January 2026

Proxmox VM Auto-Upgrade Script (qm + vzdump) with Network Tests and Auto-Restore

Posted on January 23, 2026January 23, 2026 by soban

Proxmox VM Auto-Upgrade Script (qm + vzdump) with Network Tests and Auto-Restore

This article describes a simple (but effective) automation script for Proxmox VE that:

creates a backup of a VM (optional),
starts the VM if it was originally stopped,
runs apt upgrade + reboot inside the VM,
performs network tests before and after the update,
restores from backup automatically if tests fail (optional),
shuts down the VM again if it was originally stopped.

Where to download the script

You can download the script directly from my website:

soban.pl/bash/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh

Required folders

Before you run anything, create two folders for scripts and logs:

mkdir -p /root/automate_scripts /root/logs

1	mkdir -p /root/automate_scripts /root/logs

Install the script

Download the file into /root/automate_scripts/ and make it executable:

cd /root/automate_scripts
curl -fsSL -o upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh "https://soban.pl/bash/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh"
chmod +x /root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh

cd /root/automate_scripts

curl -fsSL -o upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh "https://soban.pl/bash/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh"

chmod +x /root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh

How it works (high level)

Backup (vzdump snapshot + zstd) is executed first (if enabled).
If the VM was stopped, the script starts it and waits WAIT_TIME seconds.
Runs network tests BEFORE update:
Executes apt update/upgrade/dist-upgrade/autoremove/clean and finally reboots the VM.
Waits again (WAIT_TIME) and runs the same tests AFTER update.
If tests fail and a backup exists, it performs qmrestore automatically.
If the VM was originally stopped, it shuts down the VM at the end.

Usage

The script expects exactly two arguments:

VMID – the Proxmox VM ID
TIME_SEC – how long to wait after start/reboot (in seconds)

/root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh 901 500

1	/root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh 901 500

Tip: choose a WAIT_TIME that matches your VM boot time and apt upgrade duration. Typical values are 300 to 1000 seconds depending on the VM.

Full script (for reference)

If you prefer to keep everything in one place, below is the full script exactly as used in this setup:

