How to Update Centova Cast

Updated: 4 November 2026 · Applies to: Centova Cast 3.x on your own VPS or dedicated server

To update Centova Cast, log in to the server as root and run /usr/local/centovacast/sbin/update. It updates every installed Centova Cast package that has a newer version. Centova Cast never updates itself, so you run this whenever a new release comes out.

If your stations are on a Ucartz Centova Cast hosting or reseller account, you do not need to do this: the panel runs on our servers and we keep it up to date. This guide is for a Centova Cast licence on your own VPS or dedicated server.

Before you update

1. Read the release announcement on the Centova news page, so you know what changes.
2. Take a snapshot of the VPS, or at least copy /usr/local/centovacast and its database to another disk. If something goes wrong, you can go back.
3. Pick a quiet time. Stations keep running during most updates, but the web panel can restart.
4. If you changed the panel theme or logo, set up a preupdate and postupdate script first, or the update overwrites your changes (see Centova Cast update command options and hooks).

Run the update

1. Connect to the server with SSH as root.
2. Run the update utility:

/usr/local/centovacast/sbin/update

3. Wait until it finishes and read the output for errors. If you have separate web and control servers, run the same command on each one; according to Centova, it works on both.
4. Log in to the Centova Cast panel and check that your stations start and stream.

If one part failed or looks damaged

The utility skips packages that are already current. To reinstall them anyway, for example when you think files on the server are damaged, add --force:

/usr/local/centovacast/sbin/update --force

You can also update or reinstall a single part, such as the web interface, by naming it. The list of part names and the other options are in Centova Cast update command options and hooks.

Update on a schedule

Because Centova Cast does not update itself, Centova suggests a root cron job if you want regular updates. Run it at a quiet hour and check the output by email, so a failed update does not go unnoticed.

Official documentation: Upgrading Centova Cast and Update utility.