Package management¶
In the Free and Open Source Software world, most software is released in source code format by developers. This means that generally, if you want to install a piece of software, you will find the source code on the website of the project. As a user, you will have to find and install all the other bits of software, that this particular piece depends on (the dependencies) and then install the software. To solve this painful issue, all Linux distributions have something called a package management system. Volunteers (mostly) all across the world help make binary software packages out of source code released by the developers, in such a way that users of the Linux distribution can easily install, update or remove that software.
It’s generally recommended, we use the package management system that comes with the distribution, to install software for the users. If you are really sure about what you’re doing in the system, you can install from the source files too; but that can be dangerous.
dnf command¶
dnf is the package management system in Fedora. The actual packages come in the rpm format. dnf helps you search, install or uninstall any package from the Fedora package repositories. You can also use the same command to update packages in your system.
Searching for a package¶
$ dnf search pss
Fedora 25 - x86_64 34 MB/s | 50 MB 00:01
Fedora 25 - x86_64 - Updates 41 MB/s | 23 MB 00:00
Last metadata expiration check: 0:00:07 ago on Sun Jun 25 04:14:22 2017.
=========================================== N/S Matched: pss ============================================
pss.noarch : A power-tool for searching inside source code files
pssh.noarch : Parallel SSH tools
First the tool, downloads all the latest package information from the repository, and then gives us the result.
Finding more information about a package¶
dnf info gives us more information about any given package.
$ dnf info pss
Last metadata expiration check: 0:04:59 ago on Sun Jun 25 04:14:22 2017.
Available Packages
Name : pss
Arch : noarch
Epoch : 0
Version : 1.40
Release : 6.fc25
Size : 58 k
Repo : fedora
Summary : A power-tool for searching inside source code files
URL : https://github.com/eliben/pss
License : Public Domain
Description : pss is a power-tool for searching inside source code files.
: pss searches recursively within a directory tree, knows which
: extensions and file names to search and which to ignore, automatically
: skips directories you wouldn't want to search in (for example .svn or .git),
: colors its output in a helpful way, and does much more.
Installing a package¶
The dnf install command helps us install any given package. We can pass more than one package name as the argument.
$ sudo dnf install pss wget
Last metadata expiration check: 0:37:13 ago on Sun Jun 25 03:44:07 2017.
Package wget-1.18-3.fc25.x86_64 is already installed, skipping.
Dependencies resolved.
=====================================================================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=====================================================================================================================================================
Installing:
pss noarch 1.40-6.fc25 fedora 58 k
Transaction Summary
=====================================================================================================================================================
Install 1 Package
Total download size: 58 k
Installed size: 196 k
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
pss-1.40-6.fc25.noarch.rpm 969 kB/s | 58 kB 00:00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 118 kB/s | 58 kB 00:00
Running transaction check
Transaction check succeeded.
Running transaction test
Transaction test succeeded.
Running transaction
Installing : pss-1.40-6.fc25.noarch 1/1
Verifying : pss-1.40-6.fc25.noarch 1/1
Installed:
pss.noarch 1.40-6.fc25
Complete!
To list the available updates¶
The following command shows all the available updates for your system.
# dnf list updates
Last metadata expiration check: 0:52:28 ago on Fri 09 Apr 2021 08:51:39 PM IST.
Available Upgrades
fedora-gpg-keys.noarch 33-4 updates
fedora-repos.noarch 33-4 updates
fedora-repos-modular.noarch 33-4 updates
To list all security updates¶
dnf can also tell you about all the updates which are marked as security updates.
# dnf updateinfo list --security
Last metadata expiration check: 2:06:38 ago on Sun 25 Jul 2021 03:44:47 AM UTC.
FEDORA-2021-83fdddca0f Moderate/Sec. curl-7.76.1-7.fc34.x86_64
FEDORA-2021-08cdb4dc34 Important/Sec. dhcp-client-12:4.4.2-11.b1.fc34.x86_64
FEDORA-2021-08cdb4dc34 Important/Sec. dhcp-common-12:4.4.2-11.b1.fc34.noarch
FEDORA-2021-e14e86e40e Moderate/Sec. glibc-2.33-20.fc34.x86_64
FEDORA-2021-e14e86e40e Moderate/Sec. glibc-common-2.33-20.fc34.x86_64
FEDORA-2021-e14e86e40e Moderate/Sec. glibc-doc-2.33-20.fc34.noarch
FEDORA-2021-e14e86e40e Moderate/Sec. glibc-langpack-en-2.33-20.fc34.x86_64
FEDORA-2021-07dc0b3eb1 Critical/Sec. kernel-core-5.13.4-200.fc34.x86_64
FEDORA-2021-8b25e4642f Low/Sec. krb5-libs-1.19.1-14.fc34.x86_64
FEDORA-2021-83fdddca0f Moderate/Sec. libcurl-7.76.1-7.fc34.x86_64
FEDORA-2021-31fdc84207 Moderate/Sec. libgcrypt-1.9.3-3.fc34.x86_64
FEDORA-2021-2443b22fa0 Moderate/Sec. linux-firmware-20210716-121.fc34.noarch
FEDORA-2021-2443b22fa0 Moderate/Sec. linux-firmware-whence-20210716-121.fc34.noarch
FEDORA-2021-d1fc0b9d32 Moderate/Sec. nettle-3.7.3-1.fc34.x86_64
FEDORA-2021-0ec5a8a74b Important/Sec. polkit-libs-0.117-3.fc34.1.x86_64
FEDORA-2021-a6bde7ab18 Moderate/Sec. python3-urllib3-1.25.10-5.fc34.noarch
Update the packages via dnf¶
Use dnf update command to install all the available updates. You can also pass the -y flag to it.
