Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date
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No sane person manually updates all of their stuff all of the time.
In the Fedora realm, I use
dnf-automatic.
http://dnf.readthedocs.io/en/latest/automatic.html
The below instructions are for Fedora 26 and newer as the exact name of the timer changed from what it previously was.Update: 2018/12/04
As of Fedora 28 (possibly 27), the original timer and service name was implemented.
dnf install -y dnf-automaticNow you need to edit the
/etc/dnf/automatic.conffile to do what you want.
Generally I change the following fields from their default values to this.apply_updates = yes emit_via = email email_from = [email protected] email_to = [email protected] email_host = your.smtp.serverOptionally, edit the timer frequency. I leave it at the default of 1 day.
nano /usr/lib/systemd/system/dnf-automatic.timerSart and Enable the timer.
systemctl enable --now dnf-automatic.timerYou can list the time to see the status
systemctl list-timers --allIt will look like this
NEXT LEFT LAST PASSED UNIT ACTIVATES Tue 2017-11-21 22:42:15 CST 52min left Tue 2017-11-21 21:42:15 CST 7min ago dnf-makecache.timer dnf-makecache.servi Wed 2017-11-22 20:47:10 CST 22h left Tue 2017-11-21 20:47:10 CST 1h 2min ago systemd-tmpfiles-clean.timer systemd-tmpfiles-cl n/a n/a Tue 2017-11-21 21:47:57 CST 1min 59s ago dnf-automatic.timer dnf-automatic.service n/a n/a n/a n/a sysstat-collect.timer sysstat-collect.ser n/a n/a n/a n/a sysstat-summary.timer sysstat-summary.ser 5 timers listed.I typically reboot at this point and then check the timer again to make sure it is running as expected.
systemctl list-timers NEXT LEFT LAST PASSED UNIT ACTIVATES Tue 2017-11-21 22:00:00 CST 5min left n/a n/a sysstat-collect.timer sysstat-collect.service Tue 2017-11-21 22:04:18 CST 9min left n/a n/a dnf-makecache.timer dnf-makecache.service Tue 2017-11-21 22:09:18 CST 14min left n/a n/a systemd-tmpfiles-clean.timer systemd-tmpfiles-clean.service Tue 2017-11-21 22:54:18 CST 59min left n/a n/a dnf-automatic.timer dnf-automatic.service Wed 2017-11-22 00:07:00 CST 2h 12min left n/a n/a sysstat-summary.timer sysstat-summary.service -
Very helpful, thanks!
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If there are no updates to install, do you still get an e-mail reporting this?
Or only if there are updates installed?
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Nice guide, does this also work on the downstream forks of Fedora?
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@dustinb3403 said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
Nice guide, does this also work on the downstream forks of Fedora?
As long as they use the standard DNF packages, yes.
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@brrabill said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
If there are no updates to install, do you still get an e-mail reporting this?
Or only if there are updates installed?
So, everything was set up properly, apparently. Because I just ran it manually again and received an e-mail.
Have to get used to Linux, where if it doesn't say anything, it worked!
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@brrabill said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
If there are no updates to install, do you still get an e-mail reporting this?
Or only if there are updates installed?
No, only when it does something.
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As others have said, but never hurts to repeat ... great writeup.
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Guide updated to reflect timer name change back to original.
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I'm surprised this isn't a default setting.
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After upgrading to Fedora 29, my system was not updating regularly.
Looking at
systemctl list-timers --allI could see the timer was there but not scheduled to run.I have no idea what broke, because after researching, I found that they reintroduced the original naming, but the specific timers should have still been functioning.
Whatever. I removed the
-installand started the original.systemctl stop dnf-automatic-install.timer systemctl disable dnf-automatic-install.timer systemctl enable --now dnf-automatic.timer -
@Dashrender said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
I'm surprised this isn't a default setting.
Or at least provide an option during installation.
@JaredBusch said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
After upgrading to Fedora 29, my system was not updating regularly.
