Install OSX updates from command line using softwareupdate.
Ok here’s the deal, I wanted to update my machine to 10.5.2 from work today, but I had put it in a state where I couldn’t use VNC anymore (I logged out of one of the user accounts).
Anyway, I stumbled across some info on how to list and install updates from the command line.. SWEET!
If you launch a terminal session an type ‘man softwareupdate’ it’ll give you all the info, but here it is to save you a step. 
- softwareupdate -l : Lists all available updates
- softwareupdate -d : Download the updates
- softwareupdate -i
- item : Installs a specific item
- -a : Install all updates
- -r : Install only required updates
- softwareupdate –ignore … : Ignores the specified updates
- softwareupdate –reset-ignored : Clears the list of all ignored updates
- softwareupdate –schedule : Manages the per-user scheduler preferences.
- on | off
Example
What I used to install 10.5.2 was the following line:
sudo softwareupdate -i MacOSXUpd10.5.2-10.5.2
Cool stuff.
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Where does softwareupdate -d download to?