Hi, i'm not real good with Linux but I run game servers on a old box running Ubuntu 8.10 I have no clue how to update Firefox and most pages or sites won't load. I can't update to a newer Ubuntu because I won't be able to run the game servers. I've tried years ago. Help would be much appreciated.

Thank you
Frank

Hi Frank,

Ubuntu 8.10 is totally unsupported since 2010!!!

There will never be any more Firefox updates for Ubuntu 8.10.

Why do you need Firefox on a server anyway?

To specifically answer your question, here is the website where you can always find the latest version of Firefox: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

Will it work on your 8 year old, totally unsupported operating system? I really couldn't say. It would be like trying to install the latest Microsoft Edge browser in Windows Vista. Good luck!

Hi and thanks. Well I don't need Firefox I would like any browser that would work because occasionally my wife or son is on other computer and i just need to check something online. Is there any browser that might work on this? Thanks. I'm also not sure the process to install one if there is. Thats where i'll need help.

Thanks again!

Assuming that you did a full install of Ubuntu (and not a text-only Ubuntu Server install) then Firefox should already be installed and operational. It has been the default web browser for Ubuntu from the start. Try pressing Alt+F2 and typing 'firefox' (without the quotes) followed by Enter.

Be aware that it will be a severely outdated version of Firefox, missing 8+ years of security patches and bug fixes. Surf with extreme caution!

What is the game? And are you sure that nobody has been able to run a game server from a modern, supported operating system? What is the special requirement (a particular software dependency, perhaps?) that you think it specifically needs to stay on 8.10?

I have firefox on here now thats how I am communicating now but If I try to go to my email, online bank, Iheart Radio, ect... almost every site the page won't load or if it loads its not right. Like i need a flash plug in update or something.

The game is "Think Tanks" It is from 2003 and abandonware. We have a community that still play a bit but not much. The servers that were on Linux were always much better than windows. I have this box duel boot now but would consider upgrading to the latest supported linux but then would need help configuring it to run my cycle.sh to start the servers.

Thanks

I tried to run it on the latest Ubuntu but it did not support the 32 bit game.

^^^^ I just check my old post about this. Above is what I found .... 32 bit

You are unfortunately correct that Ubuntu went full 64-bit only back in 2017.

However, there might still be a way to run your 32-bit software in a 64-bit operating system, using "multiarch" (short for "Multiple Architecture").

https://wiki.debian.org/Multiarch/HOWTO

Sad to say, running abandoned software on an unsupported operating system (or a supported operating system with the wrong architecture), is beyond my feeble skill set.

If virtualization can't be a solution for this, some kind of transition to Ubuntu's 32bit Debian foundation ought to be. Debian 10 Buster seems to be shaping up to continue 32bit when released. https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/w.../i386/iso-dvd/

the easiest solution is to use that outdated and insecure ubuntu install only for the game server, and nothing else.

but i have to say it again, it is definitely not safe, whether you serve or browse the web.

is the machine the server is installed on equally old?

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To update this browser do the following(in command line):

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade firefox

This will fail to install a recent Firefox, because 8.10 has been "end of life" for many years.

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And it probably won't even work in 14.04LTS (which is near its end-of-support date, next april to be more exact).

Newer versions of web browsers belong to the kind of applications that need a Linux version, released not too long ago before the browser was released itself.
So for firefox, chrome, etc you will need at least ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS or preferably 18.xx

If I am reading this page correctly, the current Firefox 64.0 is available in the 14.04 repos:

https://packages.ubuntu.com/trusty/firefox

(14.04 is the oldest currently-supported Ubuntu, and it is scheduled to reach end-of-life in April.)

Yes, the machine is old and i'm not worried about security at all. I just want to be able use a browser for browsing

Thanks,
Will system files be transferred if I update this to debian 32 ? or would I need to remove Ubuntu and fresh install Debian 32 bit?