Package Port Directory Structure

The directory structure of a package for pfSense® software is similar to that of a traditional FreeBSD port.

or more information on working with FreeBSD Ports, see bsd.port.mk.

This page uses the simple Cron package as an example, many other packages are similar. See FreeBSD Ports Used for Packages for links to existing packages to copy/clone from.

Category

First is the category, which roughly lines up with the category for the package with the caveat that if a pfSense package is based on a FreeBSD port, it should be in the same location (e.g. haproxy is under net/haproxy)

In the case of Cron this is sysutils:

FreeBSD-ports/sysutils/

Main package directory

Inside of the category directory, it is always prefixed with pfSense-pkg-:

FreeBSD-ports/sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/

Note

From here on, the FreeBSD-ports prefix will be omitted for brevity.

Makefile

Includes version information, information about binaries, dependencies, install procedures, where to copy files, and so on. Copy an existing one for a similar package and adjust as needed (but do so carefully):

sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/Makefile

pfSense software standard package install/deinstall scripts

Note

These files are identical for all packages. Copy the contents from another existing package.

sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/files/pkg-deinstall.in
sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/files/pkg-install.in

Description

A brief text description of the package:

sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/pkg-descr

Packing List

A list of files installed by the package, for specifics on the format, see the links above:

sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/pkg-plist

Files Directory

The directory where custom files are placed which will be copied to the firewall:

sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/files/

The structure under the files/ directory should follow the same conventions as files on the pfSense installation, which typically follows hier(7) from FreeBSD. For example, executable scripts would go under files/usr/local/bin/

Privileges

An optional file containing privilege information:

sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/files/etc/inc/priv/cron.priv.inc

Package Code and Configuration

The include files and XML files for the package:

sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/files/usr/local/pkg/cron.inc
sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/files/usr/local/pkg/cron.xml

XML Metadata

sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/files/usr/local/share/pfSense-pkg-Cron/info.xml

GUI-Accessible Files

Files that go into the main directory of the web server:

sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/files/usr/local/www/

Note

The Cron package uses a subdirectory under /usr/local/www for its files - - this is optional.

sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/files/usr/local/www/packages/cron/cron.php
sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/files/usr/local/www/packages/cron/cron_edit.php
sysutils/pfSense-pkg-Cron/files/usr/local/www/packages/cron/index.php