Find out the services & applications need restart after update in Fedora/CentOS/RHEL¶
The dnf-utils package contains a special command, needs-restarting. After you do a dnf update, when different libraries get updated, there may be running processes/services which needs restart. One way of doing this is restarting the system, but that may not be the right choice (may be you are running critical services) all the time. So, you can find out which ones you should restart.
Below is the output from a Fedora 34 desktop system.
# needs-restarting
1 : /usr/lib/systemd/systemd --system --deserialize 62
1616 : /usr/lib/systemd/systemd-resolved
1617 : /sbin/auditd
1638 : /usr/sbin/ModemManager
1639 : avahi-daemon: running [linux-2.local]
1640 : /usr/libexec/bluetooth/bluetoothd
1641 : /usr/libexec/boltd
1642 : /usr/bin/python3 -s /usr/sbin/firewalld --nofork --nopid
1643 : /usr/local/bin/ivpn-service
1646 : /usr/sbin/mcelog --daemon --foreground
1650 : /usr/sbin/rngd -f
1651 : /usr/libexec/rtkit-daemon
1657 : /usr/libexec/switcheroo-control
1659 : /usr/lib/systemd/systemd-machined
1662 : /usr/libexec/udisks2/udisksd
1664 : /usr/libexec/upowerd
1669 : avahi-daemon: chroot helper
1688 : /usr/bin/dbus-broker-launch --scope system --audit
1695 : /usr/sbin/abrtd -d -s
1699 : /usr/sbin/chronyd
1723 : /usr/bin/abrt-dump-journal-core -D -T -f -e
1724 : /usr/bin/abrt-dump-journal-oops -fxtD
1725 : /usr/bin/abrt-dump-journal-xorg -fxtD
1728 : /usr/lib/polkit-1/polkitd --no-debug
1744 : /usr/libexec/accounts-daemon
1745 : /usr/lib/systemd/systemd-logind
1776 : /usr/sbin/NetworkManager --no-daemon
1788 : /usr/sbin/cupsd -l
1877 : /usr/sbin/pcscd --foreground --auto-exit
1898 : /usr/sbin/atd -f
1899 : /usr/sbin/crond -n
1900 : /usr/sbin/gdm
1920 : /usr/libexec/uresourced
2034 : /usr/sbin/dnsmasq --conf-file=/var/lib/libvirt/dnsmasq/default.conf --leasefile-ro --dhcp-script=/usr/libexec/libvirt_leaseshelper
2035 : /usr/sbin/dnsmasq --conf-file=/var/lib/libvirt/dnsmasq/default.conf --leasefile-ro --dhcp-script=/usr/libexec/libvirt_leaseshelper
2162 : /usr/sbin/wpa_supplicant -c /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf -u -s
2164 : /usr/libexec/packagekitd
2393 : /usr/libexec/colord
2714 : /usr/sbin/abrt-dbus -t133
2730 : gdm-session-worker [pam/gdm-password]
2750 : /usr/lib/systemd/systemd --user
2756 : (sd-pam)
2780 : /usr/libexec/gdm-x-session --run-script /usr/bin/gnome-session
2784 : /usr/libexec/Xorg vt2 -displayfd 3 -auth /run/user/1000/gdm/Xauthority -nolisten tcp -background none -noreset -keeptty -novtswitch -verbose 3
2838 : /usr/bin/dbus-broker-launch --scope user
2843 : /usr/libexec/gnome-session-binary
2907 : /usr/libexec/at-spi-bus-launcher
2912 : /usr/bin/dbus-broker-launch --config-file=/usr/share/defaults/at-spi2/accessibility.conf --scope user
2923 : /usr/libexec/gnome-session-ctl --monitor
2924 : /usr/libexec/uresourced --user
2926 : /usr/libexec/gnome-session-binary --systemd-service --session=gnome
2953 : /usr/bin/gnome-shell
2978 : ibus-daemon --panel disable --xim
2989 : /usr/libexec/ibus-extension-gtk3
3004 : /usr/libexec/ibus-x11 --kill-daemon
3015 : /usr/libexec/at-spi2-registryd --use-gnome-session
3023 : /usr/libexec/evolution-source-registry
3030 : /usr/libexec/goa-daemon
3031 : /usr/bin/pipewire
3032 : /usr/bin/pipewire-pulse
3038 : /usr/bin/pipewire-media-session
3044 : /usr/libexec/evolution-calendar-factory
