Verify that "mail root" works Install packages aptitude install unattended-upgrades apt-listchanges needrestart dpkg-reconfigure -plow unattended-upgrades dpkg-reconfigure -plow apt-listchanges [apt] frontend=pager email_address=root confirm=0 save_seen=/var/lib/apt/listchanges.db which=news Edit /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades make sure to uncomment: Unattended-Upgrade::Mail "root"; Configure needrestart to restart services automatically --- /etc/needrestart/needrestart.conf~ 2015-05-27 21:25:50.000000000 +0200 +++ /etc/needrestart/needrestart.conf 2015-12-04 16:19:00.429894968 +0100 @@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ #$nrconf{hook_d} = '/etc/needrestart/hook.d'; # Restart services (l)ist only, (i)nteractive or (a)utomatically. -#$nrconf{restart} = 'i'; +$nrconf{restart} = 'a'; # Use prefered UI package. #$nrconf{ui} = 'NeedRestart::UI::stdio';