Update "How to Update"

- Create new "Command-line interface" section
- Move warning about direct commands to new section
- Move info about qubesctl commands and testing repos to new section
- Revise "Upgrading" section
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Andrew David Wong 2021-06-20 22:27:43 -07:00
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@ -13,17 +13,6 @@ version of Qubes OS](/doc/supported-versions/#qubes-os). If you're instead
looking to upgrade from your current version of Qubes OS to a newer version,
see the [Upgrade Guides](/doc/upgrade/).*
<div class="alert alert-danger" role="alert">
<i class="fa fa-exclamation-triangle"></i>
<b>Warning:</b> Updating with direct commands such as
<code>qubes-dom0-update</code>, <code>dnf update</code>, and <code>apt
update</code> is <b>not</b> recommended, since these bypass built-in Qubes OS
update security measures. Instead, we strongly recommend using the <b>Qubes
Update</b> tool or its command-line equivalents, as described below. (By
contrast, <a href="/doc/how-to-install-software/">installing</a> packages
using direct package manager commands is fine.)
</div>
## Security updates
Security updates are an extremely important part of keeping your Qubes
@ -62,51 +51,61 @@ you can use this tool to check for updates manually at any time by selecting
"Enable updates for qubes without known available updates," then selecting all
desired items from the list and clicking "Next."
<div class="alert alert-info" role="alert">
<i class="fa fa-info-circle"></i>
<b>Advanced users and developers:</b> For the command-line equivalents of
using the <b>Qubes Update</b> tool, see the Salt formulae <a
href="/doc/salt/#updatequbes-dom0"><code>update.qubes-dom0</code></a> and <a
href="/doc/salt/#updatequbes-vm"><code>update.qubes-vm</code></a>. For
enabling testing repos, see <a href="/doc/testing/">Testing new releases and
updates</a>.
## Command-line interface
<div class="alert alert-danger" role="alert">
<i class="fa fa-exclamation-triangle"></i>
<b>Warning:</b> Updating with direct commands such as
<code>qubes-dom0-update</code>, <code>dnf update</code>, and <code>apt
update</code> is <b>not</b> recommended, since these bypass built-in Qubes OS
update security measures. Instead, we strongly recommend using the <b>Qubes
Update</b> tool or its command-line equivalents, as described below. (By
contrast, <a href="/doc/how-to-install-software/">installing</a> packages
using direct package manager commands is fine.)
</div>
## Upgrading to stay on a supported release
Advanced users may wish to perform updates via the command-line interface. The
recommended way to do this is by using the command-line equivalents of the
**Qubes Update** tool.
The above covers updating *within* a given operating system release.
Eventually, however, most operating system releases will reach [end-of-life
(EOL)](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/End_of_life), after which point they will
no longer be supported. This applies to [Qubes OS
itself](/doc/supported-versions/#qubes-os) as well as operating systems used
for templates and standalones, such as [Fedora](/doc/templates/fedora/) and
[Debian](/doc/templates/debian/). It is very important to use only supported
releases, since generally only supported releases receive security updates.
This means that you must periodically upgrade to a newer release before your
current release reaches EOL.
There are two Salt formulae and two corresponding `qubesctl` commands:
- [`update.qubes-dom0`](/doc/salt/#updatequbes-dom0)
- [`update.qubes-vm`](/doc/salt/#updatequbes-vm)
In the case of Qubes OS itself, we will always
[announce](/news/categories/#releases) when a given Qubes OS release is
approaching and has reached EOL, and we will provide [instructions for
upgrading to the next stable supported Qubes OS release](/doc/upgrade/). Again,
you can always see the current support status for all Qubes OS releases
[here](/doc/supported-versions/#qubes-os).
In addition, advanced user may be interested in learning [how to enable the
testing repos](/doc/testing/).
Periodic upgrades are also important for templates and standalones. For
example, you might be using a [Fedora Template](/doc/templates/fedora/). The
[Fedora Project](https://getfedora.org/) is independent of the Qubes OS
Project. They set their own
## Upgrading to avoid EOL
The above covers updating *within* a given operating system (OS) release.
Eventually, however, most OS releases will reach **end-of-life (EOL)**, after
which point they will no longer be supported. This applies to Qubes OS itself
as well as OSes used in [templates](/doc/templates/) (and
[standalones](/doc/standalones-and-hvms/), if you have any).
**It's very important that you use only supported releases so that you continue
to receive security updates.** This means that you *must* periodically upgrade
Qubes OS and your templates before they reach EOL. You can always see which
versions of Qubes OS and select templates are supported on the [Supported
Versions](/doc/supported-versions/) page.
In the case of Qubes OS itself, we will make an
[announcement](/news/categories/#releases) when a supported Qubes OS release is
approaching EOL and another when it has actually reached EOL, and we will
provide [instructions for upgrading to the next stable supported Qubes OS
release](/doc/upgrade/).
Periodic upgrades are also important for templates. For example, you might be
using a [Fedora template](/doc/templates/fedora/). The [Fedora
Project](https://getfedora.org/) is independent of the Qubes OS Project. They
set their own
[schedule](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Fedora_Release_Life_Cycle#Maintenance_Schedule)
for when each Fedora release reaches EOL. You can always find out when an
operating system reaches EOL from the upstream project that maintains it, but
we also make EOL [announcements](/news/categories/#announcements) and publish
guides for official template operating systems as a convenience to Qubes users.
When this happens, you should make sure to follow the guide to upgrade to a
supported version of that operating system (see the [Fedora upgrade
guides](/doc/templates/fedora/#upgrading) and the [Debian upgrade
guides](/doc/templates/debian/#upgrading)).
for when each Fedora release reaches EOL. You can always find out when an OS
reaches EOL from the upstream project that maintains it. We also pass along any
EOL notices we receive for official template OSes as a convenience to Qubes
users (see [Supported Versions:
Templates](/doc/supported-versions/#templates)).
The one exception to all this is the specific release used for dom0 (not to be
confused with Qubes OS as a whole), which [doesn't have to be
upgraded](/doc/supported-versions/#note-on-dom0-and-eol).