How to notify Debian/Ubuntu updates ?

[batosai]

Hi,

Is there a way to be notified when Debian/Ubuntu packages are available for updates ? Nagios has a check_apt plugin to do it. Is there a way to do this with Zabbix ?

Regards

[sbockelman]

Debian/Ubuntu Show updates

Install the "apt-show-versions" package from apt.

Add Item:
system.run[apt-show-versions | grep upgradeable | wc -l]

Add trigger that checks if that number is greater than 0.

[troffasky]

Install the "apt-show-versions" package from apt.

Add Item:
system.run[apt-show-versions | grep upgradeable | wc -l]

Add trigger that checks if that number is greater than 0.

Excellent. I like that one a lot. This will also work in scenarios where you're using net-snmp to monitor a Debian host, as it can be added to snmpd.conf where it'll then be visible under .1.3.6.1.4.1.2021.8.

This is great if you've got lots of Debian boxes to maintain, as with a template you can monitor the status of every host's package management system at once.

[batosai]

Thanks, but system.run[] isn't available with 1.4.2 agent, which is the version packaged in Debian/Ubuntu. Is there a zabbix repository somewhere, or should I try the unstable package ?

[troffasky]

I think you should try checking the value of EnableRemoteCommands in zabbix_agentd.conf first :-) If you're not happy with the security implications of that, you could implement it as a UserParameter instead.

[bbrendon]

Thanks, but system.run[] isn't available with 1.4.2 agent, which is the version packaged in Debian/Ubuntu. Is there a zabbix repository somewhere, or should I try the unstable package ?

I'm 99% sure 1.4.x has system.run support once its enabled in agent conf file.