README for apt-dater

With apt-dater you can easily keep one or more (Debian) GNU/Linux hosts up to date.

Pre-configuration on your management server:

Copy and modify the apt-dater.conf:

cp conf/apt-dater.conf.example $HOME/.config/apt-dater/apt-dater.conf

Copy and modify the hosts.conf:

cp conf/hosts.conf.example $HOME/.config/apt-dater/hosts.conf

Copy and modify the screenrc:

cp conf/screenrc.example $HOME/.config/apt-dater/screenrc

Managed hosts by apt-dater:

You need a SSH server and sudo installed. Create a user which will be used to install updates (using root is NOT recommended). Modify the /etc/sudoers:

Defaults env_reset,env_keep=MAINTAINER
the-user ALL=NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/apt-get,/usr/sbin/needrestart

At your management server:

Create a user on your management server which perform updates on your hosts.

Generate a SSH keypair:

ssh-keygen [-t TYPE] [..] -f ~/.ssh/apt-dater

Distribute the public key(s) e.g.:

ssh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/apt-dater.pub the-user@managed-host