Installing packages on a Linux system requires root privileges. Software Updater and rug have their own user management system that allows users to install software updates. When a user first invokes an action that requires special privileges in Software Updater, a prompt for the root password appears. When the password has been verified, Software Updater automatically adds the user's account to the user management system with update permissions. To review or change these settings, use the rug user management commands (this requires root privileges).

Once a day, Software Updater automatically checks whether updates for your system are available (right-click the application icon and choose Refresh to force an immediate check). The Software Updater applet in the panel changes from a globe to an exclamation mark on an orange background when there are new updates available.

Left-click the panel icon to open the updater window. It displays a list of patches available. Each patch has a short description and, if applicable, a category icon: Security patches are marked with a yellow shield. Optional patches are marked with a light blue circle. Recommended patches are not marked with an icon. Security patches are listed first, then recommended patches, and finally optional patches.

To get details about a certain patch, mark it with the mouse and click the Details link under the list window. To select a patch for installation, mark the patch's check box. Use the links All and None to select or deselect all patches. Clicking Update installs the selected patches.

Figure 3.2. Selecting the Software Updates

To configure Software Updater, right-click the application icon and choose Configure. A window with three tabs opens: Services, Catalogs, and Preferences.

3.2.3.1. Services and Catalogs

Services are basically sources that provide software packages and information about these packages. Each service can offer one or more catalogs. In case of openSUSE updates, each service offers just one catalog, so service and catalog are synonyms in this case. Whenever adding a service with just one catalog, the catalog will automatically be subscribed (activated).

The service tab lists all services available together with type and status information (if you cannot see the latter two, adjust the window size). Use Remove Service or Add Service to add or remove services. Software Updater supports several service types, but updates for openSUSE are exclusively available as YUM services. To add a YUM service manually, you need to know its URI. You can freely choose a name for the service—it is recommended to use a unique, descriptive name.

The following services are available, too:

ZYPP

ZYPP services are the YaST installation sources added with Software+Installation Source in YaST. Use the Software Updater or YaST to add installation sources. The source from which you initially installed (DVD or CD-ROM in most cases) is preconfigured. If you change or delete this source, replace it with another valid installation source (ZYPP service), because otherwise you cannot install new software.

	Terminology
The terms YaST installation source, YaST package repository, and ZYPP service are the same name for a source from which you can install software.

Mount

With Mount, embed a directory mounted on your machine. This is useful if you are, for example, in a network that regularly mirrors the Novell YUM server and exports its content to the local network. To add the directory, provide the full path to the directory in Service URI.

NU, RCE, and ZENworks

Novell Update, Red Carpet Enterprise, or ZENworks are not available for openSUSE.

	Unsubscribing from Catalogs
To be able to install packages from a catalog, you need to be subscribed to this catalog. If you unsubscribe, the packages from this catalog are still listed in the update window, but you can not install them.