Linux Admin

[hamyjam]

SKU-3 Question. Would it be prudent to keep the Linux OS updates checked/installed periodically? When attempted am getting prompted for Admin password. If “yes”, how does one go about getting or setting and Admin User account password for the OS?

Thank you
Jim, KD2UBU

[helioclock]

Subject: Re: SKU-3 OS update question

Hi Jim,

I’d advise against running Linux OS updates on this unit, and the admin password prompt you’re hitting is actually by design, not something to work around.

The underlying operating system is deliberately locked down and does not receive general OS-level updates automatically, that’s intentional, to keep the kiosk stable and predictable. Running apt-get upgrade or letting the system install OS updates can change system libraries, display drivers, or other low-level components the Helioclock software depends on, and that risks breaking things in ways that are hard to undo.

Any updates that actually matter, including security-relevant ones, come through Helioclock’s own software update system instead, which I control and test before it goes out. That’s the layer that actually gets maintained.

I’d recommend leaving the OS layer alone entirely and letting Helioclock’s own updates handle everything that needs updating. If you’re ever unsure whether something needs attention, just ask me directly rather than digging into the OS yourself.

73,
Anthony Watts
KA9NWM
Helioclock

[Author]

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