also you can use portsnap technique

If you’re looking for a port/pkg tool with a GUI for an “easier” management please have a look at KPorts

To install the port: cd /usr/ports/ports-mgmt/kports/ && make install clean

To add the package: pkg_add -r kports

$ kdesu kports

KPorts seems like a nice app, take a look.

But I’d still go for the old-school way :)

Have big phun!