6.2. Performing System Upgrades via Update Manager

The second graphical frontend for APT that I'll cover in this chapter is Update Manager, which is used for updating your system. Updates are made available quite regularly and consist of newer versions of packages you already have installed. Most of the time a newer version will have been released because it fixes some security issue, but updates can also fix problems with software and introduce new features.

To get started, select System ▸ Administration ▸ Update Manager, and make sure that the Ubuntu Software Center isn't currently installing or removing anything (you can't use two APT frontends at the same time). Once the Update Manager window appears (Figure 6-4), click the Check button to make sure the package information is as up-to-date as possible. You will then be prompted for your password. Type it, and after a short while, a list of all the available updates will appear in the Update Manager window.