Using dnf-automatic to keep Fedora up to date

BRRABill

If there are no updates to install, do you still get an e-mail reporting this?

Or only if there are updates installed?

DustinB3403

Nice guide, does this also work on the downstream forks of Fedora?

scottalanmiller

@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.

BRRABill

@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!

JaredBusch

@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.

BRRABill

@jaredbusch

As others have said, but never hurts to repeat ... great writeup.

JaredBusch

Guide updated to reflect timer name change back to original.

Dashrender

I'm surprised this isn't a default setting.

JaredBusch

After upgrading to Fedora 29, my system was not updating regularly.

Looking at systemctl list-timers --all I 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 -install and started the original.

systemctl stop dnf-automatic-install.timer
systemctl disable dnf-automatic-install.timer
systemctl enable --now dnf-automatic.timer

black3dynamite

@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 --all I 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 -install and started the original.
systemctl stop dnf-automatic-install.timer
systemctl disable dnf-automatic-install.timer
systemctl enable --now dnf-automatic.timer

Yep, I was also experience the same thing too.

JaredBusch

@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.

Dashrender

@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

JaredBusch

@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.

JaredBusch

@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.

Dashrender

@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..

JaredBusch

@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...

Dashrender

@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.

scottalanmiller

@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.

DustinB3403

@scottalanmiller 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...

What? Why not? I sure would. You'd need a pretty good reason to avoid updates at their most critical spot.

because we use Windows isn't a good reason?

JaredBusch

@scottalanmiller 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...

What? Why not? I sure would. You'd need a pretty good reason to avoid updates at their most critical spot.

Exactly. All my systems have dnf-automatic or yum-crom. All of them.