3075 : /usr/libexec/gvfs-udisks2-volume-monitor
3092 : /usr/libexec/gvfs-mtp-volume-monitor
3116 : /usr/libexec/gvfs-gphoto2-volume-monitor
3130 : /usr/bin/gjs /usr/share/gnome-shell/org.gnome.Shell.Notifications
3147 : /usr/libexec/gsd-color
3150 : /usr/libexec/gsd-datetime
3153 : /usr/libexec/gsd-keyboard
3155 : /usr/libexec/gsd-media-keys
3157 : /usr/libexec/gsd-power
3160 : /usr/libexec/gsd-print-notifications
3161 : /usr/libexec/gsd-rfkill
3164 : /usr/libexec/gsd-sharing
3169 : /usr/libexec/gsd-sound
3175 : /usr/libexec/gsd-wacom
3176 : /usr/libexec/gsd-xsettings
3213 : /usr/libexec/evolution-data-server/evolution-alarm-notify
3219 : /usr/bin/gnome-software --gapplication-service
3272 : /usr/bin/abrt-applet --gapplication-service
3273 : /usr/bin/gjs /usr/share/gnome-shell/org.gnome.ScreenSaver
3366 : /usr/libexec/gsd-printer
3524 : /usr/libexec/fwupd/fwupd
3611 : /usr/bin/gnome-calendar --gapplication-service
3623 : /usr/libexec/gnome-terminal-server
3682 : /usr/libexec/bluetooth/obexd
3701 : /usr/libexec/tracker-miner-fs-3
3734 : bash
3833 : /usr/libexec/gvfsd-metadata
4345 : gpg-agent --homedir /var/cache/PackageKit/34/metadata/tor-34-x86_64.tmp/gpgdir --use-standard-socket --daemon
4357 : gpg-agent --homedir /var/cache/PackageKit/34/metadata/rpmfusion-free-updates-34-x86_64.tmp/gpgdir --use-standard-socket --daemon
4382 : gpg-agent --homedir /var/cache/PackageKit/34/metadata/code-34-x86_64.tmp/gpgdir --use-standard-socket --daemon
4483 : gpg-agent --homedir /var/cache/PackageKit/34/metadata/rpmfusion-nonfree-updates-34-x86_64.tmp/gpgdir --use-standard-socket --daemon
4495 : gpg-agent --homedir /var/cache/PackageKit/34/metadata/updates-modular-34-x86_64.tmp/gpgdir --use-standard-socket --daemon
4529 : gpg-agent --homedir /var/cache/PackageKit/34/metadata/copr:copr.fedorainfracloud.org:dawid:xcape-34-x86_64.tmp/gpgdir --use-standard-socket --daemon
4543 : gpg-agent --homedir /var/cache/PackageKit/34/metadata/rpmfusion-nonfree-34-x86_64.tmp/gpgdir --use-standard-socket --daemon
4556 : gpg-agent --homedir /var/cache/PackageKit/34/metadata/rpmfusion-free-34-x86_64.tmp/gpgdir --use-standard-socket --daemon
4568 : gpg-agent --homedir /var/cache/PackageKit/34/metadata/fedora-34-x86_64.tmp/gpgdir --use-standard-socket --daemon
4581 : gpg-agent --homedir /var/cache/PackageKit/34/metadata/updates-34-x86_64.tmp/gpgdir --use-standard-socket --daemon
4610 : gpg-agent --homedir /var/cache/PackageKit/34/metadata/google-chrome-34-x86_64.tmp/gpgdir --use-standard-socket --daemon
4714 : /usr/libexec/flatpak-system-helper
Automatic updates in dnf systems¶
We can use dnf-automatic package to enable automatic installation of the updates. After you install the package, updated the configuration file /etc/dnf/automatic.conf to mark apply_updates = yes, by default it is set as no.
After that you can enable the timer, so that the packages get automatic updates installed.
$ sudo systemctl enable --now dnf-automatic.timer
Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/timers.target.wants/dnf-automatic.timer → /usr/lib/systemd/system/dnf-automatic.timer.
In case if you want to only download the available updates, but not install them, you can enable the following timer.
$ sudo systemctl enable --now dnf-automatic-download.timer
Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/timers.target.wants/dnf-automatic-download.timer → /usr/lib/systemd/system/dnf-automatic-download.timer.
