ALERT Should I update my Debian Linux packages through Webmin?

[cporantes]

Should I update my Debian Linux packages through Webmin?

I am concerned that this might break Asterisk, IPBX, Avantfax, and sendmail.

 

[ostridge]

Should I update my Debian Linux packages through Webmin?

First - If it ain't broken don't fix it

you should do a full backup of your server - so you know you can restore if sometyhing breaks.

Well Webmin does indeed give you the options to not upgrade certain packages by using the check boxes.
If there are any queries raisd about config file updates opt for safety and decline - as you don't want to change the custom configs.

There is also an /root/upgrade script which does the following: (this one is on Raspbian debian 10 buster) Your version may differ.

root@incrediblepbx:~# cat upgrade
#!/bin/bash

# Update/Upgrade Raspbian

echo ""
echo "Updating/Upgrading Raspbian"
apt-get -y update
apt-get -y upgrade
apt-get -y dist-upgrade
echo "Updating/Upgrading completed"
echo ""

 

[wardmundy]

Good rule of thumb for Webmin... DON’T.

 

[dicko]

. . . Even use it ;-)

 

[Halea]

The most disastrous update I ever experienced was when I absentmindedly did a "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade" on a proxmox production host.
Webmin relies on the basic OS upgrade scripts, not too different from the one I mentioned.
Debian's dependency management scheme is a bit complicated and primitive owing to its aging .deb packaging design. Apt usually copes with it well, but if higher layer package management tools take over the basic update, upgrade, or distribution upgrade choirs like proxmox does, you better stick to those.
As a rule of thumb I always install webmin to monitor things but never use it to change any system settings or do updates with it.