How to Automate Ubuntu Server System Updates and Package Installation

Keeping your Ubuntu system updated and installing essential packages can be done efficiently using a simple Bash script. This guide will walk you through creating a script that automates system updates, upgrades installed packages, and installs specific packages of your choice. You can run the script manually or schedule it to execute automatically at a set time using cron jobs.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Create the Bash Script

Start by creating a new script file, for example, update_and_install.sh. This script will handle all the necessary steps for updating your system.

Example Script: update_and_install.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Update package list
echo "Updating package list..."
sudo apt update

# Check if dpkg was interrupted and run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' if necessary
if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
    echo "Checking for dpkg errors..."
    dpkg_error=$(sudo apt update 2>&1 | grep "dpkg was interrupted")
    if [ -n "$dpkg_error" ]; then
        echo "Error detected: dpkg was interrupted. Running 'sudo dpkg --configure -a'..."
        sudo dpkg --configure -a
    fi
fi

# Upgrade installed packages
echo "Upgrading installed packages..."
sudo apt upgrade -y

# Dist-upgrade to ensure the kernel and other important packages are upgraded
echo "Performing dist-upgrade..."
sudo apt dist-upgrade -y

# Remove unnecessary packages
echo "Removing unnecessary packages..."
sudo apt autoremove -y

# Install specific packages (replace with the ones you need)
# Example: sudo apt install -y package1 package2
echo "Installing specified packages..."
sudo apt install -y <package1> <package2>

# Cleanup any unnecessary files
echo "Cleaning up..."
sudo apt clean

# Check if a reboot is required
if [ -f /var/run/reboot-required ]; then
    echo "A reboot is required to complete the installation."
else
    echo "No reboot is necessary."
fi

echo "System update and package installation completed."

Step 2: Customize the Script

• Replace the placeholders: In the section where it says sudo apt install -y <package1> <package2>, replace <package1> <package2> with the names of the packages you want to install. For example:

  sudo apt install -y git curl

If you don’t have any specific packages to install, you can omit this part.

Step 3: Make the Script Executable

Before you can run the script, you need to make it executable. To do this:

1. Open a terminal.
2. Navigate to the directory where your script is saved.
3. Run the following command:

   chmod +x update_and_install.sh

Step 4: Run the Script

Now, you can manually run the script to update your system and install packages. In the terminal, run:

This will update your package list, upgrade installed packages, remove unnecessary ones, and install the specified packages.

Step 5: Schedule the Script with Cron (Optional)

To automate the process, you can schedule the script to run at a specific time using cron. Here’s how to set it up to run, for example, daily at 2 AM.

1. Open the cron table for editing:

2. Add a line to schedule the script. For a daily update at 2 AM, add:

   0 2 * * * /path/to/update_and_install.sh

Replace /path/to/update_and_install.sh with the actual path to your script.

3. Save and exit. Now your system will automatically run the script at the specified time.

Conclusion

This simple Bash script is a great way to ensure your Ubuntu system is always up-to-date and equipped with the necessary packages. By running it manually or automating it through cron jobs, you can save time and keep your system maintained with minimal effort.