Using YUM to update the system

In this recipe, we will investigate the role of the Yellowdog Updater, Modified (YUM) package manager with regard to running a system update. Every once in a while, you may become aware of an update or may simply wish to discover if one exists. Applying patches and updates is a regular task for every server administrator, and an up-to-date system can help increase or ensure the security of your server as software bugs and vulnerabilities are found all the time and must be fixed promptly. In this recipe, you will learn how to achieve this with the help of YUM.

Getting ready

To complete this recipe, you will require a working installation of the CentOS 7 operating system with root privileges, a console-based text editor of your choice, and a connection to the Internet in order to facilitate the download of additional packages.

How to do it...

You can run this recipe, as often as required but it should be done frequently, based on a schedule of your own choosing in...