In the configuration file, if you set upgrade_type = security, then the tool will only install security updates.
Note
If you are interested to learn more about RPM packaging, start from this guide from Adam Miller.
apt command¶
apt is the package management system for the Debian Linux distribution. As Ubuntu is downstream of the Debian distribution, it also uses the same package management system.
apt update¶
# apt update
... long output
The apt update command is used to update all the package information for the Debian repositories.
Installing a package via apt¶
apt install packagename is the command used to install any given package from the repository.
# apt install htop
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Suggested packages:
lsof strace
The following NEW packages will be installed:
htop
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 92.8 kB of archives.
After this operation, 230 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://deb.debian.org/debian buster/main amd64 htop amd64 2.2.0-1+b1 [92.8 kB]
Fetched 92.8 kB in 1s (113 kB/s)
debconf: delaying package configuration, since apt-utils is not installed
Selecting previously unselected package htop.
(Reading database ... 6677 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../htop_2.2.0-1+b1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking htop (2.2.0-1+b1) ...
Setting up htop (2.2.0-1+b1) ...
apt-cache search¶
After you updated the cache, you can search for any package. Say, we want to search the packge neomutt.
# apt-cache search neomutt
neomutt - command line mail reader based on Mutt, with added features
To know the exact policy (from where it will installed/upgrade or which version etc), you can use the following command.
# apt-cache policy libudev1
libudev1:
Installed: 241-7~deb10u7
Candidate: 241-7~deb10u8
Version table:
241-7~deb10u8 500
500 http://security.debian.org/debian-security buster/updates/main amd64 Packages
*** 241-7~deb10u7 500
500 http://deb.debian.org/debian buster/main amd64 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
Listing upgrades¶
You can use apt list –upgradable to list all the packages that have updates in the repositories.
# apt list --upgradable
Listing... Done
libsystemd0/stable 241-7~deb10u8 amd64 [upgradable from: 241-7~deb10u7]
libudev1/stable 241-7~deb10u8 amd64 [upgradable from: 241-7~deb10u7]
Upgrading packages¶
Use apt dist-upgrade to upgrade all the packages to the latest from the repositories.
# apt dist-upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following packages will be upgraded:
libsystemd0 libudev1
2 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 483 kB of archives.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y
Get:1 http://security.debian.org/debian-security buster/updates/main amd64 libsystemd0 amd64 241-7~deb10u8 [331 kB]
Get:2 http://security.debian.org/debian-security buster/updates/main amd64 libudev1 amd64 241-7~deb10u8 [151 kB]
Fetched 483 kB in 1s (379 kB/s)
debconf: delaying package configuration, since apt-utils is not installed
(Reading database ... 6677 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../libsystemd0_241-7~deb10u8_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libsystemd0:amd64 (241-7~deb10u8) over (241-7~deb10u7) ...
Setting up libsystemd0:amd64 (241-7~deb10u8) ...
(Reading database ... 6677 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../libudev1_241-7~deb10u8_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libudev1:amd64 (241-7~deb10u8) over (241-7~deb10u7) ...
Setting up libudev1:amd64 (241-7~deb10u8) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.28-10) ...
Figuring out which services/processes need restart after package upgrade in Debian¶
Just like Fedora systems, you can find the similar information in Debian too. You will need the needrestart package. The following is the output from the needrestart command.
Listing available security updates in Debian systems¶
We can use the Debian Security Analyzer, debsecan tool for this. You have to install it via apt first. In the following example, we are checking system (running Debian Buster) against the available updates for security updates.
# apt install debsecan
# debsecan --suite buster --format packages --only-fixed
apache2-bin
firefox-esr
libnss-myhostname
libnss-systemd
libpam-systemd
libsystemd0
libudev1
linux-libc-dev
systemd
systemd-sysv
udev
Unattended upgrades in Debian systems¶
We can also setup the Debian systems for automatic upgrades. But, first install the unattended-upgrades and reconfigure it to download and apply the updates.
$ sudo apt install unattended-upgrades apt-listchanges && sudo dpkg-reconfigure -plow unattended-upgrades
Creating config file /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades with new version
The configuration screen will look like below.
You can do a dry run afterward. By default unattended-upgrade will only install the security updates.
$ sudo unattended-upgrades --dry-run
/usr/bin/dpkg --status-fd 11 --no-triggers --unpack --auto-deconfigure --recursive /tmp/apt-dpkg-install-xKmNdN
/usr/bin/dpkg --status-fd 11 --configure --pending
/usr/bin/dpkg --status-fd 11 --no-triggers --unpack --auto-deconfigure /var/cache/apt/archives/libimobiledevice6_1.2.1~git20181030.92c5462-2+deb10u1_amd64.deb
For more details on this topic, please read the Debian wiki page on this topic.
