Christian WellsRocky Linux is a community enterprise operating system that aims to be 100% bug-for-bug compatible with America’s top enterprise Linux distribution. Led by Gregory Kurtzer, founder of the CentOS project, Rocky Linux is under intensive development by the community. If you’re currently running Rocky Linux 8 and want to take advantage of the features and improvements in Rocky Linux 9, this article will guide you through the upgrade process.
Preparing for the Upgrade
Before you begin the upgrade process, there are a few prerequisites to consider. First, ensure that you have a server or VPS running Rocky Linux 8 with root access. It’s also essential to take a backup of your important files and data to avoid any potential loss during the upgrade.
To start, check if your system is up to date by running the following commands:
dnf update -y
reboot
After the server reboots, verify that it is running the latest Rocky Linux release by executing the following command:
cat /etc/os-release
The output should display the name and version of your current Rocky Linux release.
Installing the elevate-release Package
To proceed with the upgrade, you need to install the elevate-release package, which includes the project repository and GPG key. Run the following command to install the package:
yum install -y http://repo.almalinux.org/elevate/elevate-release-latest-el$(rpm --eval%rhel).noarch.rpm
After the installation is complete, you can move on to the next step.
Installing the leapp Packages and Migration Data
To upgrade from Rocky Linux 8 to Rocky Linux 9, you’ll need to install the leapp packages and migration data specific to Rocky Linux. Use the following command to install these packages:
yum install -y leapp-upgrade leapp-data-rockylinux
Once the installation is finished, you’re ready to proceed with the upgrade process.
Upgrading Rocky Linux 8 to Rocky Linux 9
Before starting the upgrade, it’s a good idea to disable Zonedrifting. Open the /etc/firewalld/firewalld.conf file using a text editor, such as vim, and change the line AllowZoneDrifting=yes to AllowZoneDrifting=no.
Now, you can initiate the upgrade process by running the following command:
leapp upgrade reboot
The upgrade process may take some time, depending on your system’s configuration and network speed. You can monitor the progress of the upgrade under your VNC/Console.
After the server reboots, you can verify that Rocky Linux 8 has been successfully upgraded to Rocky Linux 9 by executing the following command:
cat /etc/os-release
The output should indicate that your server is now running Rocky Linux 9.
Congratulations! Your server has been successfully upgraded to Rocky Linux 9.
Conclusion
Upgrading from Rocky Linux 8 to Rocky Linux 9 is a straightforward process that involves preparing your system, installing the necessary packages, and initiating the upgrade. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can take advantage of the latest features and improvements in Rocky Linux 9.
Remember to always perform backups before making any significant changes to your system. If you encounter any issues during the upgrade process, consult the official Rocky Linux documentation or seek assistance from a professional.
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