PackageKit is the graphical software updater in RedHat based linux distributions. The posts outlines the steps required to enable or disable the automatic updates via the PackageKit updater.
Disabling PackageKit
1. Check the status of PackageKit service.
# systemctl status packagekit
● packagekit.service - PackageKit Daemon
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/packagekit.service; static; vendor preset: disabled)
Active: active (running) since Tue 2018-03-27 15:41:45 UTC; 1s ago
Main PID: 2334 (packagekitd)
CGroup: /system.slice/packagekit.service
└─2334 /usr/libexec/packagekitd
Mar 27 15:41:45 ucartz.server.com systemd[1]: Starting PackageKit Daemon...
Mar 27 15:41:45 ucartz.server.com PackageKit[2334]: daemon start
Mar 27 15:41:45 ucartz.server.com systemd[1]: Started PackageKit Daemon.
2. To disable auto update to happen via PackageKit, we need to stop the “packagekit” service and disable it permanently.
# systemctl stop packagekit # systemctl mask packagekit Created symlink from /etc/systemd/system/packagekit.service to /dev/null.
3. To completely remove the PackageKit software updater, use the below command.
============================================================================================================================================================== Package Arch Version Repository Size ============================================================================================================================================================== Removing: PackageKit x86_64 1.1.5-1.el7.centos @base 2.6 M PackageKit-glib x86_64 1.1.5-1.el7.centos @base 480 k PackageKit-yum x86_64 1.1.5-1.el7.centos @base 301 k Removing for dependencies: cockpit-packagekit x86_64 160-1.el7.centos @extras 175 k gnome-packagekit x86_64 3.22.1-2.el7 @base 0.0 gnome-packagekit-common x86_64 3.22.1-2.el7 @base 6.3 M gnome-packagekit-installer x86_64 3.22.1-2.el7 @base 198 k gnome-packagekit-updater x86_64 3.22.1-2.el7 @base 194 k Transaction Summary ============================================================================================================================================================== Remove 3 Packages (+5 Dependent packages) Installed size: 10 M Is this ok [y/N]:
Enabling PackageKit
1. If you want to enable the PackageKit updater, first reinstall the packages you removed while disabling it.
# yum install gnome-packagekit PackageKit-yum Dependencies Resolved =============================================================================================================================================================== Package Arch Version Repository Size =============================================================================================================================================================== Installing: PackageKit-yum x86_64 1.1.5-1.el7.centos base 75 k gnome-packagekit x86_64 3.22.1-2.el7 base 7.4 k Installing for dependencies: PackageKit x86_64 1.1.5-1.el7.centos base 583 k PackageKit-glib x86_64 1.1.5-1.el7.centos base 127 k gnome-packagekit-common x86_64 3.22.1-2.el7 base 1.1 M gnome-packagekit-installer x86_64 3.22.1-2.el7 base 78 k gnome-packagekit-updater x86_64 3.22.1-2.el7 base 74 k Transaction Summary =============================================================================================================================================================== Install 2 Packages (+5 Dependent packages) Total download size: 2.0 M Installed size: 10 M Is this ok [y/d/N]: y
2. Unmask the packagekit service first before starting it.
# systemctl unmask packagekit Removed symlink /etc/systemd/system/packagekit.service. # systemctl start packagekit
3. Verify the status if the service.
# systemctl status packagekit
● packagekit.service - PackageKit Daemon
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/packagekit.service; static; vendor preset: disabled)
Active: active (running) since Tue 2018-03-27 15:47:26 UTC; 6s ago
Main PID: 2522 (packagekitd)
CGroup: /system.slice/packagekit.service
└─2522 /usr/libexec/packagekitd
Mar 27 15:47:26 ucartz.server.com systemd[1]: Starting PackageKit Daemon...
Mar 27 15:47:26 ucartz.server.com PackageKit[2522]: daemon start
Mar 27 15:47:26 ucartz.server.com systemd[1]: Started PackageKit Daemon.
4. Enable the packagekit service to start at boot using the below command.
# systemctl enable packagekit
