[Bug 1842159] Re: Please suggest running apt update & apt upgrade in MOTD when list of available packages is old

[Balint Reczey]

** Description changed:

+ [Impact]
+ 
+  * Users don't have up to date information about available updates when network connectivity or other issues prevented automated apt updates.
+  * It is desired to give the user accurate and up to date information about available updates or warn them if the information is outdated.
+  * The fix notifies user about stale updates information in MOTD
+ 
+ [Test Case]
+ 
+  * Install update-motd and the the fixed package.
+  * Observe the output of sudo update-motd printing the usual output
+  * "Date back" the updates information:
+    $ sudo touch -t 01010101 /var/lib/update-notifier/updates-available
+  * Observe the output of sudo update-motd printing warning about outdated update information.
+  * Remove the updates information:
+    $ sudo rm /var/lib/update-notifier/updates-available
+  * Observe the output of sudo update-motd printing warning about outdated update information.
+ 
+ [Regression Potential]
+ 
+  * An error may be printed in MOTD or the warning message may appear
+ needlessly in case of making a mistake in implementing the fix.
+ 
+ [Original Bug Text]
+ 
  When logging into a system where the package list is not updated for
  long time (for example because is offline) I may see:
  
  ...
  0 updates can be installed immediately.
  0 of these updates are security updates.
  ..
  
  Which is true, but the user may think that there are no available
  updates released.
  
  Also, if the /var/lib/update-notifier/updates-available is missing
  (which can happen due to network connectivity issues of due to bugs)
  there is no mention of updates in MOTD.
  
  If the  /var/lib/update-notifier/updates-available is older than a few
  days (weeks?) or it is missing and the packages list is older than a few
  days (weeks?) please recommend running apt update & upgrade in the MOTD
  snippet:
  
  ...
  The list of available updates is not refreshed in N days.
- Please run "sudo apt update" and then "sudo apt upgrade" to 
+ Please run "sudo apt update" and then "sudo apt upgrade" to
  keep your system up to date.
  ...

** Also affects: update-notifier (Ubuntu Bionic)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Also affects: update-notifier (Ubuntu Xenial)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Also affects: update-notifier (Ubuntu Eoan)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Also affects: update-notifier (Ubuntu Disco)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1842159

Title:
  Please suggest running apt update & apt upgrade in MOTD  when list of
  available packages is old

Status in update-notifier package in Ubuntu:
  New
Status in update-notifier source package in Xenial:
  New
Status in update-notifier source package in Bionic:
  New
Status in update-notifier source package in Disco:
  New
Status in update-notifier source package in Eoan:
  New

Bug description:
  [Impact]

   * Users don't have up to date information about available updates when network connectivity or other issues prevented automated apt updates.
   * It is desired to give the user accurate and up to date information about available updates or warn them if the information is outdated.
   * The fix notifies user about stale updates information in MOTD

  [Test Case]

   * Install update-motd and the the fixed package.
   * Observe the output of sudo update-motd printing the usual output
   * "Date back" the updates information:
     $ sudo touch -t 01010101 /var/lib/update-notifier/updates-available
   * Observe the output of sudo update-motd printing warning about outdated update information.
   * Remove the updates information:
     $ sudo rm /var/lib/update-notifier/updates-available
   * Observe the output of sudo update-motd printing warning about outdated update information.

  [Regression Potential]

   * An error may be printed in MOTD or the warning message may appear
  needlessly in case of making a mistake in implementing the fix.

  [Original Bug Text]

  When logging into a system where the package list is not updated for
  long time (for example because is offline) I may see:

  ...
  0 updates can be installed immediately.
  0 of these updates are security updates.
  ..

  Which is true, but the user may think that there are no available
  updates released.

  Also, if the /var/lib/update-notifier/updates-available is missing
  (which can happen due to network connectivity issues of due to bugs)
  there is no mention of updates in MOTD.

  If the  /var/lib/update-notifier/updates-available is older than a few
  days (weeks?) or it is missing and the packages list is older than a
  few days (weeks?) please recommend running apt update & upgrade in the
  MOTD snippet:

  ...
  The list of available updates is not refreshed in N days.
  Please run "sudo apt update" and then "sudo apt upgrade" to
  keep your system up to date.
  ...

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