#!/bin/bash
WAIT_TIME=$2  # wait time for VM start/restart (in seconds)
DO_BACKUP="y" # 'y' - create backup, 'n' - skip backup
DO_UPDATE="y" # 'y' - run system update, 'n' - skip update
echo "---------------START---------------"
date
echo "-----------------------------------"
# Argument check
if [ "$#" -ne 2 ]; then
echo "Usage: $0 <VMID> <TIME_SEC>"
exit 1
fi
VMID="$1"
TARGET_HOSTNAME=$(/usr/sbin/qm list | grep -w "$VMID" | awk '{print $2}')
VM_STATUS=$(/usr/sbin/qm status "$VMID" | awk '{print $2}')
HOST_MACHINE=$(hostname)
WAS_STOPPED=0
if [ "$VM_STATUS" = "stopped" ]; then
WAS_STOPPED=1
else
WAS_STOPPED=0
fi
# Create backup if DO_BACKUP is set to 'y'
backup_result="Backup not attempted"
if [ "$DO_BACKUP" = "y" ]; then
echo "Creating backup for VM $VMID..."
BACKUP_OUTPUT=$(/usr/bin/vzdump "$VMID" --storage local --mode snapshot --compress zstd)
BACKUP_FILE=$(echo "$BACKUP_OUTPUT" | grep -oP 'vzdump-qemu-[^\s]+' | tr -d "'")
if [ -z "$BACKUP_FILE" ]; then
echo "Backup failed: No backup file created."
backup_result="Backup created: NOK"
exit 1
else
echo "Backup created successfully: $BACKUP_FILE"
backup_result="Backup created: OK"
fi
else
echo "Backup not attempted (backup is disabled)."
fi
# Start VM if it was originally stopped
if [ "$WAS_STOPPED" -eq 1 ]; then
echo "Starting VM $VMID for update..."
/usr/sbin/qm start "$VMID"
echo "Waiting $WAIT_TIME seconds for VM to start..."
sleep "$WAIT_TIME"
fi
# Test functions
perform_ping_test() {
source="$1"
target="$2"
if ssh root@"$source" "ping -c 3 -W 2 $target" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
echo "Ping from $source to $target: OK"
return 0
else
echo "Ping from $source to $target: NOK"
return 1
fi
}
test_curl() {
source="$1"
target="$2"
if ssh root@"$source" "curl -s --head --connect-timeout 5 $target" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
echo "Curl from $source to $target: OK"
return 0
else
echo "Curl from $source to $target: NOK"
return 1
fi
}
perform_local_ping_test() {
source="$1"
target="$2"
if ping -c 3 -W 2 "$target" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
echo "Ping from $source to $target: OK"
return 0
else
echo "Ping from $source to $target: NOK"
return 1
fi
}
DEFAULT_GW=$(/sbin/ip route | grep default | awk '{print $3}')
perform_tests() {
status=0
perform_local_ping_test "$HOST_MACHINE" "$TARGET_HOSTNAME" || status=1
perform_ping_test "$TARGET_HOSTNAME" "8.8.8.8" || status=1
perform_ping_test "$TARGET_HOSTNAME" "$DEFAULT_GW" || status=1
test_curl "$TARGET_HOSTNAME" "http://google.com" || status=1
return ${status:-0}
}
# General tests before update
echo "--- General tests BEFORE update ---"
if perform_tests; then
echo "All network tests before update: OK"
echo "$backup_result"
if [ "$backup_result" == "Backup created: OK" ] || [ "$backup_result" == "Backup not attempted" ]; then
echo "BEFORE status: OK"
else
echo "BEFORE status: NOK"
fi
else
echo "Some network tests before update: NOK"
echo "$backup_result"
echo "BEFORE status: NOK"
[ "$WAS_STOPPED" -eq 1 ] && /usr/sbin/qm shutdown "$VMID"
exit 1
fi
echo "-----------------------------------"
# System update and reboot
update_result="Upgrade system: NOK"
if [ "$DO_UPDATE" = "y" ]; then
echo "--- Updating VM $VMID ---"
if ssh root@"$TARGET_HOSTNAME" "/usr/bin/apt update && \
/usr/bin/apt upgrade -y && \
/usr/bin/apt dist-upgrade -y && \
/usr/bin/apt autoremove -y && \
/usr/bin/apt autoclean && \
/usr/bin/apt clean && \
/usr/bin/apt --purge autoremove && \
/sbin/reboot"; then
echo "---END Updating VM $VMID ---"
echo "Upgrade system: OK"
update_result="Upgrade system: OK"
else
echo "Upgrade system: NOK"
update_result="Upgrade system: NOK"
[ "$WAS_STOPPED" -eq 1 ] && /usr/sbin/qm shutdown "$VMID"
echo "Update failed. Exiting."
exit 1
fi
fi
# Wait for VM reboot if update was performed
if [ "$DO_UPDATE" = "y" ]; then
echo "Waiting $WAIT_TIME seconds for VM to reboot..."
sleep "$WAIT_TIME"
fi
# Tests after reboot if update was performed
if [ "$DO_UPDATE" = "y" ]; then
echo "--- Network tests AFTER update ---"
if perform_tests; then
echo "All network tests after update: OK"
echo "$update_result"
echo "AFTER status: OK"
else
echo "Some network tests after update: NOK"
echo "$update_result"
echo "Attempting to restore from backup..."
if [ "$DO_BACKUP" = "y" ]; then
/usr/sbin/qm stop "$VMID"
/usr/sbin/qmrestore "/var/lib/vz/dump/$BACKUP_FILE" "$VMID" --force
if [ "$WAS_STOPPED" -eq 1 ]; then
/usr/sbin/qm shutdown "$VMID"
fi
echo "Restore attempt finished. Please check VM status."
echo "AFTER status: NOK"
else
echo "No backup available for restoration. The VM might not function properly after failed update."
echo "AFTER status: NOK"
fi
fi
echo "-----------------------------------"
fi
# Shut down VM if it was originally stopped
if [ "$WAS_STOPPED" -eq 1 ]; then
echo "Shutting down VM $VMID (originally stopped)."
/usr/sbin/qm shutdown "$VMID"
fi
echo "---------------END---------------"
date
echo "-----------------------------------"

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#!/bin/bash

WAIT_TIME=$2 # wait time for VM start/restart (in seconds)

DO_BACKUP="y" # 'y' - create backup, 'n' - skip backup

DO_UPDATE="y" # 'y' - run system update, 'n' - skip update

echo "---------------START---------------"

date

echo "-----------------------------------"

