How to Find Documentation for a Specific FreeBSD Version on docs.freebsd.org

The FreeBSD documentation site separates content by version, so the reliable way to get instructions that match your system is to first identify your installed FreeBSD release or branch, then navigate to the documentation set for that version rather than reading the default (usually latest) pages. This matters because commands, file paths, and defaults change between releases, and following instructions from a different branch can produce mismatched results.

First, confirm which FreeBSD version you are running

Before browsing, establish the exact version string on the machine you are working with. On a running FreeBSD system, the standard command is:

freebsd-version -kru

• -k prints the installed kernel version
• -r prints the running kernel version
• -u prints the userland version

These can differ after a partial upgrade, so note all three. If you are reading documentation for a machine you cannot access, ask for the output of uname -r or freebsd-version instead of guessing.

Match the version to a documentation set

FreeBSD documentation is organized around releases and branches. In practice you will encounter:

The key rule: pick the documentation set whose version matches your system, and treat any page labeled for a different version as background reading only. If a page states it applies to a specific release, do not apply its steps to another release without checking the equivalent section for your version.

Navigate the site by version

On docs.freebsd.org, documentation is presented as separate versioned sets rather than one undifferentiated library. To find the right one:

1. Open the documentation home page.
2. Locate the version selector or the list of available documentation versions.
3. Choose the entry that matches the release or branch you confirmed above.
4. From there, use the table of contents or search within that version's set.

If you land on a page through a search engine, check the version indicator shown for that page before following any commands. A page reached from an external link may belong to a different version than the one you need.

Handle versions that are not listed

Older releases are eventually retired from the main documentation set, and newer ones may appear before they are fully documented. When your version is not directly listed:

• Check whether a nearby release in the same major version documents the same behavior, and verify any differences against your own system.
• Consult the release notes and errata for your version, which record changes that affect documented procedures.
• For development branches, expect documentation to lag behind the code and confirm behavior on the system itself.

Common pitfalls

• Reading the latest docs by default. The most prominent pages usually track the newest version, not yours.
• Mixing handbook and manual pages. The Handbook is versioned on the site; manual pages reflect the system you are on, so run man locally for exact flags.
• Trusting cached search results. Search engines may return pages for retired versions; always confirm the version label on the page.
• Assuming identical steps across major versions. Configuration file formats and default services change between major releases.

Quick checklist

• Run freebsd-version -kru and record the result.
• Select the matching documentation version on docs.freebsd.org.
• Confirm the version label on every page before executing commands.
• Cross-check version-specific behavior with release notes and local manual pages.