Looking at
systemctl list-timers --allI could see the timer was there but not scheduled to run.I have no idea what broke, because after researhcing, I found that they reintroduced the original nameing, but the specific timers should have still been functioning.
Whatever. I removed the
-installand started the original.systemctl stop dnf-automatic-install.timer systemctl disable dnf-automatic-install.timer systemctl enable --now dnf-automatic.timerYep, I was also experience the same thing too.
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@Dashrender said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
I'm surprised this isn't a default setting.
Default for who or what?
If you install Fedora 29 + Cinnamon desktop, there is a GUI updater installed by default.
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@JaredBusch said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
@Dashrender said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
I'm surprised this isn't a default setting.
Defualt for who or what?
If you install Fedora 29 + Cinnamon desktop, there is a GUI updater installed by default.
In this day and age - I more expect things to autoupdate themselves for consumers... of course Fedora... so it is really a consumer thing? Is there a difference between client and server? I think we've had that conversation before.. though I don't recall the exact output.
Now I'm ready for your impending /FFS
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@Dashrender said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
Now I'm ready for your impending /FFS
:face_with_stuck-out_tongue:
@Dashrender said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
In this day and age - I more expect things to autoupdate themselves for consumers... of course Fedora... so it is really a consumer thing?
I just said there was something installed by default on Desktop. Not this, but something.
@Dashrender said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
Is there a difference between client and server? I think we've had that conversation before.. though I don't recall the exact output.
There is no difference. It is all in the initial install choices you make. The desktop ISO has a different installer I believe. But that doesn't change the underpinning.
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@Dashrender now to address auto updates for server.
That also comes down to how you install.
I always, 100% of the time, start from the NetInstall ISO and choose the Minimal option during install.
That means there isn't jack shit setup by default.
I honestly have no idea what any of the other options install.
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@JaredBusch said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
@Dashrender now to address auto updates for server.
That also comes down to how you install.
I always, 100% of the time, start from the NetInstall ISO and choose the Minimal option during install.
That means there isn't jack shit setup by default.
I honestly have no idea what any of the other options install.
I wouldn't expect you to auto install updates on Server...
and my expectation is only for workstations.. and since Linux OSes don't really truly have a difference, then I guess a default type setting on it is not likely... of course, as you said - it could be one of the options you mentioned..
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@Dashrender said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
@JaredBusch said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
@Dashrender now to address auto updates for server.
That also comes down to how you install.
I always, 100% of the time, start from the NetInstall ISO and choose the Minimal option during install.
That means there isn't jack shit setup by default.
I honestly have no idea what any of the other options install.
I wouldn't expect you to auto install updates on Server...
and my expectation is only for workstations.. and since Linux OSes don't really truly have a difference, then I guess a default type setting on it is not likely... of course, as you said - it could be one of the options you mentioned..
FFS The Cinnamon desktop install DOES.. I said this many times...
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@JaredBusch said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
@Dashrender said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
@JaredBusch said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
@Dashrender now to address auto updates for server.
That also comes down to how you install.
I always, 100% of the time, start from the NetInstall ISO and choose the Minimal option during install.
That means there isn't jack shit setup by default.
I honestly have no idea what any of the other options install.
I wouldn't expect you to auto install updates on Server...
and my expectation is only for workstations.. and since Linux OSes don't really truly have a difference, then I guess a default type setting on it is not likely... of course, as you said - it could be one of the options you mentioned..
FFS The Cinnamon desktop install DOES.. I said this many times...
I think you mentioned it gives you a GUI, nothing about it automatically setups up auto updates.
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@Dashrender said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
@JaredBusch said in Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date:
@Dashrender now to address auto updates for server.
That also comes down to how you install.
I always, 100% of the time, start from the NetInstall ISO and choose the Minimal option during install.
That means there isn't jack shit setup by default.
I honestly have no idea what any of the other options install.
I wouldn't expect you to auto install updates on Server...
What? Why not? I sure would. You'd need a pretty good reason to avoid updates at their most critical spot.