# Argument check

if [ "$#" -ne 2 ]; then

echo "Usage: $0 <VMID> <TIME_SEC>"

exit 1

VMID="$1"

TARGET_HOSTNAME=$(/usr/sbin/qm list | grep -w "$VMID" | awk '{print $2}')

VM_STATUS=$(/usr/sbin/qm status "$VMID" | awk '{print $2}')

HOST_MACHINE=$(hostname)

WAS_STOPPED=0

if [ "$VM_STATUS" = "stopped" ]; then

WAS_STOPPED=1

else

WAS_STOPPED=0

# Create backup if DO_BACKUP is set to 'y'

backup_result="Backup not attempted"

if [ "$DO_BACKUP" = "y" ]; then

echo "Creating backup for VM $VMID..."

BACKUP_OUTPUT=$(/usr/bin/vzdump "$VMID" --storage local --mode snapshot --compress zstd)

BACKUP_FILE=$(echo "$BACKUP_OUTPUT" | grep -oP 'vzdump-qemu-[^\s]+' | tr -d "'")

if [ -z "$BACKUP_FILE" ]; then

echo "Backup failed: No backup file created."

backup_result="Backup created: NOK"

exit 1

else

echo "Backup created successfully: $BACKUP_FILE"

backup_result="Backup created: OK"

else

echo "Backup not attempted (backup is disabled)."

# Start VM if it was originally stopped

if [ "$WAS_STOPPED" -eq 1 ]; then

echo "Starting VM $VMID for update..."

/usr/sbin/qm start "$VMID"

echo "Waiting $WAIT_TIME seconds for VM to start..."

sleep "$WAIT_TIME"

# Test functions

perform_ping_test() {

source="$1"

target="$2"

if ssh root@"$source" "ping -c 3 -W 2 $target" >/dev/null 2>&1; then

echo "Ping from $source to $target: OK"

return 0

else

echo "Ping from $source to $target: NOK"

return 1

}

test_curl() {

source="$1"

target="$2"

if ssh root@"$source" "curl -s --head --connect-timeout 5 $target" >/dev/null 2>&1; then

echo "Curl from $source to $target: OK"

return 0

else

echo "Curl from $source to $target: NOK"

return 1

}

perform_local_ping_test() {

source="$1"

target="$2"

if ping -c 3 -W 2 "$target" >/dev/null 2>&1; then

echo "Ping from $source to $target: OK"

return 0

else

echo "Ping from $source to $target: NOK"

return 1

}

DEFAULT_GW=$(/sbin/ip route | grep default | awk '{print $3}')

perform_tests() {

status=0

perform_local_ping_test "$HOST_MACHINE" "$TARGET_HOSTNAME" || status=1

perform_ping_test "$TARGET_HOSTNAME" "8.8.8.8" || status=1

perform_ping_test "$TARGET_HOSTNAME" "$DEFAULT_GW" || status=1

test_curl "$TARGET_HOSTNAME" "http://google.com" || status=1

return ${status:-0}

}

# General tests before update

echo "--- General tests BEFORE update ---"

if perform_tests; then

echo "All network tests before update: OK"

echo "$backup_result"

if [ "$backup_result" == "Backup created: OK" ] || [ "$backup_result" == "Backup not attempted" ]; then

echo "BEFORE status: OK"

else

echo "BEFORE status: NOK"

else

echo "Some network tests before update: NOK"

echo "$backup_result"

echo "BEFORE status: NOK"

[ "$WAS_STOPPED" -eq 1 ] && /usr/sbin/qm shutdown "$VMID"

exit 1

echo "-----------------------------------"

# System update and reboot

update_result="Upgrade system: NOK"

if [ "$DO_UPDATE" = "y" ]; then

echo "--- Updating VM $VMID ---"

if ssh root@"$TARGET_HOSTNAME" "/usr/bin/apt update && \

/usr/bin/apt upgrade -y && \

/usr/bin/apt dist-upgrade -y && \

/usr/bin/apt autoremove -y && \

/usr/bin/apt autoclean && \

/usr/bin/apt clean && \

/usr/bin/apt --purge autoremove && \

/sbin/reboot"; then

echo "---END Updating VM $VMID ---"

echo "Upgrade system: OK"

update_result="Upgrade system: OK"

else

echo "Upgrade system: NOK"

update_result="Upgrade system: NOK"

