softwareupdate

system software update tool

softwareupdate command [args ...]


     checks for new and updated versions of software 
 

     Requires admin for all commands except --list.  

If you run softwareupdate as a normal (?) admin user, you will be prompted for a password where required. 

Avoide by running as root.



 -l 
 --list  List all available updates.
 -i 
 --install  Each update specified by args is downloaded and installed.  args can be one of t:


                 -r 
 --recommended 
                             All updates that are recommended for your system, prefixed with a * character in the
                             --list output.

                 
-a 
 --all  All updates that are applicable to your system, including those non-recommended  (uncommon ) ones, which are prefixed with a - in --list .

                 
item ...    One or more specified updates. see  --list  


     
-d 
 --download 
                 Each update specified by args is downloaded but not installed. The values of args are the same as for 
                 --install . Updates downloaded with --download can be subsequently installed with --install, or
                 through the App Store (as long as they remain applicable to your system).  

Updates are downloaded to /Library/Updates, but are not designed to be installed by double-clicking the packages in that directory:
                 always use --install or the App Store to actually perform the install.

     
--ignore identifier ...  Manages the per-machine list of ignored updates. 

The identifier is the first part of the item name (before the dash and version number) that is shown by --list.  See EXAMPLES.

     
--reset-ignored  Clears the per-machine list of ignored updates.  
     
--schedule on | off  Manages the per-machine automatic (background) check preference.  
     
-h 
 --help  Print command usage.
usage: softwareupdate  [ ...]

** Catalog Management:
    --set-catalog  Set the new catalog URL (requires privileges)
    --clear-catalog     Clear the catalog URL back to defaults (requires privileges)

** Manage Updates:
    -l | --list     List all appropriate update labels (options:  --no-scan)
    -d | --download     Download Only
    -e | --cancel-download      Cancel a download
    -i | --install      Install
         ... specific updates
        -a | --all      All appropriate updates
        -r | --recommended  Only recommended updates
    --background        Trigger a background scan and update operation
    --ignore  ...    Ignore specific updates
    --reset-ignored     Clear all ignored updates

** Other Tools:
    --suspend-background    Suspend background operations from occurring temporarily (use --duration to specify duration to suspend in seconds)
    --duration )      Optional duration in seconds to suspend background operations (defaults to 5*60 seconds)
    --dump-state        Log the internal state of the SU daemon to /var/log/install.log
    --evaluate-products     Evaluate a list of product keys specified by the --products option 

** Options:
    --no-scan       Do not scan when listing or installing updates (use available updates previously scanned)
    --products      A comma-separated (no spaces) list of product keys to operate on. 
    --force         Force an operation to complete.  Use with --background to trigger a background scan regardless of "Automatically check" pref 

--verbose   Enable verbose output
--help  Print this help



EXAMPLES

     softwareupdate --list

Broadcast Message from _distnote@smacpro (no tty) at 8:25 EST...                                                
Feb 26 08:25:40 smacpro softwareupdate[15994]: /usr/sbin/softwareupdate: Service connection invalidated!




           Software Update Tool
           Copyright 2002-2012 Apple Inc.

           Finding available software
           Software Update found the following new or updated software:
              * MacBookAirEFIUpdate2.4-2.4
                   MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update (2.4), 3817K [recommended] [restart]
              * ProAppsQTCodecs-1.0
                   ProApps QuickTime codecs (1.0), 968K [recommended]
              * JavaForOSX-1.0
                   Java for OS X 2012-005 (1.0), 65288K [recommended]

     sudo softwareupdate --install JavaForOSX-1.0

           Software Update Tool
           Copyright 2002-2012 Apple Inc.

           Finding available software

           Downloading Java for OS X 2012-005
           Downloaded Java for OS X 2012-005
           Installing Java for OS X 2012-005
           Done with Java for OS X 2012-005
           Done.

     sudo softwareupdate --ignore JavaForOSX

           Ignored updates:
           (JavaForOSX)

     sudo softwareupdate --schedule

           Automatic check is on