Updating Ubuntu Question

[samit]

Today I have a module to update because the system proposes numerous updates including the kernel, the current version is 2.6.24-19. Indeed it is the version that is proposed 2.6.24-21 while 2.6.27 was released a few days ago but that is not the problem.

I was wondering if there was any risk of damaging the system by updating on it, nor there are few precautions to be taken beforehand?

Secondly, is it really necessary to do an update to move from one kernel 2.6.24-19 to 2.6.24-21?

[Zachary]

How do I update Ubuntu Linux softwares?

Using apt-get command line tool
apt-get is the command-line tool for handling packages. You can use following command options:

=> apt-get update : Update is used to resynchronize the package index files from their sources via Internet.

=> apt-get upgrade : Upgrade is used to install the newest versions of all packages currently installed on the system.

=> apt-get install package-name : install is followed by one or more packages desired for installation. If package is already installed it will try to update to latest version.

a) Open terminal and type following two commands (Application > Accessories > Terminal):

b) Get update software list, enter:

$ sudo apt-get update

c) Update software(s) i.e. apply updates:

$ sudo apt-get upgrade

d) Please note that above two command will fetch files from Internet. The location of update pages is specified in /etc/apt/sources.list (repositories). You need NOT to make any changes to this file until and unless you need extra repositories for your setup.

e) To upgrade individual software called foo type command:

$ sudo apt-get install foo

Source: cyberciti.biz

[newtech]

An updated kernel is not especially risk except that it's problematic if there is a power outage / battery failure / sudden crash. So ensure you have connected another mode of powers to it.

[nitesh mehta]

If you are updating between releases, you could just download the latest ISO, burn it to a CD, and use that to update his computer.

If the customer has any special packages installed which were not part of the original install CD, then there may be some things that cannot be upgraded. Your apt update tool of choice should let you know about that though:

# apt-cdrom add
# aptitude update
# aptitude dist-upgrade

Hopefully that does what you need.

You will probably want to remove the CD line from his apt repositories (/etc/apt/sources.list) after the update.