How to Install Needrestart on Fedora 39/38/37 Linux

Needrestart is a highly efficient and user-friendly utility designed to identify and restart services, applications, and kernel modules that require a restart after an update. By managing these restarts, Needrestart helps maintain system stability, performance, and security on Linux-based operating systems. Key features of Needrestart include:

• Automatic detection of services, applications, and kernel modules that need a restart after an update
• Configurable settings that allow users to customize the tool to fit their needs, such as blacklisting certain services or adjusting the verbosity level
• Interactive and batch modes for restarting services and applications, giving users control over the process
• Outdated library detection that identifies libraries in use by running processes that have been updated and require a restart
• Integration with systemd for automation, ensuring that your system remains up-to-date and secure without manual intervention

In the world of Linux, frequent updates are crucial for maintaining optimal system performance and security. However, these updates sometimes necessitate restarts for services, applications, or the entire system. Needrestart streamlines this process, making it more manageable for users and administrators. Following this guide will demonstrate how to install Needrestart on Fedora Linux using the command-line terminal, along with some basic configuration examples.

Section 1: Prerequisites

Before we dive into installing and using Needrestart, it’s essential to have your Fedora Linux system up to date and to install the required packages.

Step 1: Updating your Fedora Linux system

To update your Fedora Linux system, open a terminal window and run the following command:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

This command ensures that your system is up to date by downloading the latest software packages and applying any required updates.

Step 2: Installing required packages

Next, install the required packages by running this command:

sudo dnf install perl-JSON perl-Module-ScanDeps perl-Term-ProgressBar perl-Locale-gettext -y

These packages are essential dependencies for Needrestart, allowing it to function correctly on your Fedora Linux system.

Section 3: Installing Needrestart

Now that your Fedora Linux system is up to date and the required packages are installed, it’s time to install Needrestart. Run the following command in the terminal:

sudo dnf install needrestart -y

This command installs Needrestart and all its dependencies on your Fedora Linux system, making it ready for use.

Section 4: Configuring Needrestart

After installing Needrestart, you can customize its settings to fit your needs.

Step 1: Editing the configuration file

To edit the configuration file, open it in your preferred text editor with the following command:

sudo nano /etc/needrestart/needrestart.conf

This command opens the Needrestart configuration file in the nano text editor, allowing you to modify its settings.

Example configuration file once open on Fedora Linux:

Step 2: Customizing Needrestart settings

Within the configuration file, you can modify various settings, such as:

Blacklisting certain services or packages:

$nrconf{blacklist} = qw(blacklisted-service-name);

Changing the verbosity level:

$nrconf{verbosity} = 1;

Adjusting the mode of operation (interactive, batch, or list):

$nrconf{mode} = 'interactive';

For example, if you want to blacklist the httpd service and set the verbosity level to 3, you can update the configuration file as follows:

$nrconf{blacklist} = qw(httpd);
$nrconf{verbosity} = 3;

Step 3: Additional configuration options

Customizing the notification settings:

If you want to change the way Needrestart sends notifications, you can edit the following lines:

$nrconf{notify} = 0;
$nrconf{notify_user} = undef;
$nrconf{notify_group} = undef;

These settings control whether notifications are sent, the user to whom they are sent, and the group to which they are sent.

Defining a custom restart command:

If you want to use a custom command to restart services, you can modify the following line:

$nrconf{restart} = '/usr/sbin/service %s restart';

After making any necessary changes, save and close the file.

Section 4: Using Needrestart

With Needrestart installed and configured, you can now use it to check for required restarts and perform the necessary actions.

Step 1: Checking for required restarts

To check for restarts, run the following command:

sudo needrestart

This command analyzes your system and displays a list of services, applications, and kernel modules that require a restart due to updates or other changes.

Step 2: Restarting services and applications

To restart services and applications, follow the prompts provided by Needrestart. You can choose to restart all services and applications or select specific ones. For example, if you want to restart only the httpd service, you can type its name when prompted and press Enter.

Additional options for restarting

Batch mode:

If you prefer to restart services and applications automatically without user interaction, you can use the -b option:

sudo needrestart -b

This command restarts all detected services and applications without prompting.

List mode:

If you only want to see a list of services, applications, and kernel modules that require a restart without actually restarting them, use the -l option:

sudo needrestart -l

Section 5: Automating Needrestart with systemd

To automate the Needrestart process, you can create a systemd service and timer that run the utility regularly. Here’s how to set it up:

Step 1: Create a new systemd service file

Open a new systemd service file using your preferred text editor:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/needrestart.service

Add the following content to the file:

[Unit]
Description=Needrestart Service
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/usr/bin/needrestart -b

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Save and close the file.

Step 2: Create a new systemd timer file

Open a new systemd timer file using your preferred text editor:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/needrestart.timer

Add the following content to the file:

[Unit]
Description=Run needrestart periodically

[Timer]
OnCalendar=daily
Persistent=true

[Install]
WantedBy=timers.target

This configuration runs Needrestart daily. You can adjust the OnCalendar setting to change the frequency. Now save and close the file.

Step 3: Enable and start the Needrestart timer

Enable and start the Needrestart timer with the following command:

sudo systemctl enable --now needrestart.timer

Now, Needrestart will automatically run at the specified interval, ensuring that your Fedora Linux system stays up-to-date and secure.

Troubleshooting common issues

If you encounter any issues while using Needrestart, consider the following troubleshooting tips:

• Double-check your configuration file for errors or typos.
• Ensure you have the latest version of Needrestart and all dependencies installed.
• Consult the Needrestart documentation and user forums for additional help.

Conclusion: Installing Needrestart on Fedora Linux

In conclusion, installing and configuring Needrestart on Fedora Linux is a straightforward process that ensures your system stays up-to-date and secure. By keeping track of services, applications, and kernel modules that require restarts, Needrestart helps maintain system stability and security. The installation, configuration, and usage process is simplified through the command line terminal, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.

Additional Resources and Links

For more information on Needrestart and Fedora Linux, consider visiting the following official resources:

• Needrestart GitHub Repository: The official GitHub repository for Needrestart, containing source code and documentation.
• Fedora Linux Documentation: The official documentation for Fedora Linux provides comprehensive information on various topics related to the operating system.
• Fedora Linux Wiki: The official Fedora Project Wiki contains a wealth of information about Fedora Linux distribution and its components.
• Systemd Documentation: Official documentation for systemd can help you understand how to create and manage systemd services and timers.

These resources provide detailed information on Needrestart, Fedora Linux, and systemd, allowing you to dive deeper into the topics covered in this guide.