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Test automatic updates (unattended-upgrades) with a dry run

harmless rootDebian and APTdebian, ubuntu
root@server
unattended-upgrade --dry-run -d

Runs unattended-upgrades in simulation mode with debug output. It shows which sources are allowed (Allowed origins), which packages would be installed and which are skipped because of holds or the blacklist. Useful after changes to /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades or when automatic updates seem to have no effect.

Note: The command is called unattended-upgrade (without the trailing s), the package unattended-upgrades. Logs of real runs are stored under /var/log/unattended-upgrades/.

Also searched as

  • unattended-upgrades dry run debug
  • are automatic updates working
  • why does unattended-upgrades not install anything

Related one-liners

All in Debian and APT

Show only pending security updates

$apt list --upgradable 2>/dev/null | grep -- -security
harmlessDebian and APT

Check whether a reboot is required after updates

$if [ -f /var/run/reboot-required ]; then cat /var/run/reboot-required.pkgs; else echo "Kein Neustart vermerkt"; fi
harmlessDebian and APT

Find services using outdated libraries after updates

#needrestart -r l
harmlessDebian and APT

Hold a package at its current version (apt-mark hold)

#apt-mark hold mariadb-server
cautionDebian and APT

Release a held package for updates again

#apt-mark unhold mariadb-server
cautionDebian and APT

Show available package updates

#apt update && apt list --upgradable
harmlessDebian and APT

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