Restart and Update Your Computer: FAQs

Owned by
Margie Athol
Last updated: Nov 01, 2023Version comment
6 min read

One of the most important actions you can take to improve your computer's performance and security also happens to be one of the easiest: restarting.  

Updating your computer's operating system and installing security patches is part of the University's Information Resources Use and Security Policy (IRUSP) because an unpatched system is one of the most common vulnerabilities exploited by attackers.  The final step to install updates is restarting because it allows your computer to apply them. Restarting regularly is also important for good performance— computers that aren't regularly restarted may react slowly, have applications crash, and have peripherals not work. 

Incorporate regular restarts into your routine (we recommend once a week) to keep your computer running smoothly, decrease issues with peripherals, and finish installing important security updates. Restarting your computer is done from the Apple Menu (on macOS) or Start Menu (on Windows) and isn't the same as sleep mode or closing your laptop's lid.

Jump to FAQs about updating:


General FAQs

Why is it important to keep the operating system and applications up to date? 

Updating your computer's operating system and applications is a crucial security measure for protecting the University— an unpatched system is one of the most common vulnerabilities exploited by attackers. Installing updates is like re-keying an office after the key is lost: it helps prevent unauthorized access and protect our belongings.  

University security policy requires that all applications and the computer's operating system be kept up to date.

But, doesn't CNS IT update my computer? 

CNS IT pushes updates for the operating system and many standard applications, but we don't update every application or any applications you've installed yourself. If the computer isn't restarted or doesn't restart automatically, most updates won't install. Updates can also get stuck occasionally and need an extra hand. 

Why should I restart my computer regularly? 

A restart is often the final step required to apply an update, so regularly restarting helps ensure updates finish installing and are put to use. While CNS IT configures computers to receive updates and automatically restart outside of business hours, sometimes computers— especially laptops— don't end up restarting on their own.  

Regular restarts also improve your computer's performance and decrease the probability of application crashes, hardware malfunctions, and network issues. Computers have a finite amount of memory, called RAM, for running applications and completing tasks. A computer's RAM is much like our working memory— after starting a new task, you may still be thinking about the one you just finished. Or if you try to work on too many tasks at once, you may not be able to complete them as quickly. Just as a good night's sleep refreshes our working memory, restarting your computer will reset the RAM. And just like being sleep-deprived makes it harder to think quickly and easier to forget, a computer that hasn't been restarted in a while may react slowly or have applications crash and peripherals not work.  

How often do I need to install updates and restart my computer? 

The ISO's minimum security standards require that updates be installed expediently — this typically means in less than 30 days from when it was released but may be shorter if the new update is securing a particularly dangerous vulnerability.  

We recommend restarting your computer once a week— such as at the end of your work week or as you're heading out to lunch— and manually checking for updates once a month. Creating a recurring calendar event can be a helpful reminder.  

We don't recommend leaving your computer turned off for extended periods of time, especially if you have a desktop computer on campus. Even if you're going out of town, just log out. This allows CNS IT to continue pushing updates to the computer. 

What about the computers in my lab that are used for collecting or analyzing data? 

Many computers that are designated for research, especially instrument controllers, have been configured differently so that updates aren't installed on the default schedule. As a result, many research computers must have all updates installed manually.  

This is to minimize disruptions to research caused by automatic restarts or incompatibilities between scientific software and an OS update. 

 If you have questions about updating the computers in your research lab, create a ticket with CNS IT.





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MacOS Computers

When will my computer update? 

You are responsible for installing updates, but you'll be prompted when it's time to do so. 

UT uses Nudge to push macOS updates. When a new update is released, it's sent to Nudge which will open a UT-branded popup prompting you to install the update (or defer for a limited amount of time). Apple doesn't have a standard schedule for when updates are released, so the macOS update window is determined by the release of an update.  

Nudge will be updated 24 hours following releases from Apple, here's an overview of the timeline:  

Day 1 - MacOS patch is released by Apple 

Day 2 - (24 hours/1 business day) - MacOS will receive a new Nudge configuration for macOS; patch is available to end users for installation 

Day 3 – 5 – Users will see four popups a day with the option to defer the installation. 

Day 6 - The popup becomes persistent with no option to defer. 

More information can be seen on this EPM wiki: https://utexas.atlassian.net/wiki/display/EndpointManagement/OS+Patching%3A+UT+Macintosh+Security+Updates+and+Reboot+Policy 

How does UT manage updates on my computer? 

How do I update my computer's operating system? 

Instructions for updating, including best practices, can be seen on our wiki here: https://utexas.atlassian.net/wiki/display/cnsoitpublic/macOS+Updates+and+Upgrades   

How do I update my computer's applications? 

Adobe applications: 



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Windows Computers 

When will my computer update? 

Any available updates will be installed during the maintenance window, which is configured to be 1:00 AM – 6:00 AM daily by default. However, in order for a computer to install updates on its own during the maintenance window, it must be turned on and connected to the internet. 

If you have a desktop computer, this means you should leave your computer turned on when you're finished using it for the day.  

If you have a laptop computer, this means you will likely need to install updates manually. If your laptop is connected to a docking station (or a monitor through which your laptop also gets power and ethernet), it should install updates during the maintenance window. Contact CNS IT if you'd like to make sure your laptop can install updates while docked. 

How does UT manage updates on my computer? 

How do I update my computer's operating system? 

Instructions for installing updates can be seen on our wiki page here: https://utexas.atlassian.net/wiki/display/cnsoitpublic/Windows+Updates  

How do I update my computer's applications? 

Adobe applications: 


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Linux Computers 

When will my computer update? 

For Linux machines managed by the Linux EPM project, we typically install security updates automatically each night.  We do not install non-security updates automatically however, and in certain cases we exclude some security updates where they are known to be problematic.  Also, we do not reboot machines after updates, so it is important that you reboot your machine as outlined above to be sure the security updates are in full effect. 

How does UT manage updates on my computer? 

We typically use the OS provided auto update tools (yum-cron, dnf-automatic, or unattended-upgrades).  In some cases, we may use additional tools. 

How do I update my computer's operating system? 

For the Red Hat family of machines, you can issue the command “sudo yum upgrade”. 
For the Debian/Ubuntu family of machines, you can issue the commands: “sudo apt update; sudo apt upgrade”.  After installing the updates with the above commands, it is a good idea to reboot the system to be sure they take full effect. 

How do I update my computer's applications? 

Any applications that are installed from package repositories should be updated by the above commands.  If you install software manually (not from a repository) then you will also need to update them manually.  See the software’s instructions in that case. 



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Questions?

If you have any questions or need assistance, let us know! You can send us an email to help@cns.utexas.edu or submit a request form: https://cns.utexas.edu/help

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