|description=This page provides documentation on using {{project_name_short}}'s System Maintenance Panel.[[File:System-maintenance-panel.png|thumb|System Maintenance Panel]]
This page provides documentation on using {{project_name_short}}'s System Maintenance Panel.The System Maintenance Panel (package <code>sysmaint-panel</code>) allows the user to perform several common system maintenance and administration tasks. It can be used to install, remove, and update software, create and remove user accounts, and enable or disable password protection and autologin for user accounts. On a live {{project_name_short}} ISO, it can also launch the Calamares installer.The System Maintenance Panel functions as a regular application.
* {{project_name_short}}: The panel can also provide a minimal desktop session, which can be accessed by booting into <code>[[Sysmaint|PERSISTENT mode SYSMAINT]]</code> if the <code>user-sysmaint-split</code> package is installed. <ref>The original purpose of the sysmaint panel was to provide a minimal desktop environment for the <code>PERSISTENT mode SYSMAINT</code> boot mode provided by <code>user-sysmaint-split</code>. However, the panel can also be used for easy system maintenance on systems without <code>user-sysmaint-split</code>.
* [[Qubes|{{q_project_name_short}}]]: No special notice.Most features offered by the System Maintenance Panel require [[root|administrative ("root") rights]] access to use. How-to: Manually Run sysmaint-panel
The System Maintenance Panel can be launched in two different ways, depending on your configuration:
'''A)''' <u>If the <code>user-sysmaint-split</code> package is '''not''' installed,</u> complete the following steps:
<code>Start Menu</code> → <code>System</code> → <code>System Maintenance Panel</code>
'''B)''' <u>If <code>user-sysmaint-split</code> '''is''' installed,</u> reboot the system and select <code>PERSISTENT mode SYSMAINT</code> as the boot mode. Once logged into the <code>sysmaint</code> account, the System Maintenance Panel will appear.
To check for available software updates, click "Check for Updates". A terminal window will open, with <code>sudo apt update</code> running inside. Once apt is finished checking for updates, you will be shown how many updates are available.
To install any available software updates, click "Install Updates". A terminal window will open, with <code>sudo apt full-upgrade</code> running inside. If there are updates to be installed, you will be asked whether you really want to proceed with installing the updates or not. To proceed, press <code>y</code>, then press Enter.
As you install and remove software, you may end up with packages installed on your system that are no longer necessary. You can use the "Remove Unused Packages" button to uninstall these packages, while leaving their configuration files intact in case you need to install them again later. If you want to remove the configuration files of unneeded packages when uninstalling them, click "Purge Unused Packages".
The "Manage Passwords" and "Manage GUI Autologin" buttons allow you to change the password or autologin status for a user account. These buttons will launch the <code>pwchange</code> and <code>autologinchange</code> utilities, respectively. See [[Login]] for more details.
To run the <code>systemcheck</code> utility, click "Check System Status". This will run several health and security checks on the system and report back the results. See [[systemcheck]] for more details.
If you are administering a multi-user system, you may need to create user accounts for new users or delete user accounts for users who are no longer authorized to access the system. The "Create User" and "Remove User" buttons can be used for these tasks.
To search for and install software, use the "Install Software" button. A window will appear, allowing you to search for and install software from the apt repositories. Most of the software available here is provided by the Debian project.
[[Category:Documentation]] [[Category:Design]]
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