Hi all. I have a ubuntu 11.04 server running a couple of websites and a multi domain email server setup. (Postfix/Courier/Apache/MySQL etc)

11.04 has now reached EOL.

Should I just hit apt-get update dist-upgrade or should I do anything first.
The server is on a vps so I do not have physical access. Only via terminal.

I'm worried that if it breaks I will loose email on various sites and a couple of web sites.

Any advice on the best/safest way to update would be most appriciated.

Thanks

Rob.

Ok, robsbots.

Follow the master plan for this sort of things:

1. Make a full backup.
2. Perform "it".
3. After performing "it", test it throughly.
   • If all tests pass, you are done.
   • If any errors occured, restore, fix, and get all ready to go back to step 2 (or possibly 1).

That's your master plan for this and every situation save when you are starting from scratch.

What are you doing installing a non-LTS system on something like this, anyway?

"apt-get dist-upgrade" won't do much since 11.04 is EOL.

You could try this: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EOLUpgrades

But I wouldn't; I would do a fresh reinstall (and thorough testing) of a supported LTS release.

When I set the server up, for some reason I had it in my head that 11.04 was a LTS release. Doh.

I suspect I will need another VPS. Set that up (with the latest LTS version). Transfer over the data. Test it fully, then set up all the DNS etc to make it live. Then drop the old vps.

I just didn't really want to get another server to do it. Cash is tight right now and anoter server will mean more money out the door.

Of course this would'nt have been a problem if I had checked the LTS status of my initial install.

Well. I'm learning more and more about running servers.

You learn more from your mistakes they say. I should be an expert the amount I make

Thanks for your help.

Rob