3.1 YaST Online Update

To install updates and improvements with YaST, run Software > Online Update. All new patches (except the optional ones) that are currently available for your system are already marked for installation. Clicking Accept automatically installs these patches. After the installation has completed, confirm with Finish. Your system is now up-to-date.

HINT: YaST Online Update has been integrated into the YaST software management module. This ensures that the newest version of a package is always installed. It is no longer necessary to run an online update after installing new packages.

3.1.1 Installing Patches Manually

The Online Update window consists of five sections. The list of all patches available is on the left. Find the description of the selected patch displayed below the list of patches. The disk usage is displayed at the bottom of the left column. The right column lists the packages included in the selected patch (a patch can consist of several packages) and, below, a detailed description of the selected package.

Figure 3-1 YaST Online Update

The patch display lists patches available for openSUSE. The patches are sorted by relevance, security-wise. The color of the patch name as well as a pop-up window under the mouse cursor indicate the security status of the patch: Security (red), Recommended (blue), or Optional (black). There are three different views on patches. Use Show Patch Category to toggle the views:

Installable Patches (default view)

Patches currently not installed that apply to packages installed on your system.

Installable and Installed Patches

All patches that apply to packages installed on your system.

All Patches

All patches available for openSUSE.

A list entry consists of a symbol and the patch name. For a list of possible symbols, press Shift+F1. Actions required by Security and Recommended patches are automatically preset. These actions are Autoinstall, Autoupdate, or Autodelete. Actions for Optional patches are not preset—right-click on a patch and choose an action from the list.

Most patches include updates for several packages. If you want to change actions for single packages, right-click on a package in the package window and choose an action. Once you have marked all patches and packages as desired, proceed with Accept.

3.1.2 Automatic Online Update

YaST also offers the possibility to set up an automatic update. Open Software > Automatic Online Update for the configuration screen. You can either configure a Daily or a Weekly update. Some patches, such as kernel updates, require user interaction, which would cause the automatic update procedure to stop. Therefore you should check Skip Interactive Patches, if you want the update procedure to proceed fully automatically. Having done so, you should run a manual Online Update from time to time in order to install patches that require interaction.

3.1.3 Adding an Update Repository

To add or remove repositoreis, use the Software > Software Repositories module, described in Section 3.5, Adding Software Repositories, (↑ Start-Up ).