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Update docs to include instructions for unattended-upgrades
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Starting with Ubuntu 20.04, we plan on using unattended-upgrades instead
of  cron-apt.
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emkll committed Feb 15, 2021
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39 changes: 29 additions & 10 deletions docs/admin.rst
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Expand Up @@ -413,23 +413,42 @@ for how to enable error logging for the *Source Interface*.
Immediately Apply a SecureDrop Update
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SecureDrop will update and reboot once per day. However, if after a SecureDrop
update `is announced`_ you wish to fetch the update immediately, you can SSH
into each server (via ``ssh app`` and ``ssh mon``) and run:

.. code:: sh
sudo cron-apt -i -s
Depending on the nature of the update (e.g., if the ``tor`` package is upgraded
and you are using SSH-over-Tor), your SSH connection may be interrupted, and you
SecureDrop will update and reboot once per day. However, once a SecureDrop
update `is announced`_ , you can opt to fetch the update immediately. Depending
on the nature of the update (e.g., if the ``tor`` package is upgraded and you are
using SSH-over-Tor), your SSH connection may be interrupted, and you
may have to reconnect to see the full output.

.. important::

Except where otherwise indicated, make sure to update both your
*Application Server* and your *Monitor Server*.


To update your servers immediately, you can SSH
into each server (via ``ssh app`` and ``ssh mon``) and run the following command,
noting the value of ``VERSION_CODENAME``:

.. code:: sh
cat /etc/os-release
VERSION_CODENAME is "Focal"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. code:: sh
sudo unattended-upgrades
VERSION_CODENAME is "Xenial"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. code:: sh
sudo cron-apt -i -s
.. _`is announced`:
https://securedrop.org/news

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9 changes: 4 additions & 5 deletions docs/servers.rst
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Expand Up @@ -236,9 +236,8 @@ Disk Encryption
If the servers are ever powered down, FDE will ensure all of the
information on them stays private in case they are seized or stolen.

.. warning:: The Ansible playbooks for SecureDrop will enable nightly reboots
after the ``cron-apt`` task runs for automatic updates. Using FDE
would therefore require manual intervention every morning.
.. warning:: The Ansible playbooks for SecureDrop will enable nightly reboots.
Using FDE would therefore require manual intervention every morning.
Consequently **we strongly discourage the use of FDE.**

While FDE can be useful in some cases, we currently do not recommend
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -282,8 +281,8 @@ subsequent SecureDrop installation will include a task that handles
regular software updates.

.. note:: The Ansible playbooks for SecureDrop will configure automatic
updates via ``cron-apt``. As part of the automatic update process,
the servers will reboot nightly. See the
updates via ``unattended-upgrades``. As part of the automatic update
process, the servers will reboot nightly. See the
:ref:`OSSEC guide <AnalyzingAlerts>` for example notifications
generated by the reboots.

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