Hi, I try to get auto updates working on a machine that I don't want to babysit that often. The problem is that they work very unreliable. I had them working only once in all the time I have the auto update setting enabled in the system settings. But most times, the machine ends up on very old software, because the auto updates do not get run. STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1. Use Kubuntu 21.10 or 22.04 (dev branch) 2. Enable auto updates in system settings 3. Use the machine for work OBSERVED RESULT Auto updates nearly never get run. EXPECTED RESULT Auto updates should work reliably. SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Windows: macOS: Linux/KDE Plasma: Kubuntu 22.04 (available in About System) KDE Plasma Version: 5.23.4 KDE Frameworks Version: 5.89 Qt Version: 5.15.2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION I already have a guess why this works so bad. Haven't found documentation for how exactly this works (should be added btw) so I had a look at the source code. Here: https://invent.kde.org/plasma/discover/-/blob/5ad26c9c66cd2b8913e2ee8bfaa93f9fa76d65c0/notifier/UnattendedUpdates.cpp#L33-36 It seems that it waits for an idle moment of 15 minutes (even tho the comment says 1 hour, should be corrected and also made configurable). I don't know what exactly "an idle moment" is. But if it means something like no user input (no mouse movement or keyboard presses) for 15 minutes then this may be the reason for my problem. The machine I try to get auto updates working on is nearly never that long unused while powered on. Usually it is booted, someone gets work done, and it gets shut down again. Yeah, sometimes we get something to drink/eat in between or go to the toilet, but this never takes 15 minutes, so there are no 15 minutes idles and this is most likely why auto updates never get triggered. If my assumption is true, this could be fixed by changing from 15 minutes of idle to for example just 15 minutes after boot. Also, I think 15 minutes is a little long. Would recommend changing it to 10 minutes as default to make it more reliable in more cases, and also make it configurable for those who have to adopt it to their usage.
Btw. on Debian+Ubuntu there is an addational bug wich prevents auto updates from working. Not Discovers fault, but wanted to note that, for anyone testing. The deb/ubuntu package for packagekit currently contains a patch which disallows offline updates for non admin users and without a password prompt. This makes offline updates never get triggered. You have to change `/usr/share/polkit-1/actions/org.freedesktop.packagekit.policy` to get it working. See: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/packagekit/+bug/1955489 --- Also, adding to this I wrote before: > If my assumption is true, this could be fixed by changing from 15 minutes of idle to for example just 15 minutes after boot. Instead of 'xx minutes after boot' maybe 'xx minutes after updates were found' would be the better choice here.
I can confirm this! I'm on: Operating System: KDE neon 5.24 KDE Plasma Version: 5.24.4 KDE Frameworks Version: 5.92.0 Qt Version: 5.15.3 Kernel Version: 5.13.0-39-generic (64-bit) Graphics Platform: X11 I have Discover configured to auto-update. I was expecting Discover to check on updates (All kinds of updates that do not fit OS Upgrades) and that it would silently install them in the background. That never happens! I Always have to fire up discover and order it to "update all/everything" manually
(In reply to John from comment #2) > That never happens! > I Always have to fire up discover and order it to "update all/everything" > manually let me just scratch that!!! It apparently works, but only after 15min in idle, as Elias pointed out. I do agree we should be able to set it to auto-update after 15min of boot, however!
You mean to get the updates happen even while you're using the system?
Yes. Has long as they only get installed on ShutDown or at BootUp, i don't understand why they can't be downloaded while i'm using the system. Even if i have to manually set it to do that, i should be able to say "i want my system to download the updates as soon as it can"
A possibly relevant merge request was started @ https://invent.kde.org/plasma/discover/-/merge_requests/369
For me, the automatic updates start just as little often, so i don`t use it. But for casual users who never update themselves, it is important that there is a well-functioning automatic update system. But I don't think that more setting options are necessary for the update process. In my opinion, only the automatic update process should be adjusted.
I totally agree with Johannes in comment 7. I recently installed Plasma on a laptop from plm. 2014. Windows (10) is really becoming too heavy on such a laptop so Plasma seemed a sensible choice. I was pleasantly surprised that it was love at first site with Plasma, especially after I showed Kpat! But I have no hope at all that the owner of this laptop will periodically update her machine. For her, automatic update would be a great option. I really don't see why automatic update should wait for anything at all! In my opinion it should grab every opportunity to do it's job.
I also face this issue with the Fedora 38 (now 39) machines of parents. Despite having auto update enabled, they remain at the same state when I last time manually updated them. Automatically checking for updates and installing them on shutdown (bug #436928) - maybe once in a week at least - would greatly enhance the situation imo.
I face the same issue currently on fedora 39. I have it running on two different computers but on both the auto updates don't work. It stays the same unless you update manually.
I am also facing this issue on fedora 39, manually starting the update in discover works perfectly, however auto updates are never done by themselves.
I also would like this feature to work! Updates will never install automatically.
The importance of this bug needs to be updated to Major to reflect the severity based on KDE guidelines. Major Like Normal, but with no known workaround, or the workaround is painful and difficult Normal Something isn't working the way it was designed to work, with a known workaround that isn't too painful Thanks!
I do agree as well, this bug should get a higher priority and be fixed soon - epecially since the KDE team does actively promote offline updates ( https://discuss.kde.org/t/why-doesnt-discover-notifier-enable-offline-updates-by-default-if-theyre-recommended/3336/14?u=rokejulianlockhart ). The average user sees the option to enable automatic updated right next to offline updates in KDE system settings, is happy about it, activates it - and never looks for updates again. This menas then the bug noted here causes updates to be effectively disabled...
(edit: I just noted the bug already got a higher priority. Sorry for that...)