[ "$WAS_STOPPED" -eq 1 ] && /usr/sbin/qm shutdown "$VMID"

echo "Update failed. Exiting."

exit 1

# Wait for VM reboot if update was performed

if [ "$DO_UPDATE" = "y" ]; then

echo "Waiting $WAIT_TIME seconds for VM to reboot..."

sleep "$WAIT_TIME"

# Tests after reboot if update was performed

if [ "$DO_UPDATE" = "y" ]; then

echo "--- Network tests AFTER update ---"

if perform_tests; then

echo "All network tests after update: OK"

echo "$update_result"

echo "AFTER status: OK"

else

echo "Some network tests after update: NOK"

echo "$update_result"

echo "Attempting to restore from backup..."

if [ "$DO_BACKUP" = "y" ]; then

/usr/sbin/qm stop "$VMID"

/usr/sbin/qmrestore "/var/lib/vz/dump/$BACKUP_FILE" "$VMID" --force

if [ "$WAS_STOPPED" -eq 1 ]; then

/usr/sbin/qm shutdown "$VMID"

echo "Restore attempt finished. Please check VM status."

echo "AFTER status: NOK"

else

echo "No backup available for restoration. The VM might not function properly after failed update."

echo "AFTER status: NOK"

echo "-----------------------------------"

# Shut down VM if it was originally stopped

if [ "$WAS_STOPPED" -eq 1 ]; then

echo "Shutting down VM $VMID (originally stopped)."

/usr/sbin/qm shutdown "$VMID"

echo "---------------END---------------"

date

echo "-----------------------------------"

Cron jobs (weekly schedule + per-VM logs)

Below is an example crontab that runs upgrades once a week (different VM each weekday) and writes separate logs to /root/logs/.

Edit root crontab:

crontab -e

1	crontab -e

Paste rules like these (comments in English):

15 0 * * 1 /root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh 901 500 > /root/logs/kali.log 2>&1                 # Monday: upgrade Kali Linux (VMID 901)
15 0 * * 2 /root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh 903 500 > /root/logs/proxmox-test-01.log 2>&1      # Tuesday: upgrade proxmox-test-01 (VMID 903)
15 0 * * 3 /root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh 904 500 > /root/logs/ubuntu-lte.log 2>&1           # Wednesday: upgrade ubuntu-lte (VMID 904)
15 0 * * 4 /root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh 905 1000 > /root/logs/backup-machine.log 2>&1      # Thursday: upgrade backup-machine (VMID 905)

15 0 * * 1 /root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh 901 500 > /root/logs/kali.log 2>&1 # Monday: upgrade Kali Linux (VMID 901)

15 0 * * 2 /root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh 903 500 > /root/logs/proxmox-test-01.log 2>&1 # Tuesday: upgrade proxmox-test-01 (VMID 903)

15 0 * * 3 /root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh 904 500 > /root/logs/ubuntu-lte.log 2>&1 # Wednesday: upgrade ubuntu-lte (VMID 904)

15 0 * * 4 /root/automate_scripts/upgrade_proxmox_qm.sh 905 1000 > /root/logs/backup-machine.log 2>&1 # Thursday: upgrade backup-machine (VMID 905)

Quick checks / troubleshooting

Make sure root can SSH into the VM by hostname (the script uses ssh root@<vm-hostname>).
Make sure DNS (or /etc/hosts) resolves the VM hostname correctly from the Proxmox host.
If apt needs user interaction, ensure your VMs are set up for non-interactive upgrades (or pin/hold packages that prompt).

That’s it. Drop the script into /root/automate_scripts/, send logs into /root/logs/, and your weekly VM maintenance becomes mostly fire-and-forget.

Dell WD19/WD19S: firmware update on Proxmox/Debian without USB timeouts (fwupd + autosuspend fix)

Posted on January 18, 2026January 18, 2026 by soban

If you’re trying to update the firmware of a Dell WD19/WD19S docking station on Proxmox (or Debian) using fwupdmgr, you may hit the classic Operation timed out error during the Erasing… stage. In practice, the update fails due to USB power management (autosuspend). Below you’ll find a simple, effective fix and a ready-to-run script you can use on a server or laptop.

