“needrestart” is a Linux utility tool that checks which daemons or processes need to be restarted after system library upgrades. System libraries are shared libraries that are used by multiple processes and applications on a Linux system. When these libraries are upgraded, it’s often necessary to restart the processes that are using them in order to ensure that they use the updated version of the library.
“needrestart” helps system administrators keep track of which daemons or processes need to be restarted after library upgrades. It scans the system’s memory and identifies which processes are using the outdated libraries. The tool then lists the processes that need to be restarted, and provides recommendations on how to restart them. This helps to avoid issues that might arise from outdated libraries, such as security vulnerabilities or compatibility issues.
“needrestart” is a simple and efficient tool that saves system administrators time and effort by automating the process of checking for outdated libraries and identifying which processes need to be restarted. It is particularly useful for systems with many processes and applications, where it can be time-consuming and difficult to manually track which processes need to be restarted after a library upgrade.
needrestart Command Examples
1. List outdated processes:
# needrestart
2. Interactively restart services:
# sudo needrestart
3. List outdated processes in [v]erbose or [q]uiet mode:
# needrestart -v|q
4. Check if the [k]ernel is outdated:
# needrestart -k
5. Check if the CPU microcode is outdated:
# needrestart -w
6. List outdated processes in [b]atch mode:
# needrestart -b
7. List outdated processed using a specific [c]onfiguration file:
# needrestart -c path/to/config
8. Display help:
# needrestart --help