This post contains full instructions on how to upgrade to Ubuntu 12.04 from 10.04 or 11.10 for servers and desktops I have included both GUI and command line upgrade instructions for Ubuntu 12.04 updates.
If you have any 3rd party propriatory graphics card drivers installed it is recommended you remove them prior to the upgrade process to avoid any problems during the update, you can reinstalled them after the upgrade has completed.
Always take a backup before carrying out an operating system upgrade!
How To Upgrade to 12.04 Desktop using the GUI
This is by far the easiest way to upgrade you simple wait until the official release date of 12.04 (which is currently the 26th of April 1012) and upgrade when prompted. If this does not happen it’s probably as the servers are getting hammered by users updating you can either wait or follow the instructions below on how to carry out the network upgrade.
How to Upgrade from 11.10 to 12.o4 for Desktops using Update Manager
If Ubuntu fails to prompt you to upgrade to 12.04 Desktop you can run the update manager process manually, note these instructions are for 11.10 to 12.04 only.
- Run the Update Manager application from the Unity Dash
- In Update Manager, click on “Settings” and enter your password to start the Software Sources application
- Select the sub menu Updates from the Software Sources application
- Check the “Release upgrade – Show new distribution releases” drop down to make sure “Normal releases” is selected, and change it if otherwise
- Close the Software Sources application and return to Update Manager
- In Update Manager, click the Check button to check for new updates.
- If there are any updates to install, use the Install Updates button to install them, and press Check again after that is complete
- A message will appear informing you of the availability of the new release
- Click Upgrade
- Follow the on-screen instructions
Upgrade from 10.04 to 12.o4 for Desktops using Update Manager
The following instructions are for 10.04 to 12.04 Desktop upgrades, this uses a network installation using update manager, please only use these instructions for 10.04 to 12.04 desktops.
- Open the Update Manager application from the System → Administration menu
- In Update Manager, click the “Settings…”, and enter your password to start the Software Sources application
- Select the sub menu Updates from the Software Sources application
- Check the “Release upgrade – Show new distribution releases” drop down to make sure “Long term support releases only” is selected, and change it if otherwise
- Close the Software Sources application and return to Update Manager
- In Update Manager, click the Check button to check for new updates
- If there are any updates to install, use the Install Updates button to install them, and press Check again after that is complete
- A message will appear informing you of the availability of the new release
- Click Upgrade
- Follow the on-screen instructions
Ubuntu Server upgrade to 12.04 using the command line
This is my preferred method of upgrading to 12.04 as it can be ran over SSH or on any version of Ubuntu Server.
To start off with make sure update-manager-core is installed and fully up to date:
sudo apt-get install update-manager-core
Edit the file /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades and add set:
Prompt=normal
Start the upgrade process:
sudo do-release-upgrade
Go find a coffee…