Regularly installing system updates is a critical part of maintaining a secure and stable unmanaged server. Security patches and bug fixes are released continuously, and delaying updates increases exposure to known vulnerabilities.
Important
Root-level access is required to perform the commands described in this guide.
Why Regular Updates Matter
On unmanaged servers, update management is entirely your responsibility. Unlike managed services, updates are not applied automatically unless you configure them yourself.
Keeping the operating system and installed packages up to date helps:
- Patch known security vulnerabilities
- Improve system stability and performance
- Maintain compatibility with modern software
These practices apply equally to environments such as VPS hosting in the Netherlands and self-managed Toegewijde servers, where system maintenance is handled directly by the administrator.
Before You Begin
Before applying updates, it is recommended to:
- Verify recent backups are available
- Ensure sufficient disk space
- Confirm that no critical maintenance windows are in progress
[Tijdelijke aanduiding voor screenshot: SSH session connected as root user]
Installing Updates on AlmaLinux and Fedora
AlmaLinux and Fedora use the yum or dnf package manager to handle system updates.
Interactive Update Mode
Run the following command to download and install available updates with confirmation prompts:
yum update
During the process, you will be asked to confirm package installations or removals.
[Tijdelijke aanduiding voor screenshot: yum update confirmation prompt]
Non-Interactive Update Mode
To apply all available updates without user interaction, use the following command:
yum -y update
This approach is commonly used in automated maintenance routines.
[Tijdelijke aanduiding voor screenshot: yum update running without prompts]
Installing Updates on Debian and Ubuntu
Debian-based systems use the apt package manager.
Interactive Update Mode
First refresh the package list, then install available upgrades:
apt-get update && apt-get upgrade
You may be prompted to confirm changes during the upgrade process.
[Tijdelijke aanduiding voor screenshot: apt-get upgrade confirmation screen]
Non-Interactive Update Mode
To perform updates without manual confirmation, run:
apt-get -y update && apt-get -y upgrade
This method is suitable for scripted or scheduled updates.
[Tijdelijke aanduiding voor screenshot: apt-get upgrade running automatically]
Automating Updates with Cron
For servers that require frequent patching, update commands can be scheduled using cron jobs. Automation should be tested carefully to avoid unexpected service restarts.
Automated updates are commonly used on scalable cloud server environments, where consistent patch levels across instances are required.
[Tijdelijke aanduiding voor screenshot: crontab configuration file with update command]
Other Linux Distributions
If you are running a Linux distribution not covered above, refer to the official documentation for that operating system. Package managers and update procedures vary between distributions, and using unsupported commands may cause system issues.
Always ensure that update commands match the package manager provided by your distribution.