Regarding Software Updates
 

hi,

is it possible for me to automate software updates. I heard something about this push and pull funda.. we have a lab in which there are around 50 comps. so we would like to make the software updates automated (may be controlled by an administrator) so that we need not go and do the updates on every single machine.

Vivek

Yes, automatic updates and creating a local repository (so updates are only downloaded once) is straightforward. The details of how you do it are a function of the distribution and release, and usually documented by the distribution.

If you add your distribution information to your profile, it will make it easier for folks to respond to your questions.

Yes, set a cronjob on each machine. The method will vary depending on what distro you're using. Generally speaking, I download all the updates and create a local package repository of the updates. That I only have to download once and then all the clients in the lab can download from that machine (saves internet bandwidth).

Note that this isn't recommended for bleeding edge distributions or production servers.

Actually we are thinking of what distribution to install. One of the issues regarding that is the software update problem. i think it will mostly be Debian Etch.

For Debian, you would rsync the updates from a local mirror, and update your apt sources to point to your local copy. As pljvaldez then indicated, you would cron a script to run apt to update your system. By controlling the updates that go into your local copy, you control the updates that will get applied to each system.

Google for "apt proxy howto" and you'll get a lot of different pages outlining how to setup a single server to download updates. Then all the other machines can get their updates from that one server.

Here's one.

Thanks for that one. :)