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.
If you are using the Redhat Linux, download and get the apt-get package from Apt for Redhat Linux
Read more details about Apt for Redhat at - Apt for Redhat Linux
Make sure you thoroughly read the documents of apt-get before using it. See Debian Docs and click on User's Manuals and click on APT HOWTO and click on your language English: HTML
See also YUM tool at YUM - Yellowdog Updater, Modified .
man 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 |