Symptoms

Most commonly, during a dock firmware update (WD19/WD19S), you’ll see an error similar to:

failed to write-firmware: failed to erase bank: failed after 5 retries: failed to SetReport: USB error: Operation timed out [-7]

1	failed to write-firmware: failed to erase bank: failed after 5 retries: failed to SetReport: USB error: Operation timed out [-7]

At this point, fwupdmgr may show the WD19S device as Update State: Failed or keep reporting pending activation, but the flash process never completes.

Why does this happen?

During flashing, the dock performs long-running operations. If the system tries to save power on USB (autosuspend), control transfers can fail. The result is a timeout exactly during the flash bank erase stage (erase bank).

Quick fix: disable USB autosuspend during the update

The simplest solution is to temporarily set autosuspend to -1 (disabled). This setting lasts until reboot (unless you make it permanent in the kernel cmdline), but it’s more than enough for the update process.

echo -1 > /sys/module/usbcore/parameters/autosuspend

1	echo -1 > /sys/module/usbcore/parameters/autosuspend

Then run the firmware update:

fwupdmgr refresh --force
fwupdmgr update

1 2	fwupdmgr refresh --force fwupdmgr update

After the update: “pending activation” and unplug requirement

After a successful firmware installation for WD19/WD19S, fwupdmgr often prints the following message:

The update will continue when the device USB cable has been unplugged.
WD19S is pending activation; use fwupdmgr activate to complete the update.

1 2	The update will continue when the device USB cable has been unplugged. WD19S is pending activation; use fwupdmgr activate to complete the update.

Do the following in this exact order:

Unplug the USB-C cable from the dock (from the laptop).
(Optional) Unplug the dock power for 10–15 seconds and plug it back in.
Plug the USB-C cable back in.
Run the activation step:

fwupdmgr activate

1	fwupdmgr activate

Finally, verify the status:

fwupdmgr get-updates
fwupdmgr get-devices | less

1 2	fwupdmgr get-updates fwupdmgr get-devices \| less

Ready-to-use script: install + update + autosuspend disable (with restore)

Below is a ready-to-run script that:

installs fwupd
refreshes LVFS metadata
temporarily disables USB autosuspend (so WD19S won’t fail with timeouts)
runs firmware updates
restores the previous autosuspend value afterwards (even if the update fails)

You can copy the script directly from this article, but if you prefer a faster way, you can download it from:

https://soban.pl/bash/dell_updage.sh

Example download and run:

cd /root/scripts
curl -fsSL https://soban.pl/bash/dell_updage.sh -o dell_updage.sh
chmod +x dell_updage.sh
./dell_updage.sh

cd /root/scripts

curl -fsSL https://soban.pl/bash/dell_updage.sh -o dell_updage.sh

chmod +x dell_updage.sh

./dell_updage.sh

If you want to preview the script before running it:

curl -fsSL https://soban.pl/bash/dell_updage.sh | less

1	curl -fsSL https://soban.pl/bash/dell_updage.sh \| less

If you don’t have less installed:

apt update
apt install -y less

1 2	apt update apt install -y less

Script (full content)

#!/bin/bash
set -euo pipefail
# dell upgrade:
# - installs fwupd
# - refreshes metadata
# - runs fwupdmgr update
# - TEMPORARILY disables USB autosuspend to avoid WD19/WD19S timeouts
# - restores autosuspend setting after update
echo "[INFO] Installing fwupd..."
apt update
apt install -y fwupd
echo "[INFO] Refreshing firmware metadata..."
fwupdmgr refresh --force
fwupdmgr get-updates || true
# Save current autosuspend value (if exists)
AUTOSUSPEND_PATH="/sys/module/usbcore/parameters/autosuspend"
OLD_AUTOSUSPEND=""
if [[ -f "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH" ]]; then
OLD_AUTOSUSPEND="$(cat "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH" || true)"
echo "[INFO] Current usbcore autosuspend: ${OLD_AUTOSUSPEND}"
else
echo "[WARN] autosuspend sysfs file not found: $AUTOSUSPEND_PATH"
fi
restore_autosuspend() {
if [[ -f "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH" && -n "${OLD_AUTOSUSPEND}" ]]; then
echo "[INFO] Restoring usbcore autosuspend back to: ${OLD_AUTOSUSPEND}"
echo "${OLD_AUTOSUSPEND}" > "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH" || true
fi
}
trap restore_autosuspend EXIT
# Disable autosuspend to prevent USB timeout during dock firmware erase/write
if [[ -f "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH" ]]; then
echo "[INFO] Disabling USB autosuspend (set to -1) to avoid dock update timeouts..."
echo -1 > "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH"
fi
read -p "Do you want to update the entire device? (y/n): " answer
if [[ "$answer" == "y" || "$answer" == "Y" ]]; then
echo "[INFO] Running fwupdmgr update..."
fwupdmgr update || {
echo "[ERROR] fwupdmgr update failed."
echo "[HINT] If this is Dell dock (WD19/WD19S), try: unplug USB-C, replug, then run: fwupdmgr activate"
exit 1
}
echo "[INFO] Update finished."
echo "[INFO] If you updated a Dell dock and it says 'pending activation':"
echo "       1) Unplug USB-C cable from the dock"
echo "       2) (Optional) Unplug dock power for 10 seconds, plug back"
echo "       3) Run: fwupdmgr activate"
else
echo "[INFO] Skipping firmware update."
fi
echo "[INFO] Done."

