You can automate the process of maintaining the Linux system with the powerful tool like apt-get. The apt-get tool is immensely powerful and used by millions of computers world-wide on Linux systems. The apt-get utility works with Redhat Linux and Debian. The apt-get works with distros which support RPM or Deb packages. The apt-get may work with most of the distributions; if it does not you can very easily tailor the code. Mandrake has tool called urpmi.

Want to know more about apt-get command ? Just see the help page on apt-get by typing the following command at bash shell prompt:

		$ apt-get -h  | more
			  
		apt 0.5.5cnc6 for linux i386 compiled on Jul 19 2003 21:23:24
		Usage: apt-get [options] command
			   apt-get [options] install|remove pkg1 [pkg2 ...]
			   apt-get [options] source pkg1 [pkg2 ...]
			  
		apt-get is a simple command line interface for downloading and
		installing packages. The most frequently used commands are update
		and install.
			  
		Commands:
		   update - Retrieve new lists of packages
		   upgrade - Perform an upgrade
		   install - Install new packages (pkg is libc6 not libc6.rpm)
		   remove - Remove packages
		   source - Download source archives
		   build-dep - Configure build-dependencies for source packages
		   dist-upgrade - Distribution upgrade, see apt-get(8)
		   clean - Erase downloaded archive files
		   autoclean - Erase old downloaded archive files
		   check - Verify that there are no broken dependencies
			  
		Options:
		  -h  This help text.
		  -q  Loggable output - no progress indicator
		  -qq No output except for errors
		  -d  Download only - do NOT install or unpack archives
		  -s  No-act. Perform ordering simulation
		  -y  Assume Yes to all queries and do not prompt
		  -f  Attempt to continue if the integrity check fails
		  -m  Attempt to continue if archives are unlocatable
		  -u  Show a list of upgraded packages as well
		  -b  Build the source package after fetching it
		  -D  When removing packages, remove dependencies as possible
		  -c=? Read this configuration file
		  -o=? Set an arbitary configuration option, eg -o dir::cache=/tmp
		See the apt-get(8), sources.list(5) and apt.conf(5) manual
		pages for more information and options.
							   This APT has Super Cow Powers.
	  

You can see the online man pages on apt-get as given below:

			man apt-get
	  In the bottom of manual page, look at "See Also" section
			man apt.conf
			man apt-cache
			man apt-cdrom
	  

An example of usage of apt-get:

			apt-get -f  upgrade postgresql-contrib
			apt-get  upgrade postgresql-contrib
			apt-get  install postgresql-contrib
			apt-get  install gaim
			apt-get dist-upgrade