Bug#883611:

[Paul Wise <pabs@debian.org>]

On Wed, Dec 6, 2017 at 6:12 PM, Paolo Gigante wrote:

> As per the ITP (https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=880600)
> there is a lot of additional functionality that auter provides which goes
> way beyond what is offered by cron-apt and unattended-upgrades:

A comment on the ITP features:

> This allows servers to be configured to stop any critical
> applications cleanly using custom scripts before any actions are taken.

Critical applications should be cleanly integrated with the system so
that normal shutdown/reboot does the right thing.

> - Auter has the functionality to separate download schedules from install
> schedules which is great for organisations wanting to version control
> updates across multiple servers and environments while staggering the update
> process for the servers.

This is also supported by unattended-upgrades under systemd.

> - It also allows for customised scripts to be executed pre and post
> downloading updates, applying updates and rebooting the server

This is also supported by apt, except reboot hooks but those should
probably be integrated into the init system instead.

> - It has the option to automate reboots after the patching process has been
> applied

This is also supported by unattended-upgrades, including a set reboot time.

> - There is an option of setting up multiple patching profiles eg: weekly
> application patches and monthly system/kernel patching (This is entirely
> customiseable)

In theory this could be possible with unattended-upgrades but I think
it would be hard to setup.

> - In cases where admins have multiple servers with different rehdat or
> debian based distributions, the same application and configuration files can
> be deployed to servers regardless of the distribution.

That seems like a plus for those stuck in that situation indeed.

-- 
bye,
pabs

https://wiki.debian.org/PaulWise