#!/bin/bash

set -euo pipefail

# dell upgrade:

# - installs fwupd

# - refreshes metadata

# - runs fwupdmgr update

# - TEMPORARILY disables USB autosuspend to avoid WD19/WD19S timeouts

# - restores autosuspend setting after update

echo "[INFO] Installing fwupd..."

apt update

apt install -y fwupd

echo "[INFO] Refreshing firmware metadata..."

fwupdmgr refresh --force

fwupdmgr get-updates || true

# Save current autosuspend value (if exists)

AUTOSUSPEND_PATH="/sys/module/usbcore/parameters/autosuspend"

OLD_AUTOSUSPEND=""

if [[ -f "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH" ]]; then

OLD_AUTOSUSPEND="$(cat "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH" || true)"

echo "[INFO] Current usbcore autosuspend: ${OLD_AUTOSUSPEND}"

else

echo "[WARN] autosuspend sysfs file not found: $AUTOSUSPEND_PATH"

restore_autosuspend() {

if [[ -f "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH" && -n "${OLD_AUTOSUSPEND}" ]]; then

echo "[INFO] Restoring usbcore autosuspend back to: ${OLD_AUTOSUSPEND}"

echo "${OLD_AUTOSUSPEND}" > "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH" || true

}

trap restore_autosuspend EXIT

# Disable autosuspend to prevent USB timeout during dock firmware erase/write

if [[ -f "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH" ]]; then

echo "[INFO] Disabling USB autosuspend (set to -1) to avoid dock update timeouts..."

echo -1 > "$AUTOSUSPEND_PATH"

read -p "Do you want to update the entire device? (y/n): " answer

if [[ "$answer" == "y" || "$answer" == "Y" ]]; then

echo "[INFO] Running fwupdmgr update..."

fwupdmgr update || {

echo "[ERROR] fwupdmgr update failed."

echo "[HINT] If this is Dell dock (WD19/WD19S), try: unplug USB-C, replug, then run: fwupdmgr activate"

exit 1

}

echo "[INFO] Update finished."

echo "[INFO] If you updated a Dell dock and it says 'pending activation':"

echo " 1) Unplug USB-C cable from the dock"

echo " 2) (Optional) Unplug dock power for 10 seconds, plug back"

echo " 3) Run: fwupdmgr activate"

else

echo "[INFO] Skipping firmware update."

echo "[INFO] Done."

Running the script

The simplest way:

chmod +x dell_updage.sh
./dell_updage.sh

1 2	chmod +x dell_updage.sh ./dell_updage.sh

FAQ & tips

The update still fails? Disconnect all peripherals from the dock (monitors/LAN/USB), leave only power and USB-C, do a hard reset of the dock (unplug power for 30s), and try again.
“pending activation” after update – this is normal for WD19/WD19S. You must unplug USB-C, plug it back in, then run fwupdmgr activate.
Does this update the laptop BIOS? Not always. fwupdmgr shows “System Firmware” (BIOS/UEFI) separately from the dock. This article focuses on the dock and the USB timeout issue.

Summary

If Dell WD19/WD19S firmware updates fail on Proxmox/Debian during the Erasing… stage, in most cases it’s enough to disable USB autosuspend temporarily. The script above does that automatically and restores the previous setting afterwards, so your system keeps working normally.