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Frequently Asked Questions

General​

What is PatchCTL?​

PatchCTL is a dashboard-first Linux patch management platform. It helps you manage updates across your Linux servers without needing CLI expertise.

What operating systems are supported?​

  • Ubuntu 20.04+
  • Debian 11+
  • RHEL 8+
  • Rocky Linux 8+
  • CentOS Stream 8+
  • Fedora 38+
  • SUSE Enterprise 15+
  • openSUSE Leap 15.4+

Is there a free plan?​

Yes! The free plan includes 5 servers with full features, perfect for homelabs and small deployments.

Agent​

How often does the agent check in?​

Every 5 minutes (heartbeat interval).

How often are packages scanned?​

Every 6 hours for a full package scan. You can trigger immediate scans from the dashboard.

Does the agent require internet access?​

Yes, outbound HTTPS (port 443) to api.patchctl.com is required.

Can I run PatchCTL on ARM servers?​

Not currently. Only x86_64 (amd64) architecture is supported.

Does the agent work in containers?​

No, PatchCTL manages host operating systems, not containers.

What data does the agent send?​

  • System info (hostname, IP, OS)
  • Hardware specs (CPU, RAM, disk)
  • Package list and versions
  • Update availability

The agent does NOT send file contents, user data, or command output.

Security​

Does the agent accept inbound connections?​

No. The agent only makes outbound HTTPS connections. No inbound ports required.

Can the agent run arbitrary commands?​

No. The agent only executes whitelisted operations (check updates, install updates, etc.).

Is my data encrypted?​

Yes. All data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256).

Is PatchCTL SOC 2 compliant?​

We follow SOC 2 security practices. Contact us for compliance documentation.

Features​

Can I schedule patches for specific times?​

Yes! Create schedules with specific times, timezones, and recurrence patterns.

Can I patch only security updates?​

Yes. Both schedules and manual operations support "security only" mode.

How does CVE tracking work?​

PatchCTL correlates your installed packages with known vulnerabilities from NVD and distribution advisories, updated daily.

Can I integrate with Slack/Teams?​

Yes, via webhooks. Configure webhook URLs in schedule settings to receive notifications.

Is there an API?​

API access is coming soon. Contact us if you need programmatic access.

Billing​

How are nodes counted?​

Each server with an active agent counts as one node, regardless of online/offline status.

What happens if I exceed my node limit?​

You can't add new servers until you delete existing ones or upgrade your plan.

Can I downgrade my plan?​

Yes, but ensure your node count fits the new plan's limit before downgrading.

Do you offer annual billing?​

Contact sales@patchctl.com for annual pricing.

Troubleshooting​

My server isn't appearing in the dashboard​

  1. Check agent is running: sudo systemctl status patchctl
  2. Verify license key matches
  3. Test network: curl -I https://api.patchctl.com/health
  4. Wait up to 5 minutes for first heartbeat

Patches are failing​

  1. Check for package manager locks
  2. Verify disk space
  3. Test repository connectivity
  4. Check agent logs: sudo journalctl -u patchctl

CVE data isn't showing​

CVE correlation requires:

  1. Agent registered
  2. Package scan completed (up to 6 hours)
  3. CVE data sync (daily)

New servers may take 24 hours for complete CVE data.

Support​

How do I get help?​

Is there a status page?​

Yes: https://status.patchctl.com

Do you offer enterprise support?​

Yes, enterprise plans include priority support. Contact sales